“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.” ~Richard Bach
What did you dream of when you were little? Did you long to be a firefighter, athlete, movie star, or superhero? Did you dream of a big family, a big bank account, or traveling the world? How does that compare to what you dream of now? Are the two still similar? Have you achieved any of the wishes you made before life took over, and you became more practical?
Chances are, you toned down those dreams somewhere along the way. You stuffed them into the back of your mind so that you could succeed in ‘real life’. You told yourself that those dreams are for kids, or retirement, or just a lucky few.
They’re not.
When I was a kid I wanted to be a dancer – specifically I wanted pointe shoes. Ballet wasn’t my favorite type of dance to do, but it was (and still is) my favorite style of dance to watch. The flexibility of ballet dancers, and the curve of their feet…it’s mesmerizing. I was never able to train in ballet in a stretch long enough to get onto pointe (we moved a lot when I was a kid), and damned if I don’t still have ‘learn to dance on pointe’ on my bucket list.
I think it’s safe to say that most women who have reached my age have tossed the idea that they can become a ballerina out the window. But I have a different view of the situation. I know it’s still possible.
When I was in college, there was a dancer in town who was phenomenal. She could make her body do anything – truly anything – she wanted it to do. I took a few classes from her, and had the honor of watching a couple of performance rehearsals as well. If there was a movement she couldn’t do on the first try, she dug her heels in and figured it out. She taught dance classes and choreographed, but she hadn’t ‘retired’ by any means – performance was still her main passion.
She was 45 years old at the time.
I remember thinking, “I’ll never assume I can’t do anything because of age again.” So now here I am, a few months into my 40th year, and I’m re-assessing my dreams. Getting onto pointe is still possible – I know exactly how much work and humility that will entail, and I’ll need to be ready for that. But it’s not an impossibility. I could still be a dancer if I really wanted to. I could take class again and train my body to move that way again. If I was really motivated I’m betting I could even find a way to perform somehow. Would it be with a professional ballet company? Probably not, but you never know. A really strange set of circumstances could put me on stage with professional ballerinas…if I set my intention and took every opportunity I was given.
Because Richard Bach is right, the Universe doesn’t give you a longing, it doesn’t give you a strong desire for something if you can’t somehow achieve it.
What do you long for? What sits in the back of your mind, itching to become reality? What is it that makes your heart sing for a moment before you shut it down with doubt and criticism? I want you to take today – just today – and tell yourself it’s possible. Declare it – tell me about it in the comments below if you like – and allow yourself today to believe.
What is your biggest dream?
Another one of my dreams is to teach the world about something called Post-Traumatic Growth. It’s the idea that you can take a traumatic event and turn it into something that changes your life for the better. It’s the decision you can make to allow a crisis to give you a new perspective on life. To allow a crisis to change your path, and then to make the most of that change.
I believe we are ALL capable of accomplishing this, and so it is my mission to teach as many souls as possible how to begin. It’s a seed, a little nugget of potential. I have to do the work to plant it, nurture it, and believe in it. I have to be willing to get a little uncomfortable as I venture into new territory.
I know it’s possible though.
Today I want you to dream BIG. Because if you have a dream, that means you also have the ability to bring that dream into reality. You will have to work for it. You will probably have to get a little creative. You might even have to face a very large change – or two.
But it’s possible. Whatever it is, it’s possible. You can achieve that dream, if you just allow it to stay conceivable in your mind. If you stay open to new ideas, and new ways of thinking.
Pay attention to what shows up today. Just allowing that dream to fester in your brain is going to put you on a path to achieving it, so look for the opportunities that the Universe presents you to today. And then take them. Push through the little flutter in your stomach and take them.
What is your biggest dream?
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