Guest Blogger: Kieran Hixson

A friend asked me a while ago what I wanted from life or to do with my life, and this is my answer.  

The short answer is that I want to make a difference, be loved, and give love. But mostly, I want to be engaged in my life in a way that will bring these things about.  

Engaging in my life seems to be the key to what I want, especially right now. Since Liz died, I have been at various stages of disconnect and not engaged.

Here's where I get a bit philosophical. See, I believe in potential—human potential over human nature. Potential, the possible—to get to what could be, requires visualizing—it is the first step. If humans can't picture a world, a society, without war, then we are condemned to a world with war. 

Believing in the potentiality of humans presupposes a belief in people and their capacity to change, grow, communicate, and love. 

I want these things for myself and others. I look at my life and determine what is holding me back from my potential. I believe I have the capacity to change, grow, communicate, and love and be loved. So, I visualize my life with the things I want. Then, I need to engage. Passivity doesn't work. Potential requires action. 

Sometimes, it is much easier to visualize than to manifest—to take that action. Sometimes, I don't even see where to start. But generally, I begin. Even if it is a misstep in the long run, it is a step, and I can change the course later. Momentum is the vital part. I don't have to take the right first step, but I have to take a step. It is like potential energy in physics, lost if not used and relative to the moment. 

So, yeah, I believe in people and want to make a difference in the world. I love unconditionally—freely, even. But at the end of it all, I want to have had a life well-lived and earned the proverbial gold star, like in kindergarten, for being good.

What's your answer?