“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”
― Lewis Carroll

There’s a space between lying down and falling asleep—a soft, liminal moment where the world quiets and the imagination stirs. As a child, that was my favorite time of day. I called it “night dreaming.” I have been living in alternate universes in my imagination since my childhood days.

In those moments, I wasn’t just Girish. I was a hero in another universe. Slender, confident, powerful. Surrounded by friends. Embarking on adventures. Living a life of joy, danger, and meaning. I didn’t know it then, but I was building a mythology of myself—one alternate reality at a time.

These dreams weren’t mere fantasies—they were emotional blueprints. They carried the qualities I longed to embody, the worlds I yearned to explore, and the relationships I hoped to nurture. This habit stayed with me through the years. I don’t do it as often now, but sometimes—when I need courage or a quiet boost of self-belief—I return to those imagined selves.

Why We Imagine Alternate Selves

Most of us, at some point, imagine a different version of ourselves. For me, it wasn’t just wishful thinking—it was a quiet yearning to be more than who I was.
In alternate realities, we become:

• The hero – capable, admired, and brave.
• The explorer – curious, free, and unbound.
• The healer – wise, gentle, and whole.

These imagined selves aren’t lies. They’re symbols. They show us what we value, what we fear, and what we’re growing toward.

The Novel I Haven’t Written (Yet)

For years, I’ve wanted to turn these night dreams into a novel series. A series of novels where each book explores a version of me in a different world. Maybe someday I’ll write them or maybe Uncompiled Stories is the beginning.

An Invitation

If you’ve ever imagined a different life – one where you’re stronger, freer, more alive – don’t dismiss it. That version of you is real in its own way. It’s a compass. A mirror. A story worth telling.
So tonight, before sleep takes you, ask yourself:
Who am I in the universe where everything is possible?

And then… listen.