I have the best Dad.
Somehow, my parents were able to achieve both pushing us to try new things, to persevere at whatever we did, and to never consider quitting an option while also making us feel fully supported and confident as if we could never fail, even when we did.
One of my Dad’s favourite sayings / card inscriptions for as long as I can remember has been “Dream Big”. And I truly believe he has always felt that, if only I dreamed it, it damn well was going to come to fruition.
Here’s the thing though, when someone tells you to “Dream Big” your next thought is “okay, cool, now what is my dream?”. For years, I can now admit, I had no dreams. Zero, zilch, nada, zip. Seriously, I felt like a major loser. Who the hell doesn’t have dreams? Everyone seemed to! How hard could it be? I was always involved in sports, I was pretty darn motivated and driven, I did well in some, but did I ever “dream” of the Olympics? Nope. I did great in school, it came easily, but did I ever “dream” of a NASA, curing cancer, or even becoming a doctor, or journalist, or … anything?! Nope. I’ve found lots of success, but it never started with a dream. What the heck?!
Whenever I saw this “Dream Big”, I would think and think and think – what is my dream? The only answer to that question that I ever consistently came up with through the years was simply – happiness. However, even “happiness” was never defined in my mind. Happiness didn’t equal a certain job, a certain level of success, a certain number of kids, a certain achievement, there was no vision associated with it. It was just a mere feeling really, a feeling of looking out on life with sun on my face and loving people behind me. Now if I were a beautiful free spirit who danced through life this would be AOK. But let’s be clear, I’m a first born, Type A, overachiever here people. I needed a damn dream!
All those years I thought I was “boring” or “unadventurous” or “uncreative” but now, NOW, I’m starting to wonder if maybe I wasn’t just utterly brilliant. How can one truly know their dream before they traipse around through life a little bit? Maybe it is right that your dream isn’t concrete but more of a desire for a feeling or state of mind?
I recently turned 40 – ha! Can you tell?!
In the last year or so I’ve gradually transitioned to a plant powered diet, I rarely drink coffee or alcohol anymore, I’ve upped my yoga and meditation game and said no to administrative meetings and business ventures, I’ve started a blog with the sole goal of giving more to others, I’ve started training for an endurance race and I’m considering Ironman. Could this be my mid-life crisis the peanut gallery asks? Hahahaha, well duh!! Totally. But I’m wearing it with pride and make no apologies, because, fuck it, it feels pretty damn rad. Potential athletic advantages of the latter aside, I’m feeling this decade and don’t lament not being able to revisit previous ones (except for the day I met you beloved, of course, mwah!). There were far too many fucks given in the wrong direction in those years. However, now I’ve put in the work, I am comfortable zagging far left of the status quo, there will be no more inertia, and I am far more aware of who deserves fucks and who doesn’t. It’s glorious. It feels all sparkly and warm, like glowing light on my face with a powerful, energetic force behind me. Hey … wait ….
So as I raise a glass of ‘booch to myself and celebrate my brilliance and laugh at thinking I was inept all those years walking around dream-less, I also raise one to you and whatever decade you are rockin’. I really hope that you have no dreams but wake up one day and feel that glow on your face and the power behind you. If you need help finding these things, your kin are here to help. If you feel you are freaking rocking that shit already, share away. We want to hear about it.
And in honour of all our current and future awesomeness, let’s create some waves. Let’s send some love to those who have a little less. I guarantee it will change how you feel and good things will happen if you do. I don’t know what or how, but trust me.
So click here and see what you think (paypal seems to work better than credit):
https://my.charitywater.org/jenn-tranmer/kindredswell
These guys are great. Completely transparent. You can give directly to a project (i.e. none of your money goes to administration) or you can give directly to their infrastructure (i.e. ALL of your money goes towards allowing them to do what they do). They have real time GPS maps of their wells working.
I chose the goal amount as that will give 40 people clean water who previously DID NOT HAVE IT!
If you want to learn more about them, have a listen here:
http://www.richroll.com/podcast/scott-harrison/
If you want to do your own thing, or maybe your kids are inspired, try this:
https://my.charitywater.org/get-involved/pledge-birthday
I hope you join me, make some waves, wrap your arms around someone and feel them hug back. Put your fucks where they are deserved and then get back out there and do what it is you love.
