How Do You Nurture Your Dream?

"In your heart, keep one still secret spot where dreams may go

and be sheltered so they may thrive and grow."

~ Louise Driscoll

How do you nurture your dreams so they may thrive and grow up? I believe one way to do this is to create some real time and space in our daily living routines. And before you yelp, I don't have time I'm too busy, please read three tips that I'm finding helpful when I keep them in mind:

1. It doesn't need to be big chunks of time. I read a book once where the author talked about not falling into the trap of thinking that a dream has to be a big 'all or nothing' pursuit. You know the idea that if we don't have lots of time to spend on it, we shouldn't even begin at all, that we should wait for a more convenient season when we're not so busy. 

One day I shared with a blogging friend that I have some book ideas forming in my heart, but that I was waiting for when I had lots of time to work on them. At least three to four hours a day, five days a week. And since I didn't have that kind of time available, I put it all off, because I, too, had fallen for the idea that it had to be 'all or nothing'. 

2. Small beginnings make progress. But then there was dear Matty encouraging me to find myself some writing time. In an email she said: "Just get it on paper. Don't worry about how it reads right now. Thoughts. Words. Sentences, maybe. Even pictures. Just get it down! Make yourself a gift of 30 minutes or 15 or even 10 to do this... I know this book is in you wanting to be born. Won't you let it?"

Talk about timing... certainly a message I needed to hear. That's when I decided to give myself the gift of working for 20 minutes a day. That's all. Twenty minutes just for my writing. 

3. Make the time enjoyable. I started imagining how I could make these few minutes a special time in the day. Kinda like when, years ago, I started a gratitude journal, and throughout the day I eagerly looked forward to what I would include at day's end in my pretty notebook.

So now, I started thinking about how I could create a writing interlude in my space, a time of day and a place where I would feel the freedom to just 'be' without that tugging that something else needs doing first. And, rather than use my computer during this time, I would find a large pretty notebook and write in long hand, with a pen in hand. That helps me to get in the creative mood. Maybe I have a cup of tea or sparkling water in a stemmed glass, and perhaps keep a copy or two of the my old Victoria magazines to browse for a minute or two to fan the inspiration of seeing words written by another writer.

I was getting excited! This writing event wouldn't have to be textbook grim, the I've-got-to-get-this-done kind of work, but it could take on the flavor of an eagerly anticipated celebration. Talk about feeling nurtured. Invigorated. Audacious even!

* * *

So we're on our way. We'll let you know how it unfolds. And, Matty, here's a kiss in the breeze for being that loving friend (who by the way lives over at Lazy Bee Farm. 

Back to my original question... how do you nurture your own dreams? Are you making even a little space in your life to taste and see that this is a good thing, so well worth pursuing?

Now, here's wishing you a dreamy weekend with glimpses of heaven!

Brenda

xox