Working On The Wishes

We’ve reached the philosophical portion of 2024. And clearly that’s happening in the beginning of 2025. Feels on brand for the year I had. I’m early for literally everything in my life, but can’t seem to get my poop in a group to make time to write. I’ll add that to my list of things to work on in 2025. Areas for growth, NOT resolutions. 

Because this is a natural time for reflection, I’ve been thinking a lot about goals, dreams and the wishes that live in our hearts. I’ve had many over the years, some that have become living pieces of my life. There are others that live in my heart because I’m too nervous to tell anyone about them. 

Have you ever been so excited about something that you were just bursting to tell someone? Your huge, monumental dream that has lived safely in your heart is ready to be shared so you decide to be brave and tell someone about it. When you picked the person you wanted to share it with, were you absolutely vibrating with nerves and glee as the words hurriedly left your mouth? Were your eyes nervously darting all around as you spoke, moving between eye contact and staring at your feet? Honestly I can feel myself start to sweat just thinking about this whole process.

So you’re in the zone, the words are pouring out of your mouth. You finish explaining, look up into the eyes of the person you chose to be brave with and…they’re just sort of looking at you. Not excited, not really anything. They’re kind of just blank. They force a smile and tell you that, while they don’t really get it and it’s not for them, it sounds cool for you. You smile and nod, no more words leaving your mouth. You feel…deflated. Disappointed. And for some reason, shame creeps in and you…nod and agree, saying “Yeah it’s dumb.” NO.

First things first, if you’re the one doing the sharing remember that your dream is for you. Not anyone else. It was placed in your heart for a reason. No one else on the planet needs to understand it or feel about it the way you do. All that matters is what you want to do with it. 

Next. If someone is choosing to be vulnerable with you, don’t drop your reality on them. Let them have their moment to be excited! No, they may not have it all figured out and it might not sound “realistic” to YOU, but this isn’t about you or your feelings. Unless explicitly asked or otherwise directed, your only job is to listen and happy for them.

Finally. My beautiful friend if you are the one sharing the things that live safely protected in your heart, know that I, some random person out on the internet, am so ridiculously proud of you. YOU are amazing, creative, hard-working and you are allowed to have all the dreams you can create. You are allowed and supposed to take up space in this world, doing what sets your soul on fire. Not that you need my (or any) permission for that, thought it was good to mention in case there was any doubt creeping in there. 

For the longest time, all I wanted was to make my kids proud. I wanted to be someone my husband bragged to his friends about. Someone my parents could share brilliant stories about. Took a while, but I’ve learned that, while all those people are absolutely important, it’s me that needs to be proud of me. I have to be the one willing to bet on myself and go until I get where I want to be. 

2025 is set to be a transformational year. There are new things I want to learn, new things I want to start and existing things I want to continue. I want to lean in to who I am and who I’m becoming. I want to continue to be a presence for love and light in this world. I will continue to use and strengthen my voice. And I will not shrink to fit into places I no longer belong with people that it’s time to let go of. 

Let’s go have a year.