31 More Things – 7 – Dream

These are from Ali’s 31 More Things class. More context here.

So here’s my day seven – dream

(journaling below)

Journaling:
When I was little, I had a lot of dreams for my life. I wanted to study Computer Science. I wanted to do art. I wanted to move to the United States. I wanted to work from home and raise my children. I had big, audacious dreams for what my life was going to look like.

Here we are, some thirty years later, and all of those dreams have come true. I did move to America. I did study computers and art. I get to do both every day of my life. I get to work at a big, wonderful company with products I love and people I admire. I even get to work from home and raise the two boys I love and adore. I also have things in my life that I didn’t even think to dream about: a kind, generous, loving husband. A home in a safe and beautiful neighborhood in a state where the sun shines almost every single day. Intelligent, interesting, generous friends. Good health. Incredible luck.

And so much more.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a cafe near my house and listening to an assignment for one of my classes where I had to write down some things I was grateful for. As I made a list of small and big gratitudes in my life, it struck me that my life had turned out so much better than I’d ever dreamt of even though my wishes and dreams had been wildly audacious considering I was this little girl from Istanbul. My life is so magical, so wonderful, and so mind blowing that I don’t think the little girl I was could have ever imagined it.

So here I am at forty and all my dreams have already come true. Sure I have other dreams for my kids, for my husband, and for other people in my life. I dream of schools my kids can go to, people they can meet, lives they can create for themselves. Lives filled with contentment, joy, curiosity, and luck. I dream of success and fulfillment my husband can have with his career. I dream of wonderful times we can spend as a family, celebrating our good fortune and good health. I dream of a long and steady old age for my parents.

But, for me, I am all set. I feel like I’ve received more than my fair share of magic in this world and I am grateful for every single moment I get from here onward. Instead of making more dreams, I would like to bask in the light of all the wonderfulness I have and appreciate its splendor. I am so deeply grateful.