It is such a delight to meet people who give themselves permission to have a new dream or a new approach to an old dream. In the past, often I heard people telling me that they had a dream at one point, and they were too old to change it now. We are NEVER too old especially since some of these folks were in their 30’s.
If we see life as an ever-evolving journey of growth, expansion, and becoming who we were meant to be, then it makes sense that as we grow, with greater wisdom, self-understanding, and experiences, we change how we see the world as well as change how we see ourselves in it!
In our 20’s our dreams may be around career development and advancement. For some, those years are about getting married, buying a home, and having children. While for others it is about coming out of the closet and finally living their truth. For each it can vary.
As we age, whether because we completed those dreams or because our experiences and tastes have changed, we have other dreams for living our lives. That is natural. Each stage of life allows for deeper and deeper levels of self-awareness, self-development, and personal growth.
Life becomes more about experiencing life than accumulating things you will throw out, donate, or give away. It becomes about friendship, loving others, having a purpose-driven lifestyle, and becoming more of who we want to be. We can observe our children having children rather than having to do all that work ourselves. It’s travel for one or two adults versus adults, kids, and paraphernalia you never knew you would “need.”
Our relationships change as do our ambitions. I “would like to” replaces “I have to.” Choices can be so much simpler. All of it is a choice. All of it requires, however, the willingness to form new dreams, to claim another chance to live our lives fully, in a new way.
Settling, giving up, or passively existing is a detachment from the passion, vibrancy, and aliveness we are all called to. Those truly never need to be forgotten or surrendered. Haven’t you marveled at the 80-year-old who climbs the highest mountain peak in the country, or thoroughly enjoyed watching those few life-long friends who are apparently on a wild and outrageous vacation living life without a care?
Regardless of your age, your stage of life, or your health, new dreams call you to take a risk, to come alive, and to jump into a new adventure that is filled with promise. For some it is leaving one profession and finding another, becoming a bodybuilder, starting a small business, beginning to garden, or traveling the world.
Whatever your new dream is, I pray you give yourself permission to have it and then to go for it. To jump in, make it happen and enjoy the planning as much as the adventure itself.
We all deserve it!!!! Have a great week.
