“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” -Jack Kerouac
I will never forget the first time I was in Guatemala. I was traveling abroad as a college student and one of my friends that I met on the trip, Jeannie, told me her theory on people.
She said, “I love to listen to someone when they are passionate about something. There is nothing better. It doesn’t matter if it’s quantum physics or crocheting…if they love it, I love to hear them talk about it. Even if the topic would normally bore me, it is never boring to listen to someone who is excited.”
Isn’t that true? I can tell when someone is sincerely enthusiastic about something. Not because they want to sell it to me, prove it to me or convert me. They are energized, simply because they love what they are telling me about. That kind of energy is contagious.
I was thinking about topics in my life. Am I passionate about them? Do I express my life and my loves and my hobbies with interest? What kind of response do I generate from those who listen to me?
Another thought. Am I a good listener? Do I ask other people about their passions? Do I let them talk about what they like? Am I patient when others tell a long story? Do I pay attention?
Try for a week to speak with passion and listen with patience. You just may find an explosion of purpose.
