Reaching Dreams

 

Not many people can say they have become what they wanted to be when they grow up, so whenever the topic arises, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. What am I grateful for exactly? I am grateful that I knew myself enough and have been true to her despite all the insane curveballs that I have faced. I cannot say I never felt like giving up. I cannot say that I am not in a writing drought of sorts. I cannot say that I love every single second of every single thing I do. But I can say that I stayed the course to get where I am as a teacher, writer, and editor. I can say that I still feel like I live a writerly life—a poet's life to be precise—so while I do not work on my next book but on the rare occasion, I do have a thread of it that I hold onto for dear life. And most importantly, I can say that I truly revel in and adore at least some part about each day that I work in each of the areas of who I am as a grown up. It is not glamorous to be what I have dreamed of since second grade (poet/writer)/high school (teacher)/editor (college), but it is fulfilling. To find such fulfillment in one's daily work is truly a gift, and I thank all the cheerleaders, supporters, blessings from God, and sheer willpower that have helped me to reach my dreams.