Earlier this year, in the depths of winter, I saw a little crack of light ahead. I could see that some time was opening up, time for me. I know how quickly those windows can close, so I was determined to make the most of this, to act and not let that time slip by.
What would you do if you saw a bit of time ahead? What dream would you make come true?
I had a list of what I wanted to do once my children were out of the nest, and writing was at the top of the list. So, not certain what would come of it, I set up this website. I got myself writing again with Christina Katz’s 21 Moments Writing Challenge and soon I was blogging. As more people read my blog, I committed to writing more posts. And a couple weeks ago, I went to the first session of the JumpStart Your Memoir class I had signed up for way back on that winter day.
What a shock.
This is no airy-fairy theoretical class. The first thing we did was draw up a contract with ourselves regarding when and how much we would write every week. We wrote an outline of our book. An outline? This book has been an idea in my head forever and I hadn’t thought about the nitty-gritty details. Help! But I did it. I wrote the outline, and I signed the contract with myself. I put on paper the concrete steps I will take STARTING NOW to make my dream a reality.
And yes, I am a little freaked out. Another plan I acted on was to volunteer to do some research and support work at our local public radio station WGBH. And now that is happening too. And wait, what about the homeopathy cases I am taking on?
No one can do it all. This will take some juggling, some creative scheduling, and it will take some saying, “No.” Taking on new goals means letting go of some parts of my life. I will not be spending as much time cooking, or connecting with friends. I will not be posting as many blogs. I will hopefully procrastinate less because I have a commitment to keep, a commitment to Myself.
This seems to be the season for signing on the dotted line of dream contracts. My friend just signed away some frequent flier miles for her long dreamed-of trip to Paris. My hairdresser here in Cambridge just signed the lease on her very own salon and has been happily posting pictures of the remodeling on Facebook as her dream becomes real. My son just signed the paperwork to study at his dream graduate school in Berlin next fall.
None of these dreams came true quickly. Those pens were put to paper as a culmination of hard work, lots of thought, some aimless wandering and some dark times. But when that crack of light appears, you have to step towards it. Each step will bring more clarity, more information, more direction, and will move you forward.
So dream, dream, dream, yes; but to make your dream come true get out your pen and sign on the dotted line.
Thanks, Lynette. I am really excited about helping out at WGBH and I have your encouragement to thank… and, yes, I think I will start planning some trips soon!
You sound so good. Eager to hear more, especially about the writing, WGBH, and…….Delighted to hear about Berlin….I see some travel in your future!
Thanks for the inspirational words Ellen as I also transition into this empty nest stage.
Arlene, you have some exciting times ahead as you figure out your next adventure in life!
This comes from Mel. It is so wonderful to read about your class and your thought process. There is a book about Extreme Self Care in which the Author suggests we put ourselves on our own calendar. I guess to make dreams come true we have to chose ourselves. As usual, I feel inspired after reading your column. If you were in the newspaper, I would subscribe!!
Thanks Mel! I love your idea about putting ourselves in our calendars. That is what I am trying to do these days! Yes, to make dreams come true we have to chose ourselves. So true.