Passions and Poverty

                              What’s the connection between passion and poverty?

Some people would argue that when you have nothing you have more passion than people who are well off. Others would argue people who live on or below the poverty line don’t have time for passion because they’re too busy concerned with the everyday struggle and lack of time doesn't permit passion. I think it’s a combination of both things. What is passion? It could be a desire to help people, it could be passion for music or nature or what have you, passion varies from person to person.

My passion is helping people. Ever since I was little I wanted to be two things number one a princess and number two a teacher. I guess princesses don’t help people but teachers sure do. My drive has always been to do what I could for people no matter the cost. I’m not a teacher obviously but I help people in others ways. I don’t know what poverty looks like from firsthand experience but I do know what not having time for passion means. Keeping my passions alive is a constant struggle one I have to keep in mind when the time escapes me. Martha Graham said “Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.” We are great because of our passion no matter what they are.

Everyone has passion. It just differs from person to person. Mine is helping people yours could be as simple as living for the moment and cherishing it. It’s as simple as that really. As long as something moves you even if you’re not quite sure what it is. I’m sure people who face poverty have a passion to survive and that’s good enough for me. The struggle is real and it affects people every day. Fredrick Douglass said “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.” That quote is a prime example of passion. Many people fight through the day just to make it and that’s what real today.