This is a guest post from Charlie Holiday. Yes, he’s a fictional character. No, I couldn’t stop him. 

If you’re reading this, you can help set me free.

I know, it probably seems a little weird. I get it. But compared to the stuff that’s been going on in my life recently, this is nothing.

You see, apparently, I have some sort of “superpowers” that, hey, I didn’t ask for or anything, but it seems I might not have a choice. I can’t seem to get away from them, the powers come through a variety of people, I don’t quite know what it all means, and I certainly don’t know where it’s going. Am I curious? Sure. Am I ready for this? Well, are we ever really ready for any change in our lives?

My name is Holiday. Charlie Holiday.

I get that you get the Bond, James Bond reference there. I’m not going to deny it. I’m not even such a huge Bond fan. I think I just like how he says his name like that.

So do I want to be the next James Bond? Seriously? Is that even a question? No, I don’t. I don’t really need people shooting at me and when he hangs from things like ski lifts I just want to binge watch Netflix and turn in my security clearance.

Did you pick up on that?

I don’t want to be some thriller superhero. I just want to live my life. I like my life. I have a good life. Could it be better? Sure. Couldn’t everyone’s? So what’s the deal? Why me? Why am I even debating what’s going on? Why have I hijacked Mr. Charbonneau’s site here to have my say?

Because there is more out there.

By “out there” I don’t mean space and galaxies and all that. It’s closer in. The thing is, I don’t really know what I’m talking about. I just know that there’s something out there, but it’s not that far away. In fact, it’s right near us, all around us, a part of us, and we’re a part of it.

There’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s more than we can see.

“But what is it?” I can hear you asking.

I don’t know. No, really, I truly don’t know.

So that’s why I’m here. I want to find out. This “more,” this “out there,” I want to at least take a few steps into the unknown and see what it’s all about.

Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe this is all a big joke. Do they still do those reality TV shows where they have hidden cameras and they trick you into something and then they pop out and surprise you? Maybe all of this is that. I don’t know.

Why do I care about any of this at all?

Because I do have one fault. OK, I probably have lots of faults. But here’s one I’ll give you right now.

I’m curious.

There, I said it. I’m no longer 8-years old but I seem to have the curiosity of a kid. I just want to know or see or experience and I’m willing to go out of my comfort zone to find it.

I think it’s time for bullet points. No, a numbered list.

What We Need

1. Curiosity
2. Daring

I think that’s about it. Curiosity is the pull. Daring is the push. I’m drawn to curiosity, but daring is going to get me there. See how that works? I just made that up–and I like it.

Why do I need your help?

I exist. I swear. I’m writing here, aren’t I? The esteemed Mr. Charbonneau seems to be having a little trouble letting me run free. He’s doing typical stuff I thought he had long gotten over: waiting for perfection, learning way too much, focusing on things that don’t immediately set me free.

There. I challenged him. I know him well enough to know that he has a weakness in declining challenges. So there you have it, Mr. Charbonneau: let me out of my cage, let me roam free and see what this is all about. If it’s all nothing, if I’m just part of episode 82 of a reality TV show, I’ll go back into my cave and get back to important stuff like, well, whatever it was I was doing before this all started.

But I exist. You know it. I know it.

Set me free.