What is it that drive peoples to want to give time, help others, teach, create, innovate, care, entertain, foster, always push boundaries, …, not once, but years after years. For most of these individuals, it seems to be a life long commitment.
If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful after all.
– Michelangelo
Why I am bringing this up. Well a few nights ago I went to an outdoor show with my daughter. Of course, the artist performing will make a lot of money but in this case it is obvious he doesn’t need it. Most artist come a few hours before the show, get the job done and go back. Usually, there will be another group present “to prepare the crowd.” They will play for 90 to 120 minutes with a pause in the middle and an encore included.
This particular individual got to the city the day before, took the time to discover the area, the food, the people. He made effort to get familiar with the language (not English!). Everywhere he goes, you hear stories about how accessible, gentle and caring he is.
So we are this show and this artist is playing for 130 minutes non-stop, no pause. 30 tunes in a row. He is 71 and clearly having fun, clearly caring that we are also having fun with him… 2 pause minutes and back for an Encore: 45 more minutes of musics!!!
I asked my daughter about the show, after all this is not music made in her generation. She was not only impressed, she was touched by artist, his behavior during the show (including an impromptu happy birthday song and hug on stage to a young girl waving a board since the beginning of the evening), his caring and giving. This is what passion is about: being 71, loving musics and coming to share it from 9h PM to midnight non-stop and having a party with the crowd. The guy is (Sir) Paul McCartney.
These individuals can of course be professional athletes, successful inventors, CEOs, stars but they are also nurse, teachers, researchers and much more.
Passionate peoples are first and foremost movers. They make things happen, they create magic for a child, a sick person, a student, a crowd… society. I do not know if the students I teach and those I supervise through graduate studies will remember me as a passionate person down the road. I certainly aspire at being better at doing it.
Ruminating... 