Passion. A frivolous yet thunderous sentiment. It arrives unexpectedly and takes hold of your thoughts. You depart from your modus operandi when a person crosses your path. Overnight, you no longer distinguish between dreams and reality. Nothing matters as long as you live the intensity that stems from within.

In ancient Greece, passion was believed to be like an illness. Besides bringing suffering to the soul, it also implies passivity, depriving every human being of their power. This, in terms of battles and warfare, was equivalent to having a wounded soldier or someone under a spell.

Nowadays, the freedom of choice is somewhat different, and, in a way, we are not raised to combat another realm. However, the sentiment still exists, and we all have experienced or will experience the vehement feeling of being in love.

The bad news is that there is no formula to evade its effect. Someone’s appearance is enough to change everything around you in colour and form. Your heart races, desires awaken, and you only wish to live the flame that burns within you.

The good news is that nothing is more authentic than surrendering to a feeling. It may frighten, but it brings excitement. Things become more flavourful, and a rainy day becomes a beautiful summertime.

The moment you start getting to know someone, it is like entering a universe. You begin stepping into new territory, and the only map is composed of experiences and references assigned in the past. Nothing is inevitable, and everything can be different. A thin line between what is felt and what is said is the gateway for all fantasies to manifest, and you start being led to a secret state of restlessness.

Time passes, and you gradually emerge from the shadows of passion and start perceiving reality as it is. This is the breaking point, the moment when either you advance to the next level or decide to end the story that was lived.

When two people decide to take the second step, maturity arises. Adversities start being presented and are no longer just sweetness and beauty. Problems arrive, and so do discussions. This is when you question whether it is worth being there or if it is time to climb the mountain alone.

If you choose to face things with this person, rest assured that many expectations will be shattered, and thus, passion will fade away. However, a new feeling awaits on the other side. This feeling is love. Contrary to belief, love and passion do not necessarily go hand in hand; often, they are complete opposites.

To love is a daily construction, complete of adjustments and growth. Passion is devastating and breaks everything in its path. While love is cautious and nurturing, passion is ardent and delirious. Everything obtained through love is firm and structured, whereas little is concrete and solid in passion.

Some do not enjoy falling in love and prefer practical things. In this case, love is an excellent ally. For those who want adventures, passion aligns with reaching extreme heights. Regardless of your choice, neither of these emotions ceases to be valid. Both deserve to be experienced.

Someone once asked me if I preferred to love or be captivated, and it caught me in a way that made me think for a long time about which of these two feelings I would like to live. Assuming that I appreciate practicality but enjoy grand emotions, I discovered I would accept the two. After all, even though they are entirely different, and one must give way for the other to enter, they are complementary.

We all want to be loved, but only a few of us dare to surrender ourselves to love. Often, this happens because we expect passion. We anticipate the click, the push, the electricity, or something more significant that makes us want to dive headfirst.

Therefore, I raise my glass and propose a toast to being in love and all those who allow themselves to live intensity before love.

A.M.