Dreaming of a writerly life

Last year, work was challenging. I taught a year 4 class in a school I’d worked at for several years and, for all intents and purposes, it was a year like any other. Busy, rewarding, difficult…highs, lows, etc. The difference last year was a consistent pull inside my mind and my heart, that I wasn’t giving my creative self enough of an outlet. I felt hamstrung by the constraints of the education field and the lack of autonomy teachers experience. On top of that I felt a growing need to see my own children more often, rather than always sending them to before and after school care so I could wade through the never-ending sea of work.

When I made the decision to have a year off, a sense of relief flooded through me. Like an inexplicable weight had been removed from my shoulders. The consistent churning disappeared from my stomach, and an excitement for the possibilities and opportunities I could follow became my default feeling.

As I said goodbye to my 2019 class, the parents of one of my students gave me a gift that has propelled me and my mindset into the new year with gusto. It was a gift set from Kikki. K; the beautiful, Swedish design and stationery business. It included a book called ‘Your Dream Life Starts Here,’ and a ‘Dream Life Journal’, which is a space to record your thoughts, feelings and dreams as you read through the book.

I have begun working my way through the book and journal and I have found it utterly illuminating. I can’t say I’ve ever sat down and truly thought about my dreams and ambitions in such a meaningful way, I’ve certainly never written them down.

Kristina Karlsson is the author and Kikki.K founder, and she has collaborated with a host of incredible people to produce this book. The story of Dr Tererai Trent and her dream of escaping a brutal life in Zimbabwe is a standout and will surely leave you inspired to acknowledge and follow your own dreams too. One of the questions posed in the book is –

What would you do if you knew you could never fail?

Kristina Karlsson

I love this question because, for me, the limitations I’ve put on myself throughout my whole life have been crippling. I’ve stopped doing things I loved because I worried what people thought. Or I’ve not started things at all because of my fear of other people’s opinions. What a waste! Well, no longer. Now is the time to cast aside the irrelevant (and often non-existent) judgements of others and follow your dreams.

Here is my list of things I would do if I knew I couldn’t fail:

Finish writing my comedy show and pitch it

Be in the comedy show

Collaborate with other creative people

Do stand up

Buy a book store

Write everything I want to

Dance

Sing in a band

Learn French

Create a podcast

Draw / paint

Help others write more (especially teachers and kids)

This is not an exhaustive list but when I look at it I see some pretty clear themes for my dream life. It involves a lot of writing, a lot of humour, creativity, learning and growth. I also see that I’m on the right path. I’ve chosen to follow these dreams more purposefully. And I feel bloody amazing about it.

So, how about you? What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Dream without limitations and write them down!

Obviously first thing’s first – have a cup of tea xx