Dreams May Be Free but They Are Also Essential to Progress

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I was sitting outside the theatre recently, unable to go in and watch my child perform due to the new restrictions here. I had sent a plea to the theatre owners as – under the new restrictions – they could have chosen to waive the requirement for a My Vaccine Pass but didn’t.

A friend in the same situation said “Shall we stage a protest?” My response, she decided, was pretty zen. I had decided to wait outside peacefully as I suspect the owners are more scared of the virus than the vaccination, and I am the opposite. And I didn’t think I was going to overcome their fears by further protesting, any more than they were overcoming mine through segregation and exclusion.

Honestly that response may have come from divine inspiration because all I feel is exhausted. It’s hard sometimes to avoid getting caught up in the constant bid for my attention that many things in daily life compete for.

We then sat talking about my separation and some issues going on at school for the kids. There is a lot going on. And yet, if I constantly allow myself to get dragged down rabbit holes, I am detracting from the bigger picture and just getting stuck longer and longer in a reality that is well past its expiry date. “What do I want my future to look like?” I wondered.

As I said in Be Purposeful in Your Focus - Your Glass Is Actually Still Half Full once I start contemplating and appreciating the things that are going well in my life, I get on a roll and realise that my glass is well and truly more full than empty. From there it is easier to get into visualising the future because my heart is more open.

So it is an ongoing practice, particularly at this time: to actively find things to appreciate in the present and get into visualising the future.

Luckily the weather had been great last week and I had managed a few walks at the beach. I sat imagining what kind of house I will have once I have finally sorted out the details of how to disentangle my assets. I’d love a little cottage, shabby chic furnishings, with just enough room inside for the kids and I to have our own spaces and enough garden around it that my neighbours can’t hear me sneeze.

Also, a sustainable lifestyle really appeals to me, particularly in terms of power, water and as many food products as I can manage. I have lived in a couple of houses where water was collected from the roof when it rained, and it provided all the water needs for the household, I’ve always thought that is far more sensible than a huge infrastructure that takes the water further from its natural state.

As I was sitting there contemplating and – frankly – delighting in the idea of creating a home space that reflects who I am, I noticed a lady walking her dog along the shore. The dog was having a fantastic time bounding in and out the waves, and eventually the lady walked over to say hello and we each recognised the Scottish accent we heard from the other.

There are more Scots out of Scotland than in, that is for sure, and I tend to find those of my native tongue very friendly; as was the case on this occasion too. And, as is often the way with me, within seconds we were connecting and sharing stories about what was going on for each of us at a deep heart level at this time.

We were both lamenting that, despite the current restrictions in New Zealand, we were experiencing something quite beautiful, and something that was not often available when we each lived in Scotland – warmth and sunshine on the beach beside a sparkling blue ocean.

When my mum died four years ago she said her one regret was that she wouldn’t feel the warmth of the sun on her back again as she sat on the beach, so every time I’m able to experience that I feel a huge sense of gratitude.

All of this contributed to an overwhelming sense of wellbeing that has carried on each time I manage to get back to the beach and my daydream picks up right where it left off, creating a new home and life where I am able to be more of who I am.

My big lesson right now is to see what I don’t want as a pivot point only, not to waste any more effort than necessary on spinning my wheels in the sinking sand. Fighting against something just gives it more energy and power, and fear is certainly not something I want to perpetuate.

With such extremes playing out both in my personal life and society at large, my focus and attention can go back and forth many times in each day. But always I am aware of bringing my focus back to the wanted rather than the unwanted. My dreams. Dreams are free, but they are also essential to making progress.

It’s my hope that you will each take a little time this holiday season to step away from the things that keep you spinning your wheels and revisit and cultivate your dreams. If there was ever a time this world needed dreamers, it’s now. It is time to create the kind of future we all deserve.

If you enjoyed reading this, you may enjoy Could a Broader Perspective Benefit Us All Right Now?. Reclaim the Sweet Spot of Being in Your Element, What If The Thing You Dread Is Actually Your Dreams Trying to Unfold?, When Life Is Uncertain It Feels Good to Take a Positive Step, Ask No One to Be Different So That You Can Feel Good and Empower Yourself - When a Difficult Reaction Sends You Into a Tailspin. To be the first to receive these posts, you can also opt to subscribe to my blog.