Remember your five year old self standing there on the first day of school? (Yeah, me neither, but let’s pretend we do for the sake of this article). You are gripping your new superhero lunchbox with everything you have, standing in freshly pressed clothes picked out just for the first day of school pics, and suddenly you’re asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

At that moment my thoughts were running wild with everything BUT what I wanted to be in twenty years. I was more worried about the usual first day jitters. Will I get picked up? Who are these people? Why is that kid staring at me? Am I the only one with a lunchbox? Why is that kid crying? Should I be crying? Does he know something I don’t? (You get the idea- Introvert from day one).

Then without warning this five year old beside me ( who obviously has been training for this question all summer) speaks up, “I want to be a nurse”! Then another shouts, ” I am going to be a fireman”! On and on it goes. I just wanted to be…… at home.

Now don’t get me wrong. If you were one of those kids who knew what you wanted to be, achieved that goal, and are now you’re living your best life, good for you! Really, that amount of clarity and determination is commendable. I have envied that more than once in my life.

I have been a Surgical Technologist, Medical/Clinical Assistant, Licensed Esthetician, Certified Medical Coder, and most recently a Health Coach (read previous lay-off article. Bare with me I’m not bitter, just still finding my footing :)) I have been all of these things without the five year old me even knowing what they were, and I’m happy.

I had a conversation with my daughter today that sparked these thoughts. She said,” I don’t know for sure what I want to be when I grow up. It’s either going to be a doctor or a teacher.” I told her that it’s okay, you don’t have to decide right now (she’s 12). All I could think about was how creative, happy, free willed, and how bright the light is she carries. I don’t want her to decide right now and watch the ceiling suddenly appear limiting where her dreams can take her.

There is room in this world for everyone. The teacher, the doctor, the lawyer, the dancer, the artist, and the dreamer. My five year old self didn’t know about creative passion, stress, limitations, or the fears of “what ifs”. She was a quiet dreamer who would rather play pretend instead of worrying about the future. Life has changed my path more than once, but that dreamer still lives in my soul and I’m spending more time with her recently. (I’m going to pause right here and let you know that I’m looking for a job, and just dreaming on the side. I mean we all know the bills have to be paid.) 🙂

I challenge you today to tap back into what you once dreamed of before the world brought its fears to your feet, before the glass ceilings were built so neatly over your true potential. What did your five or even twenty-five year old self dream of before the world was telling you that you had to decide? What brings a feeling of passion to your heart? What would your five year old self be proud of if you were able to go back and say to them, “It’s all going to work out. It may not be the path we planned, but the lessons you learn along the way are going to be worth it.”