Sometimes I fear that I’m too much of a realist to be a dreamer.
I squelch my dreams because I don’t want to feel that ache that sometimes comes with longing for something you’re not sure you’ll ever obtain. I am grounded in the now, partly out of fear, partly for survival, and partly because I want to live the now fully. I suppose it’s not a bad thing; it’s just the way I am, at least for now.
I think it began when I had children. My dreams for myself felt farther away when I became buried in baby wipes and missing pacifiers and sleepless nights.
But I’ve come up for air since then, and on our recent 16-hour road trip, Ryan and I had plenty of time to talk about our dreams. We revamped our “life list,” and I realized it’s been way too long since I let myself dream.
This week I’ll share a big portion of our Life List, but until then, are you a dreamer? And if you’re a mother, how has becoming one impacted your dreams?
Linked up with the lovely and big-hearted Alana at the Bliss Diaries.
I’m a huge dreamer! I really do worry about spending as much time in the “now” as I can, to appreciate all the awesomeness that’s around me, but I also worry about not having goals and dreams to keep moving towards and wasting my time. So basically, I worry a lot. 🙂 Can’t wait to read about your life list.
That’s awesome, Courtenay! Not the worrying part (obviously!) but the “huge dreamer” part. 🙂 Get ready – because I ‘m going to want to hear about a couple of your dreams, too, next!
I set a goal for myself in November to run a half marathon in the middle of January. At the time, I could run 6 miles, no problem. As soon as I set that goal for myself, we got bad colds, then the boys had the stomach flu for two weeks. We miraculously took a week off from sickness for Christmas, then New Year’s Eve the boys came down with viral influenza. Through all of it, it was hard to find time to shower and do the dishes, let alone go on a long run. When I did run, I got bad shin splints because I wasn’t being consistent and I had crappy shoes. It’s been really hard for me to let my dream go. I am shooting to do a different half marathon in mid February and I hope that I am able to. If not, I am mentally preparing myself for the disappointment, because we’d like to get pregnant in the next 6 months and if I miss my window, I probably won’t be running a half marathon for another couple years.
I am looking forward to reading about your life list!
Alison – What a great example of how being a mother can require us to tweak our dreams, especially in the short term. I know Someone who recognizes your sacrifice, and I believe you’ll be blessed for it! Your boys are lucky to have you! (Best wishes on the getting-pregnant thing too! Exciting!!)
It is so much easier to make those dreams become a reality when your kids are grown, but when mine were little, I had to do a lot of tweaking and rescheduling and sometimes feeling guilty to make some of my dreams come true. But, we have to always have dreams, don’t we? Can’t wait to see what yours are!
Ah, I think motherhood has actually helped to shape my dreams. Family life closed some doors, but it opened others that I wouldn’t have known existed if it weren’t for my kids. It’s all part of the life journey, right? Looking forward to your life list, Erica!
I believe motherhood has helped me in realizing who I am, and with that, I have a better perspective on my dreams and what I want to go for!
Love that, Ashley! I agree that while some dreams need a bit of tweaking (temporarily), motherhood can really bring life into perspective! Thanks for the sweet comment!
Can’t wait to read your “life list”. I think the little girl in me is a dreamer, but the “grown up me” talks her out of things. Love those graphics you shared, too. Both good reminders.