Dreams | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 259 – Next Steps

16 Feb 2020 28 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Dreams, Next Steps, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
Confucius

Firstly, welcome back to your regular spot, Spidey! I appreciate you letting me take the reins last week, with the book launch, and all that. I hope you managed to have a great break!

And secondly, thank you for a truly apt quote, for this week.

It’s no secret that it took me FOREVER to get my book baby ready to fly, and I am fully aware that I am no Harper Lee… people won’t wait YEARS for the sequel… so I really need to get my skates on with the next book.

Especially since a good few readers of the book have already expressed an interest in finding out more about the characters in the story.

And, yes, I have at least two more stories planned, about the same cast of characters, and I have even started the next one.

But I have been feeling so exhausted recently, I haven’t been able to devote the time I want to writing.

So, I am going to take the advice of Confucius, and make sure that I am trying to add a few words at least, to my new WIP, daily. And hopefully those few words will add up to a book, in less than twenty years!

I know exactly where I want my writing career to go, it’s just taking those next steps.

So… tell me, what are your next steps in making your dreams come true?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 255

19 Jan 2020 35 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Dreams, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“If not us, who? If not now, when?”
John F. Kennedy

Thank you, Spidey, for making me think!

When you have a dream, often there is an inspirational person out there, willing you to dream this dream.

Why keep it at dream status?

If you want to achieve something, you are the only one who can do it. And if you don’t, there are many people out there with the gumption to take their dream, which might be similar to yours, and fly with it.

BE that person. Live your dream!

Okay, so you want to be that person. But, life, you know. Too much going on. Work, family, commitments. They all take up so much of your time, that there is none left to achieve your goal.

Nonsense.

Unless your dream involves a huge amount of planning, and maybe finance that you have to raise, there is NOTHING stopping you getting on the ladder to climbing up to that dream cloud your idea is sitting in, and reaching it.

It may be small things to start with, but if you want to buy a house, start looking. If you want to streamline your life, start decluttering small parts of your house. If you want to write a book, cut down on the TV you watch, and put some words to paper.

They may not be your dream achieved, but they are the starts. And everything has to start somewhere!

So… tell me, what dream do you have, and what step can you take to make it come true?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 246 – Dreams

17 Nov 2019 45 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Dreams, Marriage Unarranged, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, writing

“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”
Paul Valery

Thank you Spidey for that fantastic quote!

Firstly, I must apologise for the late Spidey entry today. I did indeed need waking from my dreams this morning, to the realisiation that I had not scheduled this post last night!

Too busy making dreams come true, to be honest, and tiring myself out (which, given my current state of health, is not that hard for me to do!) to stay awake long enough to write a post up, last night!

You see, yesterday saw the beginnings of one of my life dreams coming true.

You may have noticed, (and if you hadn’t, where on earth were you?) on my author blog, this blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, that my cover reveal went live yesterday.

Not only is this the beginning of my dream turning to a reality, but it is a poke up my backside too, and a reason for me to not procrastinate any longer.

No more dillydallying, and wishing that one day my book might just get out there, but now I have to do this!

I was overwhelmed by the reaction that the cover got, from both familiar names, and others who have been following me, or who happened to come across the image while checking out their social media.

So many of you, eager to read this precious baby of mine!

So, my next steps are to wait for my final editor check, hopefully with nothing more than a few silly spelling or punctuation issues, (fingers crossed, then format the book, finish writing the blurb, get the paperback dimensions to my fantastic cover designer, upload everything to KDP and set a publication date.

Still a bit of technical work to do, but you guys, my book will be out there soon!!!

And if you missed it, here is the cover for Marriage Unarranged. 😄

Designed by Kirsty McManus – She is awesome!

I’m going to be cheeky, and late to this one too, but since Linda’s prompt for this week’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday was Dreams, this post fits the bill perfectly (even though it’s been posted on a Sunday!)

So… tell me, what is your biggest dream right now?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 230 – Dreams

28 Jul 2019 26 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Dreams, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Walt Disney

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney

Well thank you very much Spidey, for finding something so apt for me today.

There are many dreams I have in life, and for the first time in a while there appears to be a chance for two big ones to finally be realised, but not without a lot of hard work on my part, and support from all those around me.

The first is my work dream. I have finally, after a good few years, got my own class and own classroom. Yes I have been teaching for a while now, but I have always been part of a partner teach team, so there has been someone else there with me, usually already established in that classroom, and the last 3 years I have been split in two at school, being a partner teacher in two classes so I have been pulled from one side to the other, trying to make my mark, educate children, and keep my sanity in tact.

From September though, I finally have my own home! I am in the throes of visiting school over the first week of the holidays, to set up my room, as I want it to be, putting up displays, creating a reading corner that I hope the children will love, and generally making the place a room I would want to come to every day as a child.

I’m also nervous, as the future of these children, their learning for the next year, and any progress they make, will be 100% on my head. Adding to the mix is the possibility of 3, maybe 4 of my intake having Special Educational needs, and some parents not quite on board with the thought…. that will be an interesting one!

Still, excited am I! Wish me luck!

The next dream that is within reach, is that of my writing.

Two years ago, I decided that I would create my own NaNo month, #RiNoWriMo, which prompted me to really go for getting my WIP in a decent shape, and it really helped me to have myself focussed on writing.

I have decided that this August, I shall have another dedicated month, do something.

#RiNoEdMo

Ritu’s Novel Editing Month!

So, I have decided that in August, I might forfeit my time taking part in blog challenges, and concentrate on working on my editor’s notes, rewriting, tweaking and getting this WIP into a place of readiness for possible publication!

That is an exciting thought!

And though I haven’t fully made up my mind as to what I want to do, I have even got a prospective cover commissioned, if I decide to self-publish, or go Indie!

Wish me even more luck!!!

So… tell me, which dream of yours are you ready to realise?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 224 – Dreams

09 Jun 2019 38 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Dreams, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Dreams are the seeds of change. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream.
Debby Boone

Thank you Spidey, and hello Peeps! It’s good to be back with you all again after my feeling unwell last week.

I really love the quote Spidey found for me to ponder upon this week.

Dreams.

We all have them.

I don’t mean the things that float around in your head when you are asleep, but your aspirations.

Your hopes.

Your dreams.

Those goals you wish to achieve in your life.

We all need something to live for, to work towards, to reach.

Without dreams, what are we doing? Living each day, just to get through it, to the next.

That’s not life.

That’s existance.

Whereas if you have that dream to strive to make a reality, you have a focus.

Some may dream of a happy life at home, with a perfect family.

Some want that new car, or a specific job role.

You may dream to meet someone special, or important to you.

My dream is to see my novel finally in print, out there, for others to read and share.

And now, because I have focussed on it, that dream is a few more steps closer to reality. The editor has read it, so the editing is happening. A cover is being looked at. And I have author branding! Eeeks! With a website, and Facebook page to match!

My dream is to have my own class – truly my own class.

As the last few years I have been team teaching with certain colleagues, and though my time is just that, my time in class, it’s not the same as having full responsibility for your own classroom, and your children. Maybe the next academic year will bring that to fruition.

My dream is to have my forever home.

I love where we live, but the children are fast outgrowing the space we have. It’s crunch time. We are looking at whether it is better to go big and extend, or to spruce up, sell up and buy the perfect place… It’s a work in motion.

There are a few of my dreams, and I am slowly working on each of them. I don’t want to get to the end of my days, feeling like I never gave them my best shot.

So… tell me, what are you doing to make your dreams come true?