fbpx

Wishes & Dreams

March 14th, 2018

 

Today, I was in Des Moines and wandered for a bit in Jordan Creek Mall.  While I was there, I came upon a little box.  I knew that I needed to purchase this for my daughter.  The top simply said, “Wishes Box.”  When the lid was opened, it revealed a message, “Encourage yourself for your journey to be the best version of you.  Write down your goals, dreams & wishes.  Read them back, remind yourself of what you want & who you want to  be.”

 

When I presented this to my daughter after I returned this afternoon, she said, “This is what you have always told us, Mom!  Write down your dreams!”

 

This is a lesson I learned long ago, before books such as “The Secret” were published.

 

When I was young, my mom taught me the value in writing down my hopes and aspirations.  She told me that if I wrote down the things that I desired,  God would answer my requests.  So, I would take a sheet of paper and write down various goals and put the list in my Bible.  I would often forget I had put this list in my Bible or its cover.  When I would stumble upon it later, my wishes would have all come true.

 

Now my wishes were not things such as “win a million dollars” or “discover a cure for cancer.”  They were personal goals or types of people I wanted to come into my life.  Although truthfully, there really are no restrictions one has to put on a “Wish List.”

 

This not so small lesson that my mom taught me is one that I have passed on to my children.  Truthfully, I don’t know why these things come to fruition.  I do believe that when you put your feelings and requests into writing, there within lies a power.  It may be that now that the universe knows your request, it chooses to answer you.  Maybe it’s because now that you are aware of your goals, you personally work harder with focus.  It could be purely God’s almighty power granting your wishes.  It could be a combination of all of thee above.  I just know that this absolutely works and is true.

 

Years ago, when I ran my Longaberger business, I deliberately wrote down my goals at the beginning of each year.  Without fail, I would achieve them.  When I started my photography business, I wrote down every aspect that I wanted to incorporate into my studio.  Once again, every year I achieved these goals.

 

I have now witnessed my children incorporate this principal into their own lives.  They would volunteer that they had written down their goals or I would ask them if they had a chance, yet, to make their “List.”

 

Now, as powerful as I know this is, I haven’t written down my personal goals in a couple of years.  After my former experiences, it’s silly, right?  Truth?  I’m not really sure what my goals are right now and I haven’t wanted to take the time to really, REALLY, think about what I want.  That takes personal insight.  I’m getting closer to knowing what I want to do…  I will take the time to really assess what I want when my kids go to college this fall.

 

I do know what I want for my children, though.  Go figure….  🙂   I want them to achieve their personal goals (their list is private), whatever those goals may be.  I want them to attract beautiful spirits into their lives. I want them to find meaningful love and to always be surrounded by family and friends who have their best interests at heart.  I want them to be healthy and happy.  The list isn’t long, but it contains the meaty, important things.

 

My personal list?….  It’s coming….

 

 

 

 

The Countdown..

March 4th, 2018

It’s coming closer, it’s the way it’s supposed to be, I celebrate the changes, and at the same time I mourn a little.  I’m no different than any other mom and don’t ask for or expect sympathy.  When your life has evolved around your children’s lives for the last 21 years and your youngest is about to embark onto the next phase of her life, it’s scary for her and it is scary as a mom.

 

First the questions arise,  “Did I do everything I should have?  Did I say the right things?  Did I offer good advice?”

 

But then there is another aspect to this new phase.  A personal reflection and honestly some fear.  My identity has evolved around being Mom for 21 years.  And of course I am still Mom, but it’s different when you are not involved on a day-to-day basis.  I will now have more personal time.  What will I do with that time?

 

Well, I know first, I am going to clean my house, as in REALLY clean/purge.  Everything is coming out of every closet, every drawer, every cabinet one room at a time. I will be putting these items into the middle of each room and I will be sorting like none other, armed with garbage bags.  “Do I use this?  Does this bring me joy?”  If not, it’s gone.

 

But after that, what will I do?  There is some fear.

 

I’ve been through this before, with our son.  We dropped him off at college.  I sobbed the whole way home.  But then, I dove back into being there for our daughter and watching her participate in her many activities.

 

Empty nest….  I’ve been asked many times how am I going to handle it?  I don’t know…

 

Will I expand my photography business?  Will I do less?  I know I want to learn some more skills…  I have an interest in digital painting…  Will I volunteer?  Will I do something else?  I’m used to this busy pace that I have lived for the last many years.  Will I like a slower pace?  Will I want to stay as busy?

 

Things I will not miss – hours of bleacher sitting with my bad back, traveling many hours for sports events (although, honestly that isn’t done, yet, either with our son’s college track schedule.)

 

Well, for right now I will take a big breath & try to relax in the midst of my anxiety.  Here’s something I can exercise – meditation (I almost typed medication) and a friend has been teaching me more about essential oils.

 

I am concentrating on our daughter’s upcoming events.  PROM! Her dress is GORGEOUS!  We are making hair, make-up, nail appointments.  She will be BREATHTAKING!!!  I’m so excited for her!  GRADUATION PARTY!  I love decorating and her event will be filled with pictures, large and small!  GRADUATION DAY!  Oh, man, my eyes just welled with tears, okay not welling, running down my face just thinking about it.  I am so very proud of her!  SPORTS!  Track followed by her favorite, softball!  COLLEGE ORIENTATION and MOVING DAY!

 

Changes abound for her and for me.  One never stops being a parent, children need their parents at every age, it just changes….

 

There has to be a few more things to look forward to, I’m just not sure what they all are, yet.  I see grandchildren in the future!  🙂  But no one is ready for that, yet!  One day at a time… it’s going to be okay!


Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /home2/michelle/public_html/wp-content/themes/salerno/archive.php on line 317
      107 E. Overmeyer Drive - Algona - IA - 50511      515-295-6128