Dream Big

When I was little, I had little dreams.  Dreams about getting my first bicycle.  Dreams about getting a puppy.  But as I got bigger, my dreams got bigger.  Dreams about becoming a writer.  Dreams about seeing my name on the cover of a children's book.

No matter how big the dream might have been, I knew if I can dream it I can do it.  

Twelve years ago I walked into a martial arts school.  I had a little dream of maybe learning a little martial arts.  I worked hard even though I was scared that I might not be able to get it right.  I even managed to break my little toe the first week I started my training when my toe turned one way and the rest of my body turned the other.  But still I kept the dream.  After my first belt testing came along and I didn't die from fright, my dream got a little bit bigger.  Maybe I can make it all the way to probationary black belt.  If I can dream it, I can do it.

The years passed, my training continued, and I discovered every time I replaced my belt with a new one, the dream continued to grow.  I wasn't held back by the confines of my limitations.  Instead, the challenges to overcome my "disabilities" only served to feed my passion until this past October I tested for and received my Fourth Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo.  My dream stayed big enough to carry me to a place I almost didn't believe I could reach until I actually did it.

Writing is like that black belt to me.  A dream that means the world to me.  Something bigger than I ever thought possible.  But if I dream it, I can do it.  And there is nothing wrong with a little dreaming...

Act Like A Black Belt

You just knew one day I would compare my two passions, didn't you?  My school is preparing for our spring tournament competition next weekend and it got me thinking about my writing.  But then again, everything gets me thinking about my writing.  I'm thinking writers should face a new manuscript like preparing for a fight.

Make sure you are ready and keep your guard up.  If you can't think, you can't create.  Train with the best through classes, workshops, and conferences to enhance your writing skills.  Practice writing every day to remain prepared for that big moment when your creativity may be tested.

Take a leap of faith that you know what you are doing.  If you call yourself a writer than act like one!  Don't make excuses for any lack of published works.  A book deal doesn't indicate the ability of a writer, just their luck in finding the right match for their work.

Black belts train for years to hopefully achieve an acceptable level of skill.  They fall down many times along the way and learn patience in the process.  They live and breathe perseverance and so should writers.  You never know when you might get the chance to make that winning score in the world of publication and you need to be ready for it!