Why dreaming has the potential to change your life
Joy Attmore,
9th May 2018
Tags:
Life
Blog
Adventure
Dreams
I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit was one of the first novels that I read and absolutely loved as a child. It had me riveted from the beginning and opened up a whole world of adventure and imagination.
As a kid I would devour novels especially if they included themes of justice, romance and adventure.
As well as being a bit of a book worm, I was obsessed with the surfing culture and anywhere where it was possible to live by the ocean. I would watch the extreme sports channel and buy surfing magazines continuously, just so I could feel closer to that world. I would dream of one day getting to experience these paradises first hand.
As I write this, I am traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles, California. The evening sun is streaming in through the bus window with beautiful golden rays as we pass by wineries and palm trees, horse ranches and beach side towns nestled by the ocean. It’s such a foreign landscape from the one that I grew up in that with every passing palm tree, I am reminded of the adventure and dream-fulfilled that I now get to live in.
Dreaming is such a powerful tool.
Dreaming is such a powerful tool that we don’t often give ourselves permission to engage with, because it gets labeled as time-wasting and unproductive, or simply just impossible. But dreaming is a part of what allows us to be creative. It’s where some of the greatest inventions have been birthed, and where some of the most beautiful love stories begin.
I don’t know what voices you’ve listened to in your life - whether they have been encouraging or anything but that. However, today I felt that it was important to tell you to dream again, and to keep on dreaming. Your story, and the stories you desire to one day tell, need to be heard and you’re the only one whose going to be able to tell them.
One of the most influential people in my life was actually my year five primary school teacher, Mrs Sharrock. She believed in my ability to dream and to write at such a young age. I never doubted that I could because she was a constant source of encouragement.
Using our influence to encourage and believe in one another is so powerful.
Using our influence to encourage and believe in one another is so powerful.
I haven’t ended up living by the ocean in a surfing community, and to be honest, I probably never will - I can’t surf! But I did end up marrying a man from Los Angeles, and so now I get to call California one of my many homes. What was once a far-away dream destination is now a familiar land, and one I get to regularly enjoy. I still love to devour books, but now I also get to write my own stories. I get to play the lead.
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.” Bilbo Baggins
Maybe, like me, you love to read and writing is your way of outputting your dreams to the world. Maybe you’re a huge sports fan or have dreams of a competitive career. Maybe you desire to travel and see the world. Maybe you’re passionate about a land and people you’ve never even been to yet but you hope to one day serve. Maybe you’re excited about one day having your own spouse and family. Maybe you’re just ready to dream again.
What you are hoping for is not impossible.
Wherever you feel you’re at right now, I want to encourage you to take one step further out of the door and into adventure. Your ability to dream is beautiful and powerful, and what you are hoping for is not impossible!
