For many years, I measured success by how well I could keep up. I thought that if I managed to stay on top of my busy schedule, do well at work, be a good mom, keep the house clean, and pay all the bills on time, then I was doing great. I was holding it all together, and that felt like enough.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize: surviving is not the same as living.

I was checking every box. I was exhausted, but productive. I showed up every day and gave everything I had. But inside, something was missing. I wasn’t dreaming. I wasn’t reaching. I was simply trying to make it to the next week without falling apart. And for a long time, I convinced myself that this was all life had to offer, a long list of responsibilities and a constant race against the clock.

But I was wrong. So very wrong.

There is more. So much more.

There is a life beyond survival. A life full of passion, purpose, and possibility. And to access it, we have to be brave enough to dream again.

We’re taught to be practical. To be responsible. To keep our heads down and get the job done. And yes, paying the bills and caring for your family is important, it matters deeply. But those things shouldn’t be the end of the story. They are the foundation, not the finish line.

You weren’t born just to grind your way through life. You were born to create, to explore, to connect, and to grow.

When I finally stopped just reacting to life and started planning it, something inside me shifted. I began writing down my actual dreams. Not just goals like “pay off debt” or “finish this project at work”, but real, personal, heart-driven dreams. Dreams like:

• Travel the world and experience new cultures

• Retire before 50 so I can spend more time with the people I love

• Become a children’s book author and inspire young minds with stories

These weren’t about survival. They were about living, really living.

And when I put those dreams on paper, they became real. They became a vision I could move toward, even in small steps. Planning gave me something to aim for. It gave me clarity and motivation on days when I felt stuck.

A dream gives your life direction.

It shapes your decisions.

It fuels your energy.

It reminds you of who you are and what you’re capable of.

Even if your dream feels far away right now, don’t push it aside. Don’t talk yourself out of wanting more. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. You just need to be willing to say it, to speak it, write it down, and believe that it matters.

So I’ll ask you now, as someone who’s been there:  What is your dream?

Not your job title. Not your income goal. Not the next thing on your to-do list.

I mean the deep, true dream inside you, the one that’s been waiting for a chance to come out.

Let it rise to the surface. Let it be messy, bold, and imperfect. Let it belong to you and no one else. Then take one small step toward it. And another. And another. Because your life is worth more than just getting through the day.

You were made to thrive, to imagine, to pursue something that lights you up.

So go ahead.