There was one thing my daughter dreamed about doing this summer. She wanted to be an intern for Her Campus, the #1 online magazine for college women. She’s been interning for them at her university, but the internship she had her eye on was in their Boston offices.
She didn’t think she’d get it so instead, she filled her planner and brain with many other things to do over the summer, too many things. Trips, projects, jobs and new ideas. I could see she was distracting herself from potential disappointment, because I do the same thing. We all do. We decide what we want the most, what really means the most to us, and then we cover it up with all the other stuff because we …
- don’t think it will happen
- don’t think we deserve it
- have been let down and hurt before
- don’t have the time/energy/money/support to figure it out
I can think of small daily examples, like when I want to accomplish a big project, but it sounds like a lot of work so I respond to email instead.
Or more monumental examples like when I wanted to walk away from a career that I had invested more than half my life in. It sounded impossible. How would I made ends meet? What would people think? What if it didn’t work out?
Recently, when I realized how much I enjoyed traveling and speaking about the power of simplicity, I knew it would be tough to get that going. Instead of giving up or choosing a more traditional route, I decided to take my tiny wardrobe on tour.
A few years ago, I would have talked myself out of this tour idea immediately, but the more I try things I’m not sure about, do things that people don’t always understand or support at first, and create things that sound crazy … even to me, I am convinced I’m on the right path for me.
I guess what I’m trying to say is your dream might sound crazy, weird, or impossible, and that’s ok.
What do you dream about?
There have been so many times, I’ve come back to Thomas Edison’s wise words, “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this – you haven’t.”
If there is a dream in your heart, or one you’ve covered up with years of debt or stuff or busyness, I encourage you to dig it up and shine a little light on the vision. This time, instead of looking at it as impossible, start thinking unconventionally. What changes could you make in your life to give your dream a chance in the next year, or the next 5 years, or 10 years?
If you have a dream …
If after reading the paragraph above, you instantly thought about one thing you used to dream about, and it still interests you, please do the following:
- Write it down. Seeing it on paper will help you see the possibility and it will be a daily reminder to work on your dream.
- Tell someone, the right someone. The right someone is a loving, compassionate person you trust. Later on, you’ll need someone to poke holes in your dream and help you craft it into something that translates in the real world, but right now, you just need someone who will give you a big hug and turn on Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’.
- Do one thing that will bring you closer to your dream. Pay off a credit card Read a book about the subject of your dream. Email someone who is living your dream and ask them what’s the one thing someone just starting out can do to move forward. Do one thing. Anything. Start now.
It may take some time to make your dream come true. 5 or 10 years may sound like forever, but if you were directing some of your resources towards your dream each day, wouldn’t those 5 or 10 years be more enjoyable? I know they have been for me.
Your post came at such an opportune time. We all need reminders at different moments in our lives to keep on pursuing our dreams. It is heartwarming to see your precious little girl following in your footsteps of pursuing meaningful work and I wish her the very best. You have been an inspiration to me and my writing, I can only imagine what a role model you have been to her in sharing your vulnerability and successes.
This message came at just the right time for me as I make some tweaks to my approach to my business. I love how you’re always there to be one of the voices that brings me back to center. Thanks, Courtney! And congratulations to Bailey! She learned from her mama.
Congratulations to Bailey! My 18yo daughter recently won a scholarship for her college course, and some overseas travel which she will take at some time in the next two years (which will likely also need extra funds raised). So exciting for them, but sometimes a bit scary for mothers! So lovely when someone outside the family appreciates your children for who they are 🙂
Courtney I love everything you write…
Congrats to Bailey, and for getting to more than half the money of her campaign too! I remember how scary it felt when we put ourselves out there for internships in university.
And I loved this post a lot. Everything from Thomas Edison’s words to how you learned to get over the fear of trying new things instead of drowning it out resonated with me. As someone who’s built her own dream life, I agree with your 3 points (particularly the one about the right someone!). It’s great how you’ve shared these thoughts with so many people.
Thanks for sharing, Courtney! I’ll be posting this on Twitter. 🙂