Craig Smith’s Contest Entry

By Craig Smith

It’s a funny thing when you are asked what you are passionate about. I mean really passionate about, not just care about, or like, love or even love deeply. That isn’t passion, they are other emotions, no less valid, but not passion. So I had to sit down and think about it. Life goes so fast, there is no time to really sit down and think, contemplate life; yet with this question it meant I must.

I love writing, well I think I do. When I get into the swing I’ll write a few thousand words and it’s a breeze, even when I don’t want too. I like my job; fixing things and finding solutions the best way in resolving an issue, without the issue, itself, becoming an issue. I use to love my sports; but never became passionate in it, regardless of how good I was. Why? Because, it probably became too easy. Not too easy to win, but to easy to stop caring if I won or not. That, I think is the start of what passion is about (or isn’t). Its starts by caring. The love of my life; well that is one person who I care about, stirs my passions and to a degree am passionate about, but that passion is again different to what we are talking about here. My children, of course I am passionate about and would die for in an instant (let’s hope we never have to test that one). I am very passionate about their learning and development. I want them to succeed in everything they do, so to that point I am passionate about them and their successes. But that is passion for them, not for me. To see my little female protégées come to fruition is a wondrous thing, but is it passion or pride?

So, I sat back and stared at the ceiling. I went for a walk. I lay on the couch and stared down at my widening girth. It doesn’t look so bad standing up, but lying down we see the flab oozing over the couch, a waterproof covering with no need for Scotchproof. Still, it didn’t help answer my now evident burning question of what stirred my emotions, what I was so passionate about that I would chain myself to a tree and so ceasing the mindless slaughter of innocent rooted beings; or driving headlong into the path of a whaling ship terrorising its research; or maybe just standing up, putting my hand out and just saying “Stop, I don’t like that”. I mean, really, what drives someone to be that passionate?! It made me stop and think. Had I become that lethargic in life that I no longer really cared? Has life gotten that monotonous, the hum drum of city suburbanisation that I had ceased to really care about anything other than where my next meal was coming from? I suppose I had.

Don’t get me wrong, I have read self improvement books, educated myself to a decent level, and even gone to wealth creation seminars, but really at the end of the day, what good has it done me? I have a Blog set up, with nothing written, I have ideas to run my own business, but failed to build a business plan, I have opportunities to make more money, but I haven’t acted upon this information, yet, yet writing this here and now, stirs something. No wait, it’s my coffee. Instead I’m sitting at a computer typing for a competition to get a fictitious character into a book that I would have no control over! Its like a naming competition for a new baby elephant. Do you really think anyone really cares that much? From the classic line in The Matrix “Do you think that’s air you’re breathing?”

So, is it really air that I’m breathing? Staring deep into a now empty mug I have to admit that it’s not. To be truly passionate about something you need to raise it on a pedestal above all else. Without it you would cease to exist, cease to have meaning in life, and cease to add value, not to humanity, but to yourself (I hope I have enough commas). If you believed in Karma, you’d be coming around to have another go next reincarnation. If you are lucky, you either meet someone you lives the same passion, or supports your passion and to some degree will live their life through your passion. If you are indeed lucky enough not to meet anyone that meets your tough rigorous requirements, you will be free to live your life through your passion unfettered. Everyone has a passion in life, but not everyone finds it, and for most, if they do find it, lack the courage to pursue it. I have definitely been reading too many self improvement books!

The last announcement that was on the webpage was that there were 21 correct entries (as of the 25th March). You were expecting thousands…..so what does that say about peoples passion. Either you have a very minute following, or the entry aspects are too difficult to follow. Only dimwits like myself have difficulty following the entry requirements, so we can be assured that entry requirements are not the issue. I cannot believe (contrary to the fact of only 21 entries) there is a small following; can it be people are not passionate? I can’t believe people are passionless, or that they do not truly see what they are passionate about. I do consider that people don’t have belief in themselves to make their passion breathe. They need inspiration, and courage to not only take that first step, but also the next one and the next one, until they can they see their passion, and live it. This is my passion.

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