I see sunshine and beautiful colors
What are you passionate about?
What makes your heart sing?
In a world of seven billion people, I would imagine there are some fascinating answers to that question, including the answer “nothing!”
Truth: I have a good friend, someone I have known for decades, and I’m guessing his answer to that question would be “nothing.” I have never known him to be passionate about anything. I have never heard him speak about such a passion. Oh sure, he’s interested in many things, but his heart singing? No way have I seen evidence of that, in him, in all the years I’ve known him.
But if you were to ask that same question to him, about me, he would most likely tell you that I was once passionate about teaching and that I am now passionate about writing. He knows me well enough to answer that way, and that would be the correct answer.
When I was a teacher, I lived and breathed teaching. I woke up every morning excited about going to school. I could hardly wait to share a lesson with my students, and I went to bed each night thinking about classes the next day. I found incredible joy in that work, and today I find similar joy in writing. The process of creating an article, a story, or a novel is thrilling for me, just as teaching was at one point in my life.
But to be passionate about nothing? I can’t even fathom how that is possible and yet I am quite certain there are many people like my friend . . . and that’s okay! There is no requirement for passion in life. I make no judgment one way or another. I just find it interesting, being an observer of people. I’ve seen some people so beaten down by life there is no way they can find the passion. I’ve seen some abused, some totally ignored, some rejected, bullied, beaten, and some trapped in addiction. There are countless reasons why passion would be missing.
I’m just curious.
And then there are those who are passionate about being a parent, or passionate about being married, and I can see that as well.
How about you? What is your passion? Do you have one?
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Aw, I love this as I am pretty sure what I have been passionate about over the years has evolved, especially after getting married and having kids. So, I do think passions can change with time. But I also think that we do have certain passions at certain times of our lives. Great food for thought here today and Happy Tuesday to you now 🙂
Thank you Janine, for always being here. Your passion is obvious, my friend, and I’m glad you are a part of my online life.
I have a few passions, writing, artwork I do, my grandchildren, and Jesus. That about sums it up. Having no passion is sad but I can see where a person who has lived a hard life might have kicked them down and they’ve lost their way. Hopefully, your friend can find his way the purpose God has for him.
Thank you Lori. It’s too late for my best friend. He only has a couple weeks to live….but he had a happy life, with or without passion, so who am I to speak about it for him? 🙂
If I had to pick one thing…I couldn’t. I have a passion for all things creative, either creating or appreciating the creations of others. I enjoy writing, photography, needlework and crocheting. But, like the rest of the world, I am only alotted 24 hours each day. Therefore it is impossible to indulge in these crafts every day. I could set time aside day for each creation, but if the passion isn’t there at that moment, the ennui will show in the final result.
In short, what am I passionate about? It depends on what mood I’m in.
Have a lovely day, Bill.
I like that answer, Zulma! It’s nice to have options depending on the mood. I just can’t wrap my brain around not having any passions at all. I guess we are two of the lucky ones.
Have a passionate day, my friend.
Thanks, Bill. I forgot to mention I dabble now and then in cooking. I think I’ll try my hand at making scones this weekend. Sometimes you just want to get your hands dirty, ya know.
Zulma, I love scones. Please send a dozen this way, my friend!
Only if you promise to have them with clotted cream and jam, the way there were meant to. And not just any clotted cream. It has to be from Cornwall. Anything less would be criminal. lol
Well that adds a bit of pressure on me, doesn’t it? lol
You know could probably guess what I am passionate about! Novel and nonfiction writing, and of course, gardening! My husband and I just closed on our new place in the country. So many things have changed since we lost our farm a few years back, but it is all good! Every trial is a learning experience to be cherished!
Donna, that’s fantastic! Best wishes with your new home.
Bill
I think I’ve been passionate about many things over the years, and if I was to spend time thinking about them that passion would re-ignite.
Today, I’m probably most passionate about telling the stories I’ve come across in this life, be that in fiction form ir otherwise.
I’m also passionate about the fact that seven years ago we nearly ended up on the streets, living in a car, that was a rough time and it was only finding a job where I could work what others would say we’re insane hours that got us through.
Now we’re putting my wife and daughter through University so the passion for holding things together has had some good results.
Great story, Lawrence.Thanks for sharing that with me….yes, you are a passionate man for sure.
You could try your luck on Amazon. 🙂
I’m a lil late in getting here this week, Big Bro, but I stopped by to read on Tuesday and just now have a chance to comment. Apparently planning a public peace rally is incredibly time-consuming. 😂
To that end, I’m passionate about life. I love being alive. I love the opportunity to have 24 new hours each day to do all kinds of things. To be sure, I tend to overfill my plate and need to evaluate the “busyness” that is my life after the peace rally is over. I feel like “going within” and doing a little hibernation will do me good. 😛 That kind of rest helps me to emerge with renewed enthusiasm and a zest for life.
I’ve met people who are not passionate about much. I definitely respect that. Perhaps it’s their personality or their temperament, but I definitely have the “must ooze enthusiasm” gene. Haha. I feel for those who do feel defeated and beaten down by life, too.
There are so many things to do, to try, to experience…sometimes I wish I could live 900 years to see everything I want to see in this life. lol. But well, we’re all forced to pick and choose.
I hope you’ve had a good week, dear friend. Sending hugs!
It is interesting to think about going through life without a passion – I can’t imagine it, it strikes me that life would be a little dull, but then if you have few passions one way or another maybe life is just a pleasant easy ride!
it’s beyond my comprehension, Andrea, but perhaps what you say is true….I’ll never know, though. 🙂
Hey Bill, I believe everyone needs to have passion for at least one thing in life, especially what they believe to be their purpose for being. I am passionate about living life well and passing on my wisdom learned to others (at least to those who want to hear it). Thank God for all the trials and joys that have made me a stronger person, it is the reason I can face life situations positively.
I love the passion you mentioned, Dee. I think it speaks volumes about you as a human being.
Bill, my dear friend, can I plug into your passion and recharge mine? It’s still there for me, but a little locked-down just now. I have felt passionate about my writing for three decades or more but, as you know, that passion has eluded me for the last year. At the moment, the thing I get the most passionate about is conserving nature and I find myself getting very excited whenever I see butterflies or bees in abundance or, as happened the other day, I saw two fox cubs playing in my garden at dawn, and then one of them sunbathing on my lawn in the middle of the morning the next day. The best I can do is to go with the flow in life at the moment. I’m not miserable. Just not feeling that passionate about creative ventures. Meanwhile, I am greatly enjoying having random conversations with people that I encounter around the place. It helps having a dog that everyone falls in love with when they meet her. She’s a wonderful icebreaker. I think there are a lot of lonely people out there, and I guess it’s one of my missions in life as I get older, to at the very least acknowledge people’s existence with a smile. So all is not lost. The passion for writing will return.
Thanks for you lovely post. I wish I’d had a teacher like you. It might have persuaded me to stay on at school a bit longer. You obviously saw your work as a vocation, rather than just a job.
Wishing you a wonderful week 🙂
Sarah, you are sweet. Thank you! I personally think your new mission in life is a dandy. Getting to know people with a smile…what a lovely goal. We could sure use more of that in today’s world.
I, too, find myself contemplating more and writing less. There are so many things about life I missed when I was “busy.” Now I want to see them all, and I want to surround myself with quality people, and, and, and….to be continued.
Thank you dear friend!
Sending you a whole heap of my smiles 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
As fine a gift as I can possibly receive, Sarah. Thank you!
Blessings!
I like knowing how others see life so your question is great.
I am passionate of too many things … hardly can’t answer in a comment … Wow Bill you have this way of writing that puts my mind to work … more than it does. No wonder I don’t have time for everything I want to do … “Passion” I need to be still. Thanks Bill, for so much; you don’t even know how much help you are.
Well you are very welcome,Maria,and you are correct: I don’t know how much help my writings are, but thank you for reminding me that my work matters.
My passion is helping people. Everything I enjoy doing is truly just a vessel through which I’m able to help others: writing, serving, speaking, ministering, working.
And Shell, I love you for your passion. Bless you always!