I was seven years old.

The teacher began to get cross.

‘Robert, write down what’s on the board or go to the back of the class and stay there until you have.”

When you’re seven you don’t master the language, especially when you’ve been singled out in front of the class and told off.

Ten minutes later I still hadn’t written anything, so off to the back of the class I went until an hour after all the other kids had gone home.

My teacher, a kindly soul really who I’m sure just wanted the best for me, waited behind as well and encouraged me to write. "You're not going home until you've finished; I can wait all night."

“I cant” was all I could blurt out.

She should have known. I had new glasses, a patch over my ‘good eye’ and ‘special drops’ in the other, to stop it being ‘lazy’.

I don’t know how that was supposed to work, but I did know I was virtually blind. All faces were blurs, and even at the front of the class the blackboard mingled with the wall and stayed fuzzy with everything else.

If there’d been nothing written on the board, I wouldn’t have known.

I eventually went home, and in my seven year old head made an important decision.

I didn’t like writing. More than that, I COULDN’T write! And I had all that evidence to back my new story up, and would spend many years collecting more.

Based on a decision made by a confused half blind seven year old whose eyes quickly improved, I told everyone who would listen that I hated writing. It was strange, because I had a dad who was a journalist and storyteller, and Grandfather who was an editor for the Llanelli Star in South Wales. He was a Welsh Bard, I said "I cant write for toffee!"

I’m not going to harp on about this, only to say that if we live our entire lives based on decisions made by seven year olds, we wouldn’t get very far. Yet we do this every day, and in many ways we don't get very far.

This is a challenge I know, and it can be applied to any part of life. Start small.

Look at all those beliefs, those ‘I know best because I’m experienced’ bits of knowledge about our life and the world. All learned by experience, the news, other peoples opinions, probably based on decisions they made when they were seven years old too!

I’m not saying they’re wrong, nor right. Just that the chances are they don’t apply anymore, yet we lives our lives by these decisions.

Years after I’d allegedly grown up I began writing again. Now I make my living our of writing, and running creative writing workshops and have written opinion columns in newspapers for more than ten years.

I even started my own newspaper, so I’d have something fun to read.

Here’s a few I’ve heard recently. I wonder if they’re really true:

• “I don’t like heights.”

• I don’t like fruit.”

• “I’m scared of monkey’s.” (!)

• “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

• “I’ve never been able to do maths.”

• “I have never known how to iron clothes, and I’m too old to learn now.” (37)

• “I’ll always be broke. I always have been.”

• “I don’t drink water, it’s bad for me.”

Add your own to the list and have a closer look. What if none of what we believe is really true?

One way to find out is to do all the things we say we cant and se how we get on. Nothing at all to lose, and if it has anything to do with writing, art, creativity in any form, think of all the joy that awaits. Not just for you, but the rest of us as well.

Rob Daniel is a children's author, creative writing, memory and self-esteem presenter. www.chocmint.com He lives in beautiful Albany on the south west corner of Western Australia, has a passion for mangos, the Greek Islands and bringing the best out of young people. He has come back from an inspirational tour of West Australian schools and is getting ready to go again in November, and in 2007 he is off to tour schools around the world with collaborator and cartoonist, Dave McCleery..

Rob creates 'turn the page' children's e-books with illustrators from around the world. You can check out and buy these books instantly from www.chocmint.com You'll also find an opportunity to join the chocmint adventure yourself, if you have a passion for writing and illustrating for children.

LATEST book published 'A Tail's Tale', illustrated by UK artist Elizabeth Stringer. Part proceeds from books go towards sponsoring children at the Bear-Care orphanage in Kitgum.