In the film we watched one Friday evening, one character asked the other, “Wofür bist du geboren?” I like the phrasing of this question in German better than its English counterpart, which would be something like, “What is your calling?” The idea of being born for something rather than called for something just sits more easily with me.

I turned to you and asked and you answered immediately. To help and support other people, you said, to make their lives better, less stressful, to bring laughter and joy. You did not need to think before answering; you just knew.

Since then, I’ve been mulling over my own answer to this question. I know who I want to be as I walk in this world, but how can I tell for sure if that’s who I am? I think I’m a good listener and I think I make people feel seen and heard, that they feel like they matter. This is how I want to be as a partner, as part of a family, as a friend, as an educator. This is what I want to be my purpose in the world – being someone who can listen and who shows others that they matter.

Wofür bist du geboren?

What is your purpose in this world, in this life?