My Dream for What Lies Beyond by Julie A. Sellers | Inspiring Story #63 - Daily Inspired Life

My Dream for What Lies Beyond by Julie A. Sellers | Inspiring Story #63

inspiration-Julie-a-sellers-beyond

A short story about appreciating moments of beauty in your present, past and future ... and how doing so can help you see beyond difficult times

It had been a long winter of short, dark days of feeling trapped inside an old farmhouse with no central heat and many expectations. I set out to explore that afternoon, never dreaming I would discover a magical realm hidden away on the hillside in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

To others’ eyes, it was just a stand of timber winding from the creek to the tallgrass prairie above, but to mine, it was an enchanted forest of winding paths worn smooth by deer and a dome of intertwining red-bud trees. Anything seemed possible there, my horizons seemed limitless, and my imagination soared to all the possibilities that awaited me on the other side of high school graduation in just a few weeks.

inspiration-redbud-tree

That spring, I spent many an afternoon walking, reading, writing on the hillside, relishing every moment I could spend communing with my thoughts and hopes and dreams. There, I felt no confines or limits to what I could and would do when I set off for college.

One day, school activities kept me from taking my walk until after dinner. I set off with my mother’s stern warning not to stay until after dark. I scrambled over the barbed wire fence and walked quickly, breathing in the cooling air and watching the waning light sift between the branches overhead.

I hurried down my usual path, past the old limestone rocks wrenched from the fields above during the oil boom days, and up to the wide-open prairie. The tallgrass whispered quietly in the dusky breeze, and as I glanced out over the fields below, I realized how close it was to sunset. I should leave, avoid a scolding, but the palette of colors before me won out.

I dropped to the ground and watched the sun rewrite the sky above the tender green of new fields and the swaying redbud trees. And I realized in that breath how truly small I was as I sat there looking down, across that wide expanse of landscape to the blurry line where land met sky.

I couldn’t see beyond that distant horizon, yet I knew instinctively it was not a boundary but an invitation to dream about what lay beyond.

I couldn’t see beyond that distant horizon, yet I knew instinctively it was not a boundary but an invitation to dream about what lay beyond.

Today, as I turned the calendar to April, I felt that same rush of hope, even in this time of anxiety, death, and despair. My memories flitted across the span of years to that long-ago April evening that still shaped my perspective, even in the midst of a pandemic.

Looking back, as I do now, looking down, as I did then—that view from the fields still offers me a perspective of my tiny place within a broader world and of the possibilities perhaps just out of sight. Beyond, I dream of a point where we continue to look out, up, and about to take in the beauty in each day and each soul around us.

Beyond, I dream of a point where we continue to look out, up, and about to take in the beauty in each day and each soul around us.


What inspires you to reflect on the hope and possibilities still there, even in the challenges of today’s world?

I invite you to comment below ... 


Connect with Julie A. Sellers...

Julie_Sellers_Author

A native of Kansas, Julie A. Sellers has traveled extensively in the Americas and Europe. Julie’s creative work has appeared in Fabrizo Paterlini: Microstories--the Eighth Note, Cagibi, Eastern Iowa Review, Wanderlust, The Write Launch, Kansas Time + Place, and Heartland!.

She has twice been the overall prose winner of the Kansas Voices Contest (2017, 2019), and she has placed in poetry and prose categories in the Kansas Authors Club annual contests.  Julie's third academic book, The Modern Bachateros: 27 Interviews (McFarland, 2017), received the Kansas Authors Club 2018 It Looks Like A Million Book Award.

Connect with Julie by liking her Facebook page here.  

READ ANOTHER STORY |

Touching story of human kindness.   On a bus from Phoenix to LA a woman hands over her last forty dollars.  But that wasn't the end of her story...   

>> Click here to read

touching story of human kindness - she gave her last $40
Share the Inspiration
  • […] great dream begins with a dreamer.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and […]

  • Michelle Hetterscheidt says:

    Wow! That was beautiful written! Thank you!

  • Jenny says:

    You write so beautifully! You are lucky to have such a vivid memory that you can return to time and time again 🙂

    • Julie A. Sellers says:

      Thank you! Yes, it’s like carrying my own personal springtime with me. I’m glad I could share my memory.

  • How much romance and inspiration in this beautiful story that tastes of spring.

  • Tana says:

    Such a powerful message to inspire hope in uncertain times. We’ll be forever changed by this experience. In many ways, positively, if we allow it!

  • Olufunke says:

    There is beauty in silence, in the littlest things that we take for granted. That’s one of the many things this present situation has taught us.
    When I’m down, my son gives me hope. Hope in all the things that can still be.

  • Sierra Albis says:

    Love this! I find with everything going on surrounding COVID-19 it has really given us the chance to take a moment and count our blessings. Often times, we take for granted those family visits, phone calls, hugs, etc. I have been taking the time to enjoy nature and spread as much positivity as I can. It makes me feel better knowing that I am making a difference.

  • Judy says:

    Thank you for the reminder about the healing powers of nature. There is so much it has to offer to us when we’re open to it.

  • Patricia says:

    Having been through a lot in the last few years; cancer, job loss and now this, I too appreciate the beauty in each day. Small triumphs, the smile of family, good food and nature that surrounds me. Life is glorious. Unfortunately, sometimes, it takes tragedy in our lives to help us truly appreciate that fact; like the storm that brings a rainbow.

  • I love that you appreciate the beauty of each day. I think so many people miss this simple idea, however as of recently I think more are getting in touch with it, which could be very good.

    • Julie A. Sellers says:

      I agree, Jen. Often, it seems that we don’t have time to stop to appreciate a sunset or a blossom. We need to always take the time for those breaths of fresh air.


  • >
    karletta marie - daily inspired life

    Hi,  I'm karletta marie...

    JOIN and get your free digital magazine with inspiring stories straight to your inbox PLUS tools to start creating your beautiful life.

    karletta marie - daily inspired life

    Hi, I'm karletta marie.

    JOIN and get your free digital magazine with inspiring stories straight to your inbox PLUS tools to start creating your beautiful life.