Daniel Fine reads this aloud, every day when he wakes: "This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

At the rate he’s going, Daniel Fine just might fulfill his wish to be "thoroughly used up" before he dies. Already in his life, he’s been a husband, father, successful entrepreneur, actor, teacher, healing practitioner, workshop leader, professional coach, and Zen hospice worker. He’s grateful to have traveled in so many places in the world, surprised again and again in travel, about what is possible. He shares, "Traveling has been the best teacher to move me closer to discovering how I can be used best - to deepen my curiosity, my fears, my creativity, my love for strangers…traveling gets me closer to seeing everything as One."

Now living in San Francisco, Daniel also spent years living in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as he built a successful career in sales and marketing. He gave that career up when his wife passed away and left him a single parent of three teenaged boys. He shares, " I have three wonderful sons who showed me then what purpose was all about. My sense of purpose was ignited by my sons’ presence in my life and inspired by my wife. She died when the boys were 12, 15 and 16. Within a year I gave up my work and became a full time Mr. Mom. She was an amazing mom and had set quite a standard for me. I tried to step into that." His boys are now grown, one of which, a restaurateur in Wyoming, recently gave Daniel his first grandson which allowed him to be used in a whole new way. Daniel’s other two sons are in New York, one working as a producer at HBO, the other a professional actor.

Daniel also has a passion for the theater and decided to pursue it after he dropped his earlier career and began full time parenting. He studied the craft of acting and in time became a professional actor, ultimately receiving the prestigious Jeff award (Chicago's version of the Tony's) for best supporting actor. Drawn to connect with people, Daniel expanded his acting career into teaching and began teaching workshops for non-actors internationally, on listening and presence. He continued to pursue methods of impacting people, becoming a certified practitioner of reflexology and deep tissue massage before integrating all of his experiences and skills in personal transformation into a professional coaching practice.

And what is capturing his interest now? Partnering. He’s not looking for a spouse, (at least he’s not told us that!) Rather, he’s looking to join others, in creative, personal and professional endeavors, in this next phase of his life. He explains, "I’ve been doing so much on my own for so many years as a solo act. The hardest thing about being a single parent was that there were times I questioned my judgment and wanted to bounce things off someone and I didn’t have that. Not so long ago I decided that coaching was another solo journey, and as much as I love the work and the process, I realized again that I had gravitated again towards something that was solo. I found myself thinking, I want to co- create something. I want to have somebody to share my passions with, kick things around with – all to grow and expand myself from others' perspectives." Ask, and the Universe responds. Not long after Daniel had this realization about partnering, he built a close friendship with someone who wanted to share a household. And though Daniel thought the last thing he would ever do again is share a household with a friend, he’s now happily sharing a household with that friend. He reflects, "I am all about connection. My Anasura yoga training based on the Tantric tradition, and my Tantra teachers have encouraged me to step into experiencing more experiments — to try them on with a vulnerability and just see what shows up. Then I can make a conscious and logical choice in which pleasure also has a value. We are all here to create a better paradise. The idea of sharing a household with someone while still maintaining my home as my sanctuary has been a very fulfilling and pleasurable experiment."

Wanting to stay in touch with his value of connection in his professional life, Daniel also put out an intention this past year to partner up with someone in work, to take his coaching to a co-active place, rather than continuing to build business alone. Within the year, someone showed up and presented to Daniel a vision of co-creating a business through life-coaching, workshops and groups. Daniel accepted an invitation to join in the company A Path That Fits {www.apaththatfits.com} and since, has found it a pleasure to team up and build a bigger vision in partnership. Daniel also works for a not-for-profit. Springboard Forward, a group contracted by companies like Goodwill Industries to provide coaches for their entry level employees to give them a greater perspective to see what is possible and attainable in their careers. Daniel raises the bar for his clients, "What we’re capable of being is mind-boggling sometimes. It keeps me very fulfilled to be part of people's journey, to see them discover more of their beauty and magnificence is a gift they give me when they share it."

Daniel is also finding partnership in the community of people who volunteer with him at the Zen Hospice. He writes of his experience there, "It’s amazing. It has been life changing. If you’d ever told me I’d be doing this, I’d say ‘Whaddayou nuts?!’ (His native NY accent surfaces). My Leadership training reminded me of my desire for balance which I hoped to attain through volunteer work. I remember being so ready and telling people that I had a calling to commit to this. Then I saw a flier for a hospice training that was just across the street from where I live. The synchronicity of my path is something I usually pay attention to, always with the hopes that I can continue to remain aware enough to hear the call. With this idea about service, I somehow recalled what I’d learned through my wife's experience with hospice, and than 3 years later had used that knowledge with my Dad to give me the language and the vulnerability and the connection with him...we found a place to meet each other like we never have experienced before. So the whole idea of hospice resonated. I wanted everyone to have the experience I had been able to have with a loved one. There’s so much to learn through death and dying…where my children were my purpose earlier in life, I now feel like this chapter of hospice service in my life is re-igniting another dimension around my life purpose where I feel like I am home and learning more about presence.

It’s Presence precisely, that is now at the core of Daniel’s life work. "You teach what you need to learn, " he explains. "Where I practice being present, my life is so rich. I achieve a connection that’s so much deeper than I would have had in that same experience had I not been listening and practicing presence. I know I’m in it [presence] when I’m out of my head. My presence brings me to a place where I’m focused on something else – a person, a flower, the ocean…and now a grandson as a newborn. He is already one of my greatest teachers of all time.

What continues to challenge Daniel? "I am getting better at living in the unknown and embracing the wisdom and the love of the universe and to trust what is still waiting for me. My evolving sense of purpose continues to challenge me to trust the mystery of each moment and stay connected to the faith that my purpose will continue to unfold and guide me in each moment - to live my mission of being the presence that heals through beauty and connection. Knowing and trusting this, I find the Universe seems to hold me and allow me to do my work. I am very grateful for teachers like Patrick Ryan who are able to remind me of so much just by their presence. Charlie Parker said it, ‘If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn.’ Patrick Ryan is an example of that for me. His inspiration makes all the difference in my quest to go deeper with all my practices.

To feel used each day. This has become my favorite dance. Daniel Fine, a splendid torch indeed.