There is a beautiful short story by the late Manitoba author Don Bailey that tells of a couple in the midst of breaking up over the usual relationship issues of miscommunication and non-commitment. As the boyfriend is about to fly off to rescue his “ex” from another crisis, his girlfriend calls him at the airport and says: “I want you to bring me a gift back from Vancouver.”

“Name it,” he replies.

“Bring me your passion,” she says.

“What?”

“You heard me,” she says. “I won’t settle for less.”

Bring me your passion is also the title of Don Bailey’s book, in which this excerpt and short story appear.  I read it while taking one of his writing classes many years ago. He inscribed the inside front cover for me: “To Barbara, a person of passion herself.” I was slightly embarrassed but entirely inspired, and his words moved me to pursue a career in journalism… and to bring to the world my passion for writing, the arts, architecture, people, places and new perspectives.

Your talents are your gifts and the world is ripe to receive them.

If you could bring me your passion what would it be?