We should all pay close attention to the lines that formed outside bookstores leading up to 12:01 this morning. Hordes of fans across this country and others have been impatiently waiting for the release of the final book in the Harry Potter series. It has already been noted in many places that Ms. Rowling (the author) has accomplished a remarkable feat by getting so many kids this excited about reading. I’d like to take this moment to just recognize and appreciate the passion that causes people to wait so long in lines like these.

In my youth I did this for concert tickets. I remember showing up at 2 AM to get on line for Billy Joel tickets when I was 17 years old. The line was already around the block, but right before tickets went on sale a guy walked by and yelled to the line that there was another ticket office a block away with no line. We ran over and discovered he was right. We got great seats.

I remember camping out overnight at Boston Garden for Billy Joel tickets and meeting a guy with six toes (on one foot). I camped out overnight at Madison Square Garden for Phish (the band) tickets and almost broke up with my eventual wife as a result. These were great times (not counting the fight with my wife which is a whole different story).

I remember showing up 6 hours early to be first in line to see the movie Batman in 1989. It was about 5 hours and 45 minutes before the next person got in line behind me. But that’s not the point.

The point is that in each of these cases I was tremendously excited and passionate about what I wanted to see. The kids (and adults) in lines outside bookstores last night are filled with passion. We can all learn a lesson from them. I believe it’s incredibly important to be in touch with what you are passionate about. Make a point of spending time on your passion. If you don’t your life will fill up with other stuff. Our time is too short for that.