Image via WikipediaWhile I am wondering, and challenging that dream, I have to ask if I am a 'gonna' person -- someone who says they want to do this or that, and yet never does. Excuses are allowed to those who do not or cannot carry out a dream due to circumstances. When my father, a well traveled man, grew sick, I asked him if he thought he would ever go to Australia, a place he dreamed of visiting. Flatly, he said no, and I knew his world travels were over, as he accepted that this one would not be realised. It did not happen for him because he ran out of time. What is my excuse?
The trouble with deciding to fulfill a dream, particularly a long standing one, is a lingering fear that if the dream is realized, one may also realize that it was a mistake. Barbara Sher, author, speaker and master at helping people fulfill their dreams, addressed this in her recent post. Someone's dream was to be a writer, which she finally persued, only to discover that she hated it! Would I discover that I really did not want to move to France? When would I discover that -- after I had sold everything and moved there?
What I viewed as horrible, Barbara viewed as excitingly good, since the wannabe writer was free to see what part of writing she liked, and only then could she more clearly define her dream. Message received; always move forward, and the truth will reveal along the way. Staying still, living with a fear of making a wrong decision, is what is making me stagnant.
I don't know if I have to actually move to France to know if I want to move to France, but I do know that I still have the dream, and I will not judge myself as a 'gonna' person. Instead, I will pursue the parts of the dream, and judge for myself what parts are mine to keep, and which are those that need to fall along the way.
Lovely Cate...
ReplyDeleteMOVE TO FRANCE!! Sit in cafes drinking espresso. Wear a big hat. Let the french people wonder who is the lovely American who has moved into the neighborhood. (And be sure to extend an invitation to me whenever you move to your villa.)
When I met you several years ago, my dream was to sell everything I owned and move to a third world country to work in an impoverished community. I'm now doing that and I have never been happier.
Sell your things. Tell your friends, the good ones will support you. Your kids will understand in time. Those who don't support your decision are the ones who never fulfilled their own dreams, though they may not realize it.
Don't be afraid to live your life... be afraid to NOT live your life.
Live your dream, Cate.
Love, Kerry
2 things - Read Julia Child's book, My Life in France; watch HouseHunters International on HGTV for French domiciles.
ReplyDeleteLast night, after I published this post, I was so excited about France that I could not sleep. Kerry, I still do have a burning desire to move to France -- thank you for a beautiful thumbs up about it, and reminding me of your now realized dream. Although my circumstances are different than yours and my timing my waver, I still do very much want to live this dream.
ReplyDeleteFletch, I have read Julia's book, (and cook from her cookbooks), and am addicted to HouseHunters International! I have done research on apartments in France, and roommate situations.