14 May 2021 – When I was young, I wanted more and I thought I was capable of more. I dreamed of being a mom because that’s what many little girls dream about. Then, I wanted to be a race car driver because my dad took me to the races every Saturday night. I even wanted to be President of the United States – I was crazy and thought I could change the world. In fourth and fifth grade, I wanted to be an astronaut because my fourth-grade teacher was a finalist to be the teacher in space. In middle school, I thought I could be anything. I saw no limits. When I was in high school, I started dreaming a little smaller. I wanted to be a social worker and open an orphanage where every child would feel loved. During college, I decided my dreams should be more realistic, so I stopped dreaming about the unattainable. Basically, I stopped dreaming and instead, I just decided to be the best normal person I could be. I let myself be led by my problems instead.

Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t unhappy. But I did settle. I settled for the ordinary. Although I continued to strive to be the best at everything I did, I didn’t really aim higher than that. In the last four and a half years, I have learned that I wasted so much time not dreaming of more. Now, I am dreaming. I may not sleep, but I dream, and I dream large. These days my dreams are about being the best I can be at everything I do, doing all of the good I can for all of the people I can as often as I can, and enjoying life and everything in it as much as possible. I have now followed Thoreau’s advice and I built castles in the sky and I am now building their foundations.

Dreams of doing all of the good I can for all of the people I can as often as I can. I love taking care of other people. If there is something I can do for other people, I take real joy in doing it. I dream of having lots of money so that I can change someone’s life without them knowing I did it. It makes me so happy when other people are happy. Until I win the lottery or find millions in my backyard, I will still give all I can to bring joy to those I love and those I meet and those I will never meet. I don’t need much but I want to give more.

I saw this quote today and it really made me think. What if my dreams are still too small? What if all of us are dreaming too small? The truth is that I’m not sure that there is anything better than doing good for myself and others while enjoying every little thing. However, if I dream bigger or want just a little more, the reward may be even bigger. I am looking forward to more dreams…maybe I can get more sleep first.