Passion Project

Relationship between Passion and Privilege

        Passion is a strong emotion where you feel an over powering sensation to keep going.  It motivates us in ways where we can exert endless hours in doing a task.  Passion does not come naturally to everybody.  Sometimes we find passion in the things we enjoy doing the most.  In particular; a career, a place where you want to go, or a hobby.  It takes time to find what's our passion in life.  Some people never find their passion.  When we feel passionate about something, we find an inner peace within.  If we fail to be vigilant, passion can consume us.  "The  very core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure (KraKauer, pp 57)." Chris's passion was this great Alaskan journey.  He pursued his passion and wasted no time and left almost every materialistic things behind.  He walked alone on the road with a few items including his favorite books and backpack.  He became nomadic, no luxuries, no money, except the things he was carrying.   Simplicity is the key to living and getting rid of the things that bind us to become slaves. 

       Chris had a privileged lifestyle where his parents provided him and Carine with an upper middle class home in the suburbs and a college education.  Chris had the privilege to have his college education completely paid and with twenty-four-thousand dollars left over from the college fund.  Chris choose to leave the life of a privileged young man to a man that is living free from things, material things and more things.  Chris believed that how can anyone live life to the fullest if they are conditioned to a life of what they think is secured.  "Yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future (Krakauer, pp. 57)."  When Chris finally reach Alaska, he was an inexperienced individual who willingly went into the wild.   As a result, his passion ended up costing Chris his life.