When I grow up I wonder what I'll be

Many years ago I was either in an elementary school production or I watched my sister in the production, but either way, I remember the kids repeating, "When I grow up, when I grow up, I wonder what I'll be." When I was eight I had a pretty clear idea of what I hoped my life would look like - and honestly, I'm living my childhood dream. There is, though, one piece missing: becoming a professional writer.

I'm reading a wonderful book called, "Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self" by Sarah Ban Breathnach, that has reminded me of my childhood self and all that I dreamed back then. I was conservative, even then, when it came to how big I would dream: some dream of becoming millionaires, others the president, I wanted to be a writer, wife and mother. The difference between childhood and adulthood, though, is a child can dream anything their mind will allow. Adulthood is the time in which the dream - whatever it may be - can be brought into reality.

During your childhood, what did you see yourself doing on a daily basis? How does that compare to what you are actually doing today? If your childhood dream was impractical, what about that dream (creativity, physical activity, etc.) is still a part of you now? "Something More" seems to subscribe to the idea that because childhood is a time when we are open and untainted by the adult world, it is in childhood that we were our most authentic selves. I would venture to say that I am basically the same Natalie I was when I was a child, personality in particular, and I do have the same dream of writing professionally. The one difference adulthood has imposed is fear. But what better risk to take than on oneself to achieve a lifelong goal?

Jay inspires me almost daily because she is fearless. Just today she told me she won't be an at-home mom because she has way too many jobs she wants to do. True to form, she is outgoing and good at just about everything she has ever tried, so that perspective will work to her advantage. And, as a ten-year-old, she is free to want to have many jobs/careers throughout her life, she is also free to actually live her life that way...I just hope the world doesn't take her fearlessness. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me", is a scripture I learned early in life - my daughter lives this scripture.

What dream for your life do you have that you have yet to explore? What is holding you back? I guess it's safe to say that childhood is the time to dream and adulthood is when you wake up and make your dream a reality. When I grow up, when I grow up I wonder what I'll be...