“I have spread my dreams beneath your feet.
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
– W. B. Yeats
Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? That’s because Yeats wrote a lot of romantic poetry. But if you didn’t know that, this quote could have a quite different meaning.
Yeats was a creative. Couldn’t any creative person say this to their audience? Couldn’t anyone who has put their heart and soul into any piece of work ask the same question?
This is the curse of the creative soul.
Why I chose this quote
As an author, the judging of my books is an uncomfortable fact of life. Yes, my work has always been judged. The difference is, I didn’t always care deeply about what I produced. Now, I’m doing something I love. Writing books is my dream.
People have often told me I need a thick skin to be an author. I respectfully disagree. Not caring is not an option. Because it matters whether people appreciate my work. If the majority of readers don’t like it, I won’t be able to sustain this career for very long.
What this quote means to me
You may have noticed this quote is different from most of the quotes I share. It isn’t about a valuable learning point that someone has gleaned through experience. Something we can all learn from, and put into practice.
It’s more of an admission of vulnerability.
I guess we can take two things away from this. One, we are not alone in worrying about being judged. Many of us feel the same way. That knowledge can be a source of strength.
And two, while we can change and grow from feedback we receive, we cannot control the feedback. We can only do our best. And then wait and see if our work is considered good enough by others.
I believe my work will only be good enough if I, too, spread my dreams beneath your feet.
What does this quote mean to you?
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Deborah Grant-Dudley 