Dreams Revisited

I cross-posted my Insomnia of a Creative Addict post over on Creative Construction, and it generated quite a bit of discussion amongst the group there about dreams and how you achieve them. This group of gals is really extraordinary. I’ve only been a contributor to that blog for about a month now, but I already feel a great kinship with these creative women. I’ve really been enjoying the discussion and all the positive energy over there. Reading the comments on that post made me reconsider my perspective a little bit. Miranda talked about whether or not what she was currently doing was her “life’s work”, and felt that maybe it wasn’t exactly what she dreamed of. Is it what she’d be doing if she won 10 million dollars? No. But then she realized that what she is doing is benefitting the greater good of her clients, many of them non-profits, and that’s very rewarding.

I’m currently in St. Petersburg with my students for a Student Government meeting. Is this what I’d be doing if I won 10 million dollars? Um, no. Then I thought about what I’d do if I did win that 10 million dollars. I’d probably just enjoy life with my family in a nice house on the water where we can pull up a crab trap off the backyard dock and bring up fresh seafood for dinner; or where we can just press a button and plop the boat in the water to take the girls over to the sandbar to hunt for hermit crabs; or where the girls and I can spend hours “creating art”, as they like to call it, in our own workshops. Hmmm…wait a minute! I am enjoying life with my family in a nice house on the water where we can pull up a crab trap off the backyard dock and bring up fresh seafood for dinner, as evidenced by these pictures. And I do live in a place where we can just press a button and plop the boat in the water to take the girls over to the sandbar to hunt for hermit crabs, as evidenced by the 26 hermit crabs currently taking up residence in our aquarium…my Lord, where have Nemo and Marlin gone, and aren't we missing some starfish? And I do live in a place where the girls and I can spend hours creating art in our own workshops, though more often than not, they are still invading my workspace just steps away from their own. :-) Is guess that’s a pretty darn good dream, don’t you think?

And I guess while I may be experiencing some career burnout causing me to consider making a change, I do still have a pretty darn good job. I know that I have the ability to make a huge positive impact on the lives of these students (and I know that at least one of them regularly reads this blog...maybe one day she'll actually make a comment!). Am I stretched for time? Most certainly. Would I love to venture into new territories with my creative endeavors? Absolutely, and I will. It might require a little time restructing, but I will. Will I go back to school to further investigate my art therapy idea? I’m definitely looking into it, but you know what? If I can’t work it out, it’s really okay, because overall, those comments made me realize that in many ways, I’m already living a dream. Wonderful family, happy home, and dolphins in the backyard. How can I truly ask for more? How about you? Maybe you are already living pieces of your dreams too….

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