Say the thing. Make it happen.

My father passed away when I was young. In the eight short years I had him, he was bullish about teaching me (and reinforcing) that I was meant to live the life I dreamed. He would challenge me to think of the wildest, (seemingly) most impossible thing I wanted in life, encourage me to speak it out loud (because words have power) and then he’d say, “Say the thing. Make it happen. The only thing between you and there is you.”

That continuous exercise of love redefined the traditional concept of dreams in my young mind. His affirmation seeded that a dream is actually a goal. Reaching a goal (IMHO) is the combination of active pursuit, consistency, discipline and resilience, with a mustard seed of faith. And, speaking it aloud (because I believe the mind converts desire to belief and belief to action far more often when it hears it). If you say the thing, you can make it happen.?

Since the moment I became aware of the Obamas (around 2006-ish), I’ve been enchanted by Mrs. Obama. If representation is the catalyst to believing and achieving one’s potential, she became a powerful example of the things I aspire to be. An educated, professionally accomplished wife, mother and servant leader. With juuuuuuuuuust enough of that South Side Chicago girl ever present to forewarn, “Play lotto, not with me.” Literal black girl magic.?

For almost 20 years I’ve placed her on my vision board, representing the embodiment of my aspiration. Next to her picture which I always placed beside my most ambitious goals, I’d add, “And one day meet her.” I also spoke it out loud. Every time. Recently, I achieved my goal and my dream came true. When I hugged her, I heard my father say, “Told you, baby,” as only he could.?

I’m sharing this because I want to encourage every person who happens upon this post to return to dreaming and the pursuit of happiness fueled by an exciting, seemingly impossible desire in life. Personally and professionally. Something that wakes you up and makes you feel alive. Something good that you pursue for you. Something so wild and beautiful that it makes you laugh in disbelief. Life will life. Hard days and hard seasons are very real (I got a testimony!!!). We will experience people, places and things that attempt to steal our joy.?

BUT DREAMS BRING JOY AND JOY IS BEAUTIFULLY DEFIANT IN HARD TIMES.

I used to say the only constant in life is change. I still believe that to be true; but, aging has gifted wisdom and wisdom has revealed that YOU and I are constants in life too. If you ask me, that’s a pretty powerful opportunity to insert the magical energy of “what if” on the road to dreams fulfilled. Set your 2025 (and beyond) intention to making a dream come true. Watch it change the hope and happiness you feel.?

Say the thing.?

Make it happen.?

The only thing between you and there is … you.?

Here’s proof that it worked for someone just like you.?