Dare to Dream

I am always intrigued by the things that come out a child’s mouth, particularly my child. The other day we were out as a family and per my usual interaction with Aaren I was asking him a number of questions about his experience, namely, how did he know he could do something. I can’t remember what it was he was doing or why I felt like I should ask him, but his answer—as many of his answers are—was profound in its simplicity: 

Because I imagined it, mommy.

Insert shock and awe. It could all be so simple. 

There are so many things (I think) I want out of my life: a fantastic marriage, super-smart and humble children, a growth mindset, lots of love and joy and light emanating from my life. And all of these things are attainable, if I would only choose to believe that they are possible.

If I could only imagine.

Now, this seems easy enough. We’ve heard it in so many ways: I think therefore I am; As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Believe it into existence, the universe is on your side. 

So what keeps us so undone? What is the barrier that keeps us from manifesting the life of our dreams? Perhaps it’s just me that suffers from visionitis ( I just made this up, y’all): mental fatigue at the thought of having to envision a future that you cannot see and that may never manifest in your lifetime; the desire for something so strongly that you’re blocked in even the imagining of it. 

Because life has dealt me a hand of cards that seemingly, no matter how many I trade in, keep coming back less than a royal flush and all I want to do is be able to play the hand out but it seems like I keep folding and boy-oh-boy can a girl get one face card of high value.

But it’s about what I see. And I am no poker player, so I am going to quit with that metaphor, but the point is that no matter what the cards are, you can indeed win.

Talking openly about your dreams and end goals helps to make them a reality; the means by which you achieve them can vary in depth and capacity.  It’s rare that people confide their  dreams to anyone—or even admit them to themselves.

Because, fear.

So start small, but by goodness, you must start. Much of my blockage comes from the desire to be right before I even try. I recognize this as an attack of my ego. 

But this year I give myself permission to dream. Daring to imagine. And reveling in the manifestation of that which I couldn’t imagine was possible. Because you know what, if you build it, they will come.