I'll let you be in my fantasy dream world, If I can be in yours

​Like so many people around the world right now, I was laid off from my (paying) job a few weeks ago. Obviously, at least here, in the United States, I will be laid off until the end of the month. And then, I sincerely hope I am not called back to work before it is safe because, unlike the CEOs of many major corporations and the current President of my country, I do believe my life and the lives of my family members are more important than money. Still, my family needs me to earn money – even in this global crisis – so that when things go back to “normal” or when companies run out of patience for getting their payments, we won’t lose everything.
 
So, I might be in a somewhat unique position of FINALLY being able to pursue a dream I’ve had for a very long time. That is, being a full-time Body Liberation Trainer and Yoga Instructor who not only trains and teaches clients but also produces online content in the form of podcasts and blogs on the subject of Body Liberation. THIS was the fantasy dream world I wanted to step into as soon as I left my full-time English teaching position last June.
 
But, it’s not easy – financially, emotionally or mentally – to snap one’s fingers and just step right into a totally new life. So, I meandered a bit, questioned myself A LOT, doubted myself completely and almost gave up, then started to see some glimmer of hope for this fantasy dream world when I was asked to teach and train at Crystal Mountain’s Peak Fitness Center full time a couple of months ago. Then, because of this pandemic, THAT particular aspect of the fantasy dream world was taken from me (and my family).
 
So, it took a global pandemic to force my hand to do the thing I’ve wanted to do for a very long time but here it is, I’m doing it. And I would be thrilled every single day if it weren’t for the circumstances, I find myself having to build this fantasy dream world in. Though it’s good for productivity that I have “no choice” but to launch it now – and I’m truly hoping I can find some clients to start working with me asap – I would have preferred to build this fantasy dream world and launch in a time when we didn’t all feel so scared and so helpless.
 
I genuinely believe that the programming I have to offer folks can actually be helpful during this time and though I feel forced to do this thing NOW, I am not so desperate that I would attempt to cajole clients to join me by preying on their fear and helplessness as so many providers working within the Diet Culture framework are doing. This post was actually supposed to be an outline of how my Body Liberation Training offerings can be a very helpful coping resource during this time but all of this had to come first. And I’ll explain that other stuff tomorrow.
 
Hang in there everybody. One way or another, we’ll be on the other side of this someday. Like Bob Dylan said in his song “World War Three Blues,” “I’ll let you be in my dream, if I can be in yours.”