I’ll admit that I’m very fortunate. I work in a field that is my true passion.  I am a technologist, and more specifically, a software architect. I also work for a great company that allows me to be creative, efficient, and impactful.

However, a recent article I read just made me realize that my passion has been eaten away by something else.

I used to work late… just because. If I was working on some particularly hairy algorithm, or software problem, I would work until it was complete. I got a rush out of it, and a deep sense of satisfaction that I could turn something complex into something elegantly simple.

I would go home and read technical books, online articles, and samples about up-and-coming languages or tools. I would be constantly writing sample applications in new languages, or playing around with a new database schema editor or programming environment. I would also join discussion groups, and attend local user group meetings just to meet and talk with people who shared my passion.

Most of that is gone now.

Now, my overriding thought is my two girls. They are my passion. Growing up and in my early adulthood, I knew I wanted a family and wanted to be the best father I could be. I thought about how I would raise my children to be competent, intelligent, resourceful adults.

Now that I am actually a father, I’ve realized two things:

  1. Even though I knew it would be a lot of work, I had no idea how much work is involved in raising children.
  2. I love it. I truly feel like I was made to be a father to my kids. Yeah it’s hard work, but I love every funny, whiny, screaming, giggling, sticky-fingered, cuddly, exasperating, exhausting, exhilarating minute of it.

Gone are the days of coming home and reading books and magazines about technology. Now I come home and am welcomed by two little girls who scream, “Daddy!! You’re home!!” and want hugs and kisses.

How can you not be passionate about that?