On Monday evening, I went to a concert with my wife. It was a Spanish artist named Rosalia. I’m more of a rainy day, moody folk guy so this was a new experience.

Seeing my wife learn her Spanish lyrics, decorate a jacket with her album logo and mimic her hairstyle, I was curious what can lead true fans to be so formed by music. I had heard a few songs leading up to the show but more of an overall “vibe”.

When we got to the show at Radio City Music Hall in the heart of NYC, I felt the energy. As the lights went down and the first chest thumping note hit, I started to understand.

Rosalia proceeded to give herself to every note. Singing as if her life depended on it and drawing me in to her spirit. Influenced by her Spanish country’s traditional music, Flamenco, she let her voice take center stage. She seamlessly stepped to her choreography and in the attentive silence, belted out haunting solos. Reverberating through all 6,000 listeners and gripping your soul in an unexplainable way.

An artist of the people, she weaved her way through the crowd, accepted gifts and had normal conversations with fans. She was such a natural and even as a English as a second language (ESL) artist, she communicated universal truths that everyone intuitively understood.

What stood out the most and the common theme in all this was her passion. As a self-proclaimed “lover”, I’ve shifted my perspectives to be more serious and analytical. It’s been helpful and allowed me to be the best version of myself in this time of my life but it brought up something in me.

Here was a woman who was all here. She poured her heart and soul into her music. She did not compromise who she was and yet drew each person in to feel as though they could relate as if they were her. It was a beautiful sight.

As I left, some strange thoughts arose. I didn’t want to check my email as much or make sure I check off all my to-dos. I didn’t want to worry about the small things or critique how others do things. Her passion made me want to pick up my guitar and sing. It made me want to write more thoughts like this newsletter. It made me want to fully give myself to the moment and not worry about the outcome.

In a world that charges you for every minute not devoted to productivity and reason, being passionate frees the soul of the illusionary burden of sensibility.

I can imagine that coming from a Latin culture that prioritizes late night meals with full conversation and music has allowed her to not think twice that this is the norm. As a more regimented white American male who time blocks and goes to bed at 10 pm every night, going to her show was the very thing I needed to experience to remind me of a different way of living. It helped me realize a truer part of myself without degrading who I am in the world.

It unlocked a new depth of giving myself to more moments, not thinking twice about the outcome and fully believing that expressing that in my daily life is essential to thriving.

Question

• when was the last time you were passionate?
• what in your life helps you be present to the moment?
• what’s holding you back from being passionate?

Quote

“It is the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.” -Rebecca West