Dream More

While Aaron and I were registering the other day, we passed up most signs, frames, and decorations in hopes that we will know where we are living before our shower. Since receiving my Cricut machine for Christmas, making signs has been my favorite thing to do, and I already have multiple made for our house.

As we happened to walk by stumble by the decoration section, a quote hit me. Literally, hit me because I ran into it and knocked it on the ground. I must’ve been very clumsy because that wasn’t the only thing I ran into that day! Oops! Thankfully, we left the china section ASAP so no mishaps happened there

This is what I ran into:

Wow. I love quotes, and thought this was such a magnificent one. In life, we tend to forget about simple things, and it leaves us feeling a little emptier. I knew I didn’t just want to make this for our new house, but I wanted to share it, and talk about what it means.

Dream More- How many of us really dream anymore? Do we have dreams for our future? Do we dream about new job opportunities, vacations with the family, our weekend adventures? Probably not as much as we’d like to. As kids, we dreamt everyday! I can see kids dreaming in classrooms a lot, but as we grew up, dreaming occurred less and less for the pure fact that we were trying to live our life and gave up trying to live a life that wasn’t ours. Think about it. Dream about the ocean. Does it make you happier? Chances are, it does. Adding some dreams into our everyday life can be as simple as a few minutes on your walk into work, or on your drive to run errands. Try it, you’ll feel better.

Complain less- How easy is it to complain? Sometimes, I think we do it out of habit. Instead of complaining about something that didn’t go right, or that someone else did wrong, think about the opposite: the positive side. Put a positive spin on the situation. Instead of saying, “Wow the government took out more money from the paycheck,” try saying, “I still have this much money in my paycheck that others may not be lucky enough to have.” Instead of complaining over not fitting in exercise, think of everything you accomplished that day. By changing things around, we are reminded of the fantastic things that happen everyday in our life.

Listen more- How true. When’s the last time you went running without headphones? Did you listen to the birds chirping and people talking? I have no room to talk on this because I am constantly doing something instead of listening to my thoughts, or, sometimes another person. I might not physically be doing something, like on my phone, but I probably have thoughts running through my brain, which is something I am trying to turn around. By listening to our surroundings, we become more open and sometimes, become happier.

Talk less- Not talking. Sounds hard, but really, it doesn’t have to be. Instead of talking all of our frustrations out, what if we prayed to God instead? Listening to others and even the outside while walking or running will make us more at peace with our surroundings.

Love More- Yes, love more. Love your family more, love your spouse more, love your friends more. I’m adding to this, show them your love! Help them out on something if they need it, do a chore that you know they hate doing and would really appreciate some help. If someone is bringing you down, and talking to them or associating with them doesn’t make you your happiest, it’s probably time to move on, and start loving those that brighten your day a little more!

Argue Less- Aaron and I actually learned at our marriage classes that arguing is good for a relationship. However, not major arguing. Every little thing doesn’t need to become a battle. There may be something that could escalate into a huge fight, or in 10 minutes it could mean nothing. If you are going with the latter, then why bring it up? If it isn’t going to solve anything, why argue about it?

Hope More- Hope for the cures to illnesses. Hope for a PR on your next run. Hope for everyone you know to be loved and feeling happy in their life.

Fear less- This goes back to this. We need fear in our lives to push us outside of our comfort zone, but we shouldn’t fear everything that life throws our way.  I had a fear of skydiving, but why? It was the best experience ever. We shouldn’t fear experiences, but embrace them.

Relax more- This is one I need to work on. I feel the need to go-go-go, but that isn’t always good for me. After weeks of doing this, I usually end up stressed to my max and sick, which forces me to lay on the couch and relax. Relaxing can be a great thing to rejuvenate us and make us feeling that much better! I have a really hard time doing zilch, but it never turns out in a bad way when I do finally do it!

Worry less- Oh man am I a worrier! I worry about everything. Is this going to go wrong, what if this happens, next week could bring this? Where does it get me? Stressed and in zero control of the situation. Quit worrying- God has a plan for us and knows where he will lead us.

Believe More- This goes back on worry less. God has a plan that we need to believe in. We also need to believe in ourselves. We shouldn’t worry about not living up to someone’s expectations; instead, we need to believe we did everything we could, which is enough! We need to believe we are living our lives the way God intended and doing our best at it!

Doubt less- Quit doubting yourself. You are amazing. You are kind. You are beautiful. Why doubt your abilities? If you are doubting someone else’s, where is that going to get you? Do you have the right to doubt someone else? Probably not, so we should just believe they are living their life the way they want to.

Play more- Who says we have to be a grown up every single day? Can’t we take a day or even an hour to have fun? Go somewhere exciting and just escape. Release your inner child and just have fun with it! Run up and down the hill yelling and doing gymnastics. Go for a picnic in the park and make kid food. Go to the Science Center and pretend you can do all of those things, too.

Work Less- Work is hopefully always going to be there. Your life will pass you by, though, if you forget about it. I’m not saying don’t go to work, or don’t do your best by any means! I’m saying remember that there is more to life than work. So, get out and play more while you work less

If you stuck with me to this point, you’re amazing!

Questions:

• Do you fall into any of these categories that you need to work on?

• When’s the last time you went out and played?