“The Greeks didn’t write obituaries. When a man died, they asked only one question: did he have passion?”
I help take care of this elderly man named Allen. He can’t remember what happened five minutes ago, but he can give you a play by play of everything that happened during his time in WWII. Sadly, he is aware of his condition and why he’s in a nursing home. Every morning he still goes outside at 7am and salutes the flag. I work with another lady, Elene, who always walks around holding a picture of one of the Saints. She passed away yesterday, and I had to go into her room. I glanced at her wedding picture, next to her bed. It was from 1935. There were pictures of her grandkids, trips to Paris, and family Christmases. I noticed her stack of journals, chronicling her 90-some years on this earth. Next to them was a box that contained tattered love letters from her husband, who had died several years prior. He wrote her a note everyday telling her how much he loved her.
Then there are the others. The ones whose rooms are empty.
I’ve been taking my ipod on alot of daytrips to the park lately. Parks are bittersweet to me, as are daytrips. At any rate, they are good places for reflecting. If we ever met, you would probably instantly recognize two things: I play with my hair alot, I’m sarcastic, and I’m passionate. Okay, three. I’m also Italian, which makes the problem of passion significantly worse. But is it really a problem? Interesting you should ask. I hadn’t thought about it much until recently.
It’s a tricky dichotomy, Passion. I’ve always gravitated toward passionate people. People who aren’t alarmed by my enthusiasm for composition notebooks and travel size products, but rather, appreciate it. They take notice of little things that may appear insignificant, however, they are anything but. Passion can also be easily misunderstood.
Someone once told me that passionate people are amazing lovers, and even better fighters. When we’re in, we’re in. And when we care greatly, we hurt greatly. I share this with you because I like to keep it real. I’m not about pretending to be something I’m not. There is no greater disservice to the world, and to yourself. I’ve done some horrible things, which illustrate all too well, that there is a bad side of passion.
When I went to college in London, I learned a lot about Queen Victoria. I took a trip to her castle. I was excited when the movie Young Victoria came out, as she had such an incredible story that many haven’t heard. After living in near isolation and becoming Queen of the British Empire at only 18 years old, Victoria eventually married her best friend, Prince Albert, against all odds. He died of typhoid fever when he was only 42. In honor of him, she had his clothes laid out every day until her death, at age 82. Their story was one of passion.
Despite the bad side, I can’t see living any other way. Don’t be scared of what will happen if you jump all in. Life is just, life. It’s messy and horrible and wonderful. In the end, you’ll lose your hair, your health, and your good looks. Don’t end up with an empty room.
Great post! I agree that life without passion is not worth living – the kind of passion you feel to the core, not the kind that you have to yap about and read books on how to cultivate (snooze). It makes us different.
I think passionate people are brave people. It takes courage to truly feel a passion for something, especially when there are people that don’t feel the same way you do, or a chance that you could be hurt.
Love this post, again.
I salute anyone who works with the elderly and is brave enough to ease them out of this world.
I am passionate, but only about some things. As my time continues, I find I’m less and less passionate. In some ways I see this as a mellowing of my character, things that used to get me worked up don’t bother me any more. In other ways I see it as just not caring, I’ve learned some things aren’t worth getting out of bed for.
Another great post!
I too am a passionate person and usually find that does nothing but get me in trouble. God bless you and keep you for your sincere and loving care of our older loved ones.
Passion is an incredible mobilizer but fear tends to hold even the most passionate back.
First of all, I LOVE travel-size products. Sometimes I just go down that aisle even when I don’t need to, just to see if for some reason I might require a tiny deodorant.
On a more somber note, one time my mom told me something that will stick with me forever, “You Ask Too Much From People.”
This killed me. Because how is that possible? Maybe because most people aren’t as passionate as I am. Maybe because most people can’t be 100% all the time – and yet, I have to or I’ll shrivel up like a cheap grocery store-brand raisin.
So – you are not alone. Plus, I also play with my hair to a weird degree.
I’m with you 100%…there’s no other way to live except for the pursuit of passion. Unless, of course, you’re a murderer.
OK, there is passion and then there is Tiger Woods! I agree though, life should grabbed with both hands and flung to the four winds (with you grasping tightly of course). Nothing sadder than an empty journal 🙁
This is why you are such a good writer and people gravitate towards you. I think passion is essential in excelling in anything you really want to do. Unfortunately, I tend to suffer from a lack of self confidence so even with passion I sometimes have a very difficult time letting go and just jumping in. I’m getting better but being a reformed door mat is not as easy as it sounds.
Great post!
the one thing i hate about being a passionate person is that the frustration that comes when people dont respond to things in the same way you do. You feel a lot more than others and worse yet express it even more which a lot of people may find irritating.
but i guess thats why we are all different.
guess just gotta keep on truckin
I was going to list all of the ways I’m crazy… errr, passionate, but decided that they’re probably best left alone and discovered by the unfortunate soul(s) that get to know me well. Clearly the goal is to simply conceal how crazy (passionate) you are by applying it to productive things that people won’t question, because people are typically scared of what they don’t understand.
I suppose it’s a fine line, one most people end up on the wrong side of. While I can appreciate passion, I know where to draw the line for when it becomes crazy (especially when gauging other peoples’ actions).
Also, I play with my hair all the time. It’s quite lovely.
I always go all in with romantic relationships and usually regret it immediately after. However, as time passes, I’m always thankful that I at least know that I gave it my all and it didn’t work out because it wasn’t supposed to. Or maybe because I was too crazy, like my most recent blunder, but if it’s going to happen, it will. 🙂
Good post.
@ Brandon:
hehe lovely hair? lets hope you dont have a receding hairline. shows your long locks!
You are truly, deeply, irrovocably the awesome in my sauce. Forever. Because after a long hiatus I am back to find out our posts mirror each other. Yet. Again. In fact I believe that I also use passion in conjuction with being “all in”. It’s also used in conjuction with running away from things. But hey, no one is perfect.
And I fully support your enthusiasm for composition notebooks. In fact, that just makes me fall just a little bit deeper in love with you.
As if that is possible.
Always yours,
Completely obsessed on the east coast.
I think she blinks in that video
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