I'm a very romantic and passionate guy.

In the words of Diego Boneta, “I’m a very romantic and passionate guy.” Though simple in form, these words strike at the essence of what it means to live with the heart aflame. To be romantic is to see love not merely as a contract or arrangement, but as a sacred fire that lifts the soul beyond itself. To be passionate is to let that fire extend into every gesture, every word, every pursuit, whether of love, art, or life itself. In this confession, Boneta joins a lineage of men and women who have embraced intensity as the noblest way of being, preferring to burn brightly for a moment than to live in a twilight of indifference.

The ancients honored passion as divine. The Greeks spoke of Eros, not only as desire for another, but as the force that moves all living things toward beauty, truth, and fulfillment. The Romans, too, celebrated amor as both tender and fierce, capable of toppling empires and inspiring poets. To be both romantic and passionate is to align oneself with these eternal forces, to live in harmony with the deep currents of existence that refuse to accept half-heartedness. It is a declaration that one will love fully, work fully, suffer fully, and rejoice fully.

History gives us countless examples of such souls. Consider the life of the Italian poet Petrarch, whose devotion to his beloved Laura filled his verses with longing and exaltation. Though she remained beyond his reach, his romantic love and passionate spirit birthed poetry that shaped the course of literature for centuries. His life reminds us that to love passionately, even without possession, can elevate the soul and leave a legacy far greater than conquest or wealth. For passion, once kindled, creates ripples that endure long after the lover himself is gone.

But this way of life is not without peril. The one who is romantic and passionate often suffers more deeply than those who guard their hearts. They are wounded easily, disappointed keenly, and burned by the intensity of their own flames. Yet it is better to suffer in fire than to never have felt its warmth. For suffering, too, refines the soul, making joy more profound and love more sacred. The ancients taught that the same fire that destroys also purifies; so too does passion cleanse the heart, leaving it stronger, truer, more alive.

To admit such a nature is also to embrace vulnerability. Many hide their passions behind walls of irony, cynicism, or detachment, for fear of mockery or heartbreak. But the romantic and passionate person dares to stand bare before the world, unashamed of longing, unafraid of tenderness. This courage is itself heroic, for it takes greater strength to reveal one’s heart than to wield the sword. And in revealing it, the passionate soul awakens others, reminding them of their own capacity to feel deeply and love boldly.

The lesson for us is clear: cherish your own capacity for romance and passion. Do not stifle it in the name of caution or pride. Let your love be sincere, your gestures generous, your words filled with truth. Live as though every day is worthy of fire and beauty, and do not settle for lukewarm affection or half-hearted endeavors. For the world has no need of more indifference; it cries out for those who burn with life, who dare to show devotion, who live with passion blazing in their eyes.

And what must you do? Be unafraid to be tender, to be fiery, to be bold. Express your love without hesitation—write the poem, sing the song, speak the words. Pursue your dreams with the same fervor, refusing mediocrity. When you love, let it be deep; when you live, let it be full. In this way, you will embody the truth Diego Boneta confesses: that to be romantic and passionate is not merely a personality, but a way of living—a way that transforms both the lover and the world around him.