blog entry

Resolving To Dream

by Ginger

I get hit with a double-whammy this time of year. One, it’s the start of a New Year, and two, my birthday is just days away. Each year around this time I start talking to myself: “Am I doing what I want/need/should be doing for my family/myself/the world?” For someone who’s almost 50, this may seem somewhat late in coming, but I’ve actually revisited this question in one respect or another every year since I was in my 20s.

 

 

I don’t usually consider radical changes – like moving to Montana (well, sometimes I consider this) but mostly what I do is look at the past year’s accomplishments and shortcomings in a variety of categories. I take out old dreams and listen for the strength of their pull. I look at how I spent my time and take note of how I feel – depleted or empowered?

 

 

Do I still want to find a way to work more with kids? (A path I’ve been popping in and out of for years.) Are the volunteer organizations I work with fulfilling my desire to help the world? Do I love enough – far, wide, deep? Am I the parent I want to be? I weigh the balance of humor, boundaries and patience – the mixture of which if I get just right I believe will make for a warm and safe childhood and journey into teenager-hood and beyond for my son.

 

 

The measurements are arbitrary, the judgments mine alone. The success-failure rate completely subjective. Oh, there are some “real” ways to value the year – awards, deepening friendships, loving relationships, time with my family, work successes, my son himself, my health. But usually reflection makes me alternately smile, tear up, apologize, offer gratitude and promise to “do better.”

 

 

I don’t write down any particular resolution – I just create the space for dreams to come true: mine, those of the people I love, and yours, too. Because there’s no limit on dreams coming true, is there? Just because mine are fulfilled doesn’t mean yours can’t be, too, right? (Unless, of course, yours is that Brad Pitt dumps Angelina and wants to be with you; only one of us can really have that dream come true, I guess.)

 

 

So here’s to everyone in the world who has a dream … to friends and strangers alike … may this be the year you create a life where your dreams become your reality.