Passion Makes All Things Alive and Significant. Ya' think?

Are you a passionate person? I’ve never thought of myself as all that passionate (except when it comes to love - or lust (however you want to spell it). I’m thinking about passion because I’m trying to create a hero for my new book who thinks he lacks passion and longs to feel it for something or somebody, but I’m having a hard time.

I’ve read a definition of passion that says it’s something which makes it impossible for us even to listen to reason. Apparently, the word has a Latin origin and is an intense emotion compelling such overwhelming and unreasoning desire that it can cause intense suffering

Obsession, on the other hand, apparently is an idea or impulse that continually forces its way into our consciousness and is often associated with anxiety and in some cases, mental illness.

Regarding the definition of passion my response is, “I’ll buy that!” especially the unreasoning part. As to the definition of obsession my response is, “Duh! Ya think?”

I know I’ve suffered from passion at least once (sorry, I’m not sharing details). But other than that . . . I could cite Christ’s passion to die on the cross as an example of passion. I suppose one could say Hitler was passionate about making Germany a great world power. Possibly, we could call Sister Teresa passionate. I’d certainly call Mahatma Ghandi passionate.

I’m thinking if I truly have a passion it might be that I want to share myself with others as much as possible. If I can communicate, at least a little bit through my writing, that’s something. Of course I’m not totally crazy about suffering for my art. But there’s so much misunderstanding in the world because we don’t share ourselves. Face book is a great place to share although, understandably, we’re reluctant to go too far out on a limb there because there are so many unscrupulous people who will take advantage of our vulnerabilities.

I know I’ve suffered from many obsessions. The list is so long I don’t think I have enough room here to spell them all out for you. I do obsess about writing. I’m not sure if I’d consider it my life’s calling, but I’ve been obsessed for some time now that I need to write at least six or seven books before I die. I’m working on number five now. I was tired after finishing the last one and thought about resting for awhile, but kept thinking, no, what if I suddenly die and I’m not finished?

I obsess about Sam, constantly worrying if I’m taking good enough care of him, if I’m making him feel loved, if I’m treating him gently and kindly enough. I constantly have dreams in which he appears for one reason of another and usually I am frantically trying to rescue him. Yeah, I know, nutburger city.

I obsess about that S word a lot. I dare not spell it out here because this is not an “R” rated blog. I know it’s silly, but I live in fear that I won’t get my quota before I kick the bucket. I mean, I’m part Italian and I ain’t anywhere near dead yet. I have needs! I obsess over my truck a lot too because, even though it’s eight years old, I want to keep it looking new as long as possible.

Truly, I don’t know if I personally want passion again - although I do remember the drug-like euphoria of it - WOW! But passion can destroy us. I like Ben Franklin’s words, “If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”