I'm a Dreamer

My very favorite song ever is “Imagine” by John Lennon. This particular line always hit home – “You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.”

I’ve always been a dreamer. I believe in the better side of things and choose to live in the light rather than the darkness, which is why I have a very hard time writing dark and disturbing things.

The Wounded Warrior Valentine drive I started last week is a good example of the dreamer in me. I made it my goal to sell 2,000 copies of The Great Twitter Adventure, so that I could donate the $700 profit to Wounded Warriors – even though in a month long drive during the month of September I only managed to sell 50 books. I set ridiculously high goals at times and fully believe I can accomplish them. Why? Because it’s possible.

Things don’t to have to be probable for me to buy into them. Only possible. I believe that’s a major ingredient in a dreamer’s mindset. The negatives don’t halt us; generally speaking, we embrace the positives and go with it. Is this practical? Absolutely not. Does it sometimes work? Absolutely!

Here’s the best personal example I have of that. I went to work for the Maricopa Monitor, a community newspaper, as a reporter. Two days later I was asked if I thought I could handle being the editor. Mind you, I had never done any editing whatsoever and this position required doing the actual layout of the newspaper. I didn’t hesitate. I said I was sure I could. The next day I was the editor of the paper. My first two editions were a little sloppy, but by the third week, my paper looked way better than my predecessor’s product had.

I didn’t know what I was getting into so I just jumped and it worked out. I am very proud of that moment when I went for it without hesitation and I credit the dreamer in me. She believes in me, in the world and in possibilities. She’s also responsible for my writing.

If I wrung my hands over whether I could write, I would never write. My inner visionary becomes or falls in love with the characters, sees a future for them and sees the published book. She also clearly sees people reading the book and because of her there have been people to read my books.

Yes, I am a dreamer, unrealistic at times and damn proud of it. Come dream with me.