Writing Down my Dreams

A while back I posted about some of the goals I hope to meet by the time I'm 30, which was more a list of things I hope to be rather than a bucket list. But while I still think who I become is more important than what I end up doing, it's also important to have tangible dreams in mind. And it's just as important to write them down. It's actually pretty much scientifically proven that people who write their dreams down are more likely to reach them.

But I think it goes beyond writing your dreams down and looking at them every now and then. I think the people who speak of their dreams daily, the people that nonchalantly tell you they're going to own their own business someday, the ones who start buying furniture before they've even bought the dream house- those are the kind of people who are most likely to reach their dreams. And I bet it's because they really believe in them. I mean, you can't tell everyone you meet you're going to reach something someday without starting to believe it yourself.

So I've decided that I want to be one of those people. I want to speak my dreams out to the world, until I forget how to doubt them. Sometimes it will be in small ways, like adding "writer" to my Instagram bio, or reading books about starting nonprofits. And sometimes there will be bolder gestures, like this post I'm making right now. These are some of the crazy, I-can-really-only-do-them-with-God's-help dreams for my life. But hey, they wouldn't be worth it if they didn't seem hard.

Publish a Book

Writing has always been a tricky dream for me, because for some reason I view wanting to be a writer as the equivalent of wanting to make it big in Hollywood. In other words: extremely difficult and highly improbable. There are just so many writers out there and not enough agents, publishers, or bookstores to accommodate them all. But lately I've been realizing that that is such a silly reason not to go after it anyway. So it's difficult... so what? Imagine if every author that is published now had thought that and given up before they started. We'd have empty bookstores.

I've always loved writing and I've always been told I am a writer. It's so clear to me that this is a gift God gave me. It's by no means perfect, but it's mine, and I don't want to waste it. I don't know if I'll publish a novel someday (though that is what I'm working towards right now) or if it it'll be nonfiction. But either way, I know that this is something I'm passionate about, and something that has always seemed so amazing and wonderful and worthwhile.

Live in a Third-World Country

Missions has been a big part of my life for awhile, and it's always been one of my greatest passions. Some people view moving across the world to live in a third world country without the American accommodations we're used to as a great sacrifice, but to me it just sounds amazing. Going to Kenya on two mission trips confirmed this. The peace found in places like Kenya- countries that flourish with natural beauty, have few technology distractions, and are full of people who value joy and community- is harder to find in the environment I'm used to. I think it's because of my personality type that living somewhere like that- working alongside a local church or school- seems like such a wonderful thing. Of course, that's not to say it'd be without its challenges. I'm sure it'd be a lot harder than I imagine, and I'm sure I'd also get homesick. But it's always been something I feel like I'm meant to do, whether it's for a few years or more.

Live in Another City

I know, I know, I'd be technically living in another city if I moved to another country. But this one applies more to the US (assuming I wouldn't choose to stay in a third-world country for most of my life). I would really love to live somewhere up north because humidity and I were not made for each other (the city I live in right now is always humid), and I love the architecture and nature of some states up North. I fell a little in love with DC when I visited in 2012, but it might actually be too small for me since I do come from a very large city. I think I'd love to live in Seattle because of the mountains, dreamy weather, and the fact that one of my favorite pastors (Judah Smith) has a church there. But Colorado might be nice too, since it is pretty much the most gorgeous state ever.

Own a Nonprofit/Socially Responsible Business

This is still a bit vague for me because to be honest, I don't know enough about the world or nonprofits to know exactly how to do this. I don't want to set my heart on creating an organization just because I want to feel like I'm making a difference. I want it to be a genuine and responsible response to a problem I come across. So it'll probably develop naturally. But I have dreamed about starting up a bookshop/cafe here in the US that would sell a bunch of fair trade items and support missions around the world. Even if it doesn't happen that way though, I know God will somehow use my business education for a good purpose, and I'm excited to see how that unfolds.

To me, writing these dreams down isn't about having a checklist to keep up with in the next 20 years. It's about casting a vision. It doesn't really matter if every single thing doesn't go according to plan. I'd be perfectly happy (eventually anyway ;) if God chose a different route for me on some of these. What really matters is that writing these dreams down helps me to believe that I can accomplish even the craziest, wildest, most highly improbable dreams.

So what about you? What are some of your crazy dreams?

#2015 #life