The Person I Could Have Been

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?

Luke is a spirit artist, we met in a group of people in the Spiritual field, with the intention of moving forward together, it didn’t work sadly. But at this point we were excited about the future and the possibilities. The end to it was a blow to both of us, but it never ended our friendship.

Twenty years before this picture was taken I was already writing poetry and plays, my first play had been performed stunningly well by our Am Dram group, to the point that the play was reckoned to be better than the Terrence Rattigan an audience member saw in the West End the previous week.

I’ve never been so honoured in my life, to be compared favourably to such an incredible writer. The group fully deserved that praise for embodying the play in a way I could only have dreamed of. They put their hearts and souls into it. I got badly hurt though.

It was that path of being knocked back for everything I did, that led to me not being who I was. I just hid.

I didn’t know at the time that:

What others do to hurt you is about them

If you take it on board:

It is your choice to do so for the experience

No it doesn’t feel like your choice at the time, but now I understand why it was. I chose to hide away because I was so damned exhausted by always being wrong, not good enough, or both.

One member of the group took my breath away with an unkindness I didn’t expect, a family member destroyed the experience completely.

Most talented people will tell you that they’ve had their fair share of unfair criticism and put downs. No matter if they’re a complete unknown.

One regular one is: why don’t you stop playing around and get a real job?

Me (and Luke)

We both do everything we do because we love it. Money will always have to be a bonus for us. A most welcome one but even so, we both live and work from the heart. Our work is entirely intended to uplift, heal, and inspire.

In that way I’ve never stopped being me. He is still him. Having someone to walk this path with makes a real difference.

I/we would encourage anyone to keep believing in themselves. To stand firm in who you know you are, and:

If you have a calling, as we do, listen to that not other people.

I would also encourage you to do your utmost not to let life get in your way. If you’re too busy to follow your passion, find even a few moments in a day to do a quick sketch, make a note of a good line, or a potential title, to write a few bars of music. It may have to go on the back burner, but the flame can stay alive until you can power it up again.

Creativity especially is hugely important for mental and emotional health and balance. No matter your ambitions: business; sport; acting; directing; if you want your own band; never, ever, let those dreams wither and fade, because:

They won’t let you go anyway

They will always be there, haunting you, muttering in the background, reminding you not of what could have been but:

Who you are

A dream is the authentic you. The you that you’re meant to me. Those who don’t let go, succeed.

No age limits

There is no age limit that calls you to stop. Maybe in retiring you will have more time. A few famous authors wrote their first book after the age of 70. Never give up.

Most importantly:

Don’t let your dreams be crushed by others, and never give up on yourself.

My true self is still there, still writing, still caring, still loving it, still loving life, and that will never change.

A dream is the reality you haven’t created yet.

Best love

Deb xx