As a writer, there comes a freedom that other people do not have. This is mainly because only the writer can live in his or her head. I just finished a good book (I highly recommend it) that was based in medieval times. The characters, the scenery, the peasant life, it was all so wonderfully woven throughout the book. Ms. Dickerson, judging by her bio, loves the Medieval times and thus, benefits from two worlds in her brain.

The “other world” in my brain revolves around a place where I am the creator of all the peoples who inhabit it. As their creator, I get to see these peoples deal with the good and the bad that happens to them. I have the best of that world. If I don’t like something, I merely rewrite it to my liking. This is a skill that I often wish I had while dealing with the trials of the “real” world where I happen to live.

In this real world, I concentrate on the goodness that I encounter. I see the struggles that people experience and how they overcome the challenges. I admire, for example, Vivian Lord who, despite her youth, caused a change in the toy industry. Then there is Greta Thunberg who, despite the challenges of Asperger’s, has caused a world to pay attention to the climate. People like Vivian and Greta are some of the best of this world and I am proud that I am part of it.

And then my mind wanders into the other world that I have. I look at it and I want it to reflect the good things that I find here. So, I create people who do similar things. It could be a girl of twelve who can speak any language she encounters. She can even understand and be understood by animals. And guess what, the animals just want to live their lives just like we do. Or I create a boy of fourteen whose brave heart endeavors to mend the rift between two cultures. Then there is the young girl who was adopted into a good family and fell in love at a young age. How her heart holds onto the dream that her love will return from his misadventure and come to her. They are the best of my other world.

And that is the writer’s life, having one’s head in two worlds, seeking the best in both. When one looks for the best, it is found. I find the best in this world, my wife, my life, my books. I find the best of my other world, my characters, my countries, my peoples. I hold all of the close to me and they enrich my being.

Truly, I have the best of both worlds.

Thank you for the privilege of your time.