Ashley Eckstein - Its Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen

Copyright 2018 Ashley Eckstein

All rights reserved. Published by Disney Editions, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: WENDY LEFKON

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: LAURA HOPPER

DESIGN BY MARGIE PENG

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ASHLEY TAYLOR

COVER DESIGN BY EDUARDO GARCIA

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID CALICCHIO

PHOTOS: ASHLEY ECKSTEIN WITH AHSOKA & ASHLEY ECKSTEIN WITH BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SAN FRANCISCO LUCASFILM LTD.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

ISBN 978-1-368-02439-6

AHSOKA TANO, Star Wars Rebels

Before you read this book, I need you to do one thing: throw out all your doubts and negative preconceptions about your dreams. This is the time to think about what you want to do, who you want to be, and what you want to achieve. Has anyone ever told you no or said that you couldnt achieve something? Has anyone ever squashed your dreams? If so, you are not alone. We all hear negative things at one time or another, but only you have the power to decide how it will affect you. Its OK if youve allowed the negative thoughts to creep in and sidetrack your dreams or put them on hold. But Im here to tell you that its never too late to make a change and forge a new path.

Allow yourself to have an open mind while reading this book, and silence the voice in your head that says, No, you cant do that! Get rid of the doubts about yourself and forget about what you may have been told in the past. Everything can be different if you let it.

First of all

Dont let anyone tell you,No, you cant.

And if you dont mind

Please allow me to be the person to tell you, YES, YOU CAN!

My name is Ashley Eckstein. You may know me as an actress and the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars, or as the girl who started Her Universe, a fashion and lifestyle brand for fangirls. You may not know me and are reading this book because someone gave it to you as a gift or because you just picked it up at the bookstore. If so, youre probably wondering who I am and why Im writing a book. Well, let me introduce myself. I am just an ordinary girl who was born into an ordinary life, who was raised in Orlando, Florida, and who grew up loving Disney. And just like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, I dreamed of adventure in the great wide somewhere. I was not born into royalty or great wealth and opportunity. I had to work hard and earn everything that was ever given to me, but thanks to the lifelong influence and inspiration of Disney, Ive been able to make my dreams come true. By sharing my story and what Ive learned, I hope I can prove to you that the universe is truly yours to take hold of and that you have the power to make anything happen!

In this book, I will share my journey with you, from my years as a little girl growing up in Florida and dreaming of appearing on the Disney Channel; to becoming a Disney Parks cast member in high school; to being the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels; to starting my own company, Her Universe. The world of Disney taught me that if you can dream it, you can do it, and I want to share that with you. I want to show you how to turn your dream into a reality.

Now, I know youre probably thinking that Disney came to me and hired me to write this book. Well, let me set the record straight right here: I actually approached Disney to ask if I could write this book. You see, Disney taught me to wish upon a star and inspired me to make my dreams come true.

Yes, there is such a thing as Disney magic, and its available to everyone.

Anyone and everyone can experience Disney magic, and in the words of Walt Disney, All our dreams can come trueif we have the courage to pursue them. If I can pass on to you an ounce of what Disney gave to me, imagine how many dreams will come true!

Whenever I think of dreaming, I think of Cinderella. After her father passes away, her stepmother and stepsisters try to make her life miserable. They make her live in the attic and do all the cooking and cleaning. She dresses in old clothes and loses all the pleasures she previously enjoyed. However, there is one thing her stepmother does not have the power to take away: the ability to dream. What inspires me so much about Cinderella is that despite how bad things have gotten, she famously says, They cant order me to stop dreaming.

When I was a little girl, Cinderella taught me that the power to dream comes from the heart. No one has the power to take away your ability to dream because it comes from within. Cinderella sings the song A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, and I want you to read and remember its lyricsbecause your entire journey in making your dreams come true starts inside of you.

Growing up, I was never consistent about keeping a diary. I would try to write daily entries, but it never lasted for very long. However, Ive always carried a journal with me, and I like to jot down my dreams, thoughts, ideas, favorite quotes, sketches, to-do listsanything and everything! I write things down as they come to me, and theres no rhyme or reason to the order in which things appear in my journal.

I want you to use this book as your journal. I want you to write down your own wishes, dreams, lessons, fears, failures, and successes. This is where you can let your dreams and imagination run wild. Just as Alice from Alice in Wonderland allows the Cheshire Cat to guide her, you have this book to help you determine your path: this way or that way.

Your journey to making it happen starts right here, right now. You make the rules and you write your own happily ever after!

I believe that the first step to achieving your dreams is saying them out loud. Once youve put them out there, they already feel more real, more attainable. And if you hear yourself say them enough times, youll begin to believe they are going to happen. When other people hear you say your dreams out loud, they will probably want to get on board and help you achieve them. Thats the magic of throwing those wishes and dreams into the universe and letting everyone know what you want to do. Putting them out there gives them a life. Theyre not just in your head anymore. Its harder to have doubts about your dreams when youve heard yourself wish for them and say them out loud. Start now. Say one of your dreams out loud. Im not joking! If you are by yourself, talk to yourself (trust me, I do it all the time!). Or if someone else is in the room, start now by telling them one of your dreams.