Walking around the Efteling is like entering a real-life fairy tale. There are pixies and fairy tale creates everywhere you look. Music plays from red and white polka dotted mushrooms in the forest. Trees are decorated with lanterns. Peacocks walk over the green grass. You see dragons, unicorns, trolls, haunted houses and real princesses. Magic is in the air.
But here is the deal. You don’t need to live in an enchanted forest to create your own fairy tale.
You can be the girl who folds 1000 paper cranes. You can be the one who climbs the fire escape to watch the sunrise on your rooftop, creates upside down tables on the ceiling, has imaginary friends who clean your room and eat your laundry. You can create a Circus of Illusions or Milky Way Takeway restaurant in your living room. You can decide every day again what adventure it is you like to go on.
The only difference between me now and me 5 years ago, is that now-me actually goes out and does all these things. Whereas 5-years-ago-me had big dreams but didn’t act upon them.
Stop limiting your life by the expectations others set for you. Stop holding back out of fear of failure, the unknown and being different. If you are afraid of anything, let it be the fear that you didn’t get the most out of every single day you lived.
Sometimes you need to dream it before it exists.
Sometimes you need to believe it before it is true.
Don’t get lost in the magnitude of your hope and expectations. Dream big, but start small. Know that every great story started out as normal people taking small steps towards a more fulfilling life.
Do something small today. Buy candles to light up your bedroom. Pick fresh flowers. Have a long nice bath with your favorite music. Reread your favourite childhood book. Paint your nails with rainbows or glitters.
Tomorrow, take another tiny step.
A year from now, watch how your life evolved, one tiny step at a time.
Tell me, how do you want your fairy tale to evolve?
7 Comments
Carly @ Zauberbear
July 11, 2014 at 11:27
Swooning because this is exactly what I think about every second of the day but I’m the you 5 years ago who had big dreams but wasn’t acting on them. I wanna be the one who takes morning bike rides to the dock and goes out of her way to impress strangers with kindness and wears rats on her shoulders like accessories. Thank you for the dose of inspiration!
magicaldaydream
July 14, 2014 at 09:01
I don’t think that’s true. You are so much more active and creative than I was a couple of years back. You have a blog. You take great pictures. You do many creative projects. It’s logical to want to do even more than you are doing now, but I think you are already doing an amazing job at where you are ;) (love the stargirl reference)
OrigamiGirl
July 13, 2014 at 22:38
That theme park looks amazing! I love those kind of places, where people really do embrace the fairy tales. In terms of living my own fairy tales, I’d say the ever growing collection of books and Lego and the picnics with my husband all go a long way towards that. :)
magicaldaydream
July 14, 2014 at 09:02
Me too! It made me so incredibly happy to just walk around there. And now I want to go on a picnic again too ;)
Uncustomary Art
July 15, 2014 at 02:53
This is a beautiful sentiment, and I really appreciate the reminder. Also, I love that gif with my whole heart.
Dawn
July 16, 2014 at 20:15
This was a bright thing to read today. I think I needed that. I’m not sure what sort of fairy tale I would like to bring to life, or even if I have a specific one in mind. I guess, though, I would just like to make other people smile. I’d like them to leave a place or a moment with a feeling that, “You know what? Today is a good day?” I just want to make others’ days a little magical, if that makes sense. I remember reading the fifth “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” book (the one that takes place 10 years after the others) and reading that Bridget had a bicycle that she covered with daisies and flowers and colorful things. And her presence alone, her on her bike, brought cheer to others. I guess I wish I could be that person.
magicaldaydream
July 17, 2014 at 09:06
I don’t know that book. It sounds like it’s worth the read :) Have your read Stargirl? That book always makes me feel the same way. I love your fairy tale dream :)