Notice the title? What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you read it?
No, really. Think about it. Is it that ‘dream big’ is just a cliche, something people say to motivate you out of your comfort zone? Or does it mean letting your imagination run wild? Or does it remind you that if you have dreams, maybe it really is time to finally pursue them? And does that thought send you into fits of anxiety?
Do you know how long I ignored my dream of writing a book (or two or three)? Well, considering I’m in my early fifties, it’s been a very long time. I don’t remember how old I was when the idea came to me, but I know it was in my mind before I finished my college education. Then I married and became a mom and spent my days changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, and nurturing my children. Writing became less important than another dream, which was to be a stay-at-home mother. And since life during those years was chaotic, my writing dream fizzled down to a tiny spark, only to begin burning with more intensity as my kids grew up.
But what did I do? I ignored the dream again.
Why would I keep trying to tamp out that yearning? The answer to that is complicated but mostly comes down to the fact that I am an introvert. As a young child, I was extremely shy. Thank goodness my shyness isn’t quite that bad anymore, but it’s still there. Maybe you’re asking yourself what being introverted has to do with writing? I mean, I can write words whenever I want and no one else has to be involved, right? UNLESS, I actually want to publish that book (or two or three). Publishing involves publicity and that is HARD for an introvert.
I’ve had the writing of my first book, Hidden by These Walls, finished since December 2024. It’s taken me months to announce to the world that I WROTE A BOOK! As excited as I am about it, it’s the publicizing that scares me. Social media platforms, websites, interacting with strangers. Whew! It’s overwhelming. Putting my work out to the world for others to read, well that’s SUPER scary. Every author hopes their words will be liked, no, LOVED by the world. In my mind, I know that won’t necessarily be the case because we all are drawn to different types of stories. But the heart still hopes.
So, my point? When you hear ‘dream big,’ instead of going straight to those anxious feelings, take a minute to calmly think about your dream. First, Is it realistic? I mean, if your dream is to live at Hogwarts as one of Harry Potter’s friends, that’s not happening. So, make sure your dream is one that could actually happen. Is the dream something you can work towards slowly? A baby step at a time? Maybe you’ll have some kind of motivator to push you along, whether that’s a person or like me, having a major birthday that made me say, “Who knows how much time I have left? I’d better get to work!”
Dream big, my friends! Don’t wait as long as I did to get going on your dream. Life is too short to regret not beginning sooner. I’ll see you next month!