I keep talking about all this free time that I have because I am genuinely ecstatic. This is what year 12 does to you, man. I forgot how to live. I didn’t have time to be creative or to really sit down and enjoy working on something. Now that I do, its like all of a sudden, I have so many different possibilities, so many hobbies and projects I can take up and I can’t decide what’s more exciting. I just wish that this time was infinite. (Three months is still incredible, mind you).

One of the things I’ve been able to start doing again is reading. I mean actually reading for pleasure! Not some crappy old textbook. The fantastic thing about reading is that it’s part of what’s feeding into the growing inspiration I can feel bubbling within me. I can feel the ideas and the creativity flowing from the pages into my head and it’s making me so excited I can’t describe it.

I have already read 4 books from my end of year reading list and I’m onto my third. The last book I finished reading was this amazing little gem called; Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Maybe you’ve heard of it. She has some really great insights into the world of creativity where she talks about moving past your fear, creating for the sake of creating and not holding onto the idea of perfectionism.

I think this book is so perfect for me at this very point in my life because right now I am in the mood to create. I’m in the mood to create stories, create memories, and create the life I’ve always dreamed of. I’m a creative person and I’m ready to bring my ideas to life.

Speaking of creating the life I’ve always dreamed of, one of the themes that always came up in the previous books I read (You Are A Badass, and How To Be A Bawse) was the concept of a vision board. Vision boards are not a new thing, I know. The vision board is as old as the world of self-helpery itself.

No, I am not about to go through a step by step instruction on how to create one yourself. That’s just silly. Everyone knows a vision board is completely unique to the individual. It can be created in many different formats, many different styles, with different materials and different levels of specificity. I am simply going to tell you about mine.

I’ve always wanted to make a vision board, but I waited till after I graduated for two reasons. One, the time factor and two, I could then focus on what I wanted life to look like beyond schooling.

I had a lot of fun making my vision board. It took me about a week and I basically just printed out a bunch of pictures and quotes that were a variation of the life I pictured. In reading the books I mentioned above, I realised I had to get real honest and clear on what it is I actually want. So, every picture I have on here was meticulously picked to match a description I had in my head. Some pictures might be more obvious than others, but every picture on there, represents a part of me or something I want.

I want to travel, I want to be a writer, I want to influence people and help people. I want to make a lasting difference on this earth as well as live a life full of enriching experiences and lasting memories. I want to continue learning and surround myself with like-minded people. I want to fall in love with people and my career. I want to make money and be successful so that I can be independent. But most importantly, I want to be happy. Happy with who I am and the life that I live.

The reason I put quotes on there as well is to remind myself that these pictures are not going to work on their own. People have told legendary or magical stories about what a vision board has brought for them, but I don’t believe any of those stories would have happened if the person was just sitting at home all day, staring at their board, and waiting for something to happen.

For the universe to give you something, you need to give something to the universe. In other words, work for it dammit! There’s no use in dreaming big if you don’t work hard. Dreams don’t work unless you do. There’s no substitute for hard work.

Those are just some of the quotes I was tossing up between adding.

But like I said, this was a fun little exercise. Plus, it’s going to look great when I find a place for it in my new room.

Visualising your future, seeing all your dreams in front of you is a great way to maintain inspiration and motivation and to remind you to never lose sight of what you are trying to achieve.