I've been thinking about this idea for a few days now. The concept of truly appreciating the things that interest you in the moment and not being afraid to dive deep.
When I was younger I enjoyed everything JDM. JDM is short for "Japanese Domestic Market," and refers to vehicles and vehicle parts that are intended for sale and use in Japan. JDM vehicles and parts often have a strong following among car enthusiasts worldwide due to their reputation for being high-quality, innovative, and performance-oriented. Many people seek out JDM vehicles and parts to use in their car builds or modifications, or to own and enjoy as collectors' items.
This appreciation led me to discover things like Initial D, Midnight Club Racing, videos from Best Motoring, and of course Gran Turismo. I began learning about cars and bought a few cool ones myself, a Mazda FC Rx7 and an 86 Toyota Corolla. As any car enthusiast would know, one of the cars that always stood out from Japan has been the Nissan Skyline. Each of the Skylines has its fanbase but I have always liked the R32, R33, and R34 models.
A few days ago I attended wedding in Bowral, NSW. The night before the wedding I saw a white Nissan Skyline R33 in the parking lot of the hotel. I got excited because I'd never seen an unmodified Nissan Skyline in person. My experience with Japanese Super Cars has been limited to heavily modified ones at car shows.
Unfortunately, I was in a taxi and couldn't stop to appreciate the car properly. The next day, after the wedding ceremony at a church, as the guests made their way to another venue, I saw the R33 pulling out of the church parking lot. I got a glimpse of the driver and noted that he looked like a person that was close to me during the ceremony.
Upon arriving at the venue, I met a few people and had the pleasure of talking about my love for music and photography. While I met people, a couple came up and introduced themselves. We began talking and I recognized that it was the driver of the Nissan Skyline. I asked if he was the owner and his face lit up. It was as if a beam of light hit him. We started talking about his car, its specs, its origin, and how the car had arrived in Australia. To his surprise, I knew a lot about the car and the Skyline lineup and we exchanged contact information.
The truth is, I don't think I would have built rapport with this person if it hadn't been for my exposure to cars. My passion for cars has changed over the years but it is something that has always stayed with me. This experience helped me appreciate the hobbies, passions, interests, and skills that you pick up over the years.
I have fallen into the trap of being a bit dismissive of the things I've learned over the years and sometimes forget that they add to my character as a person. I invite everyone to embrace those things about themselves regardless of how insignificant they may seem at the moment. Those very things might lead you on exciting paths.
Cherish the things you see, the conversations you have, and the things you learn.