I spend many Saturday and Sunday afternoons hanging out at a Starbucks reading and writing. It is a fantastic way for me to get some work done in a learning space that I really enjoying being in.
As I tend to go to the same place every week, I always noticed one person who spent a lot of time there who was very unique. I often tweeted about the “Elvis” looking guy on Twitter and always wondered his story. I always thought that it was a little strange that he was pretty identical to Elvis and was actually quite shocked when he came up to me and introduced himself. As we got to speaking, he was one of the nicest people you could meet and looked WAY younger than his age would let you know (he is in his 70’s). Interestingly enough, he asked me, “What do you think I do for a living?”. I had a thought in my head but did not want to offend him, but then was surprised that he confirmed it for me; he is an Elvis impersonator. He told me that he absolutely loves Elvis (he is also does Roy Orbison) and there was nothing else he would rather be doing.
Passion.
Jason and I now talk all of the time and I noticed something about him. He is always smiling. He loves life and he has traveled all over the world doing what he loves. How cool is that? Even though he is nearly double my age, he acts as if he is in his 20’s and it is obvious his passion for life. He told me yesterday, “Make sure that you take advantage of every moment and live it to the fullest, no matter what you are doing.”
From someone who I thought was just a “different” person in a Starbucks, he has reinforced to me the importance of pursuing your passions and living life to the fullest.
Kind of a cool thing to learn from a stranger.
