Fashionista to Passionista

pas-sion  – noun. Any powerful or compelling emotion.

Often when you hear the word “passion” one thinks of a passionate love affair. And yes, being in a passionate love affair may indeed cause you to leap out of bed for something other than causing a Dutch Oven (if you’re not sure what I’m referring to, google Dutch Oven slang). Being in love may cause you to postpone sleep while you watch the object of your affection drift off to dreamland. Who hasn’t listened to Steve Tyler sing “I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep, cuz I’d miss you babe, and I don’t want to miss a thing”, and thought I know, right? Who hasn’t leapt out of a warm, comfortable bed to try power walking or jogging or any other hellish early morning activity with the love of your life because you want to be conscious as much as possible. Because they’re just so amazing. They’re so interesting. And you don’t want to miss a thing.

Ah, love. Many of us, by now, have realized that building our life around a relationship is a double-edged sword. Doing so can provide much joy, and just as much disappointment. Relationships are wonderful, fabulous, challenging, disappointing, and back to wonderful. And they are all without. The passion this blog is about is within. It is housed entirely within you, and therefore no body, and no thing has the power to affect it. That kind of passion is indestructible, impervious to life’s uncertainties and humankind’s foibles. It is entirely and utterly within your control and I can tell you from experience, it provides the kind of joy that no love affair with a person can provide. It provides delight and confidence and knowing. Because it’s not about you as referenced by another, but it is about you, undiluted.

(Perk: When you fall out of love with an interest, it won’t flame you on Facebook, slash your tires, or trash talk you to your social circle.)

Give it some thought. What would get you out of bed if you didn’t have to do it? For me, I’ve discovered two loves over the past year. The first is writing – something that was always in the back of my mind but is now front of mind. I will get up early because I have an idea rolling around in my head that is pushing against my skull to get down on paper (well, on the screen). It will keep me up at night. It will give me butterflies. Since buying the car of my dreams two weeks ago (2011 6-speed Mustang, dubbed The Beast), I will get out of a warm, comfy bed, back out of the driveway, and rumble quietly out of my still-sleeping neighborhood so I can shift my way through 6 gears out of the suburbs, and then open him up and let all 305 horses fly down the highway. What delights me may have no effect on you whatsoever. Not only is that okay, that’s the point. It’s all about me.

Find out what, not whom, you are in love with, and you will create a whole new level of passion in your life. If it gets you out of bed in the morning, chances are you’re on the right track.  You are amazing, You are interesting. And you shouldn’t miss a thing.