Monday, April 16, 2012

patience for the passionate

garage door in Phoenix

Passion.  What a powerful word. It is a word that carries with it so many shades of meaning, so many preconceived ideas, so many expectations. As a character trait, passion has often gotten me into trouble.  I might better call it extreme enthusiasm - that's really my version of passion as a character trait.  I am a passionate person.  Absolutely.  And, I really love that about myself.

But.

But, there have been many times when people in my life would tell you this trait was a problem, a flaw.  Maybe it is.  I don't think so, though.  I just think that passionate people are different and that should be OK.  

Here's the thing: I care.  A lot.  A LOT!  About everything.

EVERYTHING.

For me, if it is worth thinking about, worth bothering with, worth doing - then it is worth caring about.  Of course it is.  And if it's worth caring about, then it's worth expressing yourself about.  Of course it is.  I don't understand feeling any other way.  I don't really understand the phrase, "It's no big deal."  What do you mean?  Of course it's a big deal.  LIFE is a big deal.  

Now, I do know that not everyone feels this way.  And, likely, they have a calmer more peaceful life.  I am not calm.  NOT calm.  I am much more of a roller-coaster than a merry-go-round; a thunderstorm rather than a light rain.  But, you know what?  I like it that way.  I like my excitement, my big laugh, my energy, my passion.  I would rather have passion than calm any day; every day.

So what's my point, you ask?  Just this.  Simply this.

Please be patient with passionate people like me.  When you are around an excitable, passionate, verbose person, please try to enjoy them.  When some passionate person in your own life gets all worked about something and you just can't figure why it matters so much, please remember that they don't understand why it doesn't matter so much to you.  When some passionate person in a meeting with you expresses themselves with more force than you are comfortable with, please remember that their purpose is not to make you uncomfortable.  It's more likely that their emotions just didn't come equipped with an off button.  When some passionate person around you leaves you feeling like you've just escaped a windtunnel, please try to remember this beautiful thing:

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." 
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
 




I have a passion for street art, and I fell in love with this garage door in Phoenix.  

21 comments:

S. Etole said...

That is one incredible garage door. And I so appreciate your thoughts. One of my dearest friends is the very type of person you are describing and she brings so much vitality to life.

Kyra said...

I love this post for so many reasons..but the most important one is...it's given me words for what i have felt for so long but was never able to express.....Thank You :)

And the picture is beautiful :)

Debby said...

So well said. I am like this alot. I know others as well that aren't. Wish they would read your post.

Claire said...

Hear you and love you, sweetie.

beth said...

wow do i love this post....as i'm that passionate person without question !!

i might have to share this post....it's brilliant !!
xoxo

keishua said...

what a great manifesto!!

Unknown said...

Thank you for this post. I have worked really hard to become a calmer person because I know I frustrate many people who know me. My book club for one is where I get passionate.I get irratated looks from some and others poke fun at me. I like me. So Yeah for us passionate ones, we make life fun! At least we are not boring.

Unknown said...

That's me too! I find that I care sometimes too much. My stepson at the moment, is really throwing away his intelligence and making some bad choices and I'm taking it more personal than he is. He just doesn't seem to see the "big deal". Thanks for letting me know that I am who I am and that it's okay.

Amy said...

Perfect! And so true; us passionate types are wired a bit differently, aren't we? :)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

A wonderful, wonderful post and message!

I too can seem over-worked-up-about-some-things. And it can be hard.

But it's equally hard, when I don't understand how someone else can be as worked-up-about-their-things.

We all need to work on our patience and understanding.

"Reading takes us away from home,
but more important,
it finds homes for us everywhere."

~Hazel Rochman

Gigi Thibodeau said...

LOVE this post, Relyn! Your passion for life is one of the many things I adore about you. xoxo Gigi

Marilyn Miller said...

I do love this post and often wish I showed more passion and exuberance. In my writing I can do so, but in person I am fairly quiet and calm on the outside. So recently my daughter had a difficult time with my exuberance for the new grandbaby coming along. It was sad that she didn't understand my passion for this baby. She is not use to seeing my passion on the surface. It is time for a new me, a me with PASSION.

Anonymous said...

A very interesting post, especially because it makes me wonder why other people's passions can sometimes be threatening to us? Next time someone has a passionate outburst around me I will watch my own reaction!

rachel awes said...

it is so evident that your heart is full of passion. it shows up in all your fingerprints. xox

Unknown said...

Amen and Amen! LOVE this post. Gonna link to it on my own blog, I love it so much. I am also going to make my husband (whom you know is much calmer than I am...) read this. And then read it again! LOL

Tracy said...

AMEN! I'm one of those passionate people too, I hear you... I think we're meant to let that passion flow. We're here to CARE DEEPLY about EVERYTHING! Everything... ((LOVE & HUGS))

Joanna Jenkins said...

WOW, what a fabulous garage door.

And I'm with you-- passionate. Absolutely. I ca't imagine being any other way.

xoxo jj

Unknown said...

Well said! I am just like you described yourself. I try to be all demure and aloof sometimes but my energy just jumps out in spurts and starts. My family are ALL introverts and I'll tell you...without me in there...it would be mighty BORING. Yay for extroverts!

Sarah said...

Interesting post Relyn. I think I err on the quieter side-quietly passionate about the things I am passionate about-but not everything! Too tired for everything! Though actually, I do find myself being a bit ranty when I really care! To interpret your last commenter's comment in a slightly different way-I think you need a mixture of types to make things work. I think I might be a mixture all on my own!

Jennifer Richardson said...

love and tenderness
to you and your passion:)
-Jennifer

Elyse said...

Thanks for your beautiful words...and for being patient with the "light rain" when needed as well.

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