and work that may be necessary to fulfill our dreams, it can be overwhelming. However, by breaking things up into manageable bits and taking one step at a time, with determination and perseverance, we will get there in the end. It is also important to have reasonable expectations about timelines and accomplishments when undertaking this endeavor. But by holding onto the dream and using it as a guiding light, and trusting God is by our side, our spirit will be buoyed by our energy and enthusiasm, keeping us moving forward when we hit those inevitable roadblocks.
It is so important to mark every step, celebrate every achievement regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem, and we must take care to not let any negative thoughts pull us off course. Negative messages are just tiresome transcripts that we have been feeding ourselves for far too long. They have no place in our glorious future and we must not give them any attention. It is also important to surround ourselves with people and resources that will support and encourage us along the way. Negativity from anywhere, whether internal or external, will make the journey that much more difficult.
Imagine what living our dream would feel like. Do we not deserve to have that in our lives? Is that not what God wants for us? And yes, it could take years to reach our goal, but the longer we delay in taking that first step, the longer it will be before our dream is a reality. By actively pursuing our dreams, regardless of how much time or effort we can devote to it at this moment, it enlivens the spirit and makes the hours, days, and even years slip by a little easier.
There is only one difference between the woman who is not living her dream and the one who is. The woman living her dream faced all the demons, jumped through all the hoops, and persevered until she got what and where she wanted. In other words, she went for it, and we can do that, too.
Let us honor our dreams and set goals for our glorious future. Let us take charge and make the necessary decisions to have the life we deserve. And like the Shooting Star tells us, let us aim high and expect the best.
Harebell
Foamy white clouds drift lazily through a brilliant blue sky, silently slipping their violet shadows over the early summer landscape. The waves of dark and light make the land swell in rolling emerald waves—a shimmering sea of jewels.
Swaying playfully in this ocean of green are dozens of blue-violet Harebells. The whispery soft and delicate bell-shaped blossoms, with their five-pointed edges, look to be made of translucent blue tissue paper. I am certain they would disintegrate if even a drop of rain splashed on their sides. Slender pale-green stems rise from crowns of lance-shaped leaves, holding the blossoms up in the fragrant summer breeze.
The Harebell looks like an elfin hat that a woodland fairy might wear. It captures my gaze and takes me back through the years to when I was a child. I remember trying in vain to catch a glimpse of those elusive sprites that I was certain lived and played among the foliage and trees in the nearby woods. Alas, I never saw one, but I knew in my childhood heart they existed. I just had to be on guard and employ my best sleuthing techniques to seek them out.
I do not remember when I stopped searching, or when my child-like imagination was silenced and I no longer believed in the unbelievable. There is a part of me that misses that state of sweet innocence and wonder, and I realize how important it is to hang onto some part of that eternal child. The part of our spirit that is optimistic, sweet, affectionate, and young at heart. The part that is touched by magic and fantasy.
As children, our dreams and imaginations spilled out from our little hearts and souls, barely contained within our excited earthly bodies. We sprang out of bed each morning, eager to get out and explore the world. There were simply not enough hours in the day to get in all the important discoveries we were trying to make. I know I would have found those fairies with the Harebell hats had it not been for my 8:00 p.m. bedtime! But as we grew older most of us lost that youthful enthusiasm. We became all too aware and concerned about our image, and what other people thought of us. We put aside what we perceived as childish nonsense, and strove, en masse, towards our duties and responsibilities.
Our lives are not always as fun as they used to be. We laugh less, we explore less, and because we allowed the dark, heavy burdens of our adult world to weigh us down, we grew old. And we did that without even realizing we were losing a very special quality.
Let us reawaken that child-like enthusiasm, and rekindle our imaginations that have long been silenced by our terribly important, grown-up lives. Be kind. Be curious. Get excited about things. Learn something new. Shower unconditional affection on those we love, not because we expect anything in return, but just because we can. Be generous with our smiles and laughter. Show the world our warmth and tenderness. Our world will be a much better place if we all allowed our inner child its rightful expression. Begin again to wonder about the mysteries in life. We have not discovered all its secrets.
I am certain the Harebell knows the whereabouts of those fairies. Let us all go out there and see if we can find them.
Forget-Me-Not
Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine the purest shade of blue you can. A hue that is crisp, soft, and wonderfully simple. I am certain the color of the Forget-Me-Not is exactly the shade of blue you have in mind.
These plants grow abundantly in the foothills. Delicate sprays of miniature blue flowers stand twelve to eighteen inches high on pale-green stems. They have the cutest blossoms one could ever imagine, with tiny pale-yellow discs surrounded by five perfect little blue petals. The soft hue is so pure and fresh, it greets the eye like a soothing breeze on a hot summer’s day.
The name of the Forget-Me-Not speaks to the lesson this beautiful blossom has in store. And although poets in the past wrote of it as a token of affection between lovers, we can look at it as a reminder to never forget our past, and to understand and recognize where we came from.
Our personal history is the rich soil in which our roots are embedded, and regardless of what lies buried there, it is the ground from which we came. How we grow today is our choice, but looking back can provide tremendous insights into the path we have chosen for ourselves. Peering into the past lifts a veil, allowing us to discover the intricacies of our unique personality. And not only can we excavate the depths of our own persona, but we can also discover the richness of our family’s history.
Looking into that history can reveal wonderful and exciting discoveries about the time spent with family and loved ones. But for those who had difficult past experiences in their lives, it can be a very painful exercise. Nevertheless, in order to move forward, we must sometimes look at where we’ve been.
What circumstances influenced our decisions? What did we have control over, and what did we not? Which family behaviors and traditions do we want to carry forth into our own lives and pass onto future generations? Which behaviors and traditions do we want to see end? Were we lifted up and supported, or did words and actions from our loved ones tear us down? What made us stronger? What continues to eat away at us and rob us of our power today?
Rooting through our past can help dislodge deeply held negative thoughts and feelings, which we can then confront and deal with. Fortunately, for those who find doing any of this too overwhelming on their own, there are many counseling resources available in communities and online to help guide them through.
If it is not possible to look back at our past with loving smiles and a happy heart, then perhaps we can look back with some understanding. When we delve even further into our family’s
