The Story Behind the Poem

We made the move this year to the mountains. It’s been something my husband and I have thought about for over a decade. We worked like crazy to get here. We did it. But guess what. It was hard. It was hard even after we realized our dream. Life didn’t change. Life is still hard.

I wrote this in the winter. The animals areas were still ragtag from the move. The snow came, day after day. We still had not acclimated to the area. We are still the new kids in town and friends are few and far between.

There was nothing easy about it. It took so much.

But I look out my window to the mountains, to the grass and trees, the birds. What if we had not even tried? Would we be happier?

Perhaps we will never know the answer, but despite all the challenge and difficulty, it feels like chasing the dream was worth it for me.

The Thing About Dreams

the thing about dreams that you never hear

is there’s no magical package in which they appear

it’s hoping and wishing, yes, that part is true,

but dreams that are realized require effort from you

it’s struggle and strife, disappointments replete,

facing heart-wrenching challenges you repeatedly meet

the thing about dreams is that they seem so divine

but they only materialize when you give them your time

you must sacrifice, work for them, set life aside

‘til you meet tiny milestones of this dream in your mind

dreams hurt, yes, they’re painful to lose or to meet

because chasing your dreams is a tremendous feat

whether you lose them and leave them to be,

or go for them passionately, both paths you will see

are a heartbreaking fight, a life-changing choice,

a choice you will get, but it may not come twice

because once you are free of the dreams in your mind

they may flee and forever be gone you may find

so fight for your dreams, those thoughts in your head,

but know they take more than just wishes and lying in bed

push and struggle for what you really want

it will stretch you, may break you, and require a lot

and when you reach your dreams, the hardships won’t end

but you’ll know in your life you were your true best friend

you didn’t dismiss them or set them aside

you did all you could to keep them alive

maybe you reach them, maybe you won’t

but the best life to live is one replete with hope

and effort and risk must not be understated

go for your dreams lest regret devastate you

the thing about dreams is if you don’t try you won’t know

how reaching for dreams is going to go

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