“In the hero’s journey, the wanderer returns home after years of exile, struggle, and suffering. He brings a gift for the people. That gift arises from what he has seen, what he has endured, what he has learned. But the gift is not the raw material alone. It is the ore, refined into gold, by the hero/wanderer/artist’s skilled and loving hands. You are that artist. You are that hero. Give us all you’ve got.”
Today is the day for remembering dreams.
People’s dreams change the world.
Their dreams become the realities that make us see things differently.
Their dreams become the songs that inspire us, the buildings that impress us, the books that transform us.
Their dreams are the fuel I have lived on for most of my adult life.
But then you and I must ask ourselves, “What are our dreams?”
Dare we speak them or harder still, share them? What about the fear that paralyzes us, that threatens to choke off our dreams before they’re given a proper chance?
I wrote my dreams down once.
But I kept that paper clutched tight to my heart.
Because what if? What if I’m not good enough? What if there’s not enough time or money or talent?
What if life gets in the way? What if my dreams never come true?
And I’ve spent 30 years chasing a lot of things, maybe even a few dreams.
Some have come true and some are buried beneath a heavy yoke of excuses.
Here’s what you need to know, my friend.
We need you to dream your dreams.
But more than that, we need you to do the hard work that it takes to make those dreams come true.
What if you finally had the courage to speak your heart to the world.
What is the dream you dream?
What is the gift that you have to bring to us from your years of struggle.
We need you.
Your gifts, your dreams —–could change everything.
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Tomorrow, I am releasing a little dream of mine into the world.
(I still hold tight to my lifelong dream of being traditionally published but for now, my dream has smaller wings!)
After months of long hours in front of my computer, I am finally ready to release my first ebook!
I could really use your help to spread the word.
Thank you, in advance, for how you have supported my struggle and my art through the years.
You have given me the courage to show up, to dream, and to write about the hope that is in me.
Bless you for that.
Now, give us what you’ve got!
Anne Hathaway “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables
quote above from The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Congratulations, Edie! I was hoping you would write something one day. You have so much to share.
I dream a dream of having my own small (very small) sewing business. Sewing what I love and sharing it with everyone else. Homeschooling takes priority right now. One day…
I shared today’s link on my blog.
Ah, congratulations, Edie! Waiting with bated breath because I know it will be wonderful. 🙂
Blessings!
xo Heidi
Congratulations!!!!! I know that your book will be a hit. Your genuine style and southern hospitality will come through the pages and touch hearts. Look forward to so many more wonderful dreams from you. I will definitely help spread the word.
Hugs :))
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. MLK
Thanking God for all the Greats- Past and Present and Future
CONGRATULATIONS EDIE!!!!! I know it will be a huge success!
Have a spectacular Monday 🙂
YAHOO! The wait will be over! 🙂
Big Love from Louisiana 🙂
Julia
and yes, of course, I will be sharing it…
If you need further inspiration, you need to watch this video of my 2 year old niece singing “Little People” from Les Mis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kywt4WETLKI
Now that’s just adorable.
Edie, So excited for your dream come true! I can’t wait to read your work! This totally resonates with me right now as I struggle to share my dreams out loud, and have taken a first step at having a blog. Eek! Absolutely stinkin’ petrifying and exciting at the same time!! 🙂
So excited for you! Looking forward to reading it as I know it will be nothing less than inspirational. I will spread the word. Learning to blog was the first time I have let a dream take shape! I still dread that I will pick the wrong subject or nobody will take the time to look, but I have resolved for that to be okay!
What lovely thoughts! I love stopping by to see what’s new — your words and actions inspire me on my own journey, whether it’s motherhood or education or love for God. I’d venture to say many feel the same. Thank you! I can’t wait to read one of your dreams come to fruition!
How great! I look forward to your blog postings and imagine your ebook will be even better. I can’t honestly say I ever made a “dreams” list… Maybe that is sad, maybe not… But a goal I have for this year and all of the years to come, God willing, is summed up in this quote:
Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front if me, I cannot think of a single advantage I’ve ever gained from being in a hurry, but a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing.. Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away. ~Mark Buchanan
This goal to fully live in the hear and now. I don’t want to miss a moment with my children or 1/2 heartedly listen to my husband and his dreams, or hurry to constantly get everything done and miss everything right in front of me. So I guess I do have a dream, just not the typical dream.
Blessings to you sweet lady!
Congratulations, Edie! You have an amazing gift for inspiring others. I look forward to each of your posts and am so excited to read your book. What a wonderful achievement!
A heart full of joy – congrats for living your dream! I had read somewhere that MLK Jr. wasn’t known for his complaints – but rather for his dream. It has inspired me to introduce my children to as many people at our library that are known for their courage: John Brown, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Paul Robeson, Paul Farmer….can’t wait for you to be added to the list of fearless, swoony library authors!
Hugs and more hugs,
xomichele
So exciting! Congrats Edie!
Waa Hoo!! Congrats on a dream coming true!! I can’t wait and will definitely share it on my Facebook and Twitter pages:0) I am excited to see it myself!!
You are such a treasure, Edie – thank you for sharing your heart with all of us! I have been eagerly anticipating your ebook for weeks now, and I’m thrilled that it’s almost here. Can’t wait to see it!
On a related note, another blogger who has inspired me, along the lines of Pressfield, is Jeff Goins, over at http://goinswriter.com/. You’ve probably already read him, but if not, I highly recommend his blog as another much-needed kick in the pants for artists!
Have a blessed week!
Edie…you are truely an inspiration to me…..pillows…..feeding my family….or dreaming my dreams…. thank you!! Cant wait to ready your ebook!!! Cant wait!
I’m looking forward to your ebook! I released mine almost a year ago now, and there was just such a thrill seeing it show up on amazon and being able to open it in my kindle app. I have so many ideas for others to put together, but not nearly the time for all the projects in my mind!
I read Platform last year, and it has a lot of helpful tips, but I have a really hard time with the whole thing. Sometimes I imagine the blog world and the online social networks to be a whole bunch of people trying to win at having the most people like them; a giant popularity contest, and I’m sure my little voice won’t be heard for all the shouting. I get discouraged about even putting my art out there. I’m trying to figure out how to handle this feeling, and discern what I’m called to in writing. Yet I’ve learned so much by writing–it helps me see the world diffently, listen to people’s stories more clearly, and walk by faith rather than sight.
You are an inspiration for sure. Blessings as you release your ebook. I cannot wait to read it!! I am sure it will be wonderful!
Congratulations! Thanks for the push!
yay you! I am so excited for you! I cannot wait to read it. Now I can say I know a REAL LIFE writer 😉 xoxo
Congratulations, Edie! I am late reading this post and I read the e-book. Good job! You are a busy, talented gal! xxx ooo Julie Ann
sending love and congrats your way as well!!!
have a question: is that book collection (from this posts picture) yours?? where did you get that? I love the multi-colored look!