I wake up feeling alive. Not groggy, not sluggish—just completely refreshed and ready to take on the day. No alarm blaring, no stress, just the natural rhythm of life leading me into the morning. As I slide out of bed, the excitement of what’s ahead pulls me effortlessly into my studio.
A steaming cup of coffee has already materialised in my hand—perhaps by magic, or perhaps because future me is thoughtful like that. I sit down at my desk, ink pen in hand, ready to create. Today’s masterpiece for my visual dream journal flows effortlessly onto the page, an illustration that captures a world only I could see in my sleep. The lines are perfect, the vision clear. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating something tangible, something real, before the rest of the world even wakes up.
Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.
As I take a final sip of coffee, I turn on my phone. Hundreds of orders for my books, wall art, and merchandise have come in overnight. Not a single moment of hustle—just the fruits of doing what I love, reaching people across the world. Better yet, I don’t have to lift a finger. My print-on-demand services are already fulfilling and shipping these orders, delivering my work directly to the people who love it.
Then, I see the news:
✔️ Wars ended.
✔️ Forests and endangered species recovering.
✔️ The ocean, finally rid of plastic.
The kind of headlines that make you believe in the best of humanity.
A Morning of Connection
The kids wake up, their laughter filling the house. We gather in the kitchen, making breakfast together using fresh produce from our own farm. Nothing tastes as good as food you’ve grown yourself—eggs from our chickens, herbs from the garden, fruit picked straight from the tree. My wife joins us, and we eat together, the morning sun spilling through the windows.
The next few hours are pure bliss. No emails, no notifications—just time spent with my family, immersed in the rhythms of nature. Our farm isn’t just self-sustaining; it actively gives back to the land, enriching the soil, supporting local wildlife, and feeding us in return. The kids run off to explore, collecting stories of bugs, plants, and the hidden wonders of our land.
Creativity and Community
I clean up and prepare for today’s huge podcast interview. My guest? The legendary David Choe. We have an electric conversation—deep, raw, and full of unexpected wisdom. The insights we uncover will give thousands of artists practical, actionable steps to build a thriving career doing what they love. My community is growing, thriving, supporting one another in ways I’d only ever dreamed of.
Lunchtime rolls around—another beautiful meal straight from our farm. Then, we open the doors to our farm shack market café. A gathering place for like-minded families who want to eat clean, live freely, and create without limitations. People drink great coffee, share ideas, and leave inspired.
And of course, there’s art.
I walk over to the adjoining open studio, where artists of all styles and backgrounds come together to create. No rules, no deadlines—just pure, uninhibited expression. I let myself get lost in the process, producing my second masterpiece of the day. It’s bold, alive, and ready to meet the world. I upload it to my gallery, and before I’ve even put down my brush, my phone pings—sold. Someone across the globe has just claimed it, and my automated system is already shipping it out.
A World Transformed
Then, the kind of news that makes me stop in my tracks:
✔️ Tasmanian Devil facial cancer—cured.
✔️ A flourishing community of Tasmanian tigers discovered, thriving in a protected national park—one that I helped fund with the ridiculous surplus from my artistic work.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
Evening Bliss
The day winds down with something special—a new Coen Brothers film in theaters. My wife and I head out for a date night, sinking into the surreal, darkly comedic world they’ve created.
Back home, the kids are playing by the nature pool. We jump in, splashing around as a thunderstorm rolls across the ranges, the air thick with that electric, pre-rain stillness. Kangaroos graze nearby, utterly unbothered by the rumbling sky.
Dinner? Wood-fired pizza, made entirely with our own ingredients. Fresh tomatoes, basil, homemade cheese—it tastes better than anything money could buy. We gather as a family, sharing stories, laughing, feeling nothing but gratitude for this life we’ve built.
As I check my phone one last time, I see that today’s artwork has just sold. Another piece of me, sent out into the world.
We end the night in the best way possible—reading, telling stories, playing games. My kids are brimming with excitement about their latest interests—marine biology, forest walking (yes, that’s a career now). My wife’s farm is flourishing, and our life is exactly as we want it to be.
I fall asleep knowing that tomorrow will be even better than today.
And that’s the most beautiful part.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 