What are your passions in life?

Sometimes it is necessary to "sit back" and think about the things that make you feel alive. What excites you at the core and makes you feel that life is worthwhile? For me, it's the things I'll talk about here. It's so interesting to consider how I ended up being stirred by these things. Was I born this way, or was it all learned?

Before I begin, I would first like to say that my wife, Amy, would be No. 1 on this list if it were people-centric. She has helped to shape many of these passions, and all of my dreams have her at the center. So, before you go thinking that I don't love my wife, I thought I should clarify. Now, on to my passions:

1. Health promotion and well-prepared food.

How fitting that my #1 passion is also my undoing. No one really takes the fat guy's health tips seriously, and I understand that. It's frustrating, but it gives me motivation to get in shape so I will finally have some credibility. I just love talking about diet, exercise, and lifestyle, and my interest keeps ballooning with no end in sight. Is this going to be my life? Also, I love to prepare food.

2. Financial literacy/planning.

This and No. 1 are the two things that I could speak about at length with people I've never conversed with before, and if a discussion about finance is going on, my ears perk up and I'm sure to become a big contributor to it. My area of interest is more in helping people learn basic financial principles; it's not so much an interest in talking about investment strategy, although I also enjoy that.

Interjection: So, now you understand why I talk about the things I do. Especially with No. 1, it's hard to control the bubbling passion. Sorry!

3. Recorded music.

It is important to make a distinction here. I have a passion for the art form that is recorded music, with all of its gimmicks and artificiality. I have come to realize that I do not appreciate live music in the same way, which means that my passion is for records themselves. The way I see it, you can do much more for people on a record than you can in a live venue. My view is an outlandish one that many would disagree with, and that's fine, but this is what makes my love of music unusual. I love pop/rock perfection, radio, marketing, and mixing. To some extent, this passion also applies to movies, but I would call it more of an interest than a passion.

4. Theatre participation.

In general, I don't enjoy going to the theatre. I find it quite miserable. However, there is simply no feeling like being on stage in front of people. I have never experienced anything that would rival it. It's months of epic, hard work culminating in a grand performance that's going to convict you, make you laugh and cry, or stir you to action in some way. It's powerful. It's amazing. And the cast and crew camaraderie? One of the best things in life.

5. Travel.

Experiencing new places and escaping from the life we know is a passion many of us share, I think. I particularly enjoy long drives, hotels and, for goodness' sake, food. I dream of taking 2 years off and traveling across the country.

5. Sports and games.

Whether it's a United States World Cup victory, a Buffalo Bills win, or a game of Scrabble, my competitive juices flow, and it makes me feel alive. I also love to play sports, but physical limitations from the knees down hamper my ability to do so.

6. Reliable people.

People who do what they say they'll do and can be counted on are few and far between in the world. In the rare case that I find someone like this, I try to tell them what a difference they make. I will always try to be one of these people. I fail miserably at times, but I try.

7. Jesus.

The filter for all of my passions and the perspective through which I try to view my marriage, my work, and my leisure time; the one who, if absent, leaves a void in my chest that none of my passions can fill; the one I want to be like and make a difference for; the one I come to know more through the outdoors, music, people, and reflection; the one for whom I will give up any or all of my passions at beck or call – because when I am part of an Easter play and I hear the pastor say, "Twelve people were saved last night", I am overcome, and nothing else matters.