My Practically Perfect Life

Livin’ the dream is not just a quote or a motto but a way to live life. And man, I really am! I hear people say it all the time when asked how things are. Usually it is said with sarcasm, but occasionally you find people that truly mean it. And let me tell you, it’s awesome…and hard! Sometimes that dream could be a nightmare! But if you take a deep breath, put a smile on your face and pray, then you can make it joyful!

So Nicole, how do you go about living ‘the’ dream? Well Nicole (see I’m talking to myself here, I like to use people I know as examples!) that begins with deciding what your dream is. Not a literal dream because I have some weird ones!! But setting up your life goals, ambitions and the things that frankly, you want in life. I started simple. Health and happiness for myself and my loved ones. It seems like a cheater of a list opener but when you think about it you can attribute to part of that. You can make sure you are adding happiness to those around you, therefore creating the positive outcome for “your dream”. As you continue changing your mindset on things and becoming an optimist rather than a pessimist you can add to your dream list.

Some examples I have added and may not have down 100% but am working my toosh off to get there! 1. Freedom! To unburden myself with feeling trapped, by a person or a situation. Being able to just be myself without the worry of repercussion. True freedom of speech, thought, financial freedom (will forever be working on this one…), and just knowing I can walk around without shoes because the eggshells are no longer there. 2. Travel! This will forever be close to the top of any of my lists when it comes to things I will never grow tired of doing. Traveling is just part of me. Experiencing life through other’s eyes by walking down the different paths in the world. Literal paths! I love learning about other cultures; by talking to people, eating different foods and seeing how things were and are built. Not just around the world but around my amazing state and country. I mean think about it, how can you find new things to love and stride for if you’re stuck in your little bubble and never see that things can be different? I am forever adding things to my to do/bucket list because I continue to see the world with open eyes and an open mind. And I don’t do that by sitting on my couch and scrolling social media or watching tv. Those things I do yes, but I am a firm believer in living outside of my comfort zone. 3. Learning new things. I know so many people that are satisfied with their lives and what they know. They have no intention of learning new things because they get through life with the knowledge in their head and decide there is no point to change that. And that’s fine if that is how you live. No judgement from me. But I am never going to be satisfied with just what I know. I am a true DIYer. I hate asking other people to do things that I know I can accomplish. I will sell you a house, remodel it, decorate it, fix your electrical and plumbing, build you furniture and then fix your car in the driveway while the dinner I made is cooking in the kitchen and listening to an amazing playlist that I created! And then beat you at monopoly or skip-bo! Bragging? Maybe…but I say these things with confidence! But I can tell you that I cannot weld or forge steel or pilot an aircraft, so I will continue to learn new things!! 4. Be happy. Seems easy right? Ha!! I try all day every day to be happy. I don’t know that it is a “come natural” thing or not. The reason I am is because I choose to be. I take negative things that come at me and kablam! Hit them with a practical, beneficial and optimistic freakin’ ray of sunshine! I love puzzles. Jigsaw or crossword or this game wordscapes I downloaded on my phone a month or so ago and am already on level 892! Anyway, basically I love a challenge and turning something bad in life into something good is a heck of a challenge! But I do it! Car wreck? I’m alive and have a story to tell! Abused? I can take a punch or an insult and let it roll off my back! Divorce? A fresh new beginning where I can be who I actually am and want to be without feeling guilty for it! Yes bad things will make you gloomy or depressed and sometimes I fall into that pit of despair, but it’s temporary. Even when I am in that mind set I am not fully there because there is still a part of me smiling and pulling that rope that gets me out of it. 5. Closer to God. I did not put this one last because the others are more important. I put it here because I can’t accomplish any of the above without God. I have been a Christian for 3/4 of my life. And while some of you have known me to act more as a human than what you believe a church going, God fearing Christian might act like, I have news for you. It is because I am human! And no matter what I do or say I know that I am loved by Him. I am constantly praying for guidance and while there are times that I feel like I missed a turn or God’s sense of humor is being used on me, I always know that I am right where I need to be. Faith is an amazing tool and if you haven’t figured that out then holler at me because I know that I could live life without faith and without my God but I sure wouldn’t be enjoying it with the cheerfulness that I am!

I have way more things that are part of my daily goals in life but those are the most important ones. I feel like I am just bragging about my life. And yes, I am a bit. Because I am a very lucky person. I have amazing children, loving parents, great siblings and the best friends ever! I have an awesome job, well jobs really, and the fact that I get to wake up every morning and breathe is the best gift of all. My life has not always been slip and slides and skittles, there have been plenty of rough roads and very hard times. But I wouldn’t be able to tell those stories or relate to other people or laugh and smile about the bad times if I had not learned to create my own happiness. That’s the DIYer in me. If I don’t have it and need it, I make it! And if I can do it then so can you! So go out and make your dreams a reality. Because just livin’ is like eating popcorn with no butter or salt. Livin’ the dream is a goal everyone should have!

“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream” – C.S. Lewis

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, the passion to reach for the stars to change the world” -Harriet Tubman

“For I know the plans I have for you, ‘says the Lord’. ‘They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. Jeremiah 29:11