In the grand theater of life, two characters often take the stage – the ‘Passionate’ and the ‘Fanatic’. They may seem similar, but they are as different as day and night.

The ‘Passionate’ is a vibrant soul, full of eagerness and earnestness. They are like a river, flowing freely, open to the twists and turns of life. Their passion is a flame that illuminates their path and the paths of others. They welcome questions, for they see them as opportunities to learn, to grow, to ignite sparks of understanding in the darkness of ignorance.

On the other hand, the ‘Fanatic’ is a storm, fierce and unyielding. They hold onto their beliefs with an iron grip, fearing and despising questions. Their dogma is their fortress, impenetrable and unchanging. They refuse to change their mind, for they see change as a threat, a sign of weakness. They won’t change the subject, for they are consumed by their obsession, blind to the beauty of diversity and the richness of different perspectives.

So, while both the ‘Passionate’ and the ‘Fanatic’ are driven by strong feelings, their paths diverge. The ‘Passionate’ embraces the journey of learning and growth, while the ‘Fanatic’ clings to the comfort of certainty. And in this divergence, we find the true difference between passion and fanaticism.

© Beatriz Esmer