I am allowed to dream.  I am entitled to have big dreams, or dreams that happen to be different from those in my neighborhood or family of origin.  And I am also allowed to work towards and achieve those dreams!  What ever made me think that I was not?

What makes you think that you can’t dream big, or that you cannot choose a different path than what was initially set for you?

I know that there are a lot of answers to that question.  I know because I have answered them for myself for years, decades.  But when I stopped to truly think about it, none of those reasons, or ramblings, or excuses actually held up to any logic.  And even if they did, they don’t matter as much as following one’s personal journey.

Remember, it is only your life to live – no one else’s.  No one else has to walk your shoes every day or wake up where you wake up… only you.

I only recently came to the conclusion that I am allowed to dream… and that I can take the steps needed to make those dreams a reality – even if some people in my life won’t agree, or will try to change my mind, or will give a negative judgmental response.  The only person I have to answer to is myself.  I can live in a location that makes me feel most fulfilled.  I can surround myself in an environment where I will thrive.  I am entitled to be happy and choose how to make that happiness a reality.  And doing so isn’t selfish – rather, it is the opposite.  When I am the best version of myself and most aligned with who I want to be, I can then give my best and most positive energy and love to my friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers I meet on the bus.

One day I decided that I was going to quit the negative spiral of thoughts, and the complaining about things that I can, in fact, control.  I told myself that I can either stop complaining or do something about it to change my circumstances.

We are allowed to achieve our dreams!