the gate

there once stood a tall golden gate

shiny and glamorous

exclusive and expensive

luca always admired that gate

and wanted to go in.

beautiful people entered that gate

with lovely outfits

and show-stopping jewelry.

"i want to be like them" she thought

and that's what she tried to do

intimidating their style

mocking their personalities

and embodying her idea of them

yet she felt no depth

no truth

or uniqueness.

but that wasn't what luca wanted.

she wanted to enter the gate

on and on she went

living a life she believed was worthy of entering the gate.

the time was up.

she was going.

as she approached she felt nervous

unworthy..

out of the corner of her eye she saw a young girl playing near the gate.

just like her.

the young girl looked very curious.

triggering memory.

luca thought back to herself at that time

how free

creative

silly

fun.

one of a kind she truly was.

what happened?

as she stopped in front of the gate

others did as well.

did they have the same intuitive feeling she did?

"why are you here" one man asked.

"i dont know" answered a beautiful young woman. "i worked all my life to enter"

"so did i" interjected a handsome older gentleman.

"well, that means the plan worked" said the gate keeper.

"there is nothing beyond this gate. the flashiness seems to be enough to trick people into masking who they really are, falling victim to some creative illusion. now, you understand how the idea works. go create your own golden gate, yet this time, place an abundant world of love, nourishment and imagination behind it. and don't have a dress code, let anyone enter. be open and honest about your kingdom. and always leave space for interpretation and mistake. share it with all. i leave you with this." and poof it was gone. the gate and the miracle man.

looking at one another, tears and laughs and silence over took them.

the young girl curiously wondered over to ask what was wrong.

twirling and dancing as she lended unspoken support to the group of lost adults.

"follow your dreams" she said

"i forget them" luca said.

"you can never forget what you truly are."

and with that the group danced in the moonlight, hugged, laughed, and loved, as they remembered to forget the falsehoods, and welcomed back the reality of heart.

follow your dreams