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living out your daydreams








Do you ever have those little daydreams in your head? Those little scenes that you play out whenever you’re feeling especially down? Those happy places that you turn to when everything isn’t going exactly as you planned?

 Like most girls who love literature, writing, coffee and romantic destinations, one of my sweet little daydreams is to spend a day in a Parisian café reading beautiful books and writing beautiful words, maybe I’ll stop sometimes to simply sip my latte and people watch for a while.

But what I never thought about before is that a lot of my little daydreams occur right at home, in small, pretty Canberra.

 In winter during work hours I often gazed out the window and imagined myself walking around the lake, breathing in the scent of flowery perfume and maybe snapping a few photos here and there. On my days off this year I often pictured myself writing on a park bench in the green, cosy park in the city; rather than sitting in my bed with the electric blanket turned all the way up.

Every winter I have those daydreams, and even every summer. But while these places exist, are in fact only a twenty minute drive away, I have never actually lived them out. Last weekend I spent the entire two days outdoors, both in the garden of my parent’s house, and walking among the flowers at Floriade (the annual tulip festival here in Canberra). And I realised just how relaxing and lovely it is to spend time in the sun with friends and good food.

I also realised that I can do that everyday. And so I have started for walks around the lake with my sister after work; and even though I wore impractical shoes and she wore none, resulting in painful blisters (which, I’ll have to admit, was never part of any daydreams I have ever had) it was beautiful to do something that I had dreamed about during the colder months.

Today I decided to make my daydream about writing outside come true, and so I sit here writing to you on a park bench, surrounded by trees and the smell of summer, writing on my impractical laptop that I have yet to master, and living out my daydreams.

So today I challenge you to think of your daydreams that lie close to home: like sitting outside writing; getting a massage; or eating a family sized block of chocolate while watching chick flicks and not feeling guilty; and to do them. And then I want you to take a look at your bigger daydreams, the ones that may take a little planning, and go ahead and start the preparations. Life is too short not to live in our daydreams, no matter how small or big they are.


Ps. I wrote a travel piece for class that was published here if you haven’t had enough of my narcissistic ramblings yet...

Pps. I didn't take the photos, click on them for links  J


Comments

Sara Louise said…
Now this isn't a romantic daydream at all... but for the last few weeks I've been daydreaming about moving around all my livingroom furniture and all my kitchen appliances and yesterday I did it! I was so happy to wake up this morning in my 'new' house :-)
Paige Hadley said…
Wow. This post really got to me. Because I do dream a lot about things that I would like to do, things I would like to say, places I want to go. I need to start acting upon them, to an extent - I think if I did all the things I dream of doing, I would horrify some people, offend others, and probably live in mortification for the rest of my life (such things may need to stay daydreamy). Anyhow, about reading outside, that is something I think of too. Going to the lagoon or to the sea to read and sip a cup of tea with a warm picnic rug to snuggle in. Thanks for this post.
Miss H said…
I love being outside in the sun etc but for some reason I find it hard to actually bring myself to go outside lol!
Unknown said…
What a great post. Very inspirational.
Beautiful, just beautiful!
I would love to sit in one of the beautiful parks of Barcelona writing, but I am to scared to bring my computer out haha! (Too much pick-pocketing and the sort going on here...) But reading is doable and I have done that a few times and it's just lovely!

Thanks for sharing the article, I really enjoyed reading it.
ellie said…
Oh, how sweet!

I'll be tucked under my flannel sheets..its taking a turn of a cold chill to prepare us for winter.

Congrads on the publishing! Hope you have a great weekend.

I am daydreaming about a new pair of boots, though...
lucy and sarah said…
So romantic, indeed.

I'm so happy for you about the piece you got publish. Go you!

I think if I cleaned up my room, would really be start, but you know me, thinking of rock'n rollers and small town crime, instead.
erleichda said…
my happy place is a picture i bought on a flea market. its full of colours, a huge garden with beautiful flowers, you can barely see there is a cottage in the backround... thats where i go... and now i decided suddenly to put that picture over my working space ; ) a good weekend for you dear : )
Kacey said…
Love this girl!! I'm inspired to do the same!
Tuesdai Noelle said…
Yes, yes, yes! This was a very good inspiration for going into the weekend. Most daydreams I have come during the times when I'm either writing my name over and over again or aimless ly walking through the house from room to room...looking for a "small something" to spark a big idea to give me a story--or inspiration.
Unknown said…
awh, what a sweet daydream! that is all I have been doing today at work--just a little bored ;)

xoxo
Love this! This is such a great persecutive on life. It is rare to try to bring daydreams close to home and make them a reality. I will definitely be thinking of this! I think most of my daydreams I might be able to achieve, but I just need to get over feeling guilty about doing it if there is other work I could be doing!
Cassidy said…
This is beautiful. And it embodies my feelings perfectly. All I want to do is sit in a Parisian cafe and read and write. And I want to travel and lay out in the sun and watch the day go by without anxiety or stress. Right now, I'm so stressed with school and work and I feel like I have no time. But this inspired me to do things that I love because lately I've been neglecting them.
Bonnie said…
I am constantly daydreaming. I think it is a great way to envision your future and where you want to go in life. I find it to be an effective tool, actually.

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Twitter: @GlamKitten88
Deidre said…
Very true most of our day dreams are totally doable! I just made one of mine come true...and I am SOOO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
k said…
aw i love this...it's inspiring for sure.
Ashley said…
Love this.

I had a great day in my city today as well. It's funny that I'm so travel obsessed (and I always will be), but what I need to remember is that I still have plenty of fun at home as well :)

Australia is lovely!
Anonymous said…
Goo post. (:

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