2 paper bags, and a chock full of

Today, as a facilitator for the girls of CHIJ St Joseph’s, we leaned in towards the topic of vision.

And after the programme ended,

the conversation carried on within the facilitators.

Throughout it all, several pieces of work floated up for me.

Specifically, 3! And here they are

for you to see if they speak to you tonight too.

• My vision doesn’t always have to involve the value I bring to others.

  It can be about me, for me.

  My vision is to own a hyphen-career. Affordable and accessible therapy for students and young adults, facilitation/training, copywriting.

  And my vision is also

  to see myself be wholly at peace with all parts of who I am, and to hold a heart full of worthiness from me to myself.

  What’s your vision?

• All visions are of significance.

  Big vision, small vision, simple vision,

  whatever other adjectives we can give to someone’s ‘vision’.

  They are all important.

  Just like what I kept emphasising and reminding the girls throughout today,

  I need you to see and believe that as long as this is important for you,

  it is important.

  Period.

  People will question, people will judge,

  your vision isn’t going to sit well with everyone you meet.

  And I hope you understand that this is okay;

  life was never about having everyone love you and your dreams anyway.

  What’s not okay, is if you shatter or dim the sparkles of your own dreams because of someone else.

  So,

  I hope you own this vision you have for yourself, for what’s important to you.

  Own it in full, own it as it is.

• Lastly, each vision you choose to own,

  will come with its own set of struggles.

  It’s a whole package;

  as much as it excites you to have that burning passion flow through your fingers,

  you will also feel the intensities of everything else that comes along with the passion of a dream.

  The fear of failure, the reality of finances,

  the worries and uncertainties, the stretch of stepping beyond what’s comfortable and familiar.

  But I hope that as loud as these unpleasant voices are in your head,

  you choose to give as much volume to the voice that’s going like,

  “I’m excited that I’m moving closer to what’s important for me!"

  “I’m proud of myself for taking a step towards realising my own vision!”

  “I’m happy of the alignment I’m creating for myself, in my life!"

  Easier said than done, but

  I want this to remind you, always and hopefully for as many times as you need;

  the voices inside your head are real and valid,

  but you’ve always,

  ALWAYS,

  got the power to dial up and dial down the voices that matter and the ones that don’t.

and right now, I’m so tired.

my eyes are shutting

so goodnight and sleep tight and

here’s to our Wednesdays :”)

love,

val