The Fire Inside.

I’m watching/listening to a Jonn Fogerty DVD, The Long Road Home, a 2006 concert.  Fogerty at age 60 or so is as energetic, and has as strong and clear a voice as he has anytime in his life which, of course, makes me think about the difference in guys like Fogerty and McCartney, who seem to have a strength and freshness about them, and guys like Mick, Keith, Charlie Watt who seem to be pumped full of embalming fluid. 

So how come Fogerty can seem fresh and inspired doing “Proud Mary” 40 years later  -  clearly he’s done the number so many times that it’s hard to believe he’s really that enthusiastic, it must be an act, a performance . . . . or is it?  He actually may be more animated and enthusiastic than he was 35 years ago.  Well, maybe Mick and the boys, and others like them, never were very enthusiastic to start with. . . . .not so, I saw Mick, actually stood next to the stage in 1966 when he and his mates were 23 years old, and I’ll tell you, there was a time that they had passion, real passion.

It may be more obvious in artists and performers whose lives and/or work are on display for all to see, but this ability to get through life, through decade after decade, and maintain a passion for life (or not maintain it) seems to vary greatly among people.  How is it some people have the capacity to to be energetic, fresh and positive and others, who are in no worse physical condition, seem old, tired, disinterested?  Passionate or apathetic?

How do you keep passion alive, year after year?  Is it developing new interests, refining old interests, living healthy to feel good?  How do you prevent, avoid becoming apathetic?  Is it the company you keep?  What are the things that make a difference?   Are they within our control?