
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Have you ever carried a dream tucked in your pocket? For years, decades even? Perhaps occasionally you even take it out, examine it, allow it to spark an excitement about the what ifs and maybes, only to tuck it back into its safe little nest to carry around a while longer.
That was me.
For decades I have carried with me a hidden, yet not necessarily secret, desire to write. Long ago in room 103, at a middle row desk, in my grade 10 English class, during a journaling exercise I made a vow to myself that I would write a novel. I clearly remember my teacher writing in the margin in red pen the word “Interesting!” – which was enough validation at the time to solidify that dream. At the time I didn’t know what I wanted to write, I just wanted to write. To write something of significance.
What do you carry? A dream that could perhaps change the trajectory of your life. A dream that could challenge you and push you to the limits of what you ever thought capable. A dream that could allow you to become a different version of yourself. Or perhaps it is a God-given passion that burns in the the quiet places of your soul, yearning to be nurtured.
Dreams are magical, wispy, wonderful things. They are like clouds, easy to see and yet difficult to grab ahold of. A dream in your pocket is safe. A dream brought to light exposes you to a vulnerable world of potential criticism and failure. But what fulfillment can be found in embracing the difficult and challenging yourself! I once read that the world belongs to the dreamers. I choose to believe that the world belongs to those who are willing to do the scary thing and to breathe life into those dreams.
Dreams are funny things, too. They are exciting and life-giving in their infancy, and yet simultaneously terrifying as you contemplate their execution. They are a promise to yourself to do something. Interestingly, I have learned that we, as people, are all too quick to break promises we make with ourselves. We will bend over backwards to keep our word to others, even when we don’t want to, but we often give up on ourselves without hesitation. We stop going to the gym, we eat or drink the thing we said we wouldn’t, we make excuses about the busyness of our lives, we become complacent.
I’ve decided it is time to keep the promise I made to myself and release the dream in my pocket.
I believed then, just as I believe now, that I have a God-given story tucked in my heart. One that is longing to be penned to paper. One that will minister to the hearts of young girls.
So here we are. In January 2020, I began to write my novel. It’s been a rocky year, but I’m committed to this dream.
I invite you on this journey with me. I honestly don’t know where it will lead. I am excited at the possibilities, but more than that I am relieved to finally be allowing myself the time and opportunity to chase down something that I’ve been carrying with me for far too long.
What dream have you been carrying in your pocket? What would it take to release it and nourish it?
This is so thought provoking, inspiring, and challenging. I often find that I trust my insightful instincts concerning others much more than about myself. I will have to turn my pockets inside out and see what I find!