In life, we’re often told to focus on one thing. If we’re in high school, we’re told to focus on our grades and SAT scores so that we can get into the best college possible. If we’re in college, we’re told to remain focused on our chosen major and keep our eyes on the prize of landing a “good” job after college. When we start our careers, we focus on making a good impression and working towards promotions.

Maintaining focus towards a singular goal is often necessary and it is an incredible skill to have, but throughout life, it seems society often tells us to focus on ONE thing only. If we start to do more than one thing at a time (or really anything outside our paid jobs), society seems to get confused, wondering how and why we are focused on more than just one thing at a time.

This just doesn’t make sense! As we grow and evolve throughout life, we change. We move to new places, make new friends and form new ideas and opinions. All these changes allow us to encounter new experiences, hobbies, and desires for our lives.

As we grow and evolve throughout life, we change.

– Amy

From age 18-24 years old, I was focused on school. I went to high school, college, and then pharmacy school before moving to San Francisco when I was 25 years old for my first job. This cross-country move jolted me out of my previously singular focus on school and helped me realize other passions. I am passionate about healthcare, but I also love to write, bake, travel, meditate and do yoga. I’m passionate about creating social impact in my community and having meaningful conversations with friends and strangers alike.

Now, after almost six years in San Francisco, I can confidently say that I feel uniquely fulfilled by the various aspects of my life and my various hobbies. In 2017, I started a non-profit to fuel my passion for creating impact in the Bay Area community, and I blended this with a love for food by investing in many female entrepreneurs who were chefs or owned food businesses. In early 2020, I took a sabbatical from my job as a pharmacist to obtain my yoga teacher certification through a 3-week immersive program that taught me the value of meditation, journaling, and solo travel!

After years of baking for friends and family, I’ve started a baking business out of my home that allows me to fuel the creativity that comes with trying new recipes, and fills me with joy when I see others enjoy these edible creations. I’ve also started writing healthcare content for GoodRx, blending my interest in healthcare and love for writing.

At any time, if one passion becomes less fulfilling or starts to feel like “too much,” I can take a step back, without any guilt, reminding myself that various aspects of my life are meant to enrich my days and help me evolve as a person. If they stop serving this purpose, it’s okay to leave them behind without any guilt.

– Amy

This may sound like a lot, and it is. It would be impossible to give all these passions total focus at any one time. Just like life, my passions ebb and flow, and I allow them to do so. At any time, if one passion becomes less fulfilling or starts to feel like “too much,” I can take a step back, without any guilt, reminding myself that these various aspects of my life are meant to enrich my days and help me evolve as a person. If they stop serving this purpose, it’s okay to leave them behind without any guilt.

We’re so often told we are valued by our degree of productivity, but what if we focused more on our degree of fulfillment (I’m still working on this one, too)? Whether it be within your day job or through other passions (or ideally, a combination of both), it’s ok to just do things because you enjoy them, or because you want to learn something new. With this mindset, you can fill your life with variety, evolving and growing every step of the way- guilt-free.