Painting by Belynda Wilson Thomas

We overestimate what we can do in one year, and underestimate what we can do in ten years. Bill Gates

We go between thinking we have all the time in the world to thinking we couldn’t possibly do that, it will take up too much time, and be too expensive. Somewhere between those two extremes is the truth.

We are amazed when we see what some people accomplish in a lifetime, and we might even amaze ourselves. We’ve been told if we can dream it, we can do it. That seems almost like Aladdin’s lamp but we must both dream and do to make things happen.

If we dream big dreams we must make big things happen and one of the things I’ve found is we will have to get out of our comfort zone to do it, and one of my comfort zones is my bed. It is easy to roll back over when the alarm rings, it is easy to say it is too expensive, but there are many kinds of expensive, and maybe with a little more ingenuity and a few sacrifices we can find a way to do the things we want to do.

Some people are seeing the world, or their country on a shoestring budget. Businesses are started from kitchen tables and garages. Great novels have been written in the spare time from busy lives. Little league coaches have a big impact on the lives of the children they coach.

There is power in making a decision, what we want is an innocent question, but if we dare to answer it we might change our lives forever. Before we can answer it we might have to do some soul searching. What do we want and what if we could have it? If we dare to ask for it, if we figure out in detail what it would look like, and what it would take to make it happen?

Dare to dream, then decide to do. Annette White

In my life, it’s taken me longer to go after some of what I’ve wanted than I think it should have, because it wasn’t clear in my mind what it was, what it would look like, and how it would fit into my life. We can’t have everything, and we will have to sacrifice something for what we want. We might not be able to live in a big house and travel the world. What if we can have one of those for part of our life and the other for a different part?

Retirement is a time when we get to make some big decisions again. What would we like to do in the years ahead while we have a choice about what we can do before our options are gone?

Two of my sisters are busier than they’ve ever been with all things quilting, and I wonder what their lives would look like if they hadn’t found this passion. Quilting added a dimension to Mom’s life, the colors, patterns, what she could do with the fabric, and who she could make it for gave her a way to use her creativity to create something that gives lasting joy.

Finding a way to bring creativity into our lives is a way to feed our souls. Suppose our creativity brings joy to others, what a win. Some people are canning jams, salsas, tomato sauce, making fruit leather and pickles. How wonderful to have a jar of love to open and serve to friends and family.

Making a home is an art, building a life we love is an art, and creating great relationships is an art. These things don’t just happen, someone makes them happen. The more we put into life the more we get out of it. We may have to pick and choose where we will put our time and energy because we can’t be in two places at once, but if we listen to the still, small voice inside, can we figure out what we truly want to do with our time and energy?

Is there an adventure calling to us? A dream that might take some rearranging to make happen that would enhance our life greatly? What if we went for it?

Dream what you dare to dream. Go where you want to go. Be what you want to be. Earl Nightingale

Daring to dream means daring to live. Robert H. Schuller

A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true. Greg S. Reid

Thank you for reading this post. Please come back and read some more. Have a blessed day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.