BY AMISHA PANCHAL
HOW I QUIT DAYDREAMING AND STARTED DOING. In an alternate universe, I am famous. In fact, there are a lot of alternate universes floating around that contain different, more dynamic, brilliant versions of me. I’ve been a best-selling novelist, an Oscar-winning screenplay writer and actress, a distinguished and worldly journalist (I’m also bilingual in that one), just to name a few. There are also smaller alternate universes where I am just a slightly better version of myself. Witty and confident, I always think of the perfect response when someone insults me. I’ve also fought a lot of people and won. But then there’s the regular universe — you know, the one we live in? In this universe I’ve had some amazing accomplishments, but they pale in comparison. Why? Because for a long time, fantasizing about my goals was satisfying enough. Also, in my fantasies, I can’t fail. I’ve always been a chronic daydreamer. It started when I was a young, introverted only child....