A Passion-Filled Year
The Most Popular Stories and Reflections About Passion of 2024
"And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been." — Rainer Maria Rilke
I talked to a lot of passionate people this year — 62 official On Fire interviews, to be exact, plus countless unofficial conversations along the way.
What stood out to me most? Passion is universal. With the right questions, almost anyone lights up when talking about what they care about most. It’s a reminder that we’re all passionate about something — and that passion can be a great way to avoid small talk (unless your passion happens to be the weather — in which case, tell me everything!).
As we head into 2025, I’m excited to dive even deeper into stories, research, and reflections about living with passion. But for now, I wanted to celebrate some of the pieces readers loved most this year. Here are the passion stories, reflections, and expert insights that made the biggest impact in 2024 — complete with links and lessons learned.
Profiles of Super Passionate People
These favorite profiles captured how different people find and nurture their passions:
How to Make Friends with a Passion: Rebecca Greene and Her Passion for Illustration
Green’s story of meandering her way to her passion reminds us that even when life doesn’t follow a straight path, every twist and turn can eventually lead to something meaningful.
Bean Freak: Steve Sando and His Passion for Beans
Steve Sando proves that we can become passionate about almost anything when we take the time to truly pay attention. The movement he’s built around beans is nothing short of inspiring!
Curiosity as the Compass: A.J. Jacobs and His Passion for Quests
A.J. Jacobs calls himself a human guinea pig, dedicating his life to following his curiosities. In a world that constantly tells us to 'enjoy the journey,' Jacobs doesn’t just embrace the idea — he shows us how to do it.
What a Feeling: Elaine O’Brien and Her Passion for Positive Movement
Elaine O’Brien, one of my personal heroes in health and fitness, proves it’s possible to stay deeply passionate about something for decades — all while keeping a smile on her face.
Wisdom from Experts About Living With Passion
These pieces offered insights from those who dedicate their lives to studying what it means to live with passion:
What to Do When Life Becomes Grayscale: Wisdom from Corey Keyes About Overcoming Languishing
Languishing has become a buzzword in recent years, describing a muted, colorless existence — essentially, a life without passion. Corey Keyes, who has studied this phenomenon for over 25 years, shares how to break free from its grip (hint: it starts with finding something you love!).
When Obsession Works: Scott Barry Kaufman and His Passion for Mentalism
Scott Barry Kaufman is my friend and the world’s leading expert on human potential — and knows a thing or two about passion. He doesn’t just study passion (and the blurry line between passion and obsession) — he lives it.
The Passion of the Non-Conformist
Chris Guillebeau has spent his life avoiding the typical 9-to-5 lifestyle and forging his own path. He offers some solid advice on getting over the gap between where we are now and where we want to be.
Reflections About Passion
These essays explored the complexities and joys of living a passionate life:
The Highs and Lows of Passionate Living: The Price We Pay for Passion — and Why It’s Worth It
Living passionately isn’t easy. To feel fully alive means experiencing incredible highs — but also navigating the inevitable lows. This essay explores why, despite the challenges, I still believe it’s absolutely worth it.
Passion as the Cure: How Our Passions are an Antidote to Loneliness
More people than ever work from home, live alone, and lack a sense of belonging — so it’s no surprise that loneliness is on the rise. My remedy? Pursue a passion and discover the community that naturally comes with it.
What Does it Really Mean to Be Passionate? A Conversation with My Dad on the Meaning of Passion
A lot of people trip up on the word passion — including my dad. I explore the meaning of the word (including why I think he’s one of the most passionate people I know) in this piece.
Thanks again for all your support — I can’t wait to keep covering passion in 2025! If you can’t tell, this stuff lights me up :)
Also, I just wanted to give a shout out to my illustrator, Mihajlo Stojanovic. He’s been on board with On Fire from the very beginning — and his creative vision has really brought these articles to life. You can check out more of his work on his Behance profile.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
With fire,
Krista
Thanks for these highlights—I missed some the first time so now will check them out! :)