What is your passion?

I wrote this for an article in Fuzzfurr in 2006.

What is your Passion?

By Jodi Jones

November 2006

Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit. – Mary Lou Retton

What do you want your legacy to be?  Although I don’t generally like to think of my impending death, I found the question intriguing and it didn’t take me very long to discover my response: for people to say, “I am a better person for having known her.” To some that might seem like a lofty goal, but I would never be satisfied by having low aspirations. I do not shoot for mediocrity.  I am not a mediocre person; I will not settle for a mediocre life.  Having an extraordinary life is what I want.

Everyone is motivated, inspired, and driven by something.  Some people are driven by power, money, success, evil, hatred, love, religion, marriage, children, God, or family.  At age 85, legendary artist Michelangelo said, “Ancora Imparo” which means “I am still learning.”  How inspiring to know that someone as remarkable as Michelangelo would say that, when others consider him to be a “genius”.  Learning has always been a passion of mine.  Everyday I strive to learn something new and grow as a person. 

Opening the minds of others to a new thought, idea, opinion, or viewpoint is one of the best feelings.  It is truly rewarding when someone says, “I never thought of it that way.”  Wherever I end up in life, I aim to make a difference to and for others.   I want to open people’s minds; broaden their horizons; change their perspectives; make them think differently; and inspire them to want to learn.

Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living” which is truer than people think.  Why do we believe what we do? Why do we feel as we do? Why do we want what we do?  We should know why – or at least want to know why.  We should be able to defend all of our opinions, thoughts, and beliefs.  Why are you who you are? 

I am puzzled by those who wish to remain the same forever; those who do the same thing over and over expecting different a different result; those who believe the same things as someone else but do not know why. If you look at the world at 40 the same way you did when you were 20, then you have wasted 20 years.  Personal growth and profound knowledge are goals set deep in my soul. Certainly I have other goals, but all other goals come from that deep urge to learn, love, and inspire.  I want it for myself and for others.  I want people to want to think for themselves, not to be led by others.  I want them to know why they feel as they do, why they want what they do, and why they hold the opinions they do. 

If I can for a single moment give someone else a thought they never had, and if I am able to open their minds about something – anything at all – then I have absolutely helped them grow and become a better person… simply by having known them.

“While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die – whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness” – Gilda Radner

GOP candidate with white supremacy ties, arrest record forced out

A candidate for the Colorado legislature was forced out by the Colorado GOP only five days after his candidacy was announced because it was discovered that he has ties to white supremacy and an arrest record.

The candidate said he was not media savvy and thought he would have the time to explain his arrest and "clean up" all the things he's said online about minorities and Muslims before it was discovered by the media.

Apparently he's not intelligent enough to be in public office anyway if he didn't realize all those things would come to light. Also the party obviously did not properly vett this guy before handing him the nomination.

Unfortunately this isn't the only one like him who supports the republican party. Fortunately, the party kicked him to the curb once those things came to light. I am certainly glad to see that. Maybe that shows something good for the GOP in that state.

Personally I am surprised that one like this was trying to run in Colorado - if he'd been from the South it would have seemed more normal all things considered. But I would have thought people in Colorado were more progressive. However if he had been from the South, they may not have kicked him out of the running because those kinds of people are their base in the South.

The sad part is there are thousands more just like him and those people are not always shunned by the GOP. It seems lately more of the Republican party is embracing those who support discrimination bills against women and minorities based on religious grounds. How they can support that I don't know. Whatever happened to the GOP of the old days, back when being conservative didn't mean being a douchebag.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5049149?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013