THE DEMON CALLED PASSION

Recently, the nation's(Nigeria) media space was awash with the story of a teenager who hid himself in the tyre compartment of a Lagos-bound Arik airline from the Benin airport. He was "discovered" initially when the plane taxied off the runway in Benin but the officials turned bind eye.The airport officials at the Lagos end got the shocker of their lives when they saw the 'superman' jumped down from the aircraft.

So many people painted 19-year old Daniel Oikhena as a 'rascal'ly, 'unruly' and 'stupid' boy etc All manner of names. Ironically, I saw a sterlin quality in that lad. The underlining and the single most important factor behind his action is encapsulated in one word-PASSION! Yea, you saw it correctly.PASSION.

Passion is an "unsual and crazy" love for something or a cause. It is natural, unexplainable and unique to every individual but unfortunately only few ever discover where their passion lies. The English Oxford Learner's dictionary defines passion as," a strong feeling of liking something; a hobby,an activity etc that you like very much."

Take it or leave it( but take it) this guy,which I would conveniently call "Boy Oi" has decided to follow his passion. Someone said "If you have not found what to die for, you have not started living.". He has found what he wants to die for and you think he is crazy.

Passion is a 'driver'. It drives you to accomplish your goals. It rubs you of use-less activities and cures you of the deadly sting of mediocrity. Show me a man who works tirelessly towards a goal and I will show you a passion-driven man.

A man possessed with the 'demon' of passion risks everything including his life to accomplish his goals. However,this is not to say we should take careless risks. Whatelse except passion can explain why a vibrant and bubbly boy risks his life? Most people are living below their potentials today because they are not 'crazy' enough to take the risks and put expression to their passions. It is risky not to take risks.

The 'demon' of passion drove a 20-year old Harvard undergraduate to drop out of school and made him pursue. a 'crazy' idea called Facebook. Prestigious Harvard!!! The 'demon' possessed another boy to drop out of Reed College to design the first personal computers and revolutionize the distribution of music online(ideas which at that time were at best crazy.) We can go on with stories of passion-driven individuals who took risks in other to fulfill life-long dreams and came out tops..

What are you passionate about? Cooking, swimming, writing, singing, talking(yes,talking), sports, sewing, resourceful thinking? Start taking steps to put expression to them in other to live the life you have always dreamt of. Do not let anyone talk you out of your passion. It is in pursuing your dreams and passions that you become a star! You can make a living out of your passion.

Note:The next time you hear about Daniel Oikhena, remember he is a boy who has found what many men are dying to find. He has started living. May you be possessed by the 'demon' of passion.

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