The Starting Point

It's not everyday that we pass a road sign that says, "Life as an author, musician, actor, etc starts here! Only 100 miles." Wouldn't that be nice? If we had a definitive place from where to start each endeavor that we undertake it would certainly make the journey far easier to successfully complete. In our reality where daydreams are exiled, we must do our own heavy lifting and cut through the mass of excess foliage that threatens to hide those golden opportunities that subsequently lead us down the path to our dreams. Of course this is all easier said then done and frankly, it's time for me to put my money where my mouth is. I can spend all day thinking and talking about all the great things I can do but unless I start walking the walk, my words will carry the same amount of weight as a feather drifting in the wind.

Last week my head was buzzing with  thoughts concerning a future career, financial obligations, grad school, hopes and dream and to say the least I was overwhelmed. I thought perhaps I was about to have some sort of anxiety attack, in response, I decided to make a list of all the things concerning me at the moment, all the things that I wanted for myself. The result, a melting pot of obligations, goals, dreams and impossibilities. Some of the crazy in my head below:

 -Car balance, School Loan Balance
-Financial Stability
- Live in Sydney, Australia for half a year
-Move to New York
-Career interests: writing, music and acting.
-Grad School: Creative Writing, Psychology

After writing what was on mind, the insecurity and thoughts of impossibility were gone,  it seemed like putting the thoughts onto paper gave them more weight as if anchored down by the pens ink. It made me realize that the first step to allowing a goal or a dream to materialize, is to write it out so you can see how it looks in front of your own eyes. Sometimes we don't want to admit our own dreams to ourselves because even we think they're silly, but if that's what makes you happy and gives you drive, don't let that dream fade away. Just think of writing it out as the starting point of your journey.

If after you haven written out your dreams and hopes and you're still scared and uncertain  because the road ahead isn't illuminated and you can't see the finish line, just think of it as if you are driving at night. E. L. Doctorow once said, "writing is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." I think you can tailor this quote to many, if not all aspects of our life. Anne Lamott further added to Doctorow's quote, " You don't have to see where your going, you don't have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you."


My question for my reader's: What are your dreams? What do you wish to achieve in your lifetime?