Quick! If you have five imaginary lives you could lead, any given time or place or circumstance, what would you do? What would you accomplish? And why would it be interesting for you?

1. I would be a 16th century hospitaller monk living in a remote mountain monastery on a trade route somewhere between Rome and Constantinople. Pilgrims would journey to our beautiful refuge above the clouds for safety and the occasional exchange of arts and ideas. My job would be to train and care for all of the dogs used for finding and rescuing stranded travelers. My special devotion would be to healing those with broken hearts, and I would be earn a good reputation for my kindness, wisdom, and piety. This is interesting to be because I need greater discipline and spirituality in my current life, but it builds on my strengths of hospitality, healing, and service to others. 
2. I would be a woman colonist sometime in humanity's future when Earth's people have learned to work together to develop the technology to travel across the galaxy. I might be a humble exobiologist with a rather boring day job. I would study and catalog the exotic flora and fauna of our new world, and my research would be to help protect these fragile life forms from negative interactions with humans. In addition to a fascinating career in this life, my true passion would be as a wife and mom with an amazing family. I would teach my children to respect the divinity in all life and be mindful of the consequences of their actions. This is interesting to me because of my spirit of innovation and novelty, but also because I love building a life that centers on family. 
3. I would be a Lakota warrior in late 19th century Nebraska. As a friend and confidante of great leaders like Sitting Bull, I would bear witness to the rapid and heartbreaking problem of white settlement and encroachment. I would use strategic thinking to promote peace and equitable trade. Eventually, I would stand with the people, including my wife and children, to resist the soldiers and help them find safety. This is special to me because I grew up in Nebraska, a place where one can still hear the drum beats of Native people on a cool crisp night. 
4. I would be a successful and prolific playwright for the Broadway stage in the 20th Century, contemporary with Eugene O'Neil, Arthur Miller, Lorraine Hansberry, Tony Kushner, Sam Shepard and Tennessee Williams. My work would begin as sweet innocent "slice of life" pieces  during World War II, that were sentimental, but boring. At first I am called patriotic, because my work embodies the "American Spirit." But then my work takes on increasingly daring and controversial themes in response to needs for social justice and reform that I see during the Eisenhower Years. I find an audience of like minds that emerges in the 1960s. I help launch the careers of some of the greatest actors and directors in our time I start a dialogue in academic circles about the purpose of theatre in democratic discourse. Somehow I manage to survive the hedonism of the 70s and the egoism of the 80s to make a comeback in the 90s with new projects that help launch Queer Theatre as an American institution. This is a former dream of mine that I let go of because I couldn't tolerate the risks artists take putting themselves out there. 
5. I am a licensed counselor with a small private practice that I operate out of my home. I supplement my income by teaching coursework at a small private college, supervising interns, leading workshops, and consulting with nonprofit organizations.  I am adoptive father of two, and I live with a handsome and intelligent husband who loves me deeply. This is the life I'm currently working on.