Dreams

I woke up thinking about the importance of dreams this morning. Good dreams give us hope. They allow us to believe that things can be different, that life can be better than it is, that our realities can change and our goals can truly be met.

I've always lived in the city or a suburb of a city and while I've always been grateful for the convenience of it, I know that deep down inside I'm a small town girl at heart. I've always dreamed from the time I was a little girl of living in a small town where people actually know their neighbors. I dream of marrying a good man that works hard, plays even harder, and loves me with everything he's got. We don't need to be rich just have enough to get by and a little extra to introduce our children to the outside world with, but always, always have a home to come back too. I dream of putting down roots like a mighty oak tree. Strong and sturdy with an inner strength that reaches every limb and branch and all of those beautiful leaves on the outside that bring joy in the jumpin' in 'em in the fall and shade in the hot summer. Of stay in one place long enough to let that tree grow tall and thick with years, long enough to leave a legacy, to become a landmark in the community. I want to raise my children on simple honest values and teach them the joy of the little things that life has to offer.
I've dreamt of all of those things for so long I sometimes wonder if it will ever really happen. But I'm not one of those people that stands on the sidelines of life for long. I was never meant to a leaf lost and scattered by the wind blowing from one place to another getting ragged and torn. I'm the acorn that gets planted in the clay of the earth that flourishes and grows despite the harsh realities of the world around them.
That's my dream, my hope, my wish for this life. It may not seem like much to most people but to me it's everything. And I'm willing to do what's needed to make it happen, to become that person, to have that life. I know it will take hard work and determination, but to me there's joy in the making. I just want to make sure that when I'm old I can look back on this life and see that tree, tall and proud, branchs gently swaying in the breeze and leaves that rustle in a soft song that somehow becomes a part of you when you take the time to listen.