I’ve been drawn to dreams, both literal and figurative, for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been a “head in the clouds” type of person – from childhood through my teen years and into adulthood. But my identity as a Dreamer isn’t about escaping reality, it’s about seeing new/more hopeful realities for humanity and individuals. I dream about a better life for myself, my family, the people who live in my community (and communities like it), our nation as a whole and even nations around the world. I can’t not believe that things will get better. Even in the worst situations (and I’ve experienced quite a few), my hopeful light never goes out. It may flicker – a lot – but it holds strong against the storms.
I embraced Langston Hughes’ poems about dreams, dreamers, dream keepers and the like because they spoke my language. The older I’ve gotten, the more comfortable I’ve become with embracing and celebrating my identity as a Dreamer. As I celebrate that part of myself, I find joy in helping others discover the Dreamer residing in them. This is demonstrated in my creative writing, my workshops, my preaching and my general engagement with other humans. I get excited about helping others discover and fulfill their purpose because I’m helping them move one step closer to seeing their dreams realized.
I started my blog in December of 2010, not sure what I was going to blog about or how often I would blog. But I had been putting it off for months, waiting for the “right time.” Finally, I realized that I just had to jump in and do it. Because Dreamers must also be Doers. One of the most exciting moments of that time was when I decided on the name The Dreamer Speaks.
I am well aware of the fact that I’ve spent 300 words responding to the question “Why ‘The Dreamer Speaks’?” and didn’t actually give a direct response. That’s because I hope that, as you spend time engaging with my written words – and me – the answer will be revealed.
I am so grateful for the time that you’ll spend perusing my site, and I hope that it encourages the Dreamer in you. Please comment on posts, consider joining my mailing list and – by all means – feel free to reach out via email at nilwona(at)nilwona(dot)com!