On September 25th, we celebrate World Dream Day. In this blog post, we delve into the profound significance of following your dreams, unravelling the transformative power they hold in shaping not only your destiny but also your very identity. Join us in celebrating this wonderful day, and let us embrace our dreams as the compass that can guide us towards a life of fulfilment and meaning.
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What Are Dreams?
Life is a grand tapestry, and dreams are the threads that weave our unique stories. They are the spark that inspires the fuel for our passion. Our guiding star in a world that grows uglier by the minute.
Dreams are the one thing that carries us forward, separating us from the adulting. It enhances our life with purpose and focus, making us feel alive. It gives us hope, even when we feel hopeless. Dreams take us back to the yesteryears when we didn’t know any better before life happened and we had to grow up, leaving behind those dreams that kept us hopeful for a bright future.
Childhood Dreams
As a child life felt like a blank canvas of dreams waiting to be painted. My childhood and teen years were spent in faraway lands, dreaming of dragons and magic. Crafting epic heroines and conjuring magical worlds that defied the laws of nature. My imagination knew no boundaries.
My dreams have evolved over the years. I went from wanting to be a teacher to dreaming of becoming the next Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, and eventually, to aspiring to become a best-selling author. Teaching turned out to be unrealistic for me, as I soon realized I couldn’t handle being surrounded by people for extended periods. Singing was something I truly enjoyed, and I still do to this day, but let’s be realistic – I’m no Whitney Houston.
My Biggest Dream
The writing dream though, was and still is my most treasured dream. However, no matter how much I used to write, whether in my diary as a little girl, or drafting made-up stories, I never believed I was good enough. I honestly didn’t think I could pull it off.
I grew up in a realist home. My father came from a generation that believed that women belonged in the house, taking care of the husband and the children. Whilst he didn’t exactly wish that for me, he did make it quite clear that all I needed to succeed in life was a job, a home and a husband. And for a while (and by a while, I mean twenty years) that is exactly what I did. Until….I didn’t.
Spreading My Wings and Believing I Could
This past year has been one massive lesson. I acquired new skills and learned how to navigate rough waters with grace and a smile on my face, but mostly I learned that I had wings, and I could fly.
Launching The Opinionated Magpies, Lifestyle blog has been a dream come true, as well as a Godsend. It has given me a purpose, even on those days when darkness overshadowed my focus. I came to the profound realization that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. Thus, I embarked on a journey to revive long-forgotten dreams, embracing the opportunity with newfound determination. And although it’s still early days, my dreams are now bigger than ever and my will mightier.
Why It’s Vital To Follow Your Heart
Let’s dive into the profound reasons that make chasing your aspirations an essential part of a fulfilling life.
1. Passion Ignites Purpose
Allowing yourself to get excited about those forgotten dreams, will bring a new purpose and focus into your life. Remember the excitement when you were a kid? Wouldn’t you want to feel that again? Waking up every day with a fire in your belly. Feeling so passionate about something, that it doesn’t feel like a chore. In fact, far from it, it becomes an avenue for self-expression and growth.
2. Unleash Your Potential
We all possess unique talents and skills. A well of creativity waiting to be unleashed. When you decide to follow your heart and work hard for your dreams, the gateway to your full potential is unlocked. Align your actions with your passions and discover hidden abilities and strengths you never knew existed.
3. Overcoming Obstacles Builds Resilience
If I had a penny for every time I shouted out ‘I give up’ whilst designing our website, I would be a millionaire by now. However, I knew my desire to follow my dream was stronger than my frustrations. Failing is part of learning. You will always learn more from failures than from success…..at least that’s what Ed Sheeran says. I totally agree with him.
Pursuing your dreams does not guarantee smooth sailing. On the contrary, challenges and setbacks will always surface. It’s how you deal with them that counts. They will teach you the power of resilience, perseverance, and the art of adaptability. Overcome them and you will grow stronger and more resilient, equipping yourself to face future challenges with confidence.
4. A Life Of Regret vs. A Life Well-Lived
As your final days approach, the last thing you’ll wish to confront are regrets. Regrets of missed opportunities, of not living the life you wanted to live, of not living up to your full potential. For me, I rather not have any regrets about not having tried.
Following your dreams ensures that you live a life with fewer “what ifs” and more “I’m glad I did”. It’s an insurance policy against the sorrow of missed opportunities.
5. Inspiring Others
You might not think so, but there will always be someone who is inspired by your actions. Following your dreams is more than just a personal pursuit; It’s a chance to inspire others, by boldly chasing your aspirations and becoming the living example of what’s possible.
Imagine if your actions encourage those around you to embrace their dreams and strive for their own greatness??
6. The Joy Of Personal Fulfillment
Today, as I was getting ready to go to work, I was listening to a podcast on YouTube. The speaker was saying that more often than not, those who achieve their dreams, do not achieve complete happiness. Because happiness is a state of mind. I agree. However, I also think that pursuing something you believe in, no matter how hard it is, is a way of honouring yourself above everything else.
Working hard for a dream brings about a certain kind of joy that comes from creating, learning and growing. When you follow your dreams, you experience a deep sense of personal fulfilment that transcends material success. Happiness might be a state of mind….absolutely. But pushing yourself past all your fears and doubts will undoubtedly make you feel proud. And with that pride, comes happiness.
7. Leaving A Legacy
By pursuing your passions, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy that positively impacts future generations.
Personally, whilst leaving a legacy in society, as many before us have done, is all well and good, I aspire to leave behind a personal legacy. I hope that one day, my children and their children can look back at the journey of my life and feel pride in what I achieved and the obstacles I overcame. I aspire to inspire them to carry forward my legacy, knowing that, along the way, my greatest goal was to use my words and experiences to inspire and assist others.
8. Life Is Short
The saying goes “You only live once”. I get the meaning behind it, but that’s not true. We get to live every day, however, we only ‘Die Once’. Life is precious and the older I get, the more I realise how short our time on earth is. If we concentrated on feeling grateful for what we have and for the opportunities that life offers us, we would all live in a much happier world.
By following those dreams you keep guarded deep within your heart, you honour this gift of life. Make the most of the time you have.
Final Thoughts
Your dreams should never be overstated. They are not mere fantasies, but blueprints of a life well-lived. There is purpose and meaning in listening to your heart and daring to take the leap. Do not let fear and doubt hold you back. Embrace those dreams, nurture them, believe in yourself and chase them with unwavering determination.
The journey to make your dreams a reality is just a decision away.
Happy World Dream Day, fellow dreamers. Keep dreaming, keep believing, and keep soaring!
Much love,
Milly
What’s your dream? Share it in the comments below and let’s inspire each other to dream big!!
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