To the surprise of many, “13” is my lucky number! I celebrate every Friday the 13th! I am not sure I like or appreciate the movies of the same name, but ya never know. So, this is edition 13 of the OBS Post Chronicles. Not so subtly titled “What the Heck Was I Thinking?”
I always dreamed of being a writer with grandiose thoughts. I wanted to write big words with impunity. I even wanted to be able to write cusses with dignity. Writing for me was and always has been and always will be like breathing to me. I take in letters and breathe out words. Writing is totally part of me, and I would not have it any other way. And yes, I wish I could draw or paint but I cannot draw the proverbial straight line with a ruler. As for music, I love music and wished I could play an instrument other than my bongo drums and sometimes on my harmonica but truth is I cannot read music. Music is like another language, and I have enough problems with English. I was fortunate enough to find my passion as a writer and slinger of words. I love putting words together in new and unique constructions. But that’s another ramble for sure.
This week I want to talk about passion and being passionate about whatever you are doing.
The word passion has come a long way since its ancestral beginnings. Let’s take it apart: It’s introduction to English took place in the twelfth century (1125—ll75). Passion derives from of passiō which is Christ’s suffering while being crucified and this stems from the Latin meaning suffering, submission, derivative of patī to suffer, submit.
Today the word has a totally different sense, and we are quite passionate about it!
- any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
- strong amorous feeling or desire; love; affection.
- strong sexual desire; lust.
- an instance or experience of strong love or sexual desire.
- a person toward whom one feels strong love or sexual desire.
- a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything such as a passion for food.
Thus, the worst thing, obviously, is being apathetic about life but perhaps being bored is even worse. When you are apathetic you have closed everything off and live life like you are in a prison, a prison of your own making I would summarily state. You don’t really feel anything.
But being bored means that you have looked at your agenda, your alternatives and find them wanting and not the least bit exciting. I can only imagine how painful it must be to be bored about everything. It hurts to just think about it.
We like to flirt with passion, don’t we but how many of us really feel it? I would love to know what your passion is. Just comment on the newsletter and I will be able to see it.
When I do my Passion of Writing Workshop, I go around the room and have everyone name their passion in life. Finding one’s passion could be one of the most exhilarating things one can do in one’s life. It is like rediscovering life all over again. Looking at life like a child with and aura of surprise and wonder. In a workshop I recently held one person, we’ll call her Jane, could not name a passion and felt that she did not have a passion at all. Well, that soon changed. After going around the room and getting all that passion (except for one), I then ask for them to not just write about their passion but to actually create it with words. Mind you, this is not merely a verbal description but the idea is to actually create it with words.
Interestingly enough, Jane’s eyes opened wide as she discovered or perhaps rediscovered that her passion was cooking and proceeded to write a brilliant account of her passion for the workshop. It was so cool to watch this blossoming take place.
I then go around the room and check out what they have written. This method of writing I call “Look & Write” with the idea of the writer visualizing in their mind what the concept is and then simply transferring that concept into words. The simpler and more direct the better. I get them to go deeper and deeper and not just capture surface thoughts. I want them to explore the deep seated words that need to erupt and put on paper.
Look & Write is a fantastic way to express yourself as it dispenses with any variables and enables an outpouring of words to come naturally. It further enables you to be very discerning in what one is viewing as to their veracity or lack thereof.
Remember your passion and let it guide you to its source!
