What is YOUR Passion?

It's funny when I think back to the first time someone asked me, 'What is your Passion?', it was at a job interview. I thought it was an odd question really, my passion? Seriously? Is this even allowed? I was definitely caught off guard, there were things going through my head, but my final answer, 'Well I love to exercise'... I got the job despite my slow response accompanied by an equally bamboozled expression!

According to the good folks over at Merriam Webster, Passion is defined as

a : ardent affection : love

b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

c : sexual desire [See why I was caught off guard at the interview?]

d : an object of desire or deep interest

Passion for me means something I do purposefully, with enthusiasm, determination and yes, it feels good! So I am passionate about running (even if I am not setting any land speed records, far from is honestly), I am passionate about helping people, whether it's offering advice, support or something as simple as holding the door open for a stranger, or anyone for that matter. I will say this, the last person I offered to help was not so friendly, but in today's world, I guess I get it. She was like 100 years old, and I asked her if she'd like me to help her load her groceries into the car... You'd think I was wearing a ski mask with a name tag that said, "Hello My Name is... Serial Killer or Grocery Thief"... grandma, I am heading INTO Walmart, not out of... geez.

Anyway, I was thinking about all these events I am wanting to do, some I have signed up for, others I have not (my money train carrying all my baby money trees is MIA...have you seen it?) and it just hit me, how passionate people are about certain things in life, and how passion makes life more exciting!

Now sometimes it's like lust, short term, fire in your trousers, flash in the pan passion. Like, for example, beading. One time, long ago, I hand beaded Christmas ornaments. I loved it, did it every day, made like 200 snowflakes. It was me, a solder iron and my blue and clear beads. After that, nothing. Now, this weekend I went to get some supplies thinking I'd take it up again, make them as a LLS fundraiser. I just stood there in the aisle of beads, dumbfounded, overloaded, confused... I walked away.

Then there is how I feel about running, and fitness in general really. Some people may feel the same way about biking or swimming or whatever. I have been running for close to 20 years, and yet never ran a 'race' until January 2007. Of course once I did, I was done for. This year, actually this month, will be my first Half Marathon. I am so unprepared, I would NEVER in a million years recommend anyone trying to run a half without proper training. BUT do as I say, not as I do... right? No.no.no. Lead by example...I'm prepared, for the most part, all but 100% mentally and that won't happen until I am crossing the finish line!

For those of you who don't know, I have been recovering from tendinitis, and it sucks...bad.

This is the convo that ensued, to the best of my recollection:

[Doc looking at me with a frown]: "I'd recommended no running for at least 4 weeks."

[Me looking at him with skepticism]: "Hmm so no Triathlon this weekend?"

[Him looking at me with chagrin]: "No."

[Me looking at him with one eyebrow raised, like the ROCK]: "Well I have a half marathon in 6 weeks, how about that?"

[Him looking at me with disbelief]: "Get yourself a good brace, and inserts, and take it slow."

SO, that technically was not a No. Two weeks later I was back out, with my brace. I know the doctor knows best, but I've already paid for it, I am doing it. So run, jog, walk, crawl or carried... I am going to collect my bling. They say Love is Blind, it may be deaf too... less than 20 days until the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon!

So are you passionate about something? If you aren't, shouldn't you be?