I was living in a ugly studio apartment as a cashier who could not seem to find a good job with my Bachelors degree. I felt like I was going nowhere. Fed up with my life, I would lay in bed at night and imagine I was lying in a beautiful fluffy white bed in a beautiful dark wood house with huge windows. I would really feel as if I was in that house. For a few months I would continue this feeling, being in that feeling space became the best part of my day. I would also imagine myself being able to write (I am an emerging poet) all of the time, not having to clean, and being able to make health smoothies all the time, I was very specific!

Then my aunt and uncle bought a dark wood house with huge windows in the Berkeley Hills. They showed me the house, and I told them this is the kind of house I have wanted to live in, that I would have picked this house myself. My uncle always offered his home to his nieces and nephews. He is the kind of guy who tries to support his nieces and nephews as if they were his own children. He knew about my dream of becoming a writer and teacher for a living and wanted to see me achieve my goals, but I was too proud to take his help.

But soon my life around me started to get worse. I broke my shoulder, my car was acting up, I was falling into deeper despair over the job market, and my negativity was affecting my relationships. I was so down and out, that I finally asked my aunt and uncle if I could live with them so I could spend my time working toward my goal and continuing my education. They were happy to say yes. My uncle even told me I should quit my job, take a month off, prepare myself for a part-time job that would bring me closer to my writing and teaching goals, and prepare for graduate school applications! That is exactly what I am doing! I have been taking creative writing courses, got a fourth poem published a month ago, and just passed my CBEST exam for substitute teaching. I am also a volunteer adult literacy and writing tutor, and my brother is illustrating a children’s book I wrote! My life has made a huge turn around, and my relationships are in a good place!

Oh, and my bed is fluffy and white, I don’t have to clean because my aunt and uncle have a housekeeper, and I am making my smoothies all the time! Within about 5 months of feeling and imagining, a huge dream came into existence.