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Gene Doray

Vice Principal, Educator - High School

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What is your greatest passion and how have you been able to develop and sustain it?

I am curious about when people developed a long standing passion and what caused them to become inspired by the topic/activity. Did you discover it on your own or was it the result of the modelling of others. Is there greater motivation to act primarily for self improvement or for the betterment of others?

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Topics: Values kindness motivation service volunteerism
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    Alex Mero

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    Sep 6 2011: I have always had a passion for travelling and I realized at a young age that nothing else would make me experience life more intensely. I have the soul of a nomad and an incredible need for discovery. I have never had other great needs in my life, because there is nothing by way of possessions or entertainment that could give me the same satisfaction. After having lived in Andalusia for years, a new passion was created: to dedicate myself to literature; naturally in combination with my first passion. Today, with limited independent means, I practice these two passions full time and even when these two activities do not generate money, I do not feel that I am lacking in anything. I am surrounded by friends from all over the world and I know that these people appreciate the ambition of my work and my desire to share my experiences.
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    Jim Moonan 50+

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    Sep 5 2011: Robert Frost writes about the relationship between a person's vocation and avocation in this amazing poem that speaks to how work should be both.

    Here it is:
    http://www.etymonline.com/poems/tramps.htm
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    Trenton Willman

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    Sep 5 2011: My biggest passion if I can attempt to weigh them all is performance poetry. I live in the middle of a seemingly endless cornfield in which it isn't as popular as I could wish. I was inspired by poetry greats Anis Mojgani and George Watsky as well as classic poet Robert Frost to write, and later perform poetry. I guess the greater motivation in poetry is the same as all art, to explore yourself and the way your surroundings have influenced you, as well as an artistic and emotional outlet. Awsome question, awsome anwsers.
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    Alex Mero

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    Sep 4 2011: I have always had a passion for travelling and I realized at a young age that nothing else would make me experience life more intensely. I have the soul of a nomad and an incredible need for discovery. I have never had other great needs in my life, because there is nothing by way of possessions or entertainment that could give me the same satisfaction. After having lived in Andalusia for years, a new passion was created: to dedicate myself to literature; naturally in combination with my first passion. Today, with limited independent means, I practice these two passions full time and even when these two activities do not generate money, I do not feel that I am lacking in anything. I am surrounded by friends from all over the world and I know that these people appreciate the ambition of my work and my desire to share my experiences.
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    Icoonfal z

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    Sep 4 2011: I believe the ultimate goal for human beings is completion. If a person is passionate about something, it becomes a part of them ; a part of their life. This is why I think when one develops a passion they don't develop it 'as the result of modelling of others' but rather they develop it from the natural inner inclination to a particular aspect that the passion brings.
    My friend is very passionate about playing the guitar. Started only two years ago, he mastered a lot of guitar styles that would take me probably ten. Sure me might of seen somebody else play the guitar and that might of commenced him to do it, but its his inner contentment that allows it to become a part of him and his life.
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    Audrey Misiano

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    Sep 4 2011: When I was 5, I used to play school and teach my two younger brothers. I always knew I would teach. I guess I was just born that way.

    Just recently, however, after having children, I feel that my passion for teaching has been renewed with the love for my children and the desire to raise them alongside my husband to the best of our ability.

    Our children inspire us to continue learning and to explore the possibility that our passion for teaching could help others, even beyond our home and beyond our classroom.

  • Annette Daly

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    Sep 3 2011: I know exactly my top 5 passions: 1> To be spiritually connected with God. 2> To be abundantly healthy. 3> To be in a intimate and passionate relationship with my husband. 4> To encourage and inspire the masses. 5> Living, laughing, learning, exploring life.
    I was able to gain this clarity through the "Passion Test." I am a certified Passion Test Facilitator if you need help discovering your passions and purpose.
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    Ceanne B

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    Sep 2 2011: I first saw this conversation yesterday so have had time to think of what I would answer. I thought my answer would be about my creativity--I love to dabble in a LOT of forms of creativity: crochet, knitting, painting, cross-stitch, decorating, collaging, etc., etc. I spend time in most days doing some form of creativity. My job is very administration based, paperwork, research, etc. and my logical brain needs to do that too. I couldn't imagine doing just creativity, I need to have logical/linear stuff going on too.

    But, the one thing that is constant in my life is learning--whether it be through conversations with others, self-discovery, reading, journalling, education, etc., I LOVE learning. I know I'm on a journey...
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    Morgan Kent

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    Sep 2 2011: My passion, is helping my high school students find theirs. I do this by connecting and relating with my students. I introduce them to career paths they didn't know existed. I also expose them to every amazing TED video I have ever seen and encourage them to find videos to show in class.

  • trish mahon

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    Sep 2 2011: my passion for animals was the life saver I needed following redundancy in 2009. I decided I would never work without passion again and set about learning all I could to become a dog trainer. I have re-discovered curosity, filled my home with pets, relaxed about house cleaning and the gym, spent a month in India and all because of my love for dogs.

  • Brian Cartwright

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    Sep 2 2011: At the age of 39 I developed an interest in Fibonacci numbers which quickly became a consuming and complex project entirely unrelated to the rest of my life. I learned to develop conjectures, explore their implications and wait for results, and countless times I perceived results coming to me like a bubble rising from deep water. This has remained a wonderful avocation for twenty years since. It seems remarkable that I cannot inspire others with an interest in my discoveries, but I work patiently and do my best to understand the topic fully.
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      Thomas Jones 100+

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      Sep 2 2011: Cool.

    • Wadood Sultan Abdul

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      Sep 2 2011: Good to hear that passion can still be found at 39. It can be suppressed, but not killed. At least that's what I get.
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    robert richards

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    Sep 2 2011: Good question:I have been musically interested since the age of three. My family always stated that I was playing harmonica at that age. I can actually remember the rocking horse I used to sit on at the front porch playing simple tunes. I cannot really say how the interest started; certainly there was plenty of behaviour modelling opportunities for me since I have many siblings but it is interesting to state that I am the only person in my family who took music on with any gusto. Does that only indicate that I was the most “attracted” to music or does it indicate that I was the only one with a strong predilection to it?

    It may be interesting to hear on that topic that my personal belief is people are not born with such predispositions. Instead I believe an interest is sparked and the brain wires itself toward that interest. On reflection, my attachment to that belief may have something to do with my abhorrence to the saying “you were born with it”, to me that statement steals all the hard work and energy one puts in to become accomplished at their field.

    I am currently 46 years old; therefore I have been musically inclined for 43 years and have been playing professionally for well over 30 years. I continue to sustain my live performances and creative output because it has become so deeply rooted in my persona. I may never give it up and personally I wouldn’t want to. Hope this helps.
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    Salim Solaiman 50+

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    Sep 2 2011: "Life" itself is my greatest passion as it offers relentlessly all the beauties it has , all the challenges it can put forward, so dynamic, so different it is every moment , no scope of getting bored with ................so sustaining that passion is not a big challenge

  • Don McCann

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    Sep 1 2011: Gene,

    My passion is learning the challenging, doing the difficult, and dreaming the impossible.

    No one taught me that I had to do this. I can't think of a role model I would want to emulate. I look after those I can, and promote ideas that may someday improve the lot of the rest.

  • Jennette Stone

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    Sep 1 2011: I just wanted to say thank you for all of your words of commiseration and consideration. As a child welfare social worker I feel I have a very meaningful job but it doesn't full fill my soul. This may partially be the compassion fatigue that so often comes along with the job. I like the idea that passion is a way of living; I'm just not sure how to live that way. It is most likely different for each of us. I just want to have at least one thing in my life that makes me shine emotionally when I do it. Something I am drawn to in a way that makes me say ‘if I could do this every single day of my life I would.’ Something that provokes an inner fire that burns so bright it is evident to every one. To live out loud in a way that no one, not even my self, can deny it. Oh, the passion of it all :)
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      Colleen Steen 500+

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      Sep 1 2011: Hi Jennette,
      I think, as a social worker, it may be very difficult to maintain passion (compassion fatigue), because you are seeing sadness all around you every day. I volunteered in a women's shelter, co-facilitated cognitive self change sessions with offenders in correctional facilities, served as advocate and case reviewer for children in state custody, etc. My passion was fueled by focusing on the few changes that were made in people's lives periodically. If we focus on the struggles that people have in their lives, it may seem like we are always spinning our wheels. Obviously, everyone you interact with needs your focus, but when I go home at night, my focus is on the person I may have touched that day. Of the hundreds of people I interacted with, when the day was done, I thought about the small difference I may have helped facilitate.

      You DO shine Jennette...I can feel the warmth of your being:>) Don't forget to take care of yourself as you are taking care of others:>) Sending you a BIG HUG!

    • Michael M 30+

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      Sep 1 2011: Jeanette
      I think I have finally found out that passion is not just something you do, or accomplish, passion is who you really are.
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      Fritzie Reisner 100+

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      Sep 1 2011: Jennette, those you have helped will never forget how you have helped them find a better life. It's a draining and necessary sort of work. I hope you find something to help you maintain your spirit as long as you are engaged in this work.

    • Gene Doray

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      Sep 2 2011: Hi Jennette, as a former highschool counsellor, I worked alongside many wonderful social workers and understand the emotional fatigue that comes with the position - which was also evident in the turnover of staff. One of my first colleagues reminded me that the daily satisfaction of a job well done is a rarity, and to remember that we may only see part of the journey that we help others begin. As the years went by, I would receive emails, cards, and later on...Facebook messages of thanks - and on occasions when I felt most fatigued I would pull some of them out to once again be reminded of the importance of our work and I would feel grateful for having the opportunity to have made a difference. I am sure those on your case list are fortunate to have your guidance and support!
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      robert richards

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      Sep 2 2011: Jeanette it is easy for a person to see an artists (not literally an artist but artists') output and marvel at it. The product can be easily viewed, there are many levels of capacity to experience within that. I will try and make an example of what I mean: Musicians can make an easier living than a painter. I state that because a musician has a more readily available product to experience by the greater populace. It is easy to go to a venue have a beer, gossip and enjoy the local muso or band. It is not so easy for a painter to find a similar instantly gratifying public venue. Due to the enjoyment for canvas is normally the finished product not the making of. I don’t wish to get caught up in a debate about my statement as I know there are always exceptions to the rule. I only wish to give support to you and everyone else whose art is not readily available to be experienced by the general public or even recognised as such. You see I view what you do as a form of artistic expression, as I view all passionate people who are dedicated to a cause. Your finished product may well mean a better life for someone. I can’t really say my easily recognisable artistic outlet has come anywhere near that accomplishment. So Jeanette and all the other Jeanette’s in the world whatever you may do, I take my artistic hat off to you. Well done.
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    Fritzie Reisner 100+

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    Sep 1 2011: I am passionate about thinking, learning, and teaching. Like most of us, I was introduced to all three very soon after birth, and they have been the focus of my life for a half century. Being open to the wealth of experiences and ideas around me has allowed me to sustain what so captivates me.

  • Michael Wright

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    Sep 1 2011: I have discovered and am currently developing my passion for poetry. I don't really discuss what's bothering me or what hurts, etc. so through my poems I feel as though I am able to convey every emotion I feel deeply about.

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      Borrah Campbell

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      Sep 1 2011: I love art. If I had the ability, it would consme my life.

      I think the ability to create good art is genetic. I simply can't create any "visions." Artist draw what they "see" but I have no sight. I could never train my mind's eye to create an image.

      What little art I have created is highly valued!

    • Gene Doray

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      Sep 2 2011: Greg,
      I grew up with two artist parents, so I have seen the dedication that comes with such a passion. It is a tough go - financially - but it is an amazing and valuable pursuit. As a child, I couldn't quite grasp why my mom didn't have a 'real' job, but as I grew older I was able to appreciate the beauty that she was able to create, and I am thankful to have the work of both my parents on my walls. I hope you will continue to paint and bring your inspiration to life.!

    • Wadood Sultan Abdul

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      Sep 2 2011: I hope that someday in the future creativity will be free of financial constraints. But I guess the pressure, in a strange way, nurtures the creativity too.
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    Randy Clere

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    Sep 1 2011: My greatest passion is my work in the field of Japanese Acupuncture and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy. I have been practicing for 30 years now. I became interested in meditation, martial arts and all things Eastern when I was around 13 years old... I came through the late 60's... Subsequently, my travels around the world, the military and continued practice in meditation and martial arts led me to this path of Mastery.... However, what has really fired this quest is my undying love and curiosity for the human being.... I thrive on this contact, dialogue and rapport that develops over time in the treatment room... Pulse taking, abdominal diagnosis, palpating, the laying on of hands.... needle placement. All very intimate.... mindful, with deepest respect.... The practices I do, zazen, qi gong, self-hypnosis and even my Mastery on the electric bass, all polish the abode of the heart, so as that I may drop all that is not essential, and see each person with fresh eyes... I am continually surprised at the resilience and flexibility of people to adapt physically, mentally and emotionally to either trauma, or just everyday stress.... How sweet to see them respond and open to this ancient medicine.... Every day that I get up, I truly am grateful and honored to be able to be with and meet people in this way.
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    Jane Pelusey

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    Sep 1 2011: I beleive that in some way the things that you do during life, finally come together to present your passion. It is getting to that stage where you can actually recognise what that passion is and how all your jigsaw pieces come together.
    My passion is bringing stories to life, so for the last ten years I have interviewed people for books and magazine articles. The world of publishing and getting the story out has changed so much in the last five years. Now I mentor people to bring that story to life.
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    Lei Shang

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    Sep 1 2011: As Steve Jobs said:Follow your heart.In my opion,the permanent passion comes from the thing that you really love to do in your heart.And maybe it is a difficult thing to discover your favorite thing.OK,now just think over the experience that made you excited or unforgotten during your childhood.Yes it is what you dream to do ,just to persuit it .
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    Borrah Campbell

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    Sep 1 2011: When I was young, I stumbled upon the fact that there were things I didn't understand. My only medium to learn more about the world was the discovery channel & PBS on our family's only television for the longest time. One day, I cracked open an encyclopedia at my grandmother's house from their library; they were the only books I could reach... I read the whole thing.

    I (needed) to read all of those encyclopedias. I wouldn't necessarily say I liked to read. I was fascinated by the information itself. Information about the world was all sitting there in one place just waiting to be read. I took my favorite books home with me. They were the cyclopedias about animals, chemistry, and space. Once I was done with my grandmother's volume, I demanded my own. My parents appealed & got me my very own library. I occasionally tried some of the experiments, and took lots of notes. At school I never payed any attention to the fictional books that all the other kids liked. I only wanted to read the science books. (And I did.) You couldn't get points for reading the reference & science books... but I didn't care.

    My mother told me one day how much she loved that I had a "passion."
    "I have a passion?" I responded...

    Yes, she was right. My passion is science. All shapes & forms of it. If I discover something that I don't understand, my passion from thenceforth is to understand it!

    On the first day of my last year in high-school, I found myself in the electives course that I had chosen. The teacher informed the class that most of us would fail the course. We had chosen the most difficult elective available... CISCO. It was an information technology (IT) course. I didn't know the first thing about computers!

    I'll take my CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator) exams this December... Wish me luck!

  • Ari Vanderschoot

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    Sep 1 2011: My passions have been many. The first one was for horses and I spent from 7 to 16 pretty much wrapped up in all things horsey This spread into a love of animals and nature as my awareness began to expand .Being out in the wild,both Ocean and land based would give me a super charge. I also had this natural tendency to make things out of things and draw a lot so I was encouraged to explore art. That took off and became an escape and also a platform to stand on once I was ready to present my creations and they were so well received. I took that to a full on career which of course eventually killed the passion..
    Now I have a new passion that ties many of the past ones together. It involves a life of sailing for the Oceans. Learning and teaching , connecting and protecting , Being an Activist at sea and pouring my heart and soul into helping to keep this beautiful blue planet alive. I am not sure yet exactly how this will unfold but I am devoting my resources and my labor of love into making it happen. That's where the creativity comes in to play again. I see puppet shows with the children of remote island communities, using adorable sea creature puppets ,showing films on their shores to help them to understand the oceans . To inspire them to want to protect their waters in a way that is now so needed. I'm not sure if I can really call this a passion as much as a calling. The passion is to live an active ,adventurous and creative life with a strong sense of purpose. The calling is in helping people to wake up and take care of our planet. The challenge is to weave it all together so it works . The Children are the hope for a future that continues the cycle of life.

  • Tina Madan

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    Sep 1 2011: My greatest passion is to work with tigers. I would love to tell anyone and everyone who asks me why I am so passionate about tigers, but I wouldn't be able to tell them. I'm drawn to them. Every time I see a tiger picture or anything I have to drop anything to look at it, to think about it, to want to do whatever I can to save it. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian, ever since I was a little girl. Over the years I decided I wanted to be a wildlife vet so that I could work alongside the glory that is a tiger. Right now I'm in the process of making my biggest and most important dream come true and I know that nothing can possibly stop me from attaining it. Sometimes I wish I could explain it, even to myself. I even think that I shouldn't have to explain myself if it's something I'm so entranced by and something I can't imagine myself living without. But when it comes right down to it, I can't help but say that tigers and I were meant to be together. I was in my college bookstore a few months ago and I came across so many different wildlife books and tiger books (even a textbook all on new tiger research and conservation!) and I ended up spending hours in the store just browsing the books. It got to a point where I felt that somehow, somewhere, SOMEONE, or someTHING, was telling me that working with tigers was my sole passion. That tigers are just as passionate about me as I am about them. That may sound bizarre, but like I said, I can't explain it. I was once asked to explain it for a class project and I felt it was so vague but SO true and I wish I could put into words how incredible it would be to be involved with such magnificence and to save these animals. There is not one thing that repels me from these creatures. Not even the fact that they could easily tear my being into shreds...which may add a little bit more to the thrill behind the passion I've had within me for as long as I can remember.

  • helen varner

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    Sep 1 2011: My passion is dance. I can't remember a time when I didn't dance- its always been a part of my life. I was born with a gift for rhythm and a love of music. When I hear music I HAVE to MOVE- its innate. I did, however, stop taking class for a about a 10 year stretch. I was married and trying to pay bills by working jobs I hated. for many and various reasons, my marriage ended and it was then that i remembered what I was passionate about- my dance. So I auditioned for a show- got cast in the ensemble, started dancing again and here I am -one year later- teaching dance at several different schools, and steadily getting cast in shows as a dancer and an actor. It took me 32 years to learn this, but if you just do what you are passionate about, the money and the security will follow. It sounds so simple, so insanely simple, but its TRUE.
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    OTHA DAY

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    Sep 1 2011: My passion and my love is to share my joy in rhythm-making with a great many people and in many contexts. I am a Drum Circle Facilitator who came to drumming rather later in life than most others in this field. I was a Classical Pianist/Teacher for 30 years and then just as I turned 50 I was playing soccer and tried a "header" which lead to a stoke and the slow loss of my steady income from teaching/playing piano. After a capricious purchase of Congas, I went on-line and discovered "Facilitated Drum Circles" and after a 30 minute conversation with one of the leaders in the field, fell in love with the idea. After a 2nd stroke and brain surgery - I've dived full-on into the world of Drum Circles and now it is a very busy full-time gig.

    What had been in the beginning a solitary pursuit has in the last year become more collaborative as I've just partnered with a Conflict Transformation specialist in Boston and we have our first client retreat in 15 days. I'm also now partnering with a Teen Counselor and a Symphonic Education Specialist (of a major world class orchestra - who everybody knows of!) to bring drumming to those populations and the communities that they serve.

    Far more than teaching piano, I've discovered that thru Rhythm, people become easily freed from the strictures of their daily lives and allow me to support them as they explore dimensions of themselves that they often didn't know they had. AND they have SO MUCH FUN in the process.

    Using African Drums, percussion instruments, song and movement I lead drumming events in schools, libraries, hospitals, at weddings, parties, conferences, meetings.

    I've found that in the process of embracing a major and potentially life-debilitating illness and accident, it was very easy to release the pain of what I thought was a loss of a major path in my life. Drum Circles is now my full-time passion and life.

    In the process I've recovered 110% from both strokes AND the Brain Surgery.

    Thank you for asking!
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      Randy Clere

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      Sep 1 2011: Fellow rhythm section mate!!! I play electric bass.... happy that you are in the world and providing this "heart beat" of love for the community!!! GOOD ON YOU!

  • Patricia O'Laughlin

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    Sep 1 2011: Many psychotherapists, particularly those informed by psychodynamic or psychoanalytical theories use the term "baby self" to reference a younger part of a person's psychological makeup. These theories, as do I, subscribe to the belief that an adult is comprised of all the experiences they had from ages 0-present. It is believed by some, that the implicit and explicit memory holds these younger experiences and they remain active in us as we go about our adult activities. We are not always aware that they are guiding us, but many times that is the case.

  • Lottie Boettcher

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    Sep 1 2011: I believe the development of passion, and motives for pursuing the passion are as unique as the individual. You may want to take a look at a book entitled "Living with Passion" by David Raithby and Sandey McCartney -- it may help answer some of the questions you are asking (well at least for yourself).
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