How Imagination & Ruby Slippers Can Make Dreams Come True 

An Imaginary Dinner Party with the Wizard of Oz 

I heard Susan Ivy, then Chairman, President & CEO of Reynolds American, Inc., speak at a luncheon years ago in which she told a story about hosting an imaginary dinner party to which she invited her most admired people ~ one of whom was the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz.  As I listened, I thought about my role models and my imaginary conversations with them. They weren’t famous; they were more home grown – Aunt Sue, Virginia Overman and the heroine of A Woman of Substance, Emma Harte. 

They gave me inspiration by just being who they were. 

I never had a real conversation with them about my hopes and dreams.  By watching and listening to them during holiday dinners, they inspired me to see other possibilities for my future outside the confines of rural Kansas.  I could imagine it, but did I have the courage, the brains, or the heart to allow myself to be as inspiring to others as they were to me.   

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Emma Harte’s story of rags to riches gave me aspirations of what I could do if I only believed in myself.

Like the good witch Melinda in the Wizard of Oz told Dorothy – also from Kansas – “you’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it yourself.”  What would happen if I could sit down to dinner with Sue, Virginia, Emma, and my favorite Zeiza?  All are passed now.  The closest I can get is rereading A Woman of Substance.  Something I have done again and again when my faith in myself falters. 

Using Susan Ivy’s idea of an imaginary dinner party, I decided to imagine a dinner party with all the characters from The Wizard of Oz.  What I learned was the power of the script. By listening to them talk, I saw so many metaphors. Metaphors of how we prevent ourselves from becoming the person we are meant to be.  What stops us?  

• Belief in our innate talents – No brains to do what we dream of doing! 
• Not loving ourselves enough to believe we have the power, and always have had the power to live our passion. 
• We lack the courage to “roar”.  We fear we are not good enough! 

Consider these 10 famous lines and how they relate to your own fears of not being enough, not standing in your truth, being rendered mute by those who wish to undermine your innate wisdom. 

Let these quotes put a smile on your face, hope in your heart, a can-do attitude in your mind, and the courage to never, never give up on your dreams.  Imagine this conversation happening at your dinner table.   

We can all have our own version of Dorothy’s magical ruby slippers.  We don’t need the Wizard of Oz to approve of our dream.  “Oz had not kept the promise he made her, but he had done his best. So she forgave him.  As he said, he was a good man, even if he was a bad Wizard.” Dorothy

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10 Famous Lines that you should consider:

1. “You’ve no power here! Begone, before someone drops a house on you too!” – The Wicked Witch 
2. “My goodness, what a fuss you’re making! Well, naturally, when you go around picking on things weaker than you are.  Why, you’re nothing but a great big coward!”– Dorothy 
3. “Yeah, it’s sad, believe me, Missy.  When you’re born to be a sissy, without the vim and verve. But I could show my prowess, Be a lion, not a “mowess”.  If only I had the nerve.” – The Cowardly Lion 
4. “You have plenty of courage, I am sure.  All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that’s not afraid when it faces danger.” – The Wizard 
5. “I am content in knowing I am as brave as any beast that ever lived, if not braver.”  – The Cowardly Lion 
6. “Some people without brains do an “awful lot of talking, don’t they? “ – Dorothy 
7. “If you only have brains in your head, you would be as good a man as any of them. Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man.” – The Scare Crow 
8. “During the year, I stood there I had known was the loss of my heart.  While I was in love, I was the happiest man on earth.” – The Tin Man 
9. “No one can love who has not a heart, and so I am resolved to ask Oz to give me one.” – The Tin Man 
10. “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.” – The Wizard 

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If you’re struggling with something in your life—maybe it’s a career decision, a relationship problem, or lack of confidence — you may be tempted to seek advice from friends or family members.

But sometimes the best way to get clarity is to ask yourself questions that are more interesting than: 

• “What should I do?” or  
• “What am I supposed to do?”  
• “How can I find love?” 
• “How do I find my dream home?” 
• “What career would make me happy?” 

Instead of letting your mind go in circles, imagine what advice your role models might give you if they were sitting across from you at the dinner table.

• How would they answer questions that are hard to answer?
• What would they say to motivate or inspire you?
• How could their wisdom help guide your decision-making process?

And if you don’t have someone whom you trust to share your hopes and dreams, then please, email me by clicking any of the buttons below.

Finding the right mentor isn’t as easy as I’m suggesting. What works for me, may not work for you. We are all different. We each have our own unique interests and personalities. You will need to consider what qualities you see in your role models: 

• What makes them stand out?  
• What traits do they share with other people in your life whom you’ve admired?  
• Are there certain ways in which this person inspires your sense of adventure and passion?  
• Do they show courage or confidence while pursuing their goals?  

Consider these questions as you seek your ideal mentor! 

My mentors didn’t dream of being homemakers.  They chose to reimagine a woman’s place that included husbands, children, and careers. They saw themselves with a husband, children and a career.

I’ve found when I’m going through a difficult time or struggling with something new, it’s helpful to reach out to my imaginary mentors. I ask them: 

• How did they overcome similar challenges?
• What did they wish someone had told them during their early days?  
• How did they learn from their mistakes?  
• What lessons did they learn from their experiences juggling careers and families? 

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If you don’t have someone that you can share your deepest needs, desires, or ambitions, then allow me to work with you.  Through the co-creative art of coaching, we can define the changes you want to make to have the life you love. 

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Let’s connect in a way that fits you schedule and your desire to know more about co-creative coaching: 

• Schedule your complimentary 30-minute sample coaching call here.
• Not ready to commit? Sign up for my email.  As my gift, you will receive a copy of my chapter in “Becoming a Woman of Substance” in Ann Sourbeer-Morris’s Unexpected Pathways: “The Journeys of Women in the Workforce”.