Looking around I cannot see anyone, there are no man made structures in view, just wilderness. There are rugged mountains in the distance, shorelines with rocks shaped and manipulated by wind and water. Looking out of the window and it is like I am floating above the water.

Is this moment real? I could almost pinch myself just to be sure it is. I reach out and feel snowflakes land on my arms, they are floating in with the cold breeze onto my face, the only sounds I hear are those of the wind and water. I am in my element, a mix of water and trees surrounding me, it makes me realise how much I am part of natures divine creations, we all are.

It may feel as if I am floating above the water, but in fact I am standing in a beautifully designed room with high end industrial features in what once used to be a hydroelectric pump house built in 1940.

Photograph taken at night when the PumpHouse it lit up and the end of the pier

Four years ago we travelled Tasmania with our three children over the summertime, we created the most amazing family memories, and still to this day our children talk about that trip like Tasmania is their favourite place in the world. We stood in the sunshine on the shores of the magnificent Lake St Clair, wading into the refreshing water and in the distance we could see the PumpHouse in all its glory. Immediately my husband Steven was taken with its unique beauty, a keen photographer he was fascinated with it.

PumpHouse Point… the key that floats

Four years on I sat in my home journalling my dreams for the future. I had begun to read more on manifesting dreams by writing them down and decided to give it a go, then as it does, life got busy, the journal went away and I forgot about it. A couple of months went by and Steve and I were discussing where we could take a couples trip to, as I had been fortunate enough to win a photography competition which gave us airfares to anywhere in Australia, or New Zealand. Suddenly I recalled his love for the PumpHouse in Tasmania and suggested we take the opportunity to go there. Yes it is expensive, but I suddenly felt that urge to stop worrying, to embrace the moment, to seize the opportunity! Life suddenly felt short and if we didn’t take opportunities now, would we ever?

We decided to go in the winter, right before Stevens birthday (as we want to be back to celebrate his birthday with our children). The PumpHouse is adults only otherwise we would have brought them with us. The photographs on the website looked magical in winter and Steven (growing up in the sunshine state of Queensland) had never seen snow. We hoped desperately that it would snow!

It was around 2 months after booking our trip that I reopened my journal and there it was the first thing on my list was to stay at the PumpHouse! It actually shocked me, I couldn’t believe without overly thinking about it I had manifested my dream. Whether it was in my subconscious, or it was the universe at work? I am not entirely sure. Although two other significant things I have written on that list are actually now in motion too.

Maybe by writing down our dreams they can gain power, maybe the universe is listening?

On the road driving up to Lake St Clair National Park we saw our first snow, at first we questioned is that what we were really seeing and then the whole bushland turned into a magical world of green trees covered in brilliant white snow. The snow flakes floating down was truly the most beautiful sight. The trip was slow and cautious, the roads had been closed to anyone not driving a 4 wheel drive, luckily we were. When we arrived at the PumpHouse Point it was even more magical than its photographs could capture.

snow in the National Park

… Today we depart, checking the roads we are relieved to see that as long as we proceed with caution we can travel back down to the gorgeous Hobart. The last few days we have danced in snow, caught snowflakes on our palms, watched as wild rain and winds turned a calm lake into what appeared to be a wild ocean, and woken up to ice covered mountain views and sandy shores covered in white. We have eaten the most beautiful food, sat in front of roaring fireplaces, warmed our tummies with mulled wine, and laughed with other travellers. It is an experience we will not soon forget.

an icy morning

Life really is a series of experiences and making the most of opportunities, it would be easy to complain when we had to walk down the pier to get to dinner (although you can order a buggy) in the rain and wild winds, but we laughed so hard and for me it added to the experience, and to be greeted by a roaring fireplace and mulled wine in the Shore House made it even better!

Life can throw some tough times at us, and this time last year I was at one of the lowest points in my life, the darkness of mental illness had me in its grip. Yet here I am a year on, stronger, healthier and so much happier. I still live with anxiety, it’s part of my life, but I will continue to listen to my inner voice and do my best to stay as mentally healthy as possible. I have learned many lessons, one of the biggest is to live a slower, yet more purposeful life, and perhaps writing down my dreams has helped?

Have you ever tried writing down your dreams, or ambitions? Do you believe you can manifest the life you want? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

If you follow my Instagram @pretty_little_squares_ you can see some of my vacation photos there. Thanks for reading, love, Kylie

All the photographs here are my own.