Boyle McCauley News

Since 1979 • April-May 2024 • Circulation 5000

Donate

Dreaming of Change

When I was in my teen years, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer. After being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and having a great deal of trouble dealing with school and stress, I was encouraged by a friend to look into flying.

I travelled to the West Coast without much direction, but then I stumbled across an advertisement saying pilot training was available and so was government funding. I became addicted from the very start. Flying was so rewarding and for some reason it gave me such confidence to soar high above the beautiful scenery of British Columbia. I would often take private plane trips to Vancouver Island and do training lessons. I even got to the point of being able to land the plane, but flying wasn’t meant for me.

Due to my mental health condition, I was unable to pass the medical to become a professional pilot. I had to make a huge change, a massive shift in my life that now seemed over, and I started right at the ground and it took years for me to make my way back up. I decided since I loved books so much, there was nothing saying I couldn’t become a writer, illness or not. I began by keeping a journal and writing poems, and going to the library all the time so I could get books to read and also books that taught me about writing.

Soon I started writing short stories about my own life, and over time (20 years in fact) this writing slowly became a book which has now sold hundreds of copies. Just from very small steps to the point where I could write every day and make something worthwhile, I accomplished my dream.

It took a lot of help along the way. I had a girlfriend who had stored my book on my request and if she hadn’t, it would not exist and my life would be much different. I have a mentor now who encourages me and I once had a psychiatrist who coached me in writing, but my greatest coach has been my dad, who loves books as much as I do.

All I can say to those who want to make a major change in their lives is to start small, do at least one tiny step a day, and keep at it – dreams really do come true.

Subscribe to our newsletter

News from the neighbourhood delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up and stay in touch!