If You Can Dream

~ Poet's Note ~

Would you believe me if I told you I'm not a people person? 

My guess is that for most of you, that answer is probably "no!". But as far as introversion goes, you can't get much more extreme than me. I hate parties. I'm hardly expressive. I'm notably quiet, and all around... about as antisocial as is humanly possible ;)

"Why" you might ask? 

Am I shy? Afraid? Concerned about what others might think of me? 

Not at all. 

I've simply always spent more time out of this world than in.

People have called me "different" all my life. I don't think like most. I know I don't. I'm weird, maybe crazy, even mysterious. And I've been loved, hated, ignored, embraced, and side-eyed all at the same time because of it. I don't even understand me. I think there are a lot of girls and boys out there who can relate to that. We're accustomed to feeling rejected, unworthy, jealous, misunderstood, broken... but we can't help it. 

No matter how many losses, how many failures, how many tears shed into that pillow, we can't help it. 

Can't help but dream.

Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I love stories. I love words. I love languages. And most of all... I love the power they can have to change a mind, a heart, an individual, or even this world. 

Stories have always been my escape. My key to the door of endless possibility, happiness, belonging. When I was sad, I hoped. When I was hurt, I imagined. When I was lost, I wrote. Because I couldn't help it. Even after everything I'd been through and was going through, I couldn't help but dream. 

There's no doubt that 2020 changed us all, for better and for worse, I believe. Who would've thought, honestly? Just look at our world. All the hurting, all the misery, all the hopelessness, it's scary, depressing, maddening. We feel so helpless, unsure, alone. How could we ever get back to where we were? 

It's just so unfair. 

I came across Wattpad just shy of when everything fell apart. The pandemic was hardly underway, and I was already lost and broken. There's too much to tell, all too complex to explicate, but something, someone, lit a spark. 

It's been a heck of a journey, one story I don't think I could ever write to justice, but now... everything has changed. I look the same. To most people, I even act the same. But in these 12 months I've seen more of culture, humanity, and politics ;) than the rest of my sheltered years combined. Some days were tough, scary even, painful, but never, in a million years, would I trade what I've discovered. 

Life. 

I was never a poet. Believe what you wish, that's the honest truth. I never even considered it. To be frank, it always seemed almost stupid to me. But then again, all the poems I ever read were about butterflies and nursery rhymes. 

But poetry is so much more than tossing fancy words and rhymes together. It's an art, just like all other writing is. And it's so special... so special to me. 

True poets learn how to channel something greater than themselves, than our existence, a feeling, a passion, and they pour it out in breathtaking imagery. So much power lies beneath the lines. True poets will show you how to feel it. 

I don't claim to be there yet, but I know one thing for certain. Poetry has taught me how to express myself in ways I never before could've imagined. I've written my heart on these pages, touched a pen to my spirit. 

I don't know how it first happened. I can barely remember those first words. It just came. Everything. 

No, poetry was never a part of my dreams. I didn't believe I could ever matter, could ever have a voice, against the evils of this world. But, my flowers, miracles can happen. Hearts can be changed. Great things can be born of nothing. It's not impossible. Not if you don't give up. 

I apologize for the length of this 'short' note ;) If you skimmed or skipped altogether... fine. I am in no position to stop you. But as you go on to read these songs of my soul, first published on occasion of my one-year Wattpad anniversary, I hope you can find within yourself the courage to look beyond the death and destruction which has become oh so familiar. 

I may never see battle. But I fight, with everything, everyday, and everyday... I win. There's a whole universe of sin and suffering bent on bringing me down, but my pen is mightier than any sword. 

And I will never stop writing.

Be strong, my beautiful, wonderful flowers. Don't be afraid. Don't back down. Because you're a force to be reckoned with...

If you can dream.

                       <3 Rea

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Feel free to comment your opinions and/or questions! I love you all so much <3 And my inbox is always open to any of you, for whatever :)

Also, since I've been asked this before, I'll clarify. Yes, you are more than welcome to quote anything from any of my poems or this note on your message boards or QOTD or whatever else. I love inspiring people! I'm not trying to get fame, I really am not, but please, don't plagiarize. It only hurts people. You are welcome to use things I've written as QUOTES, meaning put my name to it. That way you don't get in trouble, and I don't get copied, win-win :)