Inspired Every Day by Patricia Crisafulli

Author:Patricia Crisafulli
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497649507
Publisher: Open Road Distribution

Dreaming Ourselves into Being

An Essay

AS CHILDREN, we dreamed of what we might become when we grew up—ballerinas and astronauts, movie stars and racecar drivers, and then professions that became more appealing (and realistic) because of our interests, talents, and passions. Some of us stayed true to those plans; others made course corrections or were sidetracked along the way.

Now we are those “grownups,” with lives that reflect the sum total of our choices. And yet, we are not done; we are still a work in progress. Just as when we were children, we must dream of what we will become.

When I was 12, I decided to become a writer, and certainly that pursuit has not been as easy as declaring it to be so. But because my “younger self” had the courage to start out on this path, I am writing these words today. As I look ahead today, I once again consider the possibilities for my future. I imagine myself three decades from now, a spry octogenarian who has enjoyed a full life, having written many books (most definitely a novel or two) and who has chronicled her fascinating travels. She has taught writing workshops and encourages others to claim their right to self-expression. Hers has been and continues to be a life of creative purpose.

My “older self” is my North Star. With her in mind, I navigate the course of my life choices that I hope will bring me closer to fulfilling this vision in the future. Of course, there is no guarantee of how things will turn out, but I believe my intentions will be the tipping point toward realization—just as when I was 12 and dreamed of becoming a writer.

With my older self in mind, it was easy to decide last year to start graduate school at the age of 52 to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing. How else could she accomplish what I dream for her to do? For her sake, and mine, I vow not to become complacent, whether on creative pursuits or self-care. If I want my older self to look back on her life with joy and gratitude, I must live the life she will want to remember.

So it is with all of us. As we dream ourselves into being, we declare our right to a second half that rivals (or even exceeds) the first, with plenty of adventure that lasts to the end of the show. Then one day in the future, when we have become those older selves, we will look back and say, “Ah, I lived fully and well.”

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