Girls Surf School in Taiwan - Radical Ramblings by Shiuan ButlerRadical Ramblings by Shiuan Butler

Where I reveal my newest dream of Taiwan + surfing + girls = Taiwanese Girls Surf School!

So one of my dreams right now (yes they’ve changed over the last decade or more) is to have a surf camp for girls in Taiwan (!). What an awesome idea right?? It would combine my two loves— my roots in my home country and my passion of surfing. It actually combines with a former dream too to have a camp for Asian girls on empowerment and self-confidence, leadership, etc. So this is perfect!

I also just discovered this YouTube video while googling “Taiwanese girls surf camp” and was so totally inspired. I sent Diana a message so let’s hope I hear back soon! Meanwhile here are six reasons why one should go after one’s dreams. I know I certainly did not receive a lot of encouragement in this area, and I think many of us could use support here:

Why Dreams Are Important and You Should Dare to Dream Big:

1. It’s What Separates Us From Other Mammals

We could just eat and sleep and feed our young. We could settle for the rest of our lives. We could believe outher people’s discouraging and disparaging thoughts. Or we could dream big and not listen to any of it.

2. No More Regrets

Do you want to look back on your life when you’re old with regret and wish you had tried things you hadn’t? I’m not that old yet, but I’ve heard that from older people. I don’t want that to happen to me.

3. You Can Be Scared and Still Dream Big

Heros (or heroines) aren’t people who have no fears. They are people that act in spite of their fears. Although I have achieved many dreams so far like —surfing in Hawai`i, surfing in NYC, having published work (Asian American X: An Intersection of Twenty-First Century Asian American Voices), living on my own, (and yes, sometimes my over-perfectionism makes me forget them)— I still get scared to really dream big. And that’s OK. It’s about learning to act in spite of our feelings or fears, not based on them.

4. I’d Rather Die Trying

I’d rather die trying and failing to achieve my dreams than to have never tried at all. It’s about the journey, not the attainment. Six years ago, when I finally achieved my dream— of bartending and surfing in Hawai`i— I didn’t want to do it anymore. I wasn’t fickle. I had just grown and changed. I had worked up to that point— and loved every moment of it. And then I was ready to move on to the next thing.

5. Imagine Success First

Just as with surfing, you’ll never get the wave or be able to ride it if you keep doubting yourself. And if you don’t believe in yourself first how else will you garner (gather) support for your dream? You need to see yourself living the dream, or riding the wave, first, to be able to get there.

6. Dream Big; Plan Small

Learned this recently from the ultimate dream-chaser and achiever, Timothy Ferriss. After you figure out your big dream, you need to go backwards and start planning small, measurable, tangible steps to get there.

Question: If you dared to dream big, if you knew it would actually come true down the road, what would you dream of doing? What is your craziest, wildest, farthest-fetched dream? All comments welcome!