Dream a little dream...

 Seconds after taking this photo, the butterfly dropped away from its chrysalis

and started to flap its wings. It was such a wonderful sight to see...

Photo taken at Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam

"Dream with me, escape with me, fly with me, imagine you are everything you've ever wanted to be. Dream, dream, dream..."

This is an excerpt from a song I remember vividly from a musical I performed in as a child. In many ways, I am living my dream to be creatively employed every day of my life. In other ways, however, the world is a harsh judge and laughs in the face of 'silly' dreams. On the whole, I don't let it worry me but I do need to deal with the perception that people have of me. It saddens me that people in our culture judge a person's worthiness by their occupation. Even when I was a school teacher, and an extremely dedicated one at that, people ridiculed the profession. Since having a break from it, it is amazing just how many everyday people knock teachers. It makes you feel like a real chump for ever considering the profession. The biggest shock to me has been the many thanks I receive from customers for doing what I do now. Why wasn't that thanks forthcoming over the years I toiled and served as a teacher? Truly bizarre society we live in...

I still love teaching, and can remember many wonderful interactions I've had with students. I still remember a casual day I once did in Caringbah NSW in 1998. This wonderful little Year 1 class just loved their day so much. Out of their own accord, during lunchtime, I presume, a number of them got together and wrote little notes for me which they presented at the end of the school day! I was just one random teacher in the scheme of many they must've met, yet their display of kindness for the efforts I had made in giving them a unique day whilst their regular teacher was sick, just astounded me. I still have those notes...

Since having a break from teaching, I must say that my life has been calmer. I have been able to focus on what really matters in life: savouring special interactions with people, being positive in the face of pessimism, and being an encouraging presence...

Significantly, I have had more time to look around me and appreciate just how lucky I am despite not leading the perfect life, materially, that some Aussies strive for, despite the drawbacks in my life, and despite my lack of worldly success, so-to-speak. Because life is not measured by our external representations, but by who we really are as people. I encourage you to appreciate the beauty of life, rather than gripe about the dreams that haven't yet been fulfilled. I know that it has completely changed my outlook on life, and for the better :)