Do You Live a Fire?

Thoughts on Blazing a Trail, Fueling Others and “Leaving Nothing Unmoved Behind You”

Have you ever read something so inspiring that you know, in that moment, it will stick with you forever? I found the poem, Moment, in one of my favorite books, The Freedom Writers. It is probably the most underrated poem that has ever existed. Here’s an excerpt:

…Wish not for the stone
But for the fire
Last only moments
But change everything

Oh to be lightning
To exist for less than a moment
Yet in that moment
To expose the world to every open eye
Oh to be thunder
To clap and ring
To rumble into memories
Minds and spines

To chill the soul and shake the very ground
Pounding even the sand
Into smaller pieces
Or the mountain
Brooding, extinct
Yet gathering for one fatal moment
The power to blow the top clean off the world
Oh to last the blink of an eye and leave nothing
But nothing unmoved behind you

- Vincent Guilliano

What’s your takeaway from this poem?

For me, it is about impact. The author contrasts stone and fire. He urges us to not wish to be the stone (fixed, mostly indestructible, long lasting, enduring) but wish to be the fire or lightning.

Fire consumes everything in its path. It spreads and it moves silently. It is something we don’t play with. It is something we both fear and are mystified by. It has the power and capacity for both creation and destruction. On the other hand, fire is also short lived.

Although we grow over time and we have long-term, meaningful people or experiences in our lives, the most vivid things in our memories are often moments or brief experiences.

Catalysts.

It’s that click that occurs when everything seems to make sense. An “aha” moment. Something that strikes you so profoundly that you’ll never forget it.

Ironically, fire is what leaves something changed or different forever.
Everything is moved behind it.
Nothing is the same as it was.
Its impact is eternal.

I strive to be the fire.

Anywhere I go, anyone I meet, or anything I do, I recall the last line of this poem. I don’t want to walk away from anything without “moving” it in some way. Otherwise, what am I contributing? Honestly I can’t remember what came first — describing myself with “I live a fire” or reading this poem.

What I do know is that I’ve been trying to harness the fire I have and utilize it in the way the poem indicates.

I’ve always described myself as very intense and passionate. I am on or off, all or nothing. When I care about someone, I mean it. When I am passionate about something, I live it. When I believe in something, I stand up for it and share it. When I say I am going to do something, it’s going to happen — just give me time. Sometimes I express it in paragraph form. Other times I need to shout it out to world in a post (and yes, in that moment). Sometimes it’s 10 texts in a row to someone who will listen, but often times it’s all brewing inside of me as I try to make sense of all of my passions. However, when I do something, big or small, I give 110% always. It’s just the level I function on.

One of the reasons I have identified with fire is that fire is a force to be reckoned with. Fire always inflicts. Nothing touches fire. Not everything is fire. Not everyone gives fire, not everyone gives 110%.

By being fire, you automatically understand, expect and accept that you’re going to give more than you’re going to get. You’re going to serve as some sort of catalyst for change, creation or destruction and then you’ll be headed to the next thing in your path. You’ll be there for as long as needed and then it will be time for you to go. This thinking is what has helped me value my independence, originality and my drive. This perspective has helped me to move on from chapters and places in my life and make sense of people I’ve distanced from whether it’s a desired distancing or not.

Surround yourself with those who contribute to your fire and/or fuel it, rather than take away from it or put it out.

Recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that the way I grow is with and from those who function on the level I function. Those with fire or those with fuel. Those I can identify with. Those who can add to my fire or fuel my fire. And, of course, I would hope to fuel and contribute to theirs. This is especially important as I embark on the journey of entrepreneurship and growing personally and professionally. Over the past month, I’ve engaged more with others via social media, made more of an effort to meet different people, happened to go on a handful of dates with a handful of gentlemen, and have been posting here on Medium all simply to find like-minded, fiery individuals and surround myself with them.

Although these individuals are rare, I plan on finding more of them and connecting with them. Because when fire meets fire… there is just no stopping it.

And so, I have to ask — do you live a fire?

Either way, I’ll continue to strive to “be the fire” Guilliano speaks of
and I urge you to do the same — in whichever way you see fit.

Do you identify with this? If so, find me on twitter (@barbaradigangi) — I’d love to hear how YOU live a fire.