There have been so many times when I’ve been struck by a profound idea; the kind of idea I felt would make a difference in my life, my family life or my community. Then, as always (and almost as if on cue) I would convince myself that it was too far-fetched, I wasn’t capable or I was just too busy to take on a project. But, something changed in me last year when I decided to finally take up a dream of mine and write a children’s book called Nightly News with Safa.
Since the age of 16 I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I spent a lot of my time preparing for that choice. I volunteered in schools, brushed up on teaching theories, tutored and (as many elementary teachers do) I became one with children’s literature. If you’ve ever read a good children’s book to a class filled with eager-eyed students, peering at each page with anticipation, bursting with laughter at the silly antics of characters and hearing them discuss the story with their peers afterwards, you know that children’s literature plays an important role in education. It was this that sparked my ambition to create my own narrative.
Making the decision to pursue writing a book was not easy. It was often overwhelming and solitary. However, I knew it was time to finally put my passion into motion, and I’d like to share the reasons why you should too.
Self-Care
When you push yourself out of your comfort zone, you’re bound to grow. It takes a significant amount of courage to put a vulnerable part of yourself out there for the world to see. Whether it’s a piece of writing, art, charity work or a new career choice, you may need to summon all your strength to move forward. This is a unique form of self-care and self-belief that is brought out when you pursue your passion.
Leaving A Legacy
I wouldn’t by any means say that I’ve left a legacy behind, maybe more of a token for my daughter though. That really was reason enough for me to pursue this path. For others though, pursuing their passion will actually leave behind a lasting effect, the benefit of which cannot be measured. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to have lofty ambitions to make your goal worth pursuing, traits like perseverance and strong work ethic are life-long characteristics to prize.
Doors of Opportunity
Chances are, whatever you pursue, will require you to reach out to other people or organizations. It may propel you to attend new events, classes or networking opportunities. This will open an abundant amount of doors and new experiences, that will greatly enrich your life. As a line from The Alchemist reads: “It is precisely the possibility of realizing a dream that makes life interesting”.
When I created the character Safa in Nightly News with Safa, I aimed to create a character who would let nothing stand in the way of her goals to spread positivity. Little did I know that this little fictional character would be my path towards pursuing my own goals. What might be your path?
Awesome post. Exactly what I needed. Thank you!!