My sister and I were talking this morning about dreams, how upon waking, differentiating between dreams and reality is often difficult. Dreams can be so real. I’m a vivid dreamer—both in nighttime dreams and daydreams. I’ve always been a dreamer, a dreamer who dreams big dreams. Some in my life haven’t appreciated that aspect of my quirky personality (hello enneagram type 4!), and have shattered some of those big dreams until they lay at my feet like tiny, dangerous shards from a broken vessel.

Those devastated dreams, sharp and cutting, can be just as wounding. Because in all the broken places, along all the razor-sharp edges and jagged points, fear creeps in. Fear is suffocating. Once you’ve repeatedly heard “you could never do____,” or “you could never be____,” or my most painful cut, “you’ll never make it in life,” you bury those wounds deep inside until you believe them, and the messages become a part of you, a part of you that desperately needs tender healing.

Working with clay is one of my big dreams. But, I let fear squelch my curiosity, until my dream faded—faded, but didn’t die. A couple months ago, I began The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron course. Immediately, the pottery dream sparked to life. It was kismet, really. Curious again, I explored different classes and avenues to fulfill my clay-working dream.

On a bright Saturday morning, I dressed in play clothes and set off alone to make my dream reality. I was nervous, but this time, my curiosity and enthusiasm won. Drawing strength from my therapy, the Mister, and resilience in my identity in God, I did it!

Just a short walk into my pottery journey, a plethora of lessons have lodged themselves into my heart—the most important being:

DREAM BIG! Never, ever give up on your precious dreams. Stay curious. Walk in wonder. Embrace and love the imperfections because this is where uniqueness is birthed.