Growing up my dreams were often my escape. In high school when I was struggling with my weight and friendships I had visions of moving to Florida and starting a new life. Then I decided I was going to move to LA and become a professional dancer for Britney Spears. You better believe I was serious. These dreams became my escape for my troubles and for the time being I was happy. I had high hopes for the future but didn’t quite live in the moment either. I anticipated my life ahead and kept planning and wishing.
This was my high school Dance Photo I used when applying for my degree program for college. I love the glow in my face. I was so excited to see what life had in store for me!
Then I moved on to college and reality hit. Those were just silly dreams. I went to college, majoring in dance, and realized that I would never be good enough to be a professional dancer, in my mind anyway.This was right around the time my poor eating habits and obsession with food grew. I had no outlet or escape from the reality of the real world so I started turning to food. If I needed a distraction from daily problems I could plan my meals. Needed an escape from work and unhappiness and I could have chocolate for some pleasure. Looking back I am able to see that those dreams back in high school were saving me from my battle with food. Now instead of living in dream land, I was stuck in my reality and couldn’t experience the joy of the moment because I was so focused on my food and my sadness.
I have now found what I like to call my happy balance. I am learning to embrace those big dreams again. I may never own a house on the beach in California but why not dream about it? It’s fun, I enjoy it and it is way better for me than downing a bag of M&M’s because I am sad. At the same time I am working on living in the moment each and every day. Maybe I don’t live in my dream home just yet but I love having my mom so nearby to talk, or the fact that I get to wake up every morning and see this face:
So I ask you today, where would you go if you could escape anywhere? Maybe plan a dream vacation to an island (my trip of choice would be Hawaii) or a huge move to your ideal location! Next time you are feeling stressed, give yourself 15 minutes. Close your eyes and just dream. Let your vision take you wherever you want. That chocolate bar will quickly lose it’s appeal when you starting thinking about the beach or the mountains, and your dream vacation! Then I want you to head back into reality and appreciate the small things you can enjoy now. Maybe it’s simply the fact you were able to just take 15 minutes to yourself or maybe it’s your morning workout, or your puppy’s excitement when you come through the door. Whatever it is appreciate your life for what it is and where you will go!
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”-Buddha
I may not be in California but I can pretend I’m in the Bahamas daily!
What are you dreaming of today??? Any dream vacations or trips you want to take??
Love you all!
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Love your honesty! One other thing to do when you dream is to actually set up a saving plan for your dream trip. Take that money you’d spend on the candy bar or junk snack and save it for your trip. soon it will be a reality!
Such a great idea! I love that! I might have to start saving up for my dream vacation now
I love this post! I can totally relate and I actually never realized how much I was trying to escape my real life. I had many many plans of moving somewhere else and then I would be happy! But it took a lot to realize that I would feel the same exact way about myself no matter where I was! I always dreamed of going to California. Now I dream of moving to California, but not to escape just to live!
So true! I think we are the same in our thinking and it definitely took me awhile to realize that would be the same exact person no matter where I was. I’m with you though I’d love to live in California simply for the sunshine
It took me awhile to find my happy balance. I’m finally there! I would love to go to Italy or France. Mainly just to eat haha!
So happy to hear you’ve found that balance! Hahaha I love the reason for you dream trip. My family is part Italian so I’d love to go to Italy someday.
Dance is SUCH a hard program to stay mentally tough in. And I totally wanted to be a Britney Spears backup dancer with my whole life. So I totally understand the “dancer mindset” when you think you aren’t good enough. UGH. But I would love to just go home for now. Still away and won’t be home until Christmas Eve!
Hang in there Amanda! Christmas Eve will be here before you know it!
I needed to read that this morning!
thank you!
Christina I miss you! Let’s talk soon!
I am loving these more personal posts you are doing on your blog, Danielle! So many already have so much admiration for you for your healthy and active lifestyle and to hear these words and tips from you inspires me and I know many others. I also appreciate you sharing that dance photo! I know you have been nervous about doing so but I love seeing that smile on your face. And I don’t blame you for wanting to dance for Brit. She is, after all, the bomb. Have you heard her new song with will.i.am? I hated it at first but now I love it because it’s just so “Britney, bitch”.
I find that closing my eyes and picturing myself somewhere peaceful like a beach really helps me! I would love to live in Cali someday but realistically would miss my family so much. As long as wherever I end up is no farther than an hour from the beach I’m good!
Thanks so much Caitlin! It means a lot that you are enjoying the more honest and personal posts because they definitely take a little extra courage to write! I would love to be close to the beach too! I had dreams of bringing my entire family to California so I won’t miss them
I couldn never be so far from them!
Love this – great post!! I dream of moving to Cali one day, too. Lets go ;D
Thanks Brittany! I’m in let’s do it!
I have to start by saying that I love how much more open and personal you’ve become in your posts
You have so many beautiful and inspirational thoughts, so thank you for sharing them! My dream vacation right now is to go backpacking in New Zealand. It looks absolutely gorgeous from what I’ve seen, so being able to travel there would be a dream come true.
Thanks so much Amanda! That sounds like an amazing dream vacation!
I have lots of places I dream to go on a daily basis, like you most of them involve the beach! Right now I want to take my kids to Disney World more than any other escape place. I think they are at the perfect ages. I love Lucie’s idea to take money you might spend on a candy bar and spend it saving for that dream vacation.
I do too, what a great idea!
Great honesty Danielle! Such a great post. I really like how you are adding in these personal posts
I would totally love to move to the States one day…I’ve had enough of Canada hah.
Thanks Lisa! I might be biased but I think you should move to Boston
Such a thoughtful post! I dream of a time when I will be more self-confident and self-assured in my life; personal, financial, work, blogging, everything. And it would be nice to enjoy that self-confident feeling on a beach somewhere abroad.
I’m sure you will get to that point Kimberly! Keep working on it
Great post girl! Never keep dreaming
Thank you!
i wish i were on a beach with warm weather!! it started snowing here today boo!!
Me too! I’m ready to pick up and go on vacation!
Cute post! It’s funny I was thinking about my dreams from when I was younger the other day, and I’ve come full circle in a way. Just evolved to something better, and just landed a dream job. Actually going to post about it next week
. So keep on dreaming! It def pays off.
How exciting! I can’t wait to hear about your dream job next week
I freakin love your Thursday posts! I look forward to them every week! Thank you for sharing your journey thus far
I’m so happy you’re enjoying them Lauren! Many more to come
I would love to head back to NYC sometime soon! I absolutely adore the city and it has been several years since I have been able to visit
.
You definitely should head back then. It’s such a fun city to visit!
I wanted to be a professional dancer too!!! How things have changed. Now I just dream for “normal” stuff!
So funny! We are too much alike
My dream is to visit Italy for an entire month or more when my husband retires in 10 or 15 years.
I love seeing my dream in writing …thanks for asking!
Wow that sounds amazing! It’s more likely to come true if you write it down
I’m in California right now and it’s not that warm!!! You’re going to laugh but this AM it was 43, and it felt FREEZING!! I am laughing at myself though too because I am from WYOMING and right now up there it’s averaging -15… And only going to get worse – AND I HAVE TO GO HOME this Sunday! Yikes! LOL!!
Oh no! I hate the cold! At least 43 degrees is better than 15! Have a safe trip home!
I am so with you on everything you say, Danielle!! Love it! It’s so important to have dreams, no matter if they’ll ever come true or not! LIve the moment is not always easy, but it’s key.
I love the pic of you, so beautiful!!
Thanks so much Lucie!
I love being nearby you too Sweets, wouldn’t want it any other way!
Me neither
Aww, Danielle, thank you so much for sharing your heart! I love learning more about you! I used to live in my dreams too; I was determined I was going to move to Europe, become a European-chic fashionista, meet a handsome man, and have a vacation home in the Alps or Monte Carlo.
These dreams were so far-fetched, but they were fun. And they certainly distracted me from many of the more turbulent happenings in my life. Like you said, dreaming can be a healthy coping mechanism, especially if it inspires us to work slowly towards our goals. Never say never to that dream house in California! It CAN happen. Go after it, girl! I dream of returning to California too…wanna go together?! xoxo
Yes let’s go!!! Your European dream sounds amazing and yes it truly can be fun sometimes just to dream and helps us get a head start on our goals. Now when do we leave for california?!
Love this post, Danielle. Your honesty is to awesome.
I love dreaming and then forming goals from my dreams. I find it’s there that I find the most authentic version of what I want. <3 Right now, I have a dream project in the works and, if all goes well, it will be up-and-running in March. I just want to keep helping others realize they can choose love at every moment in time.
So excited to hear about this Heather! I’d love to learn more about it. Sounds fabulous!
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