An Exercise in Dreaming

Dreams are amazing. They give us giant ambitions and fill our hearts with hope! But sometimes chasing them means we lose the chance to enjoy our fullest lives along the way.

Every New Year's Eve, for the last few years, my mother has encouraged my siblings & I to answer this list of questions inspired by from Matthew Kelly's Amazing Possibilities to help diversify our dreams.

I hope to allow yourself to dream so new dreams.

Remember: if you change nothing, nothing changes.

So sprinkle in a dash of something new and see where it takes you!

Scroll down for the full list.

One of my "new dreams" from 2022: I wanted to get more serious about my writing. An opportunity to go on a writing retreat in Scotland cropped up with one of my favorite authors, and I threw caution to the wind and went! It challenged me in every way: professionally, creatively, personally, and was one of the best moments of my life.

What’s a childhood interest/hobby you’d like to relearn or dive into again?
Who would you love to reconnect with from your past?
If you could learn any language, which would you learn and why?
What are your top three dream travel destinations for the next three years?
If you could change one thing about your home or where you live, what would it be (i.e.: move to the forest and become a witch in the woods, build a new reading nook, tear down a wall, etc.)?
If you could live anywhere for a few months to reset your life, where would you go?
What self-care habit do you wish to grow in (i.e.: meditation, prayer, starting therapy, self-help books, going to church, etc.)?
What skill do you want to learn (i.e.: carpentry, changing a tire, web coding, etc.)?
Is there a hobby you’re drawn to and would like to explore (i.e.: scrapbooking, rock climbing, journaling, photography, cross fit, etc.).
Although we do not “dream of labor,” what would your dream job be?
What’s one person/culture/time period you’ve always wanted to learn more about?
If you could improve or heal any of your current family/personal/professional relationships, which would it be?
If you could go to any concert tomorrow, what would it be?
What book or movie have you always wanted to see/read and never have?
What bad habit or addiction (big or small) would you like to conquer (i.e.: Doom scrolling? Substance abuse? Etc.?)
If you could overcome any fear, what would it be?
What’s one limiting belief you want to leave behind?
How would you like your loved ones to remember you?
If you could write a thank you speech for your life, who would you acknowledge?
What dreams do you hope to accomplish in five years?