Whether or not we can easily recall them, it is said that everybody dreams. The popular theory is that we are able to find ways to address shortfalls and confront the challenges of our waking hours. Within the confines of these imaginary worlds, we are able to fly, conquer giants, and be the superheroes of which we could only, well, DREAM.

From the time I could talk, I was trying to spin a good yarn. Whenever I fell asleep, I was greeted with a world full of color, sound, and adventure. When I woke up, I tried to translate these into stories. I began drawing early because little kids are given those oversized pencils, crayons, and paints so they can express the world they see. However, I was more interested in illustrating as a means to tell stories. Of course, I was still learning how to use the spoken and written word to convey my imaginary adventures.

While in elementary school, I brushed shoulders with Harry Mark Petrakis, who’d come to my school and talked about publishing his books. You couldn’t tell me that, all my other classmates aside, he wasn’t speaking directly to me. I’d also had one of my illustrated works get me into the Young Authors Conference, where I met and had my book autographed by Gwendolyn Brooks.

By the time I reached adulthood, I’d been bombarded by all sorts of images that I felt needed a life outside the dozens of sketchbooks, notebooks, and digital files. Full of ideas, characters, and scenarios, I dreamed of becoming a published author. But, for some reason, I’d procrastinated, hemmed and hawed. It took one good push from a buddy of mine–someone who’d already had some of his own work published–to get me from being a spectator to a participator. As of this post, I have been published in several anthologies and am putting the finishing touches on my second novel, which will kick off a series.

See, your dreams give you a great place to analyze and weigh things out. Though this is often done with plenty of metaphor, mystery, and even a few monsters thrown into the mix, it is up to us to make sense of it all. Where there is no mystery is what we’ve always wanted to be during our waking hours. You’ve often professed it and have had others recognize the talent and potential in you, only to have it show up in your nighttime fantasy world.

To paraphrase the saying, what is believed in the mind can manifest itself in reality. Here’s an experiment I want you to try to prove that theory. First, you need to close your eyes. Now, picture a lemon with a thick, yellow skin. Envision yourself in the kitchen, placing the fruit onto a wooden cutting board. Roll it with your fingers and palm. Now, using a sharp knife, cut the lemon in half. Take one of those halves into your hand and squeeze. As you imagine the citrusy fragrance, feel the pulp bursting and juice running down your wrist, does your mouth water? I’ll bet it does.

So, what the hell does that have to do with living out your dreams? Every-damn-thang! What it proves is that concentration starts in the mind and what we give energy to can become our reality. Within reason, that means you can have anything you imagine. Again, that’s within reason. I don’t want anybody jumping off a building because they said this blog post could make them fly…

Nobody dreams exactly what and how you do. The motifs, the colors, and the intensity are all yours. Some healthy things recur and continue to nag at you because they are trying to get out into the real world. You have a responsibility to make that happen. In fact, you owe it to yourself to do so.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it:

1. Identify your natural gifts. Are you great with numbers? Can you easily make sense of stuff that leaves most people scratching their heads? Do you have a unique skill set?

2. When you dream, pay attention. This goes for your daydreams, too!

3. Keep a journal or make recordings of your dreams. Go back from time to time and review them. Notice patterns and recurring themes. Do you keep seeing yourself piloting aircraft? Are you building businesses from the ground up? Are you assembling family recipes into a cookbook?

4. Gravitate to other individuals and groups of people on a similar mission. Positive reinforcement never hurts. Seek a mentor. Don’t be afraid to enroll in classes or take courses that will hone your existing talents.

5. Don’t be satisfied with simply having the skills: hold yourself accountable and make your dreams a reality!

That is all. Now, carry on smartly.