DREAM BIG and Imagine What If

My first read for 2022 was Dream Big and Imagine the What If, the inspiring story of Kylie Captain, a proud Gamilaroi woman, born and raised in the inner-city suburbs of Redfern and Waterloo. Kylie is a teacher and role model, currently living her best life, but it is her journey to this point that makes her story remarkable, overcoming the loss of loved ones, substance abuse and despair, of gaining wisdom through grieving.

In wanting to help others who may lack support, guidance or ideas on how to cope with the challenges of life that can lead to feeling like you will never climb out of that dark hole, Kylie has written a memoir focussing on how she actually did. By sharing her very personal story that lead to finding and focussing on her dreams, of setting and reaching goals, of not letting a history of unhappiness destroy her, Kylie shares how she made a conscious decision to be in control of her own future happiness.

There’s a lot that Kylie and I have in common – the belief that we all have a role to play in teaching and mentoring. That we all have a responsibility to learn and impart our knowledge. We both recognise the importance of positive relationships and storytelling / sharing in engaging students for successful teaching and learning experiences.

We both believe in the power of positive thinking, practical gratitude, and the law of attraction (although when I watched The Secret many, many years ago with another author in Sydney, we both mocked its focus on material goals and outcomes. But I also note here that we all interpret messages differently).

Kylie Captain tells her story as if yarning with you over a cup of tea (hence my pic). And while she speaks candidly about the impacts of the policies of removal and assimilation, of racial profiling and intergenerational trauma, the main message within Dream Big & Imagine the What If is one of strength and perseverance, of resilience and hope.

Of great value also, are the series of questions Kylie offers throughout, the ‘What ifs’, allowing the reader to take the opportunity to turn life’s negatives into positives, and to be inspired to dream big and ask, what if?

Grab your copy of Dream Big & Imagine the What If direct from Kylie here!