Dare to Dream

"A dream is a wish the heart makes" -Disney

I was asked by a coworker the other day what my dreams in life were. It was just a conversation starter, you know a typical get-to-know-you type question, but for some reason it had me a tad bit stumped. It put me on the spot and I had a hard time thinking of anything really worthwhile. I didn't want to seem dull or like someone who is afraid to dream and take risks. The first thing that popped in my head was the obvious...having a family and owning a house. Like many girls growing up (a bit stereotypical, I know), I had always dreamed of getting married and having kids and the house with the white picket fence and living happily ever after. Ok, maybe not that fantasy-like, but something along those lines. I know I would not be happy being a house wife for the rest of my life, but working part time while my futuristic children grow up may not be the worst thing in the world and I know it will bring me much joy.

But beyond this basic desire for my life some of the other things I dream for myself just seem like a cloud up in my head somewhere. I know I want to travel the world and see all I can see, I would like to do a community service trip in a third world country (most likely in South America somewhere), and I want to continue to keep health and fitness a priority in my life. Other than these...I just don't know. I know it is important to have goals and to work toward your lifelong dreams but I also don't like the idea of creating specific lists for myself that may or may not be achieved in my lifetime. 

So now I find myself wondering, is my lack of dreaming and goal-making an inhibition to my future success or is it my open highway to create the future as it appears before me? 

All I know for sure is this: I am happy in life at the moment and am enjoying taking it one day at a time. 

Hop, Skip and a Jump Across the Big Pond!

Being new to blogging, I have taken a lot of time finding more experienced bloggers to follow. I have been completely blown away by the insight and inspiration that is found in this world of blogging. I had absolutely no idea how much reading the stories of other people could influence the way I live my life. One of my favorite inspirational bloggers is Jessica Lawlor! She has created her blog around her personal drive to #GetGutsy and though I missed her essay contest with this very theme, I felt encouraged to share my own gutsy story. So without further ado: 

It was May 7th, 2013. I had been counting down to this very day since at least December (but probably before). I had just finished up my last semester of college, packed up my apartment, moved my junk to my parents, only to repack half of it back up in preparation for my new adventure. Stressed? Absolutely. Anxious? Like you wouldn't believe. May 7th was the day I left my family behind, my friends, my comfort zone. It is the day I moved to New Zealand. Looking back at this now, if I am being honest with myself, it didn't feel as monumental as it actually was. Since I had already booked my return visit home for my brother's wedding, I kept telling everyone, "See you in 10 weeks." I knew I would be returning to New Zealand after that visit home for the wedding, however my mind could not see that far into the future. I did not yet understand the impact that moving across the world would have on me. In those first 10 weeks away I completed my internship abroad in New Zealand submitting online assignments to finish my bachelor's degree. I was busy and didn't really think about missing home. Upon my return after the wedding, I immediately jumped into work. It filled my time and provided some necessary spending money, but I am now happier than ever to say I am in a full time permanent position at the place I did my internship, which I am loving and I just know that it is going to teach me so much more about the culture of the people I am working with! I often overlook the courage it took for me, and the nights before leaving in which I spent agonizing my decision to make the move, but making that leap of faith and joining the love of my life here in New Zealand to start my career has never felt more right. For the record, yes, I absolutely miss my family and friends back home every single day, but I am proud to say that despite my moments of missing home (and certain foods!), I am proud of myself for pushing my comfort zone and expanding my horizons to explore what this world has to offer and am happy to call this beautiful country my new home. I would encourage anyone considering moving to a new country to absolutely do it! It has been such an eye opening experience. Although I was lucky enough to have a support system in place on the other side of the plane ride, I think traveling and especially living overseas from your home country forces you to be independent and brings out personal strengths that you probably never knew you possessed. Go see the world! #GetGutsy

A Day at the Beach

This past weekend I spent a great weekend at the beach in Ohope with the boy. We filled all of Saturday with reading, relaxing and of course building sand castles! I'm not just talking your average sand castles. We created the castle, a moat for the castle, a wall to protect the moat, and a channel to funnel the water. It was quite the adventure.

As we were hard at work in the sweltering sun, the family next to us was probably also enjoying a relaxing weekend. Their daughter sure was. She was probably about 7 or 8 years old and running stark naked into the water and around the beach, not a care in the world. My first thought was of course, "Why would her parents allow her to run around naked in such a public place, isn't she a little old for that!?" But the longer we spent at the beach and the more I observed the little family beside us and their laughter and joy to just be spending time with one another, I realized that if they were completely comfortable with their daughter running around naked, then who was I to judge? She surely didn't care. Her energy and enthusiasm to be jumping into the ocean waves and rolling around in the sand was unmatched by any other individual I saw on the beach that day, and I do enjoy a little people watching while lounging on my towel.

Moral of the story: If running around butt naked at the ocean is what brings you pure joy than do not let anyone stand in your way! Maybe we could all learn a lesson about the simplicity and carefree attitude that children seem to posses. A spirit which probably once used to inhabit your own very soul before the opinions and pressures of society and adulthood weighed you down. Food for thought.

Welcome to Twenty 14, Blah Blah

Here we are again at the New Year. This time for 'new year, new me' and shaky resolutions that don't hold up over the duration of January. Personally, I've never really been into resolutions, goal setting at the new year, or any of the other melodramas which can be witnessed on social media in this day in age. But of course I am going to add my two cents. So here goes:

Goal setting is important. I have come to the realization that goals are necessary in life. No matter how confused you are of the direction your life may be heading, even a simple goal can bring clarity and peace of mind to those searching. I am still new at this goal setting thing but some tips I have carried with me from the wiser include: Make them realistic. There is no point in setting a goal you will never obtain. Make them specific. How will you know if you have reached your destination if the endpoint is covered with fog? Set a time specification. Giving a set time to accomplish a goal will continually motivate you to keep chip chipping away. Refer back. By recording the progress of your goals you will be able to make necessary adjustments to challenge yourself and push those limits!

New year reminders.  The new year is a time for reflecting back upon what you have accomplished or maybe failed at over the former year. It is personally my favorite time of the year (I have always thought it would be neat to be proposed to at midnight, but that's a story for another day). By taking the time to reflect, it is essentially a debrief in its own sense. It takes an honest person to evaluate them self and recognize the flaws of their year and in turn develop goals to strengthen those weaknesses. But I feel it is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, which brings me to my next point.

Be independent & be yourself! I don't mean to preach, but this is where I feel most of us stare face to face with our inevitable downfall, and yes I definitely include myself here. Coming from the girl who has been in a relationship for the better part of the last 7 years, it is time to be independent, self sufficient, and dammit be that girl he fell in love with! It is easy to be fun and funny and outgoing when you meet someone for the first time and fall oh so head over heels (gag me!) It is not quite as easy to be that person when you're comfortable with someone and have began to build a life together. Everyone relies on others in some way or another and the new year reminds us that we don't want to be known as someone who runs to their boyfriend/girlfriend/mummy/daddy/best friend whenever we are faced with a hardship. Cry your river, build your own bridge and move on stronger and more self confident than before!

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -A.A Milne

Feel free to have a gander, drop a line, offer some feedback, I'd love to hear from you!