Don't Wait To Follow Your Dreams

by Katrina Martin

It's funny what happens when you actively pursue your dreams: they become reality. For so long I lived my life saying to myself, "I want to write my own column, I want to write CD reviews, I want to write children's books someday." The key word was always someday. I never took any steps to make those dreams come true. The only thing I did was to talk about them.

All that has changed now. Today I am a writer--and an editor, and an artist, and a photographer. I own those words and I use them daily. I fill pages in my notebook, write an online journal, draw greeting cards, take pictures, and edit text all the time. I am Arts & Entertainment and Assistant Editor for this fine publication. I write CD reviews for several other publications. I have my first book contract. These are no longer hobbies or activities that fill up spare time. The dreams I once dreamed wistfully are now my life and I couldn't be happier.

Don't get me wrong--it wasn't easy to get here. It took me eight months to transform from dreamer to do-er. Fear, with his high-pitched, cackling laugh and maniacal eyes, whispered terrible thoughts in my ear: "You haven't written in years. How do you expect to be good now?" and "You'll never be able to write a children's book. That's for highly talented and creative people," and "You were a journalist, not a fiction writer. You can't write books." At first I listened to him and sat sulking in my room, wondering why I was so unhappy. Fear paralyzed me and kept me from doing the thing I love.

After a while, though, I noticed Confidence sitting in the corner and I summoned the courage to ask her to help me get rid of Fear. It was no easy feat, but we locked Fear in my closet and walked away so we couldn't hear him banging on the door. We had a long, exhilarating conversation. She told me that nothing is impossible, and when I dream of something I have the power to make it come true. All I have to do is relax, decide what I want, focus on my plan and go for it.

That day I listened carefully to Confidence. I gathered my courage, and I followed my dreams. I stopped pursuing a teaching career, got out my pen and paper and started to write. That was all it took. I know it sounds simple, and I don't want you to think it was all kittens and roses. Sometimes I feel like I am opening a vein and pouring out my life's blood. Writer's block, doubt, fear and uncertainty still plague me. At the beginning, some people told me that I wouldn't make any money, that I'd go broke and be miserable. Their predictions didn't come true. I've learned now not to let others' doubts and my own insecurities slow me down. Instead I push onward and continue to create. It makes my heart sing.

Today I want to say to all of my readers that if you have a dream, don't wait any longer to follow it. Understand that pitfalls are inherent in following dreams, that some people in your life will try to dissuade you and that you will face enormous challenges. But I know that choosing to make your dreams reality will ultimately be the most rewarding decision you'll ever make.