Dreams
When I was sixteen, I attended a church youth conference and one of the speakers encouraged us to make a dream list. He said it didn't matter if it seemed plausible or not but to write down what we dreamed would happen in our lives. I went home and wrote in my journal the following dream list:
1. To dance in a Broadway or West End musical
2. To play a piano solo on a stage by myself on a grand piano in front of tons of people [I should have added and be good enough to do so!]
3. To manage or own a hotel or bed and breakfast
4. To work at a newspaper as a reporter
5. To have my work published in a magazine
6. To appear on television
7. To live in England for a period of time
8. To dance all by myself on pointe in front of lots of people
Here we are almost 20 years later and half of my dreams have been realized. Of course I've also come up with new ones so I suppose I should update my list. But I do feel good about what I've accomplished. I checked off number 4 when I was at BYU and wrote for the Daily Universe. It was part of my coursework but it gave me the feel of a newsroom and the work and fun of being a beat reporter. I also later freelanced for a small newspaper in California when we lived there. Number 5 was accomplished when I did my internship and then worked for a local Utah magazine for a few months right when I graduated from college. I can admit that I love seeing my name in newsprint but next to a full color magazine article it was even prettier. A byline is just a beautiful thing. I was able to do study abroad in England for a semester while in college so that took care of number 7 and actually 8 was the first one I checked off when I did a pointe solo in my senior dance recital.
None of these dreams would have come true had I not worked for them or sought after their accomplishment or if I had never written them down. For dance I had to arrange to take a private class and went every Friday night my senior year to be ready for that recital. Even then I was still a timid dancer and my fear of falling while on pointe limited my ability to grow, but I did the best I could at the time and am glad I did it because I love to dance ballet. I danced to Home, a song from Beauty and the Beast the musical and I wore a sweet blue tutu. For my writing goals that took education, dedication and sometimes humiliation. To live in England I had to arrange my college courses and make a graduation plan that accounted for the semester, attend preparatory meetings, have generous parents and work really hard to get good grades to make sure it was a truly worthwhile experience.
Sometimes dream change as we change and what is important to us ebbs and flows. I no longer feel the need to play the piano in front of lots of people nor do I want to appear on television (although if Jimmy Fallon ever wants to talk to me, I would have to go). Now I dream more of an organized home, children who do good things and traveling to white, sandy beaches with my husband. I still love the idea of owning a Christmas tree farm and small bed and breakfast in Vermont and maybe someday I will. I'm grateful for the experience of dream fulfillment and those I still get to dream about and work towards. Watch out for me on Broadway!
1. To dance in a Broadway or West End musical
2. To play a piano solo on a stage by myself on a grand piano in front of tons of people [I should have added and be good enough to do so!]
3. To manage or own a hotel or bed and breakfast
4. To work at a newspaper as a reporter
5. To have my work published in a magazine
6. To appear on television
7. To live in England for a period of time
8. To dance all by myself on pointe in front of lots of people
Here we are almost 20 years later and half of my dreams have been realized. Of course I've also come up with new ones so I suppose I should update my list. But I do feel good about what I've accomplished. I checked off number 4 when I was at BYU and wrote for the Daily Universe. It was part of my coursework but it gave me the feel of a newsroom and the work and fun of being a beat reporter. I also later freelanced for a small newspaper in California when we lived there. Number 5 was accomplished when I did my internship and then worked for a local Utah magazine for a few months right when I graduated from college. I can admit that I love seeing my name in newsprint but next to a full color magazine article it was even prettier. A byline is just a beautiful thing. I was able to do study abroad in England for a semester while in college so that took care of number 7 and actually 8 was the first one I checked off when I did a pointe solo in my senior dance recital.
None of these dreams would have come true had I not worked for them or sought after their accomplishment or if I had never written them down. For dance I had to arrange to take a private class and went every Friday night my senior year to be ready for that recital. Even then I was still a timid dancer and my fear of falling while on pointe limited my ability to grow, but I did the best I could at the time and am glad I did it because I love to dance ballet. I danced to Home, a song from Beauty and the Beast the musical and I wore a sweet blue tutu. For my writing goals that took education, dedication and sometimes humiliation. To live in England I had to arrange my college courses and make a graduation plan that accounted for the semester, attend preparatory meetings, have generous parents and work really hard to get good grades to make sure it was a truly worthwhile experience.
Sometimes dream change as we change and what is important to us ebbs and flows. I no longer feel the need to play the piano in front of lots of people nor do I want to appear on television (although if Jimmy Fallon ever wants to talk to me, I would have to go). Now I dream more of an organized home, children who do good things and traveling to white, sandy beaches with my husband. I still love the idea of owning a Christmas tree farm and small bed and breakfast in Vermont and maybe someday I will. I'm grateful for the experience of dream fulfillment and those I still get to dream about and work towards. Watch out for me on Broadway!
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