rainbowkinect

Have you ever held onto a dream for such a long time that doubt invariably weaves in and out of your consciousness, mocking and taunting the very veracity of that dream?

As the dream slowly but surely evolves into reality, it almost feels anticlimactic, somewhat surreal.

After a lifetime in New York, we said goodbye to a myriad of memories: the birth of our children, first days of school, graduations, pool parties, engagements, the loss of loved ones many too painful to recount, joys, triumphs, heartaches, essentially the entire gamut of life’s experiences… but this house owed us nothing. Our home was always reminiscent of Shel Silverstein’s book the Giving Tree. It nurtured, sheltered, protected, and grew with us over the forty-three years we called it home and quite frankly it gave us more than we could ever ask for.

Closing the front door for that final goodbye, was difficult at best but my husband and I both remained secure in the knowledge that the road we were taking was the right road. No regrets, no indecisions.

Separately, we began the 1,198 mile, 18 1/2 hour drive from Long Island to Florida, me with my audiobooks riding shotgun. I’ve made this journey two times before and am always amazed at how much I’ve come to value and treasure the “alone time” driving solo provides. I’ve also come to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the road as it unfolds before me.

It never ceases to amaze me just how different each state is. From skyscraping towers of humanity to rows and rows of trailer park inhabitants, from bustling suburbia to expansive farmlands, each embracing their own set of unique wants and desires. Whatever our differences, the commonalities we all share is so aptly stated by Abraham Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs. We all have a need to belong, to love and be loved, to be accepted, to feel safe, to have positive self-esteem, and finally, we all have the need for self-actualization…. in other words, we strive to reach our full potential or personal goals. For most of us, this is a neverending work in progress.

Goal setting is a practice I’ve engaged in for many years. Simply giving a voice to your dreams, makes them real. By giving your dreams a voice, you’ve legitimized them and suddenly, with a flick of your pen, your dreams become attainable. Florida has been on my list for as many years as I can remember and believe you me if I’m being honest, I thought this was one dream that might never materialize. As I headed south onto the New Jersey Turnpike, for the last time as a New Yorker, I thanked God for this dream that was finally coming true.

Do you write down your goals every year? Do your goals/dreams/hopes eventually come true? I’d love to hear how your dreams became your reality in the comment section below.