There’s a voice that keeps on calling me. Down the road, that’s where I’ll always be. Every stop I make, I make a new friend. Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down, Until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on.

Hey there where ya goin’, not exactly knowin’, who says you have to call just one place home. He’s goin’ everywhere, B.J. McKay and his best friend Bear. He just keeps on movin’, ladies keep improvin’, every day is better than the last. New dreams and better scenes, and best of all I don’t pay property tax. Rollin’ down to Dallas, who’s providin’ my palace, off to New Orleans or who knows where. Places new and ladies, too, I’m B.J. McKay and this is my best friend Bear.

I never spend much time in school but I taught ladies plenty. It’s true I hire my body out for pay, hey hey. I’ve gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs, blown up for Raquel Welch. But when I end up in the hay it’s only hay, hey hey. I might jump an open drawbridge, or Tarzan from a vine. ‘Cause I’m the unknown stuntman that makes Eastwood look so fine.

Ulysses, Ulysses – Soaring through all the galaxies. In search of Earth, flying in to the night. Ulysses, Ulysses – Fighting evil and tyranny, with all his power, and with all of his might. Ulysses – no-one else can do the things you do. Ulysses – like a bolt of thunder from the blue. Ulysses – always fighting all the evil forces bringing peace and justice to all.

Do you have a creative dream you’d love to grow this year? Come hangout with me and the founders of Queen Girls to be inspired to Dream BIG! Anything is possible if you work strategically and put an engine on your vision…

If you’re like me and have a deep passion for empowering our kids and youth then you’ll love this project created by these inspiring ladies. Queen Girls is a series of children’s books that turn stories of real women into fairy tales to encourage them to live out their dreams.

When I first saw this amazing project I was immediately drawn in like YES! This is what our girls need to see, that their dreams are possible and that they shouldn’t be afraid to dream BIG – and the same for you and I! Stay tuned for more from our conversation where we talk about how we can empower kids together and what kids teach us about living more fully and vibrantly.

The first book in the Queen Girls series shares the story of the first African American woman pilot Bessie Coleman and the illustrations are so vibrant, enchanting and engaging. You can help bring this project to life by donating to the IndieGogo campaign and pre-ordering your copy to help bring these books to children in need of inspiration and connect with them on social media and their website: www.queengirlspublications.com

Above: Inspiring youngin’s LEGO Movie-style… One of my favorite things to do is create and speak at experiences and workshops merging music, drama and interaction for kids and youth to inspire them to live their dreams boldly in purpose. Together we can inspire the next generation! – Julene

You is loved – how bow dah? Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you and God sees you – you’re the treasure He cherishes even more than Ariel does hers - heehee this is my corny Bae Day card to you to say that you’re special to me – you outta da sea awesome and I LOVE that YOU’re Part of My World – how bout dah? Okay I’ll stop with the terrible puns but know that even if you don’t gotta bae today you are beautiful and worthy and so very Loved! Love Julene XOXO Happy Love Day (which is everyday for me). Thanks for giving me the honor of being part of your world!

P.S. Can you tell I love Disney movies and the Little Mermaid? Love may not be picture perfect but true Love is better than a Disney movie or fairy tale… When you find true Love – the kind of Love that’s unconditional, passionate and everlasting you’ve found everything you need. God is Love…

We don’t have to be confined to a calendar to have a new beginning – everyday is New Year’s Day – a fresh new start to live and flourish on purpose!?

This year I encourage you to embrace your uniqueness and passions, to water and nourish those dreams you may have buried. It’s never too late to live your dreams – you were made for the visions that were planted in your heart so get going! ? I’m here on the journey with you and am cheering you on!

Much love, Julene?

This song was playing in my head when I wrote this post, Everyday is “New Year’s Day” one of my favorites from Carolyn Arends.

“This will be my resolution
Every day is New Year’s Day
This could start a revolution
Every day is…

One more chance to start all over
One more chance to change and grow
One more chance to grab a hold of grace
And never let it go…”?

When we dream and are creative we are like our Creator, and that’s what we’re made for – to connect to and grow in love with the greatest Dreamer of all and the One who made us beautifully on purpose. Know that you are a work of art, made to dream brilliantly and enjoy life in full color so shine your unique light in creativity to inspire others – you represent the light!

Then there are those dreams you are responsible for bringing to fruition in a sense; things you want to create, experience and learn how to do. “I want to (insert activity here)… someday.” Why not now, why not today? Time goes by and we never make time to do the things we really have a passion for, or we do have the time and we spend it on other routine activities (and sometimes time-wasting ones – Facebook anyone?;), all while being inspired by others living out their own dreams. It’s one thing to wait on God to move forward, but what happens when He’s given the go ahead and we are still sitting on our hands waiting for another sign to appear in the clouds? Nothing.

It’s almost as if we don’t really know if we have the permission to do what we like – it might not seem “practical,” or we have so many other important things to do or people relying on us to support and help them that we push our inner yearnings aside. It may be that the thought that we are actions away from being able to delve into a dream we’ve considered for so long seems too good to be true that we’re internally paralyzed from moving forward…

It could be the procrastination that comes with perfectionism or the doubt that we will be any good. What we dream might even seem like a waste of time to others or to ourselves if there’s little to no monetary compensation involved. Even if those around can’t see the benefits, what if the thing you are to do but haven’t has the ability to help someone you’ve never met?

I’ve struggled myself with all of the above, and have slowly realized that it’s up to me to be bold enough to pursue those creative passions I have. I’ve noticed that stifling the dreams that don’t seem practical and ones that don’t “make sense” is really my way of trying to fit in and do what I think I’m expected to, or to avoid things that seem “too hard” or too “day-dreamy.” I reason that there’s no time, that I would embarrass myself or that it would be purposeless if I’m not successful at what I set out to do. If no one understands, responds or needs it, it would have been a waste.

There’s a quote I like to remember when these thoughts seep in:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman (Author, theologian and civil rights leader)

The excuses I come up with can’t drown out the fact that the things I don’t make time for are there for a reason and many aren’t just fleeting aspirations. The ones I’ve harbored for so long, even from childhood, but haven’t made any moves to pursue in years seem to gnaw at my mind all the time. Just the thought of working on the things I love makes me excited and I when I do them they bring me more joy than if I went on with the routine and “normal.”

So my advice to you is the same, if it makes you come alive do it. Let your passions become a priority on your schedule, even if on a smaller level at first. You may have to say no to others sometimes or schedule out other activities to make time for your passions, but in the end it is worth it. When you take time to do the things you love often the things you don’t like as much become more pleasant and bearable – even purposeful – as if you’ve just awaken to seeing the good in everything because you truly love what you do.

I am finally learning to take steps toward expressing my true passions and following my purpose without being held on to by the strings of other’s expectations. Do you dream of things like learning photography, writing a book or starting a business or ministry? Ask God for guidance, take the time to plan what it will take to begin then move forward and do it. Do it for the love of it, not for accolades or confirmation of others. Put in your best efforts and dedication and do it to the glory of God.

Don’t belittle your God-given dreams and suppress them for the sake of fitting in or melding into what’s expected. People may know what they want from you but may not know what God asks of you. Dare to do something different and new with what He’s given you. What a disservice it would be to those around you to keep the beauty of those dreams inside – the world will miss seeing you when you have truly come alive, and realizing that they can too.

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

I love this quote and how it reminds me of how what may appear beautiful (or successful and esteemed) may have been molded through a long period of trial, darkness, growth and solitude. There’s always a journey that shapes us, and a process that graces us to achieve true beauty. – Julene, Founder of Envibrance and Editor of Dreamfleur.com