In a recent conversation with my mother, we guessed what my daughter would be when she grows up – our hopes and dreams for her future.
“What did you think I would be when I grew up?” I asked her.
Pause.
“You were very artistic. You drew and painted very well.”
Pause.
Not the answer I expected. Had she told me this years ago, what a difference it would have made in my life. I always thought I had to go the practical, science and math route – which I did. I was always praised for the paper I wrote, the A on my science test, the extra point I received in Math class.
If I had heard those words earlier, how different would my life be now? What if I had not waited for permission to be who I am, to do the things my heart tells me to do?
The older I get, the more I realize it’s never too late. It’s not too late to follow your dreams, to follow your passion, to do what you enjoy. This is what I am finding out as I am on my own journey. I’m not fighting “it” anymore – life doesn’t have to hard and full of struggle. When you are doing what you love, there is peace and joy, and a calming love that nothing else can bring.
So don’t wait. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to be who you are. Your heart will thank you. I will thank you. The world will thank you and it will be a better place. You’ll see.
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