Like everyone else, there are certain things that I loathe. Some of them understandable. Some of them irrational. One of my more irrational detestations (is that even a word?) is the word "passion". Passion in the sense of conviction for something that borders on insanity.

My skin crawls when someone uses that word when referring to me. The funny thing is that it's always people who really don't know me. For example, when referring to my cooking skills, I cringe when anyone says "Oh Tim. Cooking is definitely your passion." Or when they ask, "Is cooking your passion?" I can barely utter words. And when I do, they tend to be "I hate that word 'passion'."

Whenever I have to interview someone for a position, I always immediately lose interest in a candidate the moment "passion" comes from their mouth. Like, when they are asked why they want to work for the store, some of the candidates I deal with use the phrase "Food is my passion." That's the moment I tick them off my list. Especially since, earlier, you could not tell me the various types of vegetarian diets. Or name 5 grains that are gluten-free.

I know that I am being silly but when I meet someone who says that food is their passion BUT they have never ever even tried to work in the food industry, I roll my eyes and shut them out. I wonder, if you feel so strongly about something, why aren't you working in it? Especially something that is a legitimate source of income? Anyway, your passion is about eating, not food.

I do know where this idiosyncracy comes from. When I worked for the health club industry, I worked for a woman who used to constantly say that fitness was her passion. That working out was what she was born to be doing. It was all so fake because half the time we worked, she wasn't working. She knew some things about fitness; mostly the stuff you read in those glossy magazines. She never varied from her 5-year-old workout routine. And, if you are so passionate about fitness, what's up with the tit job and botox? She used to throw the word around all the time. During her talks with the group. During meetings with the higher-ups. During lunch. It was downright silly. One could say she was passionate about passion. But her actions never matched her words. Since that time, I have detested the use of that word.

I guess one day, I'll get over my disdain for the word "passion". But, I don't foresee that happening in the near future. Or even the far future. Maybe, one could say that I passionately hate passion. Later.  ¶ 9:03 AM