The other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about passion. Often, when we hear that word, there’s a sense of sexuality attached to it. But I think passion runs much deeper than that, no pun intended. Have you ever watched an astronomer talk about astronomy? The conviction in their eyes, the intensity behind their words, it’s beautiful. Their passion is so infectious that it makes you ache for that kind of connection to something, that kind of fire that makes your soul expand. That is the kind of passion I mean. It is beautiful, yes, but also a little scary. To be passionate like that about something is equal parts envy and inspiration.

It made me think about something simpler. I think a lot of us have lost passion for life. We stop. We go through the motions, trying to meet societal expectations. The pressure is constant. People breathing down our necks, telling us who we should be based on statistics or norms. But you are a real person, not a statistic. And while I value the science of statistics, there is also a time to just see each other as humans, to notice the beauty of the people around us.

So much of our lives are plugged into screens. Even when we are offline, we are online in some way. We forget the depth of in-person connection. Watching an astronomer give a TED Talk on a screen is beautiful, yes, but when you sit with someone in person, watching them speak about what they love, seeing their flavors and rhythms manifest, it is something else entirely. There is no sexuality behind it. Just connection. Just presence. Life, gender, the kids screaming in the background, none of it matters. That moment of real human connection is what matters. That is what nourishes us, and in its own way, helps the children in the background run a little further, a little freer.

I long for a time when sidewalks matter again, when people argue about where the bicycle lanes should be or how to repair a street lamp in the playground. That kind of community feels rare now, and I think that is sad. So hold tight to the people who reach out to connect in person. I struggle with this too, especially since COVID and being a stay-at-home mom. My social battery is haywire. Frayed at the edges. So hold on to the people who are good at making in-person connections come alive. They are worth holding on to. Sometimes they are the spark you need to ignite the flame to live again.

Take a moment. Go outside. Connect with someone. Say, “Hi,” “How are you?” Stop and truly listen. Watch the passion in someone’s words. See the beauty of what they love unfold. It will awaken something deep within your soul, I pinky promise.

Xoxo,

Shay

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