A very talented friend of mine makes and sells handmade sewn items on Etsy . Her shop goes by the name Sewtype there. She’ll also custom design for you. I had her make me a camera bag and chose the material for it. You can see her selection of fabrics at her website.

I first met Christine when I saw the cell phone bags she offers on her Etsy shop. I teach in my day job and am not the most organized person. To make sure I don’t lose my phone I wear it. But I enjoy having colorful bags to carry them in and I always get compliments from students. I’m picking up a few as gifts, too. Here’s an example of a cell phone case.

I also couldn’t resist this messenger bag, though I picked up the larger size. It’s cute, isn’t it? I love bright colors. But I have to admit I had a hard time choosing from some of the patterns she had.

So what does this have to do with passion? Well, Christine and I were talking and she said that sewing is her passion. She gets lost in her sewing and can forget many of her worries.

I understand that. Reading was always my escape as a child. Now, as an adult, I’ve found my passion in writing. I get lost in my head with characters who talk to me, new worlds, and new situations. Writing is my outlet for the stress that comes with living in a foreign country, raising my children there, being in an international marriage. When I am writing, I am “on” in my head, and totally “off” to those around me.

Everyone should have a passion, whether it’s creative, working with your hands, or physical, like a sport. It should be something that is for you and you alone. You do it because you love it, not because you are forced to.

It should also be constructive as opposed to destructive. If your passion is shopping and you rack up the bills, time to get a new hobby and some counseling. On the other hand, tell me that you love searching out deals and can put together great, trendy, professional outfits on a budget, honey, sign me up. I am desperate for new clothes and am completely daunted by the idea of shopping for them. It is so not my thing, though I love to get something new and wear it.

But what is one person’s passion isn’t another’s. That’s fine. That’s what makes it so exciting to talk to people and to discover what they are into.

So what is your passion?