Make Your Dreams Come True

If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?  I  didn't really ask my children that question when they were young, because I didn't want them to look too far ahead too soon.  But, a cranky old library storytime lady once posited that question to all the two and three-year-olds at the library one day and do you know what the responses were?  They ranged from fireman to veterinarian to my sweet baby's response--Fairy!  

Well, cranky storytime lady had to set her straight right away and in front of everyone in a not-so-library-friendly voice.  "How Absurd!  You can't Be a Fairy when you grow up!"  My daughter's big brown eyes filled with tears both from embarrassment and disappointment.  I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave them a squeeze.  I don't appreciate it when strangers take it upon themselves to crush my children's dreams, do you?   I appreciate it even less when people who claim to be friends crush my dreams or my children's, but it does happen.  What can we do in that moment?

I remember wanting to be a great many things when I was younger, and none of them were boring.  I wanted all my dreams to come true, and in order to achieve that I had to make some realistic compromises.  Now, I know I'll never be a mermaid, but I have been to the ocean, and have lived in a beach house just a two minute walk from the Atlantic, and for months spent every waking moment there--and that's pretty darn close to being a mermaid!  

I'll never be a ballerina, but I did take a grown-up ballet class for a year and felt just as graceful as if I'd been on stage.  I'll never be a writer, professional model or clothing designer, but I do enjoy writing my blog posts, making clothes and taking photos.  And when I look back on the body of work I have produced, I'm rather proud of what I've created.  I think I make beautiful clothes and take beautiful photos.  In this simple way so many of my dreams have come true.  They may not be quite so grand as I once dreamed, but they are something better--they are real.

So, that day after storytime I had a serious talk with my little girl.  I told her, that storytime crone was right (except I didn't say "crone" I just thought it, but I did nearly choke on the word "lady"), my darling would never be a magical being with wings, but there was no reason she couldn't dress up like a fairy every year at Halloween or everyday during her playtime. 

And there was no reason we couldn't have a beautiful fairy garden where she could play.  And when she got older, if she wanted, she could learn to go hang-gliding or fly a plane.  Those thoughts made her happy again and gave her some realistic goals.  

Now, so many years later, my daughter is still quite Fey-like to me.  She's spritely, and whimsical, and talented, and fierce.  I admire her for who she is and who she is still yet to become.  I admired her originality that day when she wanted to be something no one else even considered.  I admire her originality now, and I know her ambition and her talents will take her far.  

And how about you?  What is it that you want to be or want to do?  How can you make those dreams a reality?  If you want to travel, take a language class and start a travel savings account.  If you wanted to be a star athlete, join a gym and start a community team.  You may never be in the lime light, and you may never transform into a mythical creature, but your dreams can come true.