When I was 23, I was a support coordinator for people with intellectual disabilities. One of the best parts of my job was the opportunity to gather a group of individuals once a year to help create exciting options and visions for their lives. Recently, I realized that this practice of sharing dreams, visions, plans of action, and inspirational goals is something I have re-embarked on again thirty years later.
I was having a small Christmas gathering after Hurricane Helene when I started a deep, introspective conversation. Now in my our mid-50s, many of my friends are in the same stage of life. We are parenting teenagers (many entering the college years), well established in our careers, and navigating various relationships and responsibilities, both for our children and our aging parents.
Experiencing something as intense as Hurricane Helene, especially while living in the Swannanoa (Asheville) area, has a profound impact. It leads to deep soul searching, especially in the face of sadness and destruction, urging us to rethink many aspects of life. During my gathering, I started discussing dreaming with my friends and how, in our society, we often don’t get enough time to dream. Various distractions pull our attention away from ourselves and our alignment with the source. The proverbial question came up: why don’t we allow ourselves to dream?
In our friend group, we have prioritized raising our children and supporting their dreams and visions. It requires a significant amount of energy and time, which we signed up for with great love of course. However, we don’t realize how, in the process, we forget what brings us our greatest joys.
I began by asking them, “How would you feel about taking time to dream, to recall what brings you joy, and to explore the interests you haven’t been able to pursue? Why haven’t you done so?” There was a stunned silence. No one seemed to know how to respond to those questions. It felt as though I had just asked them to fly to the moon—utter bewilderment surrounded us.
I ask you all: why don’t we allow ourselves to dream enough? Is it time? Energy? Too many responsibilities? Or have we simply forgotten how to dream?
This is a more complex question than you might think, and it’s perfectly okay to respond with, “I don’t know.” No judgment here; I’ve been there myself. However, one day, I decided to ask myself this question, and since then, I’ve become open to creative ideas and opportunities. I have journaled, soul-searched, and taken nature walks. I have embraced my power in receiving the truth.
So here I begin by creating platforms for others, setting the stage for opportunities to create or co-create, rediscovering you authentic self, and remembering those things that brought you joy and fulfillment that may have been put to the side. Through ceremonial offerings, journaling, creating a fun and lighthearted plan, sharing with others, celebrating, and honoring yourself, we can dream in motion.
To discover more about Dreams in Motion reach out to Danielle.
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