Never Underestimate a Dreamer
If there was ever a time to seize your dreams it’s now. Not because it’s the start of 2020-a new decade or the start a brand new year but because your dreams are important.
Since I was a little girl I was a dreamer. And for a long time that was enough. When I grew a older I realized the outside world didn’t believe in my dreams as much as I did and that made me doubt myself. But I held on to them anyways. To me they were a precious reminder of hope and possibility. They were dreams of what I someday wanted to become, achieve and have. To preserve them I safely tucked them away from fear of rejection or criticism.
As you might have guessed many of those dreams were creative ones. When I graduated college with a BS in Elementary Education I did the logical & expected thing, I worked in the field for 3 years. I took multiple jobs while getting my masters. After those 3 years passed something didn’t feel right. I knew in my gut I was meant for another professional life. After pushing away my dreams for so long I decided to take a leap and I’ve been leaping ever since. Some leaps were successful and some where flops, some safe and secure, others not. But I learned something valuable every single time. Little did I know these experiences, the victories and failures were building the person I was supposed to become both personally and professionally.
I would often wonder along the way, what my ultimate creative purpose was. Many times comparing my journey to others. I pushed on, praying, working hard at what I set out to do. Hoping at some point the skies would open and I would just know. But I am not sure we are always supposed to know. Often it’s those moments of unknowing and uncertainty that are the very push we need to ignite our desire. Our deepest desire, that pushes us through the wind & the rain time and time again to get us to a place we feel whole and complete.
As I look back on a year of pain and creative chances I can only conclude that the purpose is in the doing and that the doing is the reward (Brene Brown). Sprinkled in are moments of triumph, were we can step back and say with a smile this is it, I am right where I am supposed to be.
Often times we can’t get there without that leap, as small and insignificant as it might seem. Without that courage we can not reach our fullest potential and embed that seed of desire. For me, it has been a lot of little things through the years. Things I swore I couldn’t ever do and did, situations that scared the heck out of me and made me braver than I was before.
Most of my life I was underestimated. That in turn made me underestimate myself. I share this with you today because maybe you need a reminder that your dreams are important too. Even if it’s baby steps to a dream you have been holding on to for while. Whether it’s slowly transitioning to a new career, a retirement goal or hobby, those small pieces matter in the big picture of who you are. If you do take that leap, don’t be in a rush to get through it. Enjoy it. All those seemingly random pieces to your puzzle are being laid for a bigger purpose.
So for me this year, I am just going to have FAITH. That everything I do is for the purpose of building me, growing me and learning me so that I can enjoy the doing and that in the presence of doing it will take me to where I need to go.
Photography + video credit JayLim Studio.
Have a happy day friend!
Beautifully written, Jen! I’m Right there with you. Giving myself grace in this journey but trying to appreciate all the moments – ups and downs and all the in-beTweens.
Aww, i love thiS Jen. Especially the line, “your dreams are important too.” Something i’m trying to give myself the latituDe to discover. I don’t even know what my dreams are beca i’ve been working so hard just to survive. It’s a 2020 goal of mine to discover my dreams. Kudos to you for following yours. You are an inspiration.
Jenn!! You are the most amazing person, you deserve to find those dreams and follow them with wild courage!!! I love you and you inspire me!! I cant wait to caught up soon!!!
xoxo
Jen
What an inspiring read! I Only wish i had the courage you have to make the changes i need in my life. Congratulations Jen on all your accompliShments. Wishing you all the best in 2020.
Darlene
This is beautiful, Jen xx
Hi Jen – What you wrote is beautiful – you Had faith in your dreams and Your rainbow came smiling thru – just like in cinderella. I know you had a tough year – continue to keep the faith and best regards to you and yours!
Now, that’s what called Perfection. Keep up!!