Last weekend my wife, Reagan, and I went to Tilghman Island on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it for a quiet weekend away.)

Anyway, we went there so she could take a weekend painting workshop from her instructor, Walt Bartman, whom she takes summer classes from at Glen Echo. I tagged along, caught up on sleep, read my book, and explored the island for the best crab cakes.

In the past few years Reagan had talked to me many times about Mr. Bartman — mostly about her respect for him as a painter and teacher, and about his loyal following of students — so I felt like I already knew him fairly well when I finally met him.

He was youthful-looking, warm and friendly. Very likeable right off the bat. He made sure to greet me when I dropped Reagan off at his studio in the morning, and he let me take his kayak out on the inlet behind his house one afternoon. But the thing that struck me the most about Mr. Bartman (which is how everyone refers to him), was his passion for painting — something he’s been doing for some 40 years.

When he wasn’t walking around critiquing his students’ work in the blistering heat, Mr. Bartman was painting at his easel, standing shoulder to shoulder with them, a palette in one hand, a paintbrush in the other, a rainbow of paint colors smudging his worn shirt and baseball cap. He laughed and joked with his students, alternately teaching and telling stories. He looked completely in his element.

And when he hosted a crab feast for the 30 or so workshop attendees at his house Saturday night — on picnic tables set up on the grassy area between his studio and his house — the topic of conversation, was, of course, art. And he was most often leading it.

It seemed clear that for Mr. Bartman there’s no separation between his work and his passion. He’s created a life in which he does what he absolutely loves most in the world.

On our ride back home to Washington, D.C., I wondered about how rare that is, and what a fantastic gift that is to give yourself.

I think most people’s attitude about their job falls somewhere between mild like and active dislike. Part of that stems from the reasons they enter a certain career. It could be that they’re pushed by family, or that certain skills come easy to them, or that they simply follow the money.

But as a psychotherapist I wonder about the role fear plays in the career choices people make.

It’s my opinion that a good number of people choose safe, secure and conventional jobs or careers when they’d rather be following their one true love, whether it’s teaching elementary school, fixing motorcycles, or making jewelry. You get the idea.

I’m glad that Mr. Bartman followed his passion for painting. He chose love over fear. Not only is his passion contagious, but he seems to be living a far happier life than most, which is perhaps the greatest lesson he can teach his students.

For help in finding your passion in life, call me at 202.588.1288 or email me at david@dctalktherapy.com