It seems that from a very young age, I understood the power of dreams.
I spent countless hours lying in the lush green fields of my family’s farm, dreaming about a life that existed somewhere beyond those fences. Daydreaming was, by far, one of my favorite things to do.
In fact, a dear friend of mine has a tattoo that she dedicated to me—a long-stemmed yellow rose with a ribbon winding through it and one word: DREAMER.
I absolutely love it. I’ve even thought I might like one myself, but I’ve never quite gathered the courage to actually get the tattoo.
Dreaming comes naturally when we’re children. We dream about the things we want without worrying very much about whether they’re practical or even possible.
I have vivid memories of being about ten years old, lying in bed beside my dad and chattering nonstop about the mini-bike I was absolutely convinced I needed. Dad would lie there listening, occasionally making just enough of a sound to let me know he was still awake. That was usually enough to satisfy me until Mom was ready for bed and sent me off to my own.
As we get older, our dreams get bigger.
There are places to see and people to know and love. Experiences to have. Roads to explore. Cars to drive. Homes to design and live in.
The list goes on and on.
And I’ve been fortunate enough to do many of those things.
But life isn’t made only of dreams fulfilled. As wonderful and exciting as life can be, it can also be every bit as difficult. There are disappointments and losses. There are roads we were certain we were supposed to travel that suddenly take an unexpected turn.
Sometimes we become discouraged enough that we lose sight of the dream altogether.
I’ve certainly had those moments.
But somehow, throughout my life, I’ve always managed to find my way back to the things that restore me. Usually that means finding my way outside—to nature, to animals, to open spaces.
Those things have an extraordinary way of leading me back to joy.
The Gift I Didn’t Fully Understand
Some of us were fortunate enough to grow up with parents who had a profound influence on the people we eventually became.
I was one of those children.
I had parents who loved me, guided me, protected me and provided the things I needed to feel cared for.
But perhaps the greatest gift they gave me was something I didn’t completely appreciate at the time.
I felt safe.
I always felt safe.
There was a home to return to. There were people who loved me. There was a place in this world where I belonged.
Not every child receives that gift.
Some grow up with one parent doing everything possible to keep the family together. Others are raised by grandparents or relatives. Some grow up in circumstances where safety and security are things they learn to create for themselves.
I wish every child could know what it feels like to be completely loved, protected and cared for.
Because looking back over my own life, I realize what an enormous gift that feeling of safety really was.
It gave me the freedom to dream.
And eventually, it gave me something else.
Gratitude.
Simply Blessed
The older I become, the more convinced I am that gratitude may be one of life’s greatest secrets to happiness.
Not because everything goes right. It doesn’t.
Not because every dream comes true exactly as we imagined it. They don’t.
But because somewhere along the way, we learn to recognize what is already good.
A beautiful morning. An animal waiting at the gate. A long drive with nowhere particularly important to be. A familiar road. A good dog. A horse’s breath against your hand. A house that feels like home. Someone you love sitting across the table.
And sometimes, simply waking up and realizing there is still another day ahead of you—another chance to dream.
I still dream.
I hope I always will.
There are still roads I want to travel, places I want to see, things I want to create and animals I haven’t met yet.
But these days, I understand something that the little girl lying in that Louisiana pasture couldn’t possibly have understood.
The dream isn’t always somewhere beyond the fence.
Sometimes you’re already standing right in the middle of it.
And when you finally recognize that, you realize just how very blessed you are.
— SK Scott