Achieving Your Dreams, No Matter How Small

 A blurry picture of Dr Bookworm wearing her Tin Toy shirt with her mom--even though I don't look like it, I think I'm 18 or 19 in this pic.  (posted with permission of my mom) Thumbnail photo is a still shot of Tin Toy  by Pixar Animation Studios, 1988

Once upon a time, I was a teenager who stumbled upon a brilliant short animation film called Tin Toy.  My twin thinks that it may have been at one of the Spike and Mike Festival of Animation series back in the 90’s.

Fast-forward to last month when my family and I were treated to a visit at Pixar Animation Studios.  

I may have been more excited than my girls to visit the home of Tin Toy.  (Please note that while Little Lion Bookworm was searching for different types of shell stickers hidden among the Finding Dory gallery, I did notice one sticker of Tin Toy down toward the bottom of one wall.  A place that allows stickers everywhere?  Sign me up!)

The visit was amazing and inspiring.  We were only allowed in certain galleries, but just knowing that steps away there were new things being created was mind-boggling!  And the Steve Jobs building was very open in design, with Steve Jobs overlooking every single detail that went into it.  A visionary in every sense of the word. 

Dr. Melanie posing with The Incredibles at Pixar Animation Studios

So the whole time I was there, I kept saying and thinking that it’s too bad I don’t have any talents that Pixar could use so I could work there.  However, why do I downplay my skills?!  Yes, I’m likely not going to move to the Bay Area to work for them.  But I AM a writer.  Don’t they need those skills?  And likely, I’m just going to focus on this little blog, plus my picture books, plus the YA novel that I’m currently working on.  (And, uh, also being a physician and a mom.)

But, you never know.  Maybe one of the three different and unconnected pictures books that I wrote this year about robots will pique someone’s interest into doing a short animated film.  Maybe Mini-Me Bookworm will get chosen for their awesome summer camp for teen girl coders one day.  (And, yes, I already have permission from my twin to ship her there.)  Maybe one of my girls will end up working at Pixar or starting their own company.  Both are storytellers—Mini-Me has always shown a great capacity for being a director of some type; she writes, she has vision, she’s bossy in her little ‘plays’ at home AND she loves to code.  Plus she’s full of heart. Little Lion is a different type of storyteller—a great chatterbox who has learned so much from playing with her sister, whether it be their own Hogwarts characters, or different scenes of dragons and elves that I’ve been overhearing these last few months.  May they never stop using their imagination.  

Dr. Melanie's family in their official Pixar shirts after visiting the studio. (posted with permission)

So, there’s one dream that I’ve achieved, even if it is a small one.  I wanted a behind-the-scenes look at how animated films are made.  And though I didn’t get to go into the ‘top secret’ employee only areas, I could feel the magic in the air. (Plus I got to eat at the cafeteria with all the Pixar wonders.)

And it reminded me that it’s important to work toward achieving your dreams, no matter how big or small.

So the next time you find yourself saying, “I want to be a writer”, change it to I AM a writer.  A life lesson I learned from a college friend.  And the next time you say, ‘I want to build a robot’, ‘I want to learn how to sky dive’, ‘I want to run a marathon’, ‘I want to start a blog’, or ‘I want to learn how to make those macaroons’, I challenge you to achieve just that.  Well, I’ve done a few of those things, but I’m going to keep reaching and climbing and writing and dreaming.  And one day…..

Little Lion Bookworm holding Woody's hand. (posted with her permission) Please note Luxo Cafe behind her and the open design of this building.  Everything is community based and open for collaboration.  And the soccer field, outdoor ampitheater, and swimming pool outside don't hurt either. There's also a huge Luxo Jr lamp with ball--no pictures to post of those as they weren't approved by the family.