Happiness and doing what you love in life.

[Dreadbelly]

It occured to me, as I was sitting on the couch with my dog, hooking out a hat, just how happy I was. I was rather meditative, zoning out, way out... And no, I haven't been drinking anything.

It just sort of popped in to my mind "Hey, you freckled idiot, guess what. You're happy." "I am?" "Hey, I am!"

Followed by an odd feeling of serenity. Which is really unusual for me. Really. I am high strung and jittery. Serenity is not a common emotion for me at all.

So. I got to thinking... Is this a calling? Making stuff I mean. I don't really know if I can explain it. I really don't know what the emotion was to be honest. I realise there is no way I could make a self supporting living on making hats, I don't mean just those. I am not really sure what I mean.

I think we've all had those jobs that we hated. Loathed. We didn't want to be there, and it showed. Every ounce of our being, every fibre of our body, every little part of us, hated what we were doing, whatever that was. Know what I mean? And then there are jobs, we sit down, or stand, or well, you get the idea. We go to work and don't realise we are working. We're just happy. Exceptionally so. I don't think I've ever really felt this way before, even when I was working as a cook.

For you guys doing what you love, kilt makers, sporran makers, those of you "living the dream", what does it feel like? This is new for me. What do you feel when you fire up the sewing machine in the morning? Or break out the leather punch? Or break out the paint brushes and paint signs... I know there are a lot of people here who make their own way. What is it like for you and how did you know for sure you found your own niche? Was it like a lightbulb went off in your head? Did you hear angels singing? Were you sitting around one night plugging away and come to the sudden realisation that you were at one with the universe at the same time that you were working to support your self? I would really love to hear your take on it...

Thanks.