Dreaming Your Way into Spring (and beyond)

Several years ago, as I found my way into this wonderful community of online dreamers, artists, activists, and big-thing-doers, two bloggers became part of my unofficial team of mentors and dream advisors. By sharing their worlds and dreams online, Jen Lemen and Andrea Scher encouraged me to look for and follow my own dreams. When they launched their first Mondo Beyondo online class last August, I was thrilled to be part of it. The course gives you access to a wide and deep community of all levels of dreamers, permission  and space to dream, and substantial resources to encourage and inspire you along the way. Plus, if you click through on the Mondo Beyondo banner above or on the button in the sidebar and register for the course, you'll be helping to support The Word Cellar, as well. The next session starts March 8, just in time for spring, the perfect time to dig into the soil of your soul and plant some dreams to grow in the coming seasons.

33 Things for Me

image by Michael_Lehet

My birthday was a few days ago (the 13th). I'm 33 this year. I'm very pleased with that number: it has good symmetry. It holds promise. My husband says he thinks this is the year we finally become adults. I prefer to think of it as continuing to come into our own.

James also asked me what I want for Christmas this year. I'd given him a wish list (at his request) but he said that nothing on it was "jumping out" at him and asked me to give it some more thought. There are plenty of things that I like and want and would appreciate receiving. But I realized that so much of what I desire isn't sold in stores and doesn't come in boxes.

So to celebrate growing up, coming into our own, and appreciating that we have more than we need, here's my wish list of 33 things I'd like to do, have, or be.

1. Learn all the words to "Carol of the Bells."
2. Have a surprise birthday party.
3. Get an MFA in writing.
4. Write a book. Get it published. Repeat.
5. Make perfect Yorkshire puddings.
6. Build (or buy) the cottage of my dreams.
7. Spend some time on the West Coast, specifically in Big Sur, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
8. Act in another play.
9. Go snow skiing.
10. Sip espresso in an Italian cafe.
11. See elves in Iceland.
12. Go back to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to visit my old haunts and see the places I missed the first time around, like Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Iona, Skye, and Mull.
13. Develop the patience to learn how to take better photographs.
14. Keep my house clean, tidy, and beautiful more often than it's not.
15. Attend TUBACHRISTMAS.
16. Remember to plant spring bulbs in the fall.
17. Drive a car with a manual transmission without fearing hills.
18. Be bilingual.
19. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight and strong body.
20. Visit New York City during the holiday magic of December.
21. Spend a week with my tribe gathered together in one beautiful place.
22. Live near the sea.
23. Go on a zero gravity flight.
24. Stay out of debt.
25. Write poetry again.
26. Skinny dip under a full moon in a warm pool of water.
27. See the Northern Lights.
28. Compost.
29. Make art on a regular basis.
30. Write everyday. (And not feel guilty if I don't.)
31. Get a pair of cat-eye glasses.
32. Live in a lovely small town with big city amenities.
33. Add 67 more things to this list.

It's All Happening: Mondo Beyondo Update

heart in Union Square, San Francisco

At the beginning of the year, I wrote a retrospective on 2007 and a Mondo Beyondo Prospective for 2008. (Find out more about the Mondo Beyondo concept.) I named 2008 my year of Opportunity, Abundance, Prosperity, Plenty, and Creation, and made a list of intentions for how I want to live and what I want to do. I also named and claimed some Mondo Beyondo dreams for this year and beyond. I'm amazed and joyful and humbled and pleased to see several of them coming to fruition.

I wanted: "to start creating mixed media art and find my own path as a visual artist." Next week, I'll go to my very first art retreat, where I'll take a painting and mixed media class. I'm also taking a travel journaling class and attending the Superhero Life workshop. I'm particularly excited about this last one, as it's being taught by the Super Duper Andrea Scher of Superhero Designs. I met Andrea very briefly at the BlogHer Swap Meet this summer and can't wait to learn from her. Plus? Her lovely assistant will be Jen Gray, who I "know" through blogging and a few emails. (It's hard to know if the word "know" is really the right verb in these cases, isn't it?)

And as if that weren't enough, Jonatha Brooke will be providing camp fire music, Boho Girl Denise will be running around taking artist portraits, and Kelly Rae Roberts, one of my favorite artists, will be hosting a discussion about living the creative life.

But wait! There's more! I was serendipitously connected with Kelly Barton of Camp Indigo Soul to share a rental car between the airport and the camp. After connecting with her, I realized that she is the woman behind one of my favorite Etsy shops. And speaking of serendipity, I'll also get to meet the inspiring Liz Elayne Lamoreux of Be Present, Be Here and The Little Room Etsy shop. (Remind me to tell you the funny little story about how we "met" online.) I'm also looking forward to meeting Kirsten Michelle from In the Land of the Lovelies.

I have a feeling that once I get back from New Hampshire, I'll be gushing about all of these women and more, as well as the whole Squam experience. (fair warning!)

I wanted: "to uncover and be at peace with my decision about having a child." Although I haven't reached a decision or a place of total peace yet, I have had a major epiphany in this realm, which has helped me to understand the swirl of emotions surrounding this issue for me. I'm not ready to tell that part of my story yet, but the plot is definitely taking a few twists and turns.

I wanted: "to spend a week at a writers' retreat somewhere beautiful, comfortable, and nurturing." Earlier this year I reconnected with a writer friend from college (hi, Jamye!). Several months ago, she asked if I would be interested in joining her and some other women on a writing retreat. The details are still unfolding, but it looks like this little dream will come true the first week of November.

At least one other Mondo Beyondo dream is in the works and looks like it will become a reality. And that's just what I can see. What if all the others are unfurling in their own way and time? I don't know where my dream cottage is yet, but I'm sure it's out there.

There is more of the year behind us than in front of us, but there's always time for dreaming and scheming. What are you up to lately?