When we are children, we all have a vision of what we want our adult lives to be like.
Here is how my vision went:
- I would be thin and beautiful.
- I would have tons of friends and be in a sorority in college.
- I would graduate college and become a teacher.
- I would meet the love of my life and get married.
- We would have two children: a boy and a girl in that order.
- We would have a dog and a cat and live in the suburbs in a house with a white picket fence.
- Our children would be well-behaved and loving.
- We would continue to have tons of friends and socialize all the time.
- We would grow old together and have at least 50 years of wedded bliss before my husband passed away, with me soon following from a broken lonely heart.
Seriously. That was my life plan when I was ten.
Looking back as an adult, how much of that has actually come to pass? Let’s see.
- I’m not thin, but I am beautiful. I struggle with that sometimes, but ultimately I do think I’m beautiful.
- I’m not a social person by nature. Well, let me rephrase that. I am a very social person, but I’m also extremely shy. I don’t make friends easily, and as a result, I have very few friends. I have tons of acquaintances, but very few friends.
- I was in a sorority in college and am a firm believer that sisterhood is for life.
- I was a teacher, but not straight out of college. It took 12 years after college before I became a teacher. And guess what. I HATED it. Literally, couldn’t stand it, and left the profession after three miserable years.
- I am married, but this is my third marriage, and I seriously doubt we will be growing old together. He happens to be 24 years older than me, so he likely will die before I do. I just hope I don’t follow soon after. Sorry, ten-year-old self. You will thank me for that one.
- My second husband passed away. He was six years younger than me and passed away. That’s life, and it happens. We die. But back to my rehash of how my childhood life plan turned out.
- Like I said, I don’t have those two children.
- I do have a dog, but no cat.
So, most of those didn't come to pass.
If you judge the success of your life based on how closely it matches your childhood dreams, then my life might seem like a miserable failure.
I'll admit that I sometimes struggle with that perspective. Seeing old friends on Facebook, living the lives I once envisioned, can be a bit saddening. However, I make a conscious effort not to dwell on that and remind myself of the beautiful life I do have.
The life I envisioned for myself as a child was a fantasy. That’s not to say those living that life are childish—not at all. But that life wasn’t meant for me. My guides have a different calling for me, something beyond what I imagined. I haven't figured it all out yet, but I know there's something extraordinary in store for me that I can't even comprehend.
Had I gotten my fantasy adult life, I would have missed out on something even more incredible. My life is magical—truly magical.
My childhood life plan was not the life of my authentic self. That fantasy was based on the person I thought I needed to be, the person I tried so hard to become. I tried to be popular and wasn’t. I tried to be a Christian, and I’m not. I spent so many years trying to fit the mold I was raised to fit. While I have nothing but love for my family, that life is not me.
I have finally embraced the authentic me. I am happy because I am true to myself and can accomplish what I am meant to accomplish. I have a loving husband who supports me, even if he doesn’t fully understand my path. For all of this, I am beyond happy—I am content.
So, no, sometimes we don’t get the life we always wanted. But we get the life we need. We get the life we are meant to live. Those of us living what others consider a failed life can remember that we have not failed. Our lives are full of destiny and magic.
Embrace Your Authentic Self
Have you ever felt like your life isn't aligning with the dreams you had as a child? It's time to let go of those old expectations and embrace the magical journey that is uniquely yours. The first step is chatting with your guides. Check out my Communing With Your Ancestors visualization and unlock the wisdom and guidance of those who came before you. This transformative visualization will help you connect with your ancestral roots, providing clarity and insight for your path ahead.
