Living Out a Dream

“Have you ever stopped and thought: “Wow. I prayed for this. It’s here. It’s happening.”?

I recently received a message from an old student from my very first school in Canada. It was a simple note, but it sparked reflection in me about where I’ve come from and everything that’s happened over the last 15–20 years.

At my age, I often look around and see many of the people (my age) settling down; getting married, having kids, buying homes (A dream for many, especially women.). And sometimes, I can’t help but ask myself: what am I doing with my life?

However, that message from my former student reminded me of something I often forget: I’ve already been living a dream.

When I left my first teaching job in Canada, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved my students, and together we had built a really special bond. But at that time, I had a dream to travel the world; to immerse myself in different cultures and to learn from people whose lives looked so different from mine. That dream was born in that very first school with that special group of students who came from various countries around the globe. They were the ones who inspired me to take a leap of faith and to step out into the world.

Not long after I left Canada in 2012, an ex-colleague shared a piece of work from one of my students (Yes, the one who recently contacted me!) In it, she had written that I had inspired her to follow her dreams. That memory came rushing back when I received this most recent message from her. It reminded me that I have lived a dream. One that a younger version of me could barely imagine possible. I’ve now been to more than 40 countries. I’ve learned so much about people, culture, and perspective, and all of it has shaped me in ways I never could have imagined back then.

And yes, I’ll admit, there are days when I get restless. Days when I feel like I’m not doing enough. Days when new dreams appear and I wonder if I’ll ever “catch up.” But I guess that’s the nature of dreams; they evolve as we do.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not where you ‘should’ be, I encourage you to pause, to look back and to remember the things you once only hoped for that are now part of your story. Chances are, you’re already living a dream you once had.

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