While speaking with some new friends at Nanjing University, one of them asked me to define or describe passion. One of her teachers said that she lacked passion in her presentation. She admitted that she often gets nervous speaking in front of groups. This isn’t a unique case. I believe everyone gets a case of the jitters one time or another when placed in the spotlight. Her professor attributed it to a lack of passion and she was curious to find out what it was and how to obtain it.

To me, passion is an immense heartfelt action. It drives you. It motivates you. All at once, it’s everything. You can be passionate about one thing or many things. It’s knowledge of, and love for knowledge, acted out instinctually.

How do you show passion? I have an answer that I wrote, but ran across a better display of it  while watching the movie  Stranger than Fiction.  Below is dialog from what I like to call, the cookie scene.

Ana Pascal: Want a cookie?

Harold Crick: Oh no.

Ana: Come on, they’re warm and gooey and fresh out of the oven.

Harold: No, I don’t like cookies.

Ana: You don’t like cookies..? What’s wrong with you?

Harold: I don’t know.

Ana: Everybody likes cookies.

Harold: No, I know.

Ana: After a really awful, no good day, didn’t your momma ever make you milk and cookies?

Harold: No. My mother didn’t bake. The only cookies I ever had were store bought.

Ana: Okay… sit down.

Harold: No, I’m not…

Ana: No… Sit down.  …Now, eat… a cookie.

Harold: I… I really can’t.

Ana: Mr. Crick, it was a really awful day. I know. I made sure of it. So pick up the cookie, dip it in the milk, and eat it.

Harold: Wow… that’s a really, really good cookie. So when did you decide to become a baker?

Ana: Um, in college.

Harold: Oh, like a cooking college?

Ana: I went to Harvard Law, actually.

Harold: Oh. Oh, I’m sorry. I just assumed that…

Ana: …No, no… um, I just did it.

Harold: Something happen?

Ana: No. I was barely accepted. I mean, really, barely. The only reason they’d let me come was because of my essay. How I was going to make the world a better place with my degree. And, anyway, we would have to participate in these study sessions. My classmates and I… sometimes all night long. And so I’d bake. So no one would go hungry while we worked. Sometimes I would bake all afternoon in the kitchen and the dorm, and then I’d bring my little treats to study groups. And, people loved them.

Eat.

I’d make oatmeal cookies, peanut butter bars, dark chocolate, Macadamian nut wedges. And everyone would eat, stay happy, study harder, do better on the tests… Then more and more people started coming to the study groups and I would bring more snacks. And I was always looking for better and better recipes. Then soon, it was rocotta cheese and apricot croissants. And mocha bars with an almond glaze, and lemon chauffant cake with zesty peach icing. And at the end of the semester I had 27 study partners, 8 Meade journals filled with recipes, and a D average. So I dropped out. I just figured if I was going to make the world a better place, I would do it with cookies.

Ana: Do you like them?

Harold: I do.

Ana: I’m glad.

Harold: Thank you for forcing me to eat them.

Ana: You’re welcome.

But how do you show passion in a presentation? Or for a presentation?

When you’re giving a presentation, if you truly have passion, it will show itself. The only way that I know for certain how to “show” passion is to pick something that you really enjoy or want to do. These are things that cause you to want to learn more about something without any intervention. These are things that you are willing to spend so much time and effort on. Passion is usually tied with something you believe in; that you love. Will you fight for it? Will you champion it? In a presentation, the best way to show others your passion is to study your topic and become the expert of it, then engage your audience and ask them questions. Your excitement in your presentation will show and, in turn, will make them want to know more.

Here is the scene from Stranger than Fiction.

While watching MTV the other day for my dose of new music, a public service announcement (PSA) came on that caught me by surprise. It was a very powerful PSA that left me frozen for a few seconds. I felt mixed emotions of anger, sorrow, and helplessness.

I checked out the website (http://www.chooselovenotabuse.com) but it returned an error. Initially, I thought it was blocked, but after checking it again later in the day, I was able to get access. I’m assuming, now, that the site is getting many visits and the campaign is reaching a lot of people.

I hope that you’ll take the time to check out the website for information on abuse in relationships. This is the video aired on MTV. You can also find it on the website. It may be difficult for some to watch.

The website offers information on dating violence, and although the program and events is based in Singapore, its message has a global reach. If you know of someone that is in this type of relationship, lend them an ear to talk to and a shoulder to cry on. More importantly, help them get the help they need. Maybe you’re the one being abused, or you’re the one doing the abusing- talk to someone so they can help you. Abuse is not love.

I watched the movie “Once” for the very first time last weekend. It was absolutely beautiful. The music is enchanting and the lyrics harmonious. The songs are pure music. As bold as that statement is, that’s how I feel about it. I’ve never encountered music in a movie that was so vital to conveying the story but also delivered it so effortlessly.

The movie was about love- a story we’re use to seeing retooled and delivered year after year- but it delivered it in a fantastic way. The movie is classified as a musical, but it didn’t feel like a musical. However, it wouldn’t have been the same movie without the music. The characters are charming and live ordinary lives, and that’s a part of the draw.

You connect with the two main characters and want the best for them because they want that too. Both play musical instruments- a piano and a guitar- and are doing their best to get by. Music is their love and distraction from life. I love music as well and have always wanted to learn how to play an instrument- ironically, the guitar or piano. But after just watching the first original song by the male lead, I felt an urge to go out and buy a guitar. I felt the same way when the female lead played the piano for the first time. And their first song together is beautiful.

For me, music is a distraction as well. I love to be immersed in it because it takes me to another place. But after watching this movie, I’m starting to wonder more and more: if I love music so much, why just let it be a distraction in my life?

I emailed my niece’s dad who is in a band ’cause the movie reminded me of him. To all music artists out there: Thanks for sharing. To all aspiring musicians: Keep going.

If you haven’t seen it, rent or buy it for the holidays. You won’t regret it.