I’ve never been a huge fan of the question game.

I’m not sure why. The rules are simple: between two people, you take turns asking the other questions. The question game has become pretty standard in the whole ‘talking’ phase of relationships, and I’ve found myself playing it quite a few times over the past year or so. However, as the inquiries get more personal, I tend to doubt a lot of my answers because they’re never that cut and dry.

For example, a few weeks back I was asked, “What’s something you’re passionate about?” I didn’t really understand how to answer, so I requested clarification.

He responded, “You know, that one thing you could talk about for hours on end or come up with any defense in its favor.”

I was stumped. I didn’t really have a hobby or idea that fit those particular criteria.

I suppose a few years ago I would have considered music my passion. At the time, I was singing every day. It was an activity that relaxed me and kept some sort of harmony in my seemingly chaotic life. While it’s something I still enjoy now, music isn’t something I could discuss for an extended period of time, and I wouldn’t even know where to begin in a defense for it. Furthermore, the fact that I’ve been able to continue on for years without singing every single day gives me some inkling that I wasn’t as attached to it as I used to believe. Is a true ‘passion’ really that easy to give up?

I do consider myself a passionate person. I put my whole self into everything I do. I aspire to live a life full of joy and excitement. I channel my energy into school, work, and my relationships. But is that enough?

The word passion is defined as “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.” While a hobby or action is implied, it is not specified.

So is it fair to say my passion is for living? For building new friendships, taking on new challenges, and undergoing new experiences? That I could defend.

I get that some individuals dedicate their lives to a talent or a job or an art or a sport. I applaud them, and those people are the reason the world has made some incredible advances. However, I refuse to hinder myself from the same spirit and devotion solely because I don’t have one thing to put it towards.

So, as an extremely delayed answer to that boy’s complex question, I am passionate about everything. I attempt to distribute the feelings associated with passion between everything I do and everyone I come in contact with. I will talk for hours on end about the oddities of life and the struggles that accompany them. And I will come up with any defense in the favor of how the definition of passion is so broad that these thoughts do fall under its umbrella.