A Bit of Background

There is a dual reason for my title, Dream Follower.

The first reason is that there have been at least three significant turning points in my life during which I wrestled with whether to follow my heart or choose a path more driven by rational thinking. (Side note, I'm a fan of Christina Perri and her tour is titled Head or Heart...perhaps I will be able to go to a concert of hers one day.) In the film of The Neverending Story, Bastian throws open the window and shouts "I will do what I dream" and that scene has brought me to tears more times than I can count. The voice of the head is so powerful, armed with logic and reason and like a lawyer badgering a witness in a court room scene the head often overpowers the heart. The head means well. Usually head is operating from a standpoint of protecting us from getting hurt. Heart sometimes has no words, but it has passion and images and obsession. Heart can lead us into wild scary territory. Heart can also justify crazy choices. Scratch that. Heart has no regard for silly constructs like logic, and doesn't need to justify anything, it simply wants what it wants.

So one major turning point in my life was choosing a college. I was a prospective student at three campuses, and applied to possibly six or eight, funny how memory fades certain details...I'm sure as a senior in highschool those details mattered to me a great deal. In any case, I was an avid reader and once I had my weekend visit at SJC the decision was made. I should say that my heart was made up, but my head still needed convincing.

Another major turning point was the decision to move across the country from Upstate New York to California, but even more important was a day once I got here nearly 14 years ago. I was a year and change out of college looking through the classifieds. The job question. Thinking back, maybe my heart knew as soon as the ad caught my eye, but again my head still needed a good deal of convincing. I had been intending to look for something practical, maybe something office or editing related. The ad said "Dance instructors needed, no experience necessary."

In both cases I followed my heart. Neither journey was always smooth sailing, but I do not regret those choices. Also now that I have stated my connection with dance (ballroom and social dancing to be exact) I can out the second meaning for my blog title. I have plenty to say on the subjects of both leading and following on the dance floor so I'm sure you will read more on both from me in due course of time, but for now suffice to say that I particularly pride myself on my skills as a follower. I try not to toot my own horn too much, but I've received many compliments and studied my craft for over thirteen years so I think it is fair to also say I am a dream follower. :-)

There you have it. My first pun. (I'm afraid it will be the first of many...)

For those of you keeping track, yes those were only two major turning points. The third is starting this blog, so it's too raw and fresh to discuss yet. I promise to share more when the time is right.