Sunday, August 16, 2009

Vacation Thoughts

My two glorious weeks of summer holidays drew to a close today. It was a much-needed break from routine, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Except perhaps the 90 minutes or so that I spent watching Year One. But I digress.

In the past 16 days, I've started to regain some perspective on the future. My life has been somewhat static for a long time. Contemplating any sort of change, be it personal, relational, or professional produced feelings of uncertainty and anxiety at first. I can see now, though, that there are always options; that the future is still unwritten and it's time to pull out those dreams and ambitions I'd almost forgotten about.

Every day for the past two weeks I've worked on projects that I love. I'm learning more about social media and all the wonderful ways I can connect with talented, inspiring people online. I'm learning about writing, and have enjoyed practicing almost daily here on my blog. (Thank you to those who have left encouraging comments. You have no idea how happy I am to hear from you!) I've discovered amazing websites and blogs, like the one by a Regina writer who goes by the nickname Schmutzie.

I've realized how important it is to acknowledge your dreams, and not accept the notion that where you are right now is where you have to stay. We all have ideas about what our lives might look like, if we could custom-design them. It's up to us to pursue those dreams.

I'm learning to think proactively instead of passively. Just now I typed a sentence with the phrase, "where your dreams might take you," but sometimes you have to take hold of your dreams and go with them where you will.

With these thoughts in mind I look forward to going back to work tomorrow and exploring a future that's expanding in front of me.

2 comments:

Ruth Elliott said...

Hi Carmen,

Check out this Social Media and Open Education class that anyone can take for free from the U of R thanks to Dr. Alec Couros. I'm taking it.
http://eci831.wikispaces.com/NotForCredit

Keep writing and dreaming,
Ruth

Elan Morgan said...

It can be so hard at times to remember that the future is yet unwritten, but it is! I've been seeking out inspiring people too lately, because creativity and inspiration are contagious.

Here's some I like right now:
http://www.jenlee.net/
http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/
http://www.magpie-girl.com/