Pay-tience

I dropped by a Target store this evening. After having a great afternoon, I was in a special mood - you know the type: the world is right, people are all good, etc. As I walked out of the store, I nearly ran into a man waiting patiently by the $1 Redbox video rental self service machine. I was attempting to throw something away, and in a bit of confusion I thought I was in his way of moving to the door. So, I apologized, and he responded "No problem, I'm just waiting for Arthur". At this moment I thought ok, this guy's a bit off telling me who he's waiting for, so I'll just move on. And then it hit me - this guy was waiting for the new release film Arthur.

Typically I would have continued on, but in this special mood case, I turned round and asked him "So, you're waiting there for someone to return the movie to the machine so you can rent it?" He confirmed. And his answer confirmed my appreciation for passion. Here was a man so interested in seeing this movie that he was willing to stand at the machine for who knows how long to obtain it.

I'm sure a few people walking by this guy may have thought he was odd or crazy. I was happy to encounter someone who has a passion- even if for a Russell Brand remake. I thought for a moment of giving the guy $10 to buy the dvd from the shelf just 100 feet away. That thought was scratched quickly though...this man's patience to satisfy his passion was driven by passion directly. Not wanting to offend or make his quest seem foolish, I said only "Good luck" and moved along.

Life without passion just isn't much of a life. Passion for people, for things, for activities - all emotional connections to things that make us who we are. These individual passions help defend society from the corrosion of conformity, and I'm going to do my part by paying more attention to my own. I hope you can do the same, and find new passions along the way.