The Dream That Changed My Life.

The Dream That Changed My Life.

I was walking through the forest surrounded by tall trees and I felt I belonged to the beautiful location. There were koala bears in the trees and birds flying around and chirping loudly. When I looked up I could see the blue sky and the white clouds sailing past. Then, suddenly my unforgettable experience was interrupted by another visitor to the forest. He was walking behind me and I stopped to let him go past me on the narrow track and we started talking. I found out that walking through the forest was part of his daily routine and it was a positive way to start his busy working days. I decided to walk through the forest every morning and it was very positive that I had met the other walker who had given me the idea to make this a part of my daily routine. Then I woke up and realised that I had been dreaming and reality with its challenges had set in. I realised that I was no longer walking through a relaxing forest but I was walking through a busy location where I had to fix my concentration on monotonous events.

I got ready for work, had my breakfast and drove to the office. When I parked in the car park I saw our supervisor walking towards the office and I knew I would have another challenging day. Jodie was very demanding and she wanted everyone to do things her way without considering that the staff needed to work together and contribute their skills and ideas. I had tried to escape from the lion’s den and find a bird’s nest with relaxing views from the tall tree it was built in. I was a qualified accountant and I wanted to keep working in this field but there were no local vacancies and I didn’t want to travel out of the area for work. As I walked into the office I knew I had to accept the location I was trapped in and do the best job I could. Then the dream came back to me and I knew what I had to do.

Jodie was in her office and I knocked on the door and walked in and the assertive conversation started. I sat down at the desk and said in a calm voice, “Jodie, I know you are the boss and you need to make sure that the workers are following your rules and doing their work in a competent way. However, we are people with emotional needs and our own unique skills. We deserve to be treated in a courteous manner and allowed to have our own opinions. We will be better workers when we feel relaxed and accepted.” Jodie responded with an angry expression on her face and an order to get back back to work. I knew it would take time for positive changes to occur in the workplace if it ever happened. A week later I woke up and remembered my dream which took place in the forest I had been to before. However, this time the sky was dark and I found it difficult to see where I was going on the narrow path. The birds were loud and deafening and there was no sign of the friendly koalas. The other friendly walker was no where in sight and I realised that his plan to walk this path every day had been brought to a halt by the inclement weather and the depressing environment. He was probably engaging in another activity to start his day in a positive way. When I woke up reflecting on my dream I made the decision to copy the walker’s decision to leave a traumatic situation and move on to a career in a positive workplace. I went online and applied for a position in an Accountancy business in the next town, an hour’s drive from home.

When I arrived at work, Jodie called me into her office. She invited me to sit down and started talking. “ I have thought about what you said and I remember starting my career in a company on the other side of the country. The supervisor and the other workers were friendly and supportive. We had regular meetings where we shared our work ideas and we had coffee mornings where we shared our lives outside work. At times work became stressful but were always there to support each other and the Company flourished.” Jodie then went on to tell me that when she started work as a Supervisor in our Company the Manager insisted that she kept the staff members in line and lay down strict rules. If she didn’t do this she would lose her job. Craig had left the Company but his influence had changed her attitude and she continued to be a dominate boss with strict ground rules. Many workers had left the Company and the job recruitment process was ongoing and frustrating. She thanked me for helping her to see the light in a calm assertive way and she would work on changing the workplace into a positive successful environment for everyone and this would attract more clients and the Company could expand.

That night the dream came back and I was in the peaceful forest once again. My fellow walker was walking beside me with a smile on his face. We were both back in a favourite place where we could make a positive start to the day. Very soon other walkers joined us and the Walking Group became a social experience as well as a fitness program. My dreams had become a reality and changed my life for the better. I realised that “Dreams can come True” if we act on them in a positive and assertive way. I will continue to remember to face my traumas head on and seek resolutions to daily challenges. My life had

changed for the better when I asserted myself to bring about “Change for the Better.”