On September 8 of last year, I wrote on the strangeness of passions. To give a quick summary, I speak on my own journey with my artwork, and unfortunately having to navigate my way through the maze of finding my lost passion. My person had gone from inspired, driven and excited to dull and as if creating was a monotonous task, rather than something I had the opportunity to do and the pleasure to do. As I desperately tried to make any and everything I could, I found that my attempts were fruitless. With a heavy heart, I had to let artblock and indifference make themselves home in my person. 

It took me nearly a year to find myself and my artistic identity again. When I had regained my passion, I thought something would wash over me and take me by storm; I would create any and everything, tossing out pieces of art left and right like I never had before. But in reality, I didn’t feel anything overly strong or powerful. Instead, it snuck up on me, and I only felt calm. I didn’t feel my heart flutter and my breath stop, I just felt a gentle tug that told me it was time to come back. It was as simple as just ripping a bandaid off and starting. So I did; I played the waiting game. And as a result, I regained my passion and a specific sense of excitement that I hadn’t felt in quite some time.

So, the advice that I have to give you all is similar to that of the last articles. In order to find your way through that maze, sometimes the best thing and ONLY thing to do is to stop, take a breath and let yourself rest. Rather than rushing to do everything in your power to find your passion again and letting the walls close in on you, it’s important to gracefully allow yourself to have the breathing room necessary in order to find it again. Soon enough, whether it takes a few weeks or a few months, the walls of the maze will dissipate and your passion will be there. Playing the waiting game, though extremely aggravating, is a key component of this struggle that cannot be moved around nor ignored. Once you accept that, waiting and resting may be the best course of action; time will fly, and you will once again be the excited person you once were.

Image courtesy of Kaitlyn Sweder ’22.