[ljf]

Totally this! My father is/was a stage and costume designer in the theatre.

He worked so hard during the week (and weekends - theatre people keep some heavy hours!) that he rarely did many passion projects (though he did manage to fit a few in). But when he did they were on things that we really important to him, and that he gave himself the time to enjoy the process, and results and the iterations to follow.

I think he's always set me to have a good work life balance, and when I look back at the life he built for himself (and for us) it makes me really proud.

Now he's 'retired' he is in over-drive. He and my mother are slowly hand-painting their entire house, nothing is safe from redecoration. He's also painting loads of portraits and writing far more. Great to see a 78 year old man have so much drive and energy for creativity. I hope I do too at his age.