Reigniting Your Dreams: From Deflated Balloons to Inspired Teaching

In the landscape of sixth-grade anxieties, where standing in front of the class felt terrifying and confidence seemed to belong to other people, there was one question that pierced straight through my fear.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

It was a rite of passage in the classroom, and I had to face it head-on. I was shy, overweight, wore glasses, and preferred blending into the background rather than becoming the center of attention.

But despite all of that, I already knew my answer.

It was a dream that had whispered to me quietly throughout my childhood, one I held onto like a lifeline. I remember taking a deep breath, feeling the crisp fabric of my light blue dress against my skin, and saying—more boldly than I felt inside:

“I am Deann, and I am going to be a teacher.”

The room went silent.

Time stretched uncomfortably long.

Then my teacher—an ex-marine I have privately nicknamed Mr. Dream-popper—responded.

“Oh, that’s too bad. There won’t be any jobs available by the time you finish your degree. Okay, Eric, you’re next…”

With that, my dream balloon deflated.

I trusted him. After all, he was a teacher. If he said there would be no future, then there must be truth in it. And just like that—at 1:45 p.m. on a Friday afternoon in March—my dream of becoming a teacher was quietly shelved.

I followed the expected path after that. I graduated in the top 2% of my California high school class. Scholarships were available. Opportunities were there. But I lacked direction, a true sense of calling, and the motivation that comes from believing deeply in something.

My mother’s words echoed often: “Words have power.” I felt their truth in my bones, knowing how easily one sentence had altered my course.

Eventually, my path led me into higher education—not as a teacher, but in an administrative role. I managed a College Career Center, helping students navigate uncertainty, discover their interests, and make informed decisions about their futures.

Without realizing it at first, I had created a career rooted in guidance, reflection, and self-awareness. My team and I were intentional with our words. We understood how easily a careless comment could redirect a life.

Words have power.

And yet—my love for teaching never left me.

In the evenings after work, I began teaching spiritual development and metaphysical studies. It brought me joy. It felt natural. But I never imagined it could become my primary path.

Over time, my administrative role demanded more and more of me. Teaching drifted further into the background. It became something I loved, but something I assumed would always remain secondary.

Reigniting Your Dreams After They’ve Been Set Aside

Less than a month after retiring from that long career, I found myself welcomed into a community that believed deeply in teaching one’s gifts and rekindling dormant dreams. Their encouragement, support, and belief breathed life back into that long-deflated balloon.

That was the moment I realized that reigniting your dreams doesn’t always look dramatic or sudden. Sometimes it happens quietly, through permission, validation, and the realization that what once mattered still does.

Today, that dream is no longer fragile.

It is filled with light, purpose, and inspiration.

I am developing courses, offering spiritual development services, and connecting with a thoughtful, curious community. The thing I once set aside has quietly become the foundation of what I now offer the world.

I can finally say it again—this time without hesitation:

I am Deann.

And I am a teacher.

Some dreams don’t disappear. They wait patiently, ready to rise when the time is right.

🌿 Continue the Reflection

Sometimes reigniting your dreams begins not with action, but with remembering—without rushing, fixing, or forcing answers.

If this story stirred something within you, you may feel drawn to explore your own inner knowing, purpose, or long-held callings. Through my Akashic wisdom–based courses and reflective resources, I offer gentle, grounded spaces for exploration—without pressure, promises, or urgency.

You are always invited to move at your own pace, listening for what resonates, and honoring the wisdom that has been with you all along.

#teacher #wordshavepower #dreampopper

#soul #death #beliefs