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I'm not a hardcore Neil Gaiman fan. In fact, except for the more popular graphic novels and comic books he's created, I'm largely unfamiliar with his work. Still, one of my favorite characters created by Neil Gaiman is definitely Dream, the embodiment of inspiration and wonder found in the pages of his Sandman series.

During Cosmo's interview with the famed writer, our Features Editor, Sam Echavez, asked him about his thoughts on pursuing our passions. His reply: "I'd tell everybody to pursue your passion. Those who have passions, we are the lucky ones. If you like painting, for God's sake, paint. If you like writing, write."

Neil's answer is simple, and one that has always made sense to me. For as long as I can remember, I've always liked creating things. I've always known that I am an artist. And although I never imagined I'd work in a magazine, I at least knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I can't quite imagine myself doing anything else. Because of this, maybe Neil is right—I am lucky.

But Neil's words got me thinking: what about those people who don't know what they are passionate about? I've met a lot of people who go to the office and do what they do simply because they are after the money. They earn as much as they can in the hopes of an early retirement, but when asked what they'd do when they finally retire, they draw a blank. My friend once told me that some people spend a lifetime searching for their passion, and they are some of the most interesting people you'll ever meet because they know little things about everything. This is probably true, but if you've talked to a producer who's spent his hard-earned cash on an indie film he doesn't even know will make money in the end, or a bargain-hunter who just scored an awesome find in an ukay-ukay, there's an excitement in their eyes that is simply contagious.

If I didn't follow my passion, I think I would have ended up in the medical field, just like my parents and my older brother. I imagine that the urge of making beautiful things would translate to me pursuing a career in dentistry, dermatology, or cosmetic surgery (just like my mom). I probably wouldn't be great at it, and I doubt I'd be very happy, but I'm pretty sure that I'd most likely be one of the most fashionable doctors in the hospital.

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