"Project=Passion"

Say the word passionate and it brings to mind a whole slew of terms: Fervent, Ardent, Zealous, Obsessive, Hot-blooded, Adoring, loving, and Enthusiastic-- Just to mention a few.

I have been passionate about a lot of different things in my life’s journey. In the 60’s and 70’s it was equal rights for people of color and for women in the work place. During college I was on my way to Alabama to march in the big protest movement, unfortunately I didn’t’ have the funds to go. This was my “hot-blooded passion” showing up.

Then I picketed against Vietnam, and got yelled at. On the other hand, I sent our soldiers packages filled with toiletries and cookies. Talk about an oxymoron! I justified being involved with the soldiers at the USO on Guam and sending cookies to the troops, because most of them were drafted. Those boys didn’t have a choice to join up or not.

The other half of the 70’s and the 80’s I was passionate about raising my children and being the best mom I could. PTA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4-H; I car pooled kids and volunteered. I was lucky enough to stay home and raise my children at least till my youngest was in seventh grade. This would be my “loving phase of Passion”. Family, hearth and home, and I finished college during this period.

Kids are grown with children of their own now. My husband, whom I am passionate with, and I moved to Oregon last summer.

Now my husband claims I’m most passionate when I have a project. I guess that comes from working since my youngest was thirteen years old, and now I don’t have a job to go to. Some days are a bit funky for me as I am adjusting to not having a job outside the home.

I’m currently in a phase of “creative Passion"

I am writing most mornings during the week to finish my novel (extremely enthusiastic about that) .

I am working on getting my husband’s and my web site up, (taking a class for that which I am enjoying!), getting our Etsy site up and learning all the ins and outs of Etsy, PayPal, and Pinterest etc.

I took on the project of making rustic looking tags for my husband’s crafts. It took all of one day. My husband said I smiled more that day than any other day since moving.

So give me a project or a cause I can get involved with and I’m a passionate, happy camper!

How have your passions changed over the years?

Giving back is my passion

By Paty Jager

We were asked to write about what we’re passionate about. I would have to say what I’m most passionate about is giving back. Giving back to the organizations who have made me who I am and giving back to the community.

When my children were small our next door neighbor girl knocked on my door and asked if I’d be her 4-H leader. Her leader was retiring and she wanted to continue to learn to sew and cook.  I’d had one year of both while growing up and decided I could do this. It was twenty-two years later when I hung up my 4-H leader hat because we’d purchased land and I wasn’t home enough to fit in 4-H meetings. Now, I travel around the state judging at county fairs and spreading my little bit of expertise to the new 4-H members and leaders.

When my children were in school I volunteered in the school in the classrooms, the computer center, and the PTA. I believe in helping out where you’re needed.

Joining RWA(Romance Writers of America) was the best thing I could have done for my writing career. And as I learned more and found the organization to be the best thing for upcoming writers, I held officer positions in the chapter I belonged to and then started teaching workshops at conferences and on line. I’ve mentored several writers and believe in spreading the knowledge I’ve acquired over the years to new writers.

A few years ago I joined COWG(Central Oregon Writers Guild) and stepped into the role of getting speakers for their meetings and taught several Saturday workshops as well as at meetings.

I donate a gift basket every year to Brenda Novak’s online auction for diabetes, give money when a store is collecting for a cause, and click the pink ribbon on the Breast Cancer Awareness site. I don’t do large donations to any organization that I have to give my name. I don’t like them harassing me for more money than I’m prepared to give. But my time… I’ll give it freely to a cause. I help wrap packages for the Shop with a Cop program at Christmas time and have wrapped packages at the Fire Department.

My passion is giving back and there are days I wish I could give more. But I give what I can and believe every bit helps in some small way.

Do you have a passion that you give time or money to? What is it?

www.patyjager.net

www.patyjager.blogspot.com