I wanted to start of this week on a little bit of an inspirational note. I don’t want to sound like a motivational speaker, but frankly, I needed to talk about this topic: Enthusiasm and living your passion.

Last week, someone said made a comment in passing to me that made me 1. confused and 2. a bit miffed. So I love social media, I love networking, I love writing, I love Mexican food, and I LOVE comedy. For me, I get the most joy out of making someone laugh. Well, this person made a comment that I was “too enthusiastic” about my work and that I should “consider taking back my enthusiasm a notch.”

*CAR SCREECH NOISE*

What?!?!?! TOO enthusiastic about my work? TOO passionate about what I do? I get excited and my face lights up when I talk about the things I love? And that’s… bad?

That comment got me thinking. I really take criticism, especially constructive criticism to heart. I am always trying to better myself and improve every single day. (If you don’t try to get better at what you do and what you love, then why work at all?) So, I started to self-assess my work, my approach, and my goals. And I had just so happened to see that quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson in an e-mail a good friend of mine sent me. And I immediately knew that I was okay. I’m not over the top, I’m not in your face, I’m just passionate, and I love what I do.

Do you think Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went all the way to the moon complaining?
Do you think Michael Jackson recorded “Got to Be There” and hated that it sold over five MILLION copies worldwide?
Do you think Julia Roberts would have rather worked at McDonald’s then star in Mystic Pizza?

Of course not. They loved what they did.

Why should I apologize for loving what I do? I may not have a full-time job, I may not make a million dollars a year, I may not drive a fancy car, but what I do makes me happy.

I want to know more, learn more, and improve. Because if I’m not going to be enthusiastic about what I do, then frankly, I’m going to be pretty B-O-R-I-N-G!

And Molly Buckley is anything but boring. Am I right?

So, I leave you with this: love what you do and be as enthusiastic as you WANT about it. Don’t let the cynics, the critics, and the grumps get you down. I hope your face lights up when you talk about what you love.

Emerson was right. [End rant.]

All for now.