I’m on a cloud. It’s dawn. The sun is glowing radiantly, its rays peering through the cracks as if they're preparing to unveil a mystery - one that's long waited to be discovered. I'm enveloped in a kaleidoscope of golden hues, reflections of the sun signaling a new day.

I am laying down, hands resting at my sides and eyes pointed at the sky. I am paralyzed in awe, as if the sight in front of me is holding me and insisting me - willing me - to stay just one more minute. Forget your obligations. Forget your responsibilities. Forget it all. I am alone, and it feels like a trance or a dream.

Time seems to slow down. For a few moments, I am at peace. Then suddenly, I see thousands of images flashing before my eyes. I see myself conquering every fear and every doubt I've ever had. I see myself accomplishing the impossible; I am unstoppable. At first, the person I see is unfamiliar. A stranger. But the more I watch, the more I recognize myself. I am an invincible dreamer up here, in this utopia that projects my zenith. I am overcome with warmth, feeling a surge of hopefulness, optimism, fearlessness. The sun beams down at me, like an affirmation. But then it shines, glares, so brightly that I give in to the urge to look away.

I turn and roll over, dropping my gaze and facing downwards. Immediately, my stomach churns. I am staring at the ground, where the force of people and nature together is controlled by reality. At the basis and foundation of my hopefulness is a place where everything seems to go wrong, a place full of uncertainty and unrest. I shake my head. I don't want to go back. I start to turn back, back to utopia, but then I pause halfway, feeling the sun on my back. At this angle, the light and the warmth are comforting. It's a reminder that everything down there works out in an unexpected way. On the ground, the beauty comes from those with unique thoughts, ideas, dreams, and desires - those who emerge from the chaos stirred by negativity and confusion and cruelty. And despite it all, the sun still shines, even on the days with the darkest of nights.

My head is in the clouds while my feet are on the ground. It's not a matter of living as part of one or the other. I am a dreamer and an optimist, but I am also a realist. I live each day with goals, ambitions, and desires; but I also live with an awareness for the human nature that shapes reality. I am grounded by the people and the experiences that have carved the story of my life. These two places are the coalescence of how I react, grow, learn, and love.