People often tell me that I’m a dreamer: I’m not grounded in reality, that “reality” is going to eventually come and bite me in the ass while my head is in the clouds.

I’ve heard it all:

“You’re too sensitive.”

“You’ve got your head in the clouds.”

“You’re too emotional.”

“You’re ignoring reality.”

“You’re not grounded.”

…and so on.

And you know what? It’s all true. I’ve got my head in the clouds. I’m extremely sensitive. I let my emotions rule my decisions, and I am emotional. I am a dreamer.

Dreamers aren’t all dreams and clouds and stars-in-the-eyes. It’s possible to be a dreamer and be grounded. You can have your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. Especially if you’re really, really tall. Or a tree.

Cynics call themselves “realists”, and they are, but they give reality a negative spin. Dreamers can be realists, too – but they typically give reality a positive spin. We manifest what we visualize, what we focus on. If you focus on a positive reality, positive things will come to pass – and if you focus on a negative reality, negative things will come to pass. Effective dreamers work to make those dreams come true.

This is not to say that bad things never happen to those who focus on positivity, because that’s not the case. In my experience, however, when you’re focused on a positive reality, bad things become much easier to handle and fix, because you’re not dwelling in the negative. A positive attitude makes reality, in whatever form it takes, more positive.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. When people say I’m a dreamer as though it’s an insult, I smile and nod. Yes, I’m a dreamer! I’m a passionate dreamer. I create safety nets when I take big risks. I look at the bright side of things. I have stars in my eyes and my head in the clouds – and my feet on the ground. And I wouldn’t be any other way. (: