Passion
Last week I saw passion-in-action at an art exhibit at our country club. Members of the club surprised one another by exhibiting their paintings, photos, drawings, jewelry and sculpture in a very professional exhibit. Most were known as artists only by their closest friends. A friend of many years with whom I played golf and trained dogs exhibited her beautiful wildlife portraits. She gave up golf to pursue this passion. I understand this, as I had also given up golf to write.
Over the weekend I attended the Southeastern Civil War Show with my books. Many collectors are passionate about their Civil War collections. They swap and haggle as if the outcome of the Civil War depended upon it! They enjoy showing, telling, exhibiting, and selling. It’s their passion. The displays they create take time, money, and energy. They invest themselves in history and learning. It’s their passion.
If purpose gives meaning to life, it’s passion that drives it. It is fueled by interest, education, and enjoyment. Without passion, one has complacency. It doesn’t move one or drive one to another level of learning or expertise. Complacency in living is living without passion.
What is it you are passionate about? What would drive you to give up things you enjoy to use your money and energy to develop a talent or learn something new? What do you want to show and tell, and share with others? What drives you out of complacency?