Tuesday, June 21, 2011

What do you do after all your dreams have come true?

I never wanted to be anything particular when I grew up.  The only two careers I was ever encouraged to consider were "doctor" and "lawyer".  Because money is the absolute highest priority (right?) and those were the only two things he could think of that made "lots of money".  Well, I didn't want to do either of those things.  So I didn't do anything.  I've had a lot of jobs, but no career.  And that doesn't bother me.

You see, I've got a loving husband and healthy children.  We actually own this house.  We finally have our dogs and chickens and a garden that is growing things.  And I am having a "now what?" moment.  Sure there are small goals.  Fit into that skirt.  Paint the girls' rooms.  Get more yogurt.  But there is no...dream.  I've just never thought past this point.  This point seemed so mystical and unattainable that I never managed to stretch my imagination past "buy a house" and "start our own business". 

What do you do after all your dreams have come true?

It's a strange feeling.  After so many years of 'someday' and 'hopefully' and 'can we?', it's done.  It happened.  We did it!  We did it.

Maybe the stress-induced shots of adrenaline are like a drug.  Not healthy, but hard to live without.  Maybe I'm just going through withdrawal.  Maybe I'm entering a phase I've never lived before.

I've never just lived.

Maybe that's my new dream.  I can dream about a life of community and crafts and ordinary adventures.  Of saving our pennies and hoping for the chance to travel.  Of really knowing our neighbors.  Of finishing those hundred started projects.

Maybe I can learn to take things a little easier and to appreciate my surroundings a little more.  To let my kids stay up late and sleep in and eat popcorn for lunch.  We do have multi-vitamins, after all.

Maybe my new dream is to learn how to truly enjoy all of my incredible fulfilled dreams.


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30 comments :

  1. GlennaJune 21, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Yup, I remember that point in my life when I realized I can either live in contentment or I'll end up being a pissed off old hippie. Guess you'd have to ask the folks who know me how that turned out :-)
    I do think the key no matter where we are in life is to see God in it, even trials & aggravations. The more adept we get at that secret, the easier it'll be to fit into heaven!

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  2. UnknownJune 21, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    That is AWESOME. Awesome that you've achieved what you had hoped for.... A new dream will come but for now you should just enjoy it! :)

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  3. JenJune 21, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    First of all, that picture is so darn sweet. Second, I love your small goal of "getting more yogurt"...you crack me up, girl. And third, YOU'RE LIVING THE DREAM!! Now go have some popcorn and multi-vitamins, girl :)
    P.S. you totally deserve to have all your dreams come true!

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  4. XLMICJune 21, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    Oh, come ON... the grass is always greener SOMEWHERE :P

    lol... had to be a party-pooper... sorry! I think it is super cool that you are in this place... and I would encourage you to look at that last line... it's a beaut :) You are one super lucky lady!

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  5. Ali - My Suitcase Full of TricksJune 21, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    You know...I can relate to that. You're blessed.

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  6. Heather RJune 21, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    I sort of had a "career" as a speech and language pathologist (for 5 years) before having kids, but being a stay-at-home mom feels like such a better fit for me. I can't think of another "career" I would want more. I assume at some point I will go back to work and often wonder what I will do...it's fun to think of different ideas....and a little scary too! I still have some unfulfilled dreams, but not major ones. I just mostly want a bigger house in a different state and on a quiet street. I would also love to travel more someday. I've never been to Europe...or really out of the country except for Canada, the Bahamas, and St. Thomas (which is technically a US territoty right?)!

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  7. Amber_DJune 21, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    What do you do? Girl, enjoy life! And enjoy your chickens. Oh, and I guess the kids too. Oh! Oh! And the Coors Light, but only if it's SUPER cold.

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  8. BettyShmettyJune 21, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    That was great!! And that little girl of yours is SO STINKIN' CUTE!!!!!

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  9. Endless StrengthJune 21, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    What a great picture and a great post! I think sometimes the goal-oriented (me! Me! raising my hand!) can forget to see God in THE NOW. To LIVE in THE NOW.

    What an awesome feeling to have accomplished that which you set out to achieve. Enjoy YOUR NOW. ;)

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  10. Intangible HeartsJune 21, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    Congratulations on having fulfilled all your dreams and I love your new dream too of enjoying your fulfilled
    dreams!

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  11. Lucy The ValiantJune 22, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    You! Get out of my head!

    I'm there too, right now. I keep thinking that if my teenaged self could see me now, she'd be kind of smug like, 'yeah, so I get everything I ever wanted! Too bad I didn't decide my goal was to eradicate world hunger, right?'

    (I totally would have used the word 'eradicate' when I was a teenager, too. NERD!)

    And I agree, the new goal is to learn to enjoy it all. Excellent goal.

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  12. Rach (DonutsMama)June 22, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    I love this post. Love it. You have everything you ever wanted and you're learning to enjoy it w/o wanting more for yourself. A lesson for all of us. To just live and not always to strive.

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  13. The Mommy TherapyJune 22, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    Sort of sounds like a great place to be.

    Maybe you can take the time to write the next big hit in hip hop or pop music?

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  14. Dwija {House Unseen}June 22, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Living in the NOW has always been a challenge for me. I am such a future-thinker that I rarely ever just....enjoy. It is truly a challenge for me to "relax". So much so that it feels wrong. I feel wrong and lazy if I just relish things. Truly!

    So that is my new challenge- to learn to NOT do. Just be.

    Thanks everyone for reading and for your kind words :)

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  15. TexaGermaFinlaNadianJune 22, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Awww, this post made me smile :) I think it is called Heaven. You are one lucky lady. And I am happy that it is that way for you. From what little I have gotten to know you through bloggyland, you deserve nothing but the best!

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  16. gbacaJune 22, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. StephJune 22, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    sorry the gbaca post was from me (accidentally under my husbands account) so like I was saying... I hope to be where you are some day (where I am content living with all my dreams turned reality, not so much rural Michigan surrounded by chickens ;) I am so happy for you, enjoy it and God bless you for recognizing it and appreciating it, unlike so many others!!!!

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  18. Kara @ June & BearJune 22, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    I've achieved a lot of those big goals too and am learning to slow down and enjoy the "now". I don't know if I'll ever stop having the little goals though.

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  19. the5parkersJune 22, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Love the picture!! This was interesting to read. I'm glad you've achieved so many of your goals. Good luck with the popcorn lunches! : )

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  20. AnonymousJune 22, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    Oh, my friend...I can't even begin to tell you how much I relate. I try so hard to just 'be' but I never seem able to stop thinking about what comes next? If you find the cure can you call me?

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  21. NinaJune 22, 2011 at 4:02 PM

    I hear ya... Take a breather, woman! Now is time to sit back and relax a little. It's like you just ran a marathon, finished first, and are ready to run again without a water break. ;)

    Since my goals are just about covered (till I think of more), we are going to work on Tom's next. He wants to go back to school, live 'off the grid', keep bees, buy land... not necessarily in that order.

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  22. BernieJune 22, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    I think its nice that you are where you want to be in life. Good for you!! I'm sure as time goes on you will find new goals and new things you want to do and be. Just relax and enjoy for now.
    The picture is so cure. I want to pinch her cheeks.

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  23. Katie @ Chicken Noodle GravyJune 22, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    I have "what's next" syndrome I think. Whenever I accomplish a goal, I'm always coming up with a new goal almost immediately. Does this mean I'm incapable of being truly, completely content? Is that a bad thing?

    Anyway, I'm so proud that your dreams have come true! You'll have new ones soon enough, and enjoying the now is definitely the thing to do. You've got a beautiful family; you're living the dream, man! Who wouldn't be over the moon with happiness and contentment!!?!?

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  24. UnknownJune 22, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    Take up underwater basket weaving?

    You may or may not need a pool for this, which could be a fun second project! Hey kids! Grab some shovels!

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  25. tracy@sellabitmumJune 22, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    Such an honest post. I have a very hard time living in the here and now and beautiful. Thank you for putting amazing words around this.

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  26. UnknownJune 23, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    I love hearing that someone as wonderful as you is so happy! You are MOST deserving! Enjoy the now!!! :)

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  27. Samantha SottoJune 23, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    I loved how you ended this post. Appreciating and enjoying what we have is the best thing that we can do for ourselves - and yet it is also one of the easiest things to forget.

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  28. Daenel T.June 23, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    That's sorta where I am, not because I've achieved my dream but because I can't remember my dream...

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  29. Becky @ Rub Some Dirt On ItJune 24, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    I love this a lot :) I just recently let my teaching credential go because I am not going to be teaching any time soon and if I could, I'd be a professional student and would relish any reason to go back to school. But it did give me pause because I've only ever wanted to be an English teacher. Now what? It's crazy to be so anchor-less. But then I bought business cards for the blog and wrote "Writer & Photographer" on them, and it felt pretty damn good :) You should make business cards that say, "Dream appreciater"!

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  30. alishaSeptember 2, 2018 at 3:37 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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