When friends find out I’ve written a book, frequently they ask what gave me the idea for the story? To answer that I thought about what I had learned in writing classes -- we write what we know. In this case, I definitely did! But in truth, I also wrote about what I needed ( and still need) to learn!

a self-challenge

The idea for Every Reindeer’s Dream began as a self-challenge. The challenge was inspired by a friend’s idea to encourage children to read more. He had mentioned he wanted to hire a storywriter and invent this new product (Sorry, but I can’t share the idea. He may still have that dream inside of himself.) As a teacher of reading and writing, I felt a little offended he hadn’t considered my gifts! “We don’t need to hire anyone; I can write stories!” I pronounced. Just to prove it to myself, a reindeer with a dream evolved from my heart onto paper! This was 1988.

At the time the idea of a reindeer training for Santa’s team originated, I ran, cycled, and participated in triathlons and duathlons competitively… in addition to teaching school and raising two children. I was just as likely to overtrain as to overwork. Thus, my main character turned into an overzealous, overachieving reindeer! Misha is the part of me who went overboard when it came to exercise with sometimes devastating consequences! Yes, I wrote what I knew!

So why did it take so long to get published?

Mainly, because I was too busy exercising, teaching, and mothering! Then in the mid-1990’s I initiated a project with my students in which each wrote and illustrated his or her own book. This project-based activity demonstrated mastery of the benchmarks for writing. The story of Misha became the demonstration example of the steps in the writing process.

It wasn’t until I retired from teaching that I really dove into making the book a reality. Taking writing classes in adult education programs at the University of Tulsa, I learned writing techniques that tweaked the story. I learned to do more showing rather than telling. I developed the characters of Misha and Maya. I determined who my audience would be. I took the time to research the benefits of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

Over the course of the years from 1988 to 2015, I also developed a lot more self-awareness. Now I know Misha is a role model for me! I’d written what I needed to learn! The determined little reindeer reminds me repeatedly to utilize the skills of visualization. I had been introduced to visualization in a sports psychology class during my graduate program in exercise science. I also use visualizations from Yoga Ed™ certification in every children’s yoga class I teach. The kids love them!

Misha believed in his dream

More than once I’ve considered how strongly Misha believed in his dream. When I doubted I’d ever see the publication of this story, I’d remember my dream of encouraging children to honor their own inner knowing and their own gifts – a theme of my teaching. (And for parents to allow their children to listen to that inner voice). I pushed through with the publication of the story though many sabotaging messages resided in the back of my mind from childhood. (Perhaps a future blog will tell this story!)

Do You Have a Dream lying dormant Inside of You?

There’s a few blank pages in the back of the book. Forget any admonitions you’ve heard about not writing in books and use the pages! Have your child write her dreams or draw what he wants to create in his life.

Read the visualization to your child called “Watching Yourself on TV” on page 27 of Every Reindeer’s Dream. Encourage either written or artistic expression of that dream! Be sure to use all five senses! (Adults, let your inner child dream, too!)

Other questions you can ask to add detail to the artistic expression of the dream:

What does it look like when your dream comes true?
What does it feel like inside your body? For example, does it make you feel excited, or proud, or satisfied? Express that feeling in movement!
What are some smells or tastes associated with the dream? This can be harder, but you can include objects that have smells or tastes you might associate with the dream.

Then visualize it as if it’s really happening – just like Misha!

Have fun dreaming! I AM!