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The human spirit has a need to feel passionate about something. It brings reason to stay alive. It is more desired and natural than apathy or emotional numbness, even though these emotions rightfully kick in when a person is placed under extreme distress and/or duress.

I have recently been studying for Commercial Driver's License. I am gaining knowledge about safe commercial motor vehicle operation, policies and procedures, and; interestingly enough; a passion for safe driving.

This passion comes not without cost. Frustration with memorization and shame of failure ((had to test twice for a few Endorsements)(face reddening)) were part of the cost of my new-found passion.

This new awareness and skill includes a modicum of self righteous indignation. For example, when I witness the irresponsible, or aggressive, or negligent, or downright reckless behavior of other drivers; (hazards) I desire to change them. This obviously illuminates clearly to you the depth of my new found passion.

I have developed a technique to manage my thoughts. I just visualize my own driving behaviors before I started my quest for Safest Driver on Earth of the Year Award. This practice immediately brings me to the state of humility needed to fulfill passionate safety dreams.

I feel the greatest impediment to finding and pursuing one's passion is self. Self-conscious, self-aggrandizing, self-effacement, self-centered fear, self-hate, and other such selfishness will get you in the rear corner of a closet, sucking your thumb in the fetal position. Who wants that?

One way of being helpful in finding one's passion is to understand what the word means. Webster's defines passion as "the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last supper and His death". This is a very surprising definition to most people, although it makes sense when considering without suffering; no joy ensues. "For the joy that was set before Him...",goes the Scripture. I am not proposing anyone get themselves nailed to a cross. The job is finished. The veil is rent. However, I have found through experience that without passion, there is no safe driving. Or peace.

It is similar to physical exercise. One dreads the pain of jogging and does it anyway because the jogger looks forward to the benefits the activity gives them. The obstacle is the dread.

Some individuals never find their passion and lead pathetic, morose, miserable, quietly desperate existences. No sane individual would choose this path. It happens as a result of giving

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