Unicorns Are Real

With all of my 10-year old heart, I believed Unicorns were real. Blame it on the Last Unicorn, a fantasy film from the 80’s, which reinforced this notion that horse-like creatures with a pretty, spiral horn attached to their head, really existed in the world. When I escaped to these imaginary places, my Mom referred to me as “Spaced-out.” I’ve had quite a few nicknames growing up, Sunshine, T-Bone, and yes; Spaced-Out was one of them, and definitely not an endearing one. When my Mom called me this, I was usually in a zone, not paying attention, but fully engaged in my fantasy world. Nothing in this zone was off the table and UNICORNS were a must! I’d create entire communities filled with people, neighborhoods, and creatures, most of which I thought really existed. 

You see, The Last Unicorn, made me believe in the most extraordinary of ideas. The idea that anything was possible and magic was real. Someone (probably my older sister) decided my presence in reality was more important than me being trapped in my make-believe world. The revelation that I would NEVER see a Unicorn in real life CRUSHED me. It’s like snatching Santa Claus from an unsuspecting child who never missed an opportunity to leave cookies and milk as an offering of thanks. Or, learning that the Tooth Fairy had nothing to do with the dollar bill left under your pillow, you get it? Sometimes I wonder why we put our children through this (but that’s a different blog for another day). My childhood fantasy of Unicorns had been shattered. For me, I didn’t find humor or entertainment in having children fall for a creature they would never be able to touch, see, experience. It was a magical creature and I wanted to believe in the POSSIBILITY of its existence. It was beautiful and brave, strong and confident. It didn’t dim its light, but shone with all its brilliance. 

Thirty plus years later an encounter during Lisa Nichols’ Speak and Write conference in Atlanta, GA, resurrected my belief in Unicorns. I spent long, but reinvigorating days among the most beautiful, brilliant, magical and brave human beings, who weren’t afraid or hiding behind the “special” qualities that existed within them. Just like The Last Unicorn set out to find out what happened to its kind, these human beings set out to find their tribe. A tribe they would be welcomed in, grow from and deposit into. And, just like the mythical depiction of this creature-that was known to never be captured alive, but instead when danger approached it leapt with great courage and strength. I met dreamers and doers willing to jump off the ledge with their Unicorn-like strength, holding both fear and courage in their hands.  I met a tribe of Unicorns disguised as people, who made significant sacrifices to find this magical place where their childhood dreams and adult visions could be resurrected. I met my tribe and finally realized that I’m not “Spaced-out”, I’m a Unicorn.

My hope for you is that you make a conscious decision to not “dim” your light. You create non-negotiables on the path to your purpose. You believe in the POSSIBILITY of the world you wish to live in. Most importantly, you find a tribe that will help usher you into the best version of the Unicorn or other magical creature you choose to be!

#bol

#yana

@Lisanichols

#mtm

#alifeworthsaving

#unicornsarereal