Keeping your dreams alive

By: kelly

TAGS: motherhood

I became a mother and gave my all. Then one day, I woke up and didn’t know who I was anymore. I had given up my dreams because they seemed unattainable. In truth, I would gladly give up my dreams for my children if it was best for my family. However, I came to this realisation: do my children need a mother who empties herself or shares herself? So began my quest to share my dreams with those around me.

Here’s one of my dreams:

I see a stone house with roses creeping up the sides. Leaning up against a wall is my sky blue bicycle with a white basket embellished with a yellow daisy. As I ride, I feel the rhythm of my legs push the white pedals and the breeze on my face feels soft. I enter under a red and white striped awning of a delicatessen and think about what to cook for dinner. I chat to the jolly looking man behind the counter and buy lamb, rosemary, crusty bread, feta cheese, olive oil and a bunch of tomatoes. I like the sound of the brown paper bag as I carry it to my bicycle basket. I’m home now. I pour gold tea from a delicate teapot into a pretty cup and close my eyes as I bring it to my lips. I like the clink sound as the tea cup kisses the saucer. I take out my laptop and write.

My dream reflects part of who I am: I love bike riding and tea. I love both being alone to write and talking to people throughout my day. I love the idea of buying fresh, superb quality food on a daily basis according to my fancy.

It’s an unrealistic dream. I don’t live a rideable distance from a delicatessen. I don’t have a lot of alone time to write. And, if I purchased fresh, superb quality food every day, well, it’s hardly cheap – my family probably wouldn’t eat. Instead of giving up on my dream, I’ve found ways to include it in my everyday life:

• Once a week I don’t plan dinner. Instead, I shop at a delicatessen with my toddler. It’s something I look forward to.
• Our family enjoys bike riding trips together.
• I brew tea in a teapot and drink out of pretty cups instead of a mug and tea bag.
• I blog at night because I love to write and connect with those around me.

How to keep your dreams alive in a sustainable way:

1. Write it down
Write your dreams down in present tense, as you would be doing it.

2. Assess
How can you incorporate your dream into everyday life?

3. Start slow

• You dream of a sustainable garden but are living in a house with no yard? Start with a pot of herbs on your window sill.
• You dream of designing your own line of children clothes? Start with making handmade gifts.
• You dream of living on a private island in the pacific? Ah, good luck with that one. HA! No actually, perhaps plant a few palm trees.

4. Imagine
When I’m in the delicatessen, I feel a giddy excitement like I’m there in my dream. Why do adults stop imagining? It should not be so.

5. Don’t give up
Don’t give up on your dreams, instead find different ways of doing them so you can share the joy of who you are and make life ever richer.

Follow your dreams and share your passions; you never know where they might take you.

Do you have a dream? How do you keep your dreams alive?

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