A lazy post this one. Something just struck me so I'm squeezing it in between my pillar posts - there'll be one 'normal' post tomorrow or in a couple of days. Promise.
Please continue reading my previous post, and as always I appreciate your comment.
I was struck by something I saw on TV 1 last night: the former Information Minister Dato' Khalid Yunus (he must be 70 years old now) was shown climbing Mount Beirut. It's easy to type the word 'climbing'. But the actual act is much much harder. You should have seen him - panting and sweating it out, sometimes falling down, then got up again, all the way up.
It set me thinking as to why people do certain things, even difficult and punishing stuff. Some even risk their life. Or why people do easy and enjoyable stuff at the expense of other more important things.
I think I know the answer now: PASSION.
It comes in many fashions: a person can row a boat across stormy waters full of sharks to get to his/her favourite island;
Another braves massive traffic jams and intense heat and travel for hours or days to get to his/her passionate destination, may be to be with his/her passionate partner;
Yet another is passionate enough to kill in the name of love. Or leave his/her family in the name of religion. Or blow himself/herself up to bits.
There is this young man whose passion is fishing. He gets up in the wee hours, ties up his boat on the top of his car, goes round to pick up his mates, then drives for hours into the wilderness to catch some fish. He comes back after two days, with or without fish, exhausted and face swollen from mosquito and insect bites. A couple of hours sleep, and he gets up and goes to work. He does this every single weekend. When his wife asks him to go and see his old and ailing father he said: "Oh, I wish I have 36 hours in a day...." The wife stops him in his track: "Don't give me that bullshit about not having enough time. Why don't you just say that you are not passionate about him".
18 comments:
Hi Grandpa,
Passion can be a fantastic feeling and also one that makes you dread life.
I have a passion, one that makes me feel alive and for that I am eternally grateful.
You post has an eye for truth in all sorts of ways. Sometimes I wish I was more passionate, but then again, I don`t want to dread life, something I do when I start getting `passionate` about the environment!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES
John, passion is a great motivator. Our life is so much better if we are passionate about something rather than nothing. But I think there should be a limit to our pursuits of passions. The key I suppose is balance. To be passionate at the expense of everything and everybody else is selfish, in my opinion.
You are right about not pursuing your passions to the extend of feeling dreadful.
Passion is a great reason to pursue something. It makes one want to succeed. :)
I agree Grandpa, passion is very important in life but it is equally important to get some kind of balance. I am passionate about my blog and writing and have taken a few days off starting now to devote more time to both. I have not problem getting up early on my days off and at the weekend to write because I enjoy it so much. I wouldn't call this a lazy post, it's very good in my opinion!
Greetings Grandpa!
Nice short and sweet entry. Well all I can say, in my humble opinion that is, anyone who risks their life in climbing mountains of enormous heights are 'crazy'. It may be passion, but I do think sometimes it's just for the adrenalin rush, or taking up a challenge. But 'if' they should perish, all the loved ones lose out. I'll keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much...and that I'm passionate about! Thanks! Later....
Akelamalu, I agree, provided your 'success' does not equal harm to yourself or others;
Happy Frog and I, thank you. I'm passionate about my pursuits too, but I often stop and ask myself if I'm neglecting other things that I'm not passionate about but which mean a lot to others;
The Manic Chef, thank you. Funnily enough the person I was referring to didn't look like he was enjoying himself, even though he did manage a smile at the end. He did at one stage while hanging on to a rope down a steep slope over a huge boulder slipped and hit against the boulder!
Howdy Grandpa,
First of all, my friend, caution is advised when 'squeezing your pillar posts' :) Yeah, some kind of innuendo, there.
Nothing like passion to drive us towards making dreams, a beautiful reality. I have a passion for learning. For, when you stop learning, you stop living.
In peace and respect, shy and humble Gary :)
klahanie, Howdy Gary, I think it's your passion too that runs your imagination, my friend :))
Be sure to come by for my pillar post tomorrow, eh.
And I'm with you on that learning and discovery journey. May we both be wiser from it. Have a great day!
I got the feeling when you wrote about that angling guy .. you might be refering to me.. I have done the same thing following a friend who until now is still passionate with angling.. I was only into friendship .. been cooped in front of computer screen far too long (20+ years at work) to enjoy simple friendship and hobby.
Wan, that's impossible as I don't even know you fish. But it reminds me of the saying "siapa makan cili dia terasa pedas" (who eats chilli will feel the heat)... It can refer to any hobbyist who has taken his passion too far.
you forgot to mention food.
how many KLites would brave snarling traffic & parking woes to feast at their favourite makan place? don't forget those crazy s'poreans who fly air asia into penang, eat, drink & eat some more, then fly back the same evening!
Absolutely right doc. I have a take on that here:
http://fruitofmylabour.blogspot.com/2010/09/boy-do-we-like-to-eat.html
And the Japanese of course, whose passion for golf see them fly here from Japan for a game of golf and back!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Grandpa, it's so true, it's great to have passion, but we need to make sure our passions don't harm others or get out of control. Love the new blog arrangement ;)
Hugs,
Rach
Rachael Harrie,
Hey Rach, good to see you. As you can see I've taken aboard some of your suggestions - glad you like them. Thank you.
Hugs
No truer words. And a very perceptive wife.
hi Grandpa! i popped in quickly - is anyone in your region affected by the earthquake/tsunami? i think its too far away from you. but can you believe it? i saw you also checked on NancyDe. wow what a day! i'm headed out but wanted to send my hello's and stand with you, shaking heads, hands on hips, and saying "my my my...."
with warmest wishes,
your pal
ofg
Maria - Hi good to see you. Yes, sometimes we need a strong partner who can see the opposite side of things.
Ohiofarmgirl - Hi OFG, good to see you. Yes, when I saw on TV that Hawaii was on high alert my thought went to Nancy. I'm glad she's ok.
We are ok hopefully as we are not as vulnerable as our neighbour Indonesia. Thanks for your concern.
Check out the drama in my latest post?
Yes, sometimes, we can get carried away with a passion in life where we lose perspective in areas that should matter also.
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