A tale of dreams and realities, aspirations and limitations. Discover the power of imagination and the beauty of hope as we explore the gap between aspirations and everyday life.
#Wickerwork #furniture, and a thousand results popped out on Google. She gazed longingly at the light-coloured, eco-friendly, artsy, handcrafted furniture. A stunning headboard against a peach wall.
Her bedroom would reflect the sun rising over the forest, glimmery and chirpy. She imagined herself sliding between the softest flowery cotton bedsheets on the queen-sized bed, head resting on scented silk pillow covers. Silk supposedly retains the softness of the hair; she didn’t like her dry and brittle hair that the old fan dried even more. She wanted to wake up like a queen, not a scarecrow.
She had spent 54 summers on the planet. But she couldn’t recall even one morning when she had woken up in her very own beautifully decorated room, floating in heaven to welcome another sunrise. Though, in the course of her work, she had covered many design houses.
Her nights were filled with dreams of creating her own space, her identity. In her head were flowy muslin curtains, French doors opening to a green garden, flowery balconies, fragrant creepers, aroma-infused air-conditioned room, marble flooring, classy glass lights, freshly painted walls, walk-in closet and a luxurious bathroom.
She hummed softly, lips curled in a tiny smile, cutting the photographs. Her vision board was far from done. She had downloaded innumerable photographs from social media, enticed by the gorgeous décor, uncaring of the price points. Dreams and money don’t gel. Her dreams were big, her bank balance nil.
A bedside table with a small lamp for reading. An old alarm clock by the bedside, a tray with creams, perfumes and lotions. No digital radiations in this room. A table for the phone would be close to the door, near the closet.
The door-bell rang. The part-time helper was here. She picked up her walking shoes, gathered the bits of hair curled up in the corner, looked painfully at the stained walls with paint peeling off. Dust had become a permanent resident in certain crevices. The old wooden floor was full of holes and scratches. The fan required multiple rounds of cleaning.
The room belonged to her only when her sibling went to work. She needed to sleep by 8 pm to get up at 4 am, but they never slept before 10 pm. She didn’t like the one bright light in the room, the sound of reels when she wanted to meditate or loud talks on the phone.
She dusted and cleaned the room, the bathroom, even the door mat. The only closet in the room didn’t belong to her. Work had dried up many summers ago. This was a rented apartment and sharing space was a financial necessity.
Nourished souls had more fulfilling relationships. For her, the 4S of self-care were solace, silence, solitude, space, and the teacher had nodded.
She couldn’t isolate a single emotion, but she knew that they both needed to express their own space in their own ways. The masterclass on vision boards was all about manifestation, bringing the invisible into the visible.
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This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.
Queen of Treasures 
This really resonated with me. It’s such a powerful reminder of how our dreams can keep us going, even when life feels heavy. The vision board idea is so inspiring, it’s like holding onto hope through creativity.
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Yes , science also says that visuals work as positive reminders.
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Story of many lives, where the dream doesn’t match the reality. But as long as there is a dream, there exists a possibility of dream coming true. What is a life that has no dream.
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Dreams are hope 💖
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Such a perfect story for the phrase, “dil aur sapne bade hone chahiye, bank balance nahi” Manifesting one’s goals like this is a big motivation to go on and also be able to ignore the downs of one’s current status in life. Loved these lines, “Dreams and money don’t gel. Her dreams were big, her bank balance nil.”
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Aah! dreams and money are strange bedfellows, never to share a bed indeed! And yet, these very dreams keep us going even in the darkest moment of our lives! May we all dream like your protagonist, and may our dreams come true too!
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I loved the way you described the story of a woman in her mid-fifties dreams of creating her perfect sanctuary filled with handcrafted furniture and peaceful vibes, contrasting her shared, chaotic reality. Guided by a vision board, she embraces manifestation to transform her aspirations into a serene, self-nurturing space. Amazing.
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Dreams of a middle-aged woman that absolutely contrasts her reality- that’s something most people go through. But still, these dreams only keep us sane from the harsh realities of life.
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What a beautiful vision board she has, I wish I could borrow it too. Don’t know if her vision will be fulfilled but it’s great to think about it and the universe will probably manifest it. Even a part of it would be good,
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I’ve just entered into the world of manifestations after giving up many many times. Is this story a giving me a hint from the universe to start using a vision board? Maybe…
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maybe, but I was seeing a video by a doc on insta and manifestation does work, depends on how long it takes for your brain to build new neurons!
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Although I don’t have a vision board, I have loved scrapbooking of my favourite things since childhood. I still collect pictures of beautiful things, the difference being they are in the form of screenshots on my phone.
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So cute! I loved doing that till my teens.
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Dreams and money or dreams and life? Life too happens and many a time dreams are kept in abeyance. But then stealing from Shelley, “if dreams are ours to keep , can fulfilment be far behind?
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This story captured the bittersweet dance between dreams and reality. Her longing for a serene space reflects a universal desire for comfort and identity. The vivid imagery and raw emotions make her journey so relatable and touching.
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what a lovely story. Her vision board is goals. Ive been wanting to make one. Manifestation does work and I think I will take one step at a time
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I love all things planning and creating a vision board every year is a favourite activity of mine. This post really resonated with me.
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I love the visuals in your writing A.
I am such a fan of vision boards coz they are just so much fun to make and a positive boost everytime i look at them.
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I’ve started liking them now, as they do clear up the head a lot.
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true. i also find there is more meaning now to my board that before. tho’ i still need some fairy dust to sprinkle on my board 🙂
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I loved the concept of this story and how our dreams keep us moving. These daily visions make us realize how well one can create and explore his creativity.
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You have expressed many emotions through this story. I too believe in the power of vision boards.
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I started 2025 by attending a few workshops and finally made one. It’s great for giving you a perspective and clarity.
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