I had breakfast at my favourite Syrian restaurant near Jakros last weekend -stewed beans with eggs and yoghurt garnished with green pepper and onion a.k.a. Ful.

Although I have had the same dish in multiple eateries before the tantalising aroma and distinct taste left me in awe of whether the chef used a secret recipe or common ingredients locally available.

It was a poignant reminder that mastery requires passion apart from the right skill.

My encounter with two dentists for a tooth removal a few years ago laments that despite similar education, how well the job is done should be measured by the professionalism that radiates from passion.

A visit to the first one turned into a harrowing experience for me. It began with signs of an unpleasant consterned face upon my entrance annoyed his newspaper reading time was cut short. He was mumbling things that showed he was not in a good mood as the nurses prepared the anaesthesia.

Meanwhile, the surgical flood light was brought to my gaping mouth. The nurses fumbled to accommodate his whims by retracting my bed and rearranging my lying pose.

Suddenly he gripped the aching tooth with pincers and unceremoniously removed it in one violent shudder that seemed to have knocked my head off without giving the procedural area enough time to numb. I was reeling from the excruciating pain all the while the dentist excused himself with the paper in hand. The nurses dressed my gums, which were bleeding profusely and tried to comfort me by assuring it was over.

As a rookie to the tooth removal scene, I presumed it was a standard procedure. I left the clinic traumatised, vowing never to return. But I needed to have another one removed due to infections a few weeks later. I tried to ignore the pain and postpone until such time it was impossible and I reluctantly visited a different clinic nearby.

It was a stark contrast that made me suspicious at first. I was treated by a gentle and compassionate dentist who carefully explained the procedure and reassured me that he would do everything possible to address my discomfort. He made small talk to distract me from the anxiety that had been building up from past trauma while making sure the gum was numb.

Everything was done within a few minutes at a tolerable pain threshold, unlike the horrendous experience I had previously encountered. I could not help but notice the genuine empathy in his voice as he politely saw me off with his contact number in the event of any concerns.

In the realm of any profession, passion is crucial.

Regrettably, many are in a profession for the money as a means to an end. It is a way to earn a paycheck and sustain their lifestyle. This lack of passion often reflects in their work, leading to sloppy execution and a general disinterest in providing quality service.