Passion

Passion

When I was younger, football was my passion.  I loved training and having fun with my football mates.  When that all ended, I was a little lost.  No more training nights, no more Saturday football, and after moving to Taiwan, no big circle of friends to enjoy my life with.  I needed to adapt.  I took a long time to do that and I believe finding bonsai has given me more purpose, a passion that occupies a lot of my thoughts.

I had always liked hiking and getting out in the Tasmanian forests.  I didn't give it too much thought - the scenery was sensational, as were my friends, and the fresh air was cleansing.  That was enough.  I suppose I have always liked trees.  I remember hugging my fair share in amongst our hikes.  I remember climbing them as a kid with some mates and sitting on their crown, and I remember trying to build a tree house in our backyard - a disaster.

It wasn't until much later in life that I found a way to enjoy trees in small pots - those that are sitting on my balcony now.  I still think I stumbled upon bonsai and I am grateful that I did.  Living in Taiwan was definitely a huge part of why I have taken up this rewarding hobby.  I probably would have never even thought about bonsai if I wasn't living and working in Taiwan.

Anyway, I believe finding a passion is very important.  I don't know if you can go searching for one as much as it finds you.  It either happens or it doesn't.  I feel lucky that I have found a hobby that hasn't lost its appeal after 3 years.  The more you find out the more interesting it becomes.  Once you have found something that you really like and constantly think about it, it is amazing what things open up.

A beautiful bonsai on a rock slab.  I took this picture at Robert Steven's nursery in Jakarta.