February 7, 2014

Passion

"You are what you think about all day long."
- Dr Robert Schuller (apparently. I wasn't there to hear him say it)

I believe that, one hundred percent. We are what we think about all day long. What else could we possibly be? We are not our face or our bodies or our jobs or our friends. We are our minds, our thoughts, our hopes, our beliefs. These are what define us, what make us who we are.

So who are we? Who am I? Who are you?

I was pondering this on my recent holiday. If I am what I think about, then to determine who I am, I need only identify my thoughts. And the first place to start is to figure out what I feel passionately about.

Sounds easy - after all, we all feel passionately about something. But we don't always know what we feel passionately about. I have been surprised more than one by my passionate reaction to an issue I had never given much conscious thought. Sometimes we need to be placed in a situation in which our attitudes are brought to our attention by force. Which leaves me wondering how much of myself I still don't know. How many beliefs I have yet to uncover. How many passions I may never find.

Still, I have a list of beliefs that I feel passionately about. Some of them I will share below. Some of them I will keep to myself. And I will keep on thinking, and keep on discovering. And I would love it if you shared some of your passionate beliefs with me.

My passionate beliefs (in no particular order):
  • The right of children to unconditional love and acceptance from their parents;
  • That Eminem is the Shakespeare of our generation;
  • The right of women to choose abortion;
  • That white chocolate is not real chocolate;
  • That there is no god;
  • The importance of charity;
  • That poverty is the fault of society and not the individual;
  • The importance of free speech, a free health care system, and social welfare;
  • The right of couples to marry regardless of gender;
  • That addicts deserve compassion and not punishment;
  • That diets are unhelpful at best and dangerous at worst;
  • That the most important quality any human being can have is kindness;
  • That there is no one right or wrong way to mother;
  • That life is random and that bad things happen to good people for no reason;
  • That human beings are capable of change;
  • That love isn't all you need, but it certainly helps.

NOTE: The #MyFirst.,. series will commence again on Monday.
With #MyFirst... Date. Of course!

15 comments:

  1. I love this list HARDCORE! You deserve a big kiss and a hug

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  2. I agree whole heartedly with all of the above. Such a powerful list.

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  3. My passions are simple - I firmly believe:


    - Do what you will, but harm none...
    - Unicorns are way-cool!


    That about sums it up for me! :)

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  4. Agree with all of the above, except I've never really listened to Eminem and I'm surprised you didn't mention Simon Baker and Nutella!

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  5. Oh I love a post that makes me think. What are my passionate beliefs? Well you mentioned a few that I agree with but here are some more seeing you asked. -- That following your dreams is a must. That failure is a step forward not back. That all children should be heard and listened to and never dismissed. That good manners never go out of fashion. That music is food for the soul. That one should never judge another. That all anyone wants is to be loved and appreciated for who they are. And that Fererro Rochers are the best chocolates in the universe!

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  6. Re Eminem: I don't know a lot of his lyrics, but there is one from Lose Yourself that is in iambic pentameter. It goes: 'Cos damn these godamnn food stamps don't buy diapers'


    Ergo, Eminem is the Shakespeare of his generation.

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  7. I would kiss this list on the mouth! Awesome stuff love xxx

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  8. I agree with you totally on all your passionate beliefs, which makes me think we should both go into politics. I hope that the thing you're passionate about isn't what you think about all day, because that's all over the place for me, although it definitely includes my blog, my children, food, laundry, my husband, and books, the ones I'm reading, and the ones I'm trying to write. Sadly my husband often does get thought of less than the laundry!

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  9. Kathy www.yinyangmother.comFebruary 8, 2014 at 9:25 PM

    What a great list and post Kerri. Can I add to your point about life being random and bad things happening to good people - that life is random but the universe tends towards good. That we are not only capable of change but meant to change. That good dark chocolate (potentially with a lick of salt) is the superior form.

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  10. I love your list! and am also passionate about those things.
    White chocolate is definitely NOT chocolate. xo

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  11. You are always welcome in my home, Sam.

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  12. Lol. But I'm sure when you do think of him, it's fondly.....

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  13. Love that thesis Helen!!! And good luck with Febfast xxx

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  14. I love a good list and the inspiration to check in with myself and see where my head ( and heart) is at. I think top of my list is my passion and love of the creative process - nurturing it, diving into it, encouraging it, celebrating it. All of it. And not just in the arts. I love how my partner can take a spreadsheet of ordinary figures and come up with innovative ideas and strategies. I look for it everywhere and it keeps me excited about life.

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Thanks! Love hearing from you.

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