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About 20 years ago I was having a quiet pint with a friend and he casually says "I wish I was passionate about something". It always stuck with me, still haven'

About 20 years ago I was having a quiet pint with a friend and he casually says "I wish I was passionate about something". It always stuck with me, still haven't found anything I'd consider I'm passionate about, still looking though!

chadcmulligan 7y ago
Its funny, I'm the opposite, there's so many things I'm passionately interested in. The hard part is picking one or two. My one day I'll have to get back to that list is enough for a couple of lifetimes. I try top pick the ones that are the most useful, or perhaps least useless. Keep looking you'll find something.
- np_tedious 7y ago
  I'm more like you. Into math, music, fitness, nature, literature, movies... but can I actually say I'm "passionate" about any of them? On any given day, I've likely spent zero time or effort on at least one of the above. Simply can't have a day when I've studied math (beyond cursory readings on the phone), practiced an instrument, worked out, hiked/camped, read, AND watched a movie
  - chadcmulligan 7y ago
    Its hard, I found I just have to pick a few I like the most and leave the rest go, I promise myself I'll get back to them but it seems less likely as the years go by. On my holidays I usually get back to something.
- wehrkeoruw 7y ago
  Are you passionate in the same way the commenter's friend meant, though? Passion means different things to different people, and maybe his friend was expressing his desire to be more passionate, which actually sounds like a trait you share with him, considering you're not more passionate about any one particular thing over other things.
Gatsky 7y ago
Yeah... although passion and obsession aren’t the same. Passion is the more palatable and friendly version of obsession. The use of ‘obsession’ by pg is deliberate. The set of things you can be passionate about is much more limited, often constrained by your perception of what others will think. We (over)share our passions but hide our obsessions.

chadcmulligan 7y ago

Its funny, I'm the opposite, there's so many things I'm passionately interested in. The hard part is picking one or two. My one day I'll have to get back to that list is enough for a couple of lifetimes. I try top pick the ones that are the most useful, or perhaps least useless. Keep looking you'll find something.

np_tedious 7y ago
I'm more like you. Into math, music, fitness, nature, literature, movies... but can I actually say I'm "passionate" about any of them? On any given day, I've likely spent zero time or effort on at least one of the above. Simply can't have a day when I've studied math (beyond cursory readings on the phone), practiced an instrument, worked out, hiked/camped, read, AND watched a movie
- chadcmulligan 7y ago
  Its hard, I found I just have to pick a few I like the most and leave the rest go, I promise myself I'll get back to them but it seems less likely as the years go by. On my holidays I usually get back to something.
wehrkeoruw 7y ago
Are you passionate in the same way the commenter's friend meant, though? Passion means different things to different people, and maybe his friend was expressing his desire to be more passionate, which actually sounds like a trait you share with him, considering you're not more passionate about any one particular thing over other things.

Gatsky 7y ago

Yeah... although passion and obsession aren’t the same. Passion is the more palatable and friendly version of obsession. The use of ‘obsession’ by pg is deliberate. The set of things you can be passionate about is much more limited, often constrained by your perception of what others will think. We (over)share our passions but hide our obsessions.