Will You Still Love Your Passion Project in 5 Years?

Open your closet, wardrobe, clothing racks, or wherever you store your clothes, and take a good look. I mean really look closely. Out of all that’s hanging, folded, stuffed, or shoved in somewhere, and don’t forget what’s been left to fry in the dryer, how many do you actually wear? Not stare at, slide past to find that specific top, but put on and go out in? I’m betting that for most of us, the number is probably smaller than you think or want to admit. Maybe 10%, or 20% if you’re really lucky and diligent about changing up your look. Not to mention if you work from home, have a uniform, or nowhere to go that you think warrants making an effort. So you reach for the same pieces over and over again.

And no, I’m not about to judge your fashion or wasteful clothing spending, as I’d need to look hard in the mirror myself. Or discourage you from putting on those ‘save for special’ pieces – because life should be special every day. Again, I’m talking directly to myself. It’s about recognizing the why.

If you’re like me, I’m assuming it boils down to comfort and an effortless way of being as to why we choose or stick to those items. They’re comfortable. You know they work for you, and they feel like “you.” And the rest? You keep them because sure, they fit, but they’re just waiting for that specific moment or event to be showcased. That’s the logic I’ve used on myself, anyway. But really, they’ve become visual hanging reminders of my past impulse buys. Forgotten fast-fashion, trend experiments, and colorways I know I don’t like, but it was on sale so maybe I might. But maybe never comes.

So we keep coming back to the things we love. The things that last and go with everything, every time. And I can’t stress enough that I do not want you or me to get stuck pulling out the same old, same old. Nope. Experimenting is good. Testing out new looks, unexpected pairings, even just to see, again, good. But once we recognize what suits us, what our style or look really is, we only stray so far away before coming back to it. Because it feels like home, we look damn good in it, and it’s us.

And did you guess that I’m not just yapping on about clothing? It’s about our life.

Think about the same principle applied to your passions, your goals, your “thing.” Think about that blazer you can rock with jeans, a maxi dress, or elevated sweatpants, that you spent a little too much on but still gets pulled out and is never a backup. Five years from now, you’ll still want to wear it, so you care for it like a baby. It’s always hung up, never tossed. Now apply that to your “thing,” whether you’ve fully started, are halfway in, or it’s swirling around in your head. 

Do you still want to be doing it five years from now? 

If the answer is yes, then why not start now? Give it the care and attention it needs. Treat your goals the same way you treat your favorite pair of jeans. That top. Those bargain leather boots you snagged that have paid for themselves ten times over with their wear. Something you invest in, care for, and use will still fit you in the years ahead.

When I think about that five-year lens, it has a way of cutting through the noise. Sure, you might buy that edgy jacket for a one-off event, and it’ll work just fine, but you already know it probably won’t have a long shelf life in your wardrobe. It’s a conversation starter but it only goes well with like two things. 

Same goes for projects, certain jobs, relationships, or habits. I know we often come to realize, a little too late, that some things are only meant to sparkle for a specific reason or a short season. They don’t deserve permanent space in your life as they were never meant to. They were never the stunning bargain boots. The bag that somehow transcends seasons or occasions, and can hold damn near anything yet still look fantastic doing it. Those have staying power and are worth committing to.

Looking ahead, it’s easy to feel blah and dismissive by distance. When I was in my 20s, five years ahead felt like a lifetime away. Now? Five years gets here like next week. So in our second chapter, when we say we’ll start later, what are we really saying or thinking?

All of our circumstances are different, and it’s not about kicking off some grand venture, unless that’s your “thing.” Our passion projects, goals we want to achieve, come in every shape and size. I’m just hoping they’re coming, or we’re working on them and they are solidly here to stay. It’s our time now. Five years will pass whether or not you take the first step. The only question is whether you’ll look back wishing you had.

So what does this look like in practice?

I know I was thinking about yet another closet revamp… I get distracted easily. But also, continuing and choosing to nurture my creative side projects, even when no one else sees them yet. Yes, I’d love a community filled with thousands of like-minded peeps, all pushing each other on and showcasing their interim and end results. But that doesn’t mean that vision will be my intended outcome. And it doesn’t matter, not right now anyway, what the exact ending looks like. The doing is what matters most.

Make it exist first, then make it better later.

The point is your passion project, hobby, goal, or venture, you already know is what you’ll still want to be doing in five, ten… whatever years. So, it might mean prioritizing your health with small daily shifts and habit changes to help you along the way, because five years from now you’ll be grateful for the energy and strength you built. Or it might mean saying no to distractions, fake opportunities that look shiny in the moment but feel off, and don’t align with where you’re headed long-term. Trust your gut, always.

Take a Breath.

Liberate yourself from having to know or be sure of every step of the journey. We’re Gen X or elder millennials, I get it. It’s crazy hard to do. But what matters most is clearly seeing, and being honest, about what deserves your investment and what doesn’t. If something pops up and it doesn’t pass the “five-year-sniff-test,” does it even deserve your time right now? And no, I don’t mean missing out on activities with loved ones. Like being kidnapped by a mate and driven to a fabulous restaurant, eating a scrumdiddlyumptious meal overlooking the Chesapeake Bay as you all marvel at the sunset. Or hunkering down to watch The Old Guard 2… then being vexed at the ending, not because it was bad, it was great! But now you’re even madder if Netflix doesn’t make or release part 3 immediately. Those things are part of life’s joy and aren’t going anywhere.

If you can keep picturing yourself still passionate, still committed, still daydreaming of your “thing” in the future, then how is that not a sign to begin today?

There are no rules. Start small, start big, start quiet, start loud. Just start. OK, maybe there was one rule. Start.

What’s a gem in your closet? What’s the gem in your life? Are you surrounding yourself with quick fixes that look OK-ish for a moment, or are you building something you’ll still want five years from now?