Envisioning a Good Life

by Aazadi Fateh Muhammad

“A good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination." This quote by Carl Rogers reflects the very act of NEXT agency’s vision board event, which took place at Cairn’s women's facility in Ohio, where participants gathered to prepare their unique vision boards with pictures, colors, quotes, and dreams to show their intent to make informed choices and achieve better outcomes. The event was part of a larger campaign titled “Create Passion Within Recovery”, that NEXT, a student-run advertising agency at Ohio University, has been working on implementing in Collaboration with Cairn, i.e., a premier addiction treatment center and mental health treatment provider in east central Ohio. The remarkable fact is that it was organized at zero expense, relying only on materials and magazines donated by local libraries and on the intention of making it happen.

This campaign encourages women in recovery to create passion projects that represent progress and strength in their journey. The key idea behind this event was to create vision boards that would boost the morale of current clients by helping them visualize their life free from addiction or trauma and inspiring other fellows at Cairn. This activity empowered them to look at their future with more control and optimism. Working together ignited their inner drive, fueling confidence in life goals. The atmosphere was quickly filled with an unseen bond of sisterhood based on mutual vulnerability, empathy, and accountability. NEXT’s managing director, Chuck Borghese, is pleased to see the agency help clients with ideas that stretch the notion of the traditional advertising agency. “It was great to see that our overarching idea for Cairn can be implemented in many ways. This event was a true empowering success,” he said.

As soon as the table was set up with magazines and necessary supplies in the lobby, the attention started shifting to us quickly. Women of all ages, colors, and moods started to gather around the table as butterflies get attracted to a flower. Faces lit up with curiosity, excitement, and energy. They jumped right in, without any formal calls. Their energy and joy in the group were contagious.

The voices turned high and happy, searching for the texts and pictures that bring hope in better days ahead. Words of courage and persistence soon filled the air. Some asked for “power”, “strength”, “joy”, to guide their vision forward. One participant softly asked, “Can you please find me rainbows?” Another added, “I want flowers - yes, lots of them.” The conversation clearly demonstrated their resilience and commitment to achieve a bright and promising future, involving healing, recovery, and well-informed choices.

Others searched for quotes that reflected peace, health, faith in life, and love. Some carefully selected images of houses and vehicles, focusing on dreams of stability and belonging. Others turned toward nature with trees, skies, and open landscapes. One woman paused and smiled as she found a framed image of dollars, manifesting financial security and abundance.

Each collage became its own quiet statement of hope, an expression of what they wished to attract into their futures: positivity, stability, healing, and growth.

A small initiative turned into a two-hour nonverbal connection among a group of women who were never formally introduced to each other, who belonged to different walks of life with a variety of experiences, but shared the same bond of persistence in recovery.

Erin Brogan, a strategic communication student in journalism, working at NEXT, said that, “Personally, events like this are why I joined NEXT in the first place. Many companies today are so focused on profit that they are unwilling to do the work it takes to build real connections. I love meeting with our clients in person and building meaningful relationships that you can see in our work.” Her words showcase the primary focus of NEXT agency on intersecting real challenges in marketing through experiential learning with an aim to leave a mark on people’s lives.

Willow Downard, a student in commercial photography working with NEXT, captured the vision board moments and said that “I found the vision board event to be most interesting. Bouncing around an event like this with a camera in my hand gives me a special view into what the visions of the participants truly are. I saw the creative process from beginning to end and took some nice pictures along the way. Working with those ladies reminded me just how strong people can be”. Her words reflect the soul of the event: to inspire imaginations for possibilities.

In that shared creative space, conversation wasn’t needed. Expression itself became a connection. Initiatives like these prove that small gestures and actions for encouragement can change lives and provide a fresh outlook on the world, more as a potential resource for safety and care. A small initiative by NEXT, a student-run agency, turned into a moment of collective reflection, imagination, and quiet empowerment.