Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is a famous theory of human needs and development. It consists of 5 needs:  physiological needs, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.  The theory argues that an individual is only able to obtain Self-Actualization which is the highest need, once all the others needs are meet. 

Physiological needs are basic physical needs all humans have.  The need for food, water, shelter and sex for example. This is a basic premise for human survival. Safety is represented by shelter and protection from the natural disasters of nature such as flood and storms.

Belonging is the need to connect to other people. We are social creatures and we have a need to connect to other human beings. Esteem is the need for self-worth. Arrogance does not live here. This the true sense of having value about you. By having these entire needs met then one is able to experience Self-Actualization which is for you to be the person you are to be. Just as a painter paints and an artist’s make art. Be true to yourself in whatever you do, just as it is for Alex Carozza.

In Time Magazine, Alex Carozza was feature because he is the last accordion repairman in New York City, New York. Alex Carozza is 88 and his coworker 93. They have been working together since 1949 (The Sultan of Squeezeboxes: New York City’s Last Accordion Repairman, n.d.).  Alex shared his story of how he started working the repairing accordions when the instrument was very popular and there were many repair stores. As time when on accordion repair shops closed their doors and he is now the last of his kind in New York.

Creating Your Passion

Many people talk about that they need to find happiness. The reality is that you do not ‘find’ happiness. Happiness is something that you create for yourself. A person is just not going to be walking down the street and all of a sudden, trip over some happiness. Poof, someone has found happiness. No, it doesn’t work like that. The way that it works is that you and only you know what will bring you happiness.  When you have that happiness, you go full throttle with much joy and passion which will naturally arise from what you are doing.

By a person choosing to engage in a task, activity, or lifestyle that is suitable for them, great passion will emerge. How come great passions emerge? One answer is why not. Great passion will emerge because the natural enjoyment and love of what you are doing will come out and other people will see it. People on the outside looking in would be able to see from a mile away that his person is sincere and genuine about what they too and that speaks volume about person, their work, their lifestyle, and their way of being.

Passion vs. Monetary Gain

Have you ever came across a person who is not happy at what they are doing or have you have ever had a conversation with someone who doesn’t like their life. People go to school and obtain degrees or obtain work that they are not happy in. They scarified money or time for passion. If a person wants to go back to school or go to school to get a degree in what they really like and the negative thoughts emerge of “I’m too old or that just too long.” The reality is for example, if  a person is 50 years of age and the degree is going to take them 5 years and that statement comes in “I’m too old or that’s just too long,” in reality ask oneself do I want to be 55 years old with a degree or 55 years old without a degree. Don’t sell yourself short because there is only this life on this earth that is concrete. The afterlife one can find out when that time comes. This is about the present. 

Alex Carozza is on the last of his kind. The last accordion repairman in New York City.  He loves what he do and he is passionate about his life and what all he does in his life such as his work. Self-Actualization the highest form of human development is attainable and not that far off as one may believe. In order for a person to have the life that they want, they are going to have to choose to create that life. The life one’s dream of or desire is not going to be created by no actions. It is that person’s responsibility to create their happiness and passion. Time is not a factor. Time waits for no man or woman. It’s not a barrier, it just an element of life. Finally, don’t fall into the trap that many do as far as living a lifestyle based on monetary gain and not true happiness. Alex Carozza, “I love this more than anything else. It’s not the money sometimes in life. If you feel healthy and happy, money doesn’t count.

References:

The Sultan Of Squeezeboxes: New York City’s Last Accordion Repairman. (n.d.) Retrieved http://greatbig.is/1Pr6YUC

About the Author

Henry M. Pittman, MA

Henry M. Pittman came into the field of counseling through substance use disorders in the fall of 1997. He was a substance abuse tech at a hospital in Houston, TX and what he saw motivated him to take all the counseling hours needed to become a substance abuse counselor in 1998. Since then he has pursed the required education and knowledge to become a master level counselor and therapist.

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