I’m in love with a lot of ideas.

I love the idea of traveling all over the world. I can close my eyes and see myself on the beaches of Australia and Greece, the green hillsides of Ireland, lost in the city of Chicago, giddy with excitement watching a giraffe in its natural habitat (fun fact: they’re my favorite animal.) I’m proud of the travels I’ve embarked upon thus far, but traveling is something I plan to do for the rest of my life.

I love the idea of growing as a professional. This idea is going to be constantly in motion. I am at an incredible place with my career right now; It’s hard for me to believe that I am just shy of being two years out of college. The mentors I have been fortunate enough to have in my life have allowed me to challenge myself in terms of what I’ve learned, as well as what I want out of my career. A professor once told me, “your career will be a zig-zag path, not a straight line.” He was right. The day I stop learning and growing is the day that I make my next zig-zag. Right now, however, I couldn’t be happier with the path I’m on.

I love the idea of being in love (again). If you’ve never been over-the-moon in love with someone, I encourage you to be vulnerable and think of how you can allow love to more easily incorporate itself into your life. If you’ve been in love before and it slapped you in the face and left you heartbroken, I encourage you to work on acceptance so that it does not hold you back from future possibilities. Being in love in a healthy, mutual way is, to me, the greatest joy I have ever known. I am a sap, though, so take that into account. However, the day that timing and chemistry line up in perfect unison and present me with the love that will last until the day I leave this Earth, I will shout it from the rooftops and never look back.

I love the idea of being a mom and raising a family (when I’m ready, people!) I am blessed to have two incredible role models as parents, as well as a niece who reminds me every day that there is nothing more pure than the innocence and candidness of a child. There are some things that you just know you want to happen in your life without a shred of a doubt. Having a family and being a great mom is one of them for me.

 

These are all dreams of mine that I’m eager to have come to fruition. Yet I think back and realize that many of my accomplishments were once just simple ideas that I was in love with. There were days when I dreamt of going away to college, giving the commencement speech at my graduation, landing my first job and coaching a cheerleading team. Those dreams are now realities I have proudly checked off of my personal to-do list.

If the dreams in your head present themselves time and time again, that is a sign you just cannot afford to ignore. Chase them. Fight for them. Pour your heart and soul into them until those dreams you’re so in love with turn into the life you’re proud to call your own.