Have you ever seen someone so happy doing what they love that it made you stop and think? This summer, I did.
I took my mom on vacation to Pingtan Island. On a floating board in the beautiful sea, she started dancing—no music, just the rhythm in her heart. I captured that joyful moment on video. Watching her, I felt so grateful that she’s healthy and still committed to her routine dance.
Committed? If she didn’t love dancing, I couldn't force her to dance. Have you ever tried to convince your parents to exercise, only to be ignored? I never encouraged my mom to dance. Years ago, my mom would rush through dinner to go dancing. That annoyed me—I had to eat her leftovers and do the cleanup after a long day! For a long time, I thought she was selfish. I’d say, “Mom, can you wash the dishes before you go dancing?” She’d get angry but still leave. Neighbors praised her dancing. I never appreciated it.
Now I realize when you truly love something, even your loved ones can’t stop you. That’s called passion. She loves dancing. That’s why she’s kept at it for so long. Now I’m glad she did. Dance is good for her health. Because at her age, my only wish is her health.
The same thing happened with my husband. He loves badminton. He already owns five rackets and still wanted another one. I disagree! “Don’t buy it,” I said. The next day, he confessed: “I've ordered one.” I was angry—especially when I’m on late-night calls and he’s out playing, maybe with a woman. I tried to stop him! But then I remembered my mom’s lesson: if he loves it, I can’t stop him. So I let it go. He watches the matches, swings the racket, and works on his wrist strength. He invests time, energy, and resources —and enjoys every moment. I can feel the passion. Maybe I should support him. And when I have time, I join him.
What about you? Do you have something you love so much that no one can stop you? Congratulations, that’s your passion!
But not all passion is good for you. If what you love starts hurting your health, relationships, or future, you might want to stop and think. True passion should lift us up, not pull us down.
So I wonder, what's my son's passion. And I found video games. Like most parents, I tried to stop him, but no luck. I asked, “How do you feel after playing for two hours?” He said, “If I win, I feel good. If I lose, I feel bad.” Oh, even for games, you need to be good at it. If you fail all the time, you lose interest. Well, I hope he would lose interest in video games. It’s better to find a passion that’s good for the rest of your life. I believe he has plenty of time to figure this out. So start worrying what’s my passion.
Last year, I enrolled beginner belly dance classes, ten classes per session. The first session was tough for me—my hip can’t move as coach instructed, I couldn’t keep up, but I still enjoyed every class. Sometimes, I practice when I brush my teeth. Session by session, I improved slowly. I compared myself to me, not others. By the end of the third session, I could dance solo! Amazing! Now I become one of the top students in the class. Well, all are top students. I love the music, the movement, the beat. Ten classes per dance—that’s my perfect pace. It's never too late to find a new passion. Turn what you love into small, achievable actions with your own pace.
I still love Toastmasters. Even just one speech a year is better than none, right? All of this connects to my personal goal: to be a healthy and confident woman. Maya Angelou, an inspiring African-American poet once said,“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” That’s what passion and persistence bring us—joy in who we are and what we love.
I’d like to her empowering poem Phenomenal Woman to you:
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size.
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Embrace your own passions. Celebrate who you are and what you love. And when the moment comes, dance like nobody’s watching.
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有没有一种状态是最简单的，有些事情你想做别人来也拦不住，这样的事情，只要能够支持你的生活就去做吧，你的生活会很轻松！
Find your passion, make your life, easy and enjoyable
Find what makes your heart dance. Nurture it.
