The world today so often defines itself by what it does not like. It is easier, for example, to find 100 people online who can agree that they hate James Blunt, or the Star Wars prequels, than it is to find people who will openly share your passion for foraging for mushrooms or the latest Lee Child novel.
In fact, this negative outlook has permeated society, and not for the better. Most people only leave a review to complain and even in real-life conversations most are more willing to share a rolled eye and head shake than a real, light-up-the-eyes, talk-until-midnight enthusiasm for something.
But people in this second group are better. They are more fun. And a few of them have inspired me to try and get off the negativity train, or at least to redress the balance. I am a natural cynic, and in some respects a professional one, but that doesn’t mean being a fountain of grumpiness is much fun. I wrote a blog a while ago on comments by Radio 1 DJ Greg James and the brilliant comic and writer Tim Minchin about the power of being ‘pro’ things. In fact, much of the central message of this blog is lifted from Mr Minchin’s talk to students at the University of Western Australia. In the talk, which you can watch here, he said:
Define yourself by what you love…Be demonstrative and generous in your praise of those you admire…Be pro stuff, not just anti stuff.
Tim Minchin
The mindset he is railing against, rightly in my opinion, is frequently evident in our politicians today. They are the worst at being ‘anti’ stuff. I understand this, on a basic level, it is easier for them to define themselves in opposition to things. But it does not tell us much about them. What do they like? Often our insights into the personal preferences of our political leaders are frivolous and inaccurate. Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron once forgot who his favourite football team is, while his current successor Rishi Sunak drew Alan Partridge comparisons by citing The Beatles as his favourite band. These are so clearly stock answers that they make them seem less human and relatable than knowing that they have a deep, if less headline-worthy, passion for the music of Sudanese musician Sinkane, or the films of French 1930s director Jean Vigo.
The importance of embracing and sharing your personal passions was recently highlighted to me by my wonderful fiancée, S, who said she has become more secure about talking about things she loves, including The Sims and all things Harry Potter. That enthusiasm, has in turn made conversation and connecting with people easier as she feel she is more calmly herself. It is a good point and one I am trying to learn from. As the artist and writer Austin Kleon, whose work I love, pointed out, sharing things you love helps to bring in people who share your passions, no matter how niche.
He quotes essayist Henrik Karlsson:
You write to find your tribe; you write so they will know what kind of fascinating things they should route to your inbox.
Hendrik Karlsson
Talking about and engaging with your own passions will help you be passionately engaged with what is going on around you and the people you meet, even if they do not share your interests. Being interested, as the old aphorism goes, makes you interesting. Do not just ask questions to move a conversation on, that is using, get involved. But this is not just about your approach to other people, it is about your approach to yourself. Be interested in yourself, indulge and share your interests and become more interesting.
So, before I go out to try and make myself more interested and interesting, and hopefully share some bits of that here, let me finish with one more bit from Mr Tim Minchin:
Life is best filled by learning as much as you can about as much as you can, taking pride in whatever you are doing, having compassion, sharing ideas, running, being enthusiastic.
Tim Minchin
Millennial get 
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