Jena, your vision of dreaming wide awake meets my lived reality of already dreaming, building, and reclaiming. I do not dream of what could be—I chart the course for it.
For decades, I existed in the world where worth was measured in compliance, where belonging was conditional, where dreams were seen as indulgent distractions. I did what was expected. I functioned at 200%. And in doing so, I lost myself.
Then I stopped.
Not to dream, but to reclaim. To unlearn the lies that told me my dignity was ever in question. To step into the world I had already been shaping, brick by brick, breath by breath.
Not a manifesto, not an abstract hope, yet a map of a world in motion. A world where safety, care, and equity are the foundation, where community is built on trust, and where belonging is not granted—it simply is.
Dreaming wide awake is not a metaphor for me. It is the daily practice of choosing presence over erasure, dignity over permission, and truth over silence.
I am not waiting for the world to wake up. I am living in the world I have refused to let die.
Yes…the first dream is very powerful and has swallowed many people whole. It took me a long time to find and reclaim myself as well. I applaud your courage and strength. What’s a dream that belongs to the real world that you are working on? I bet it’s wonderful :-)
Thank you, Jena,. I just released an essay about communication. Most likely the first of several. It seems to be a topic many struggle with in understanding.
Jena, yes—that’s exactly it. I concur. Communication isn’t just about words; it’s about power, perception, and control. When language is scripted to shape behavior rather than foster understanding, it stops being a bridge and becomes a tool of manipulation. I’ve spent years unraveling these layers, seeing where I internalized scripts that weren’t mine, where I adapted my voice to fit expectations rather than truth. This essay was just the start—I’ll be exploring more soon.
eggzactly, Jena!
Jena, your vision of dreaming wide awake meets my lived reality of already dreaming, building, and reclaiming. I do not dream of what could be—I chart the course for it.
For decades, I existed in the world where worth was measured in compliance, where belonging was conditional, where dreams were seen as indulgent distractions. I did what was expected. I functioned at 200%. And in doing so, I lost myself.
Then I stopped.
Not to dream, but to reclaim. To unlearn the lies that told me my dignity was ever in question. To step into the world I had already been shaping, brick by brick, breath by breath.
I wrote about this in 'What Dignity and Vision Make Possible.' https://open.substack.com/pub/wildlionessespride/p/what-dignity-and-vision-make-possible?r=1sss7q&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Not a manifesto, not an abstract hope, yet a map of a world in motion. A world where safety, care, and equity are the foundation, where community is built on trust, and where belonging is not granted—it simply is.
Dreaming wide awake is not a metaphor for me. It is the daily practice of choosing presence over erasure, dignity over permission, and truth over silence.
I am not waiting for the world to wake up. I am living in the world I have refused to let die.
Yes…the first dream is very powerful and has swallowed many people whole. It took me a long time to find and reclaim myself as well. I applaud your courage and strength. What’s a dream that belongs to the real world that you are working on? I bet it’s wonderful :-)
This one: https://wildlionessespride.substack.com/p/what-dignity-and-vision-make-possible?r=1sss7q
Beautiful and Powerful, Jay!!
"I chart the course for it."
Can't wait to see more :-)
Thank you, Jena,. I just released an essay about communication. Most likely the first of several. It seems to be a topic many struggle with in understanding.
Your points about how communications have been scripted and used in ways to control and manipulate is spot on IMHO.
Jena, yes—that’s exactly it. I concur. Communication isn’t just about words; it’s about power, perception, and control. When language is scripted to shape behavior rather than foster understanding, it stops being a bridge and becomes a tool of manipulation. I’ve spent years unraveling these layers, seeing where I internalized scripts that weren’t mine, where I adapted my voice to fit expectations rather than truth. This essay was just the start—I’ll be exploring more soon.