More On Dreaming Big
I’m not quite sure how I discovered Maggie’s blog but discover it I did and I’ve been reading it regularly for years now. I have an undying love for her, despite the fact that she has no idea who I am. (I love the internet, you guys.)
Maggie was my inspiration for taking my Mondo Beyondo class and the subsequent Mondo Beyondo list I created in an effort to dream bigger, aim higher, add more Awesomeness to my life.
After I published my last post about signing up for an Italian class, I wandered over to Maggie’s blog to find that she had recently signed up to learn French! COINCIDENCE? PROBABLY.
In that post, she wrote this, which was so magnificent for me to read because I just kept nodding my head up and down being all YES YES YES!
When I first made my list, some part of me thought the simple act of writing things down would magically make them happen. Like once I realized that I wanted to pick blackberries and make pies, I’d just find myself passing blackberry bramble on a walk one Sunday with a bucket in hand.
As I’ve started to cross things off, it has genuinely surprised me that I have to plan fun. I guess some part of me thinks that fun will just happen, even very specific types of fun, and that I shouldn’t have to actively put aside time for that stuff.
HOW TRUE, MIGHTY GIRL, HOW TRUE.
I relate to this so much.
Sometimes I click over to read my Mondo Beyondo list and I’m all, “Ohhh that was such a cool thing I wrote down. I WONDER WHEN THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME.”
As if the onus is not ALL ON ME to live my life the way I want to, to take responsibility for everything, including my Big Fat Crazy Dreams! Oh, Laura. You are too funny when you think the Great Wall of China will magically appear in your backyard so you can see it in person! SO CUTE YOU ARE!
I suppose that’s why it felt so good to sign up for Italian lessons. Even though logically I know that the cash could’ve been used for something else useful—a new vacuum for the apartment! Or, living room curtains! Or some things I really just WANT—that green blanket from Pottery Barn to throw at the foot of my bed! Five new pairs of shoes! A day at the spa!
Something inside me paused and listened to the voice that said no no no BIGGER BIGGER BIGGER.
Something that will change you permanently. Something that will cause you to view your world differently. Something that will shape you and mold you into something better. Something FUN! because yes, as Maggie says, you do have to plan out the fun sometimes.
That Mondo Beyondo class changed my life in many ways one of which was encourage me to stop waiting for things to happen. Stop sitting around and thinking OH IT SURE WOULD BE NICE OF MY LIFE WAS COOL. TOO BAD IT AIN’T.
Go out and DO things! MAKE things! Create things! Accomplish, laugh, race, build, reach out, slow down, go go go!
This is how I want my life to be—brimming and swelling, full of all things beautiful, creative and marvelous.
Five days to go until MAMBO ITALIANO LESSON #1! I can hardly wait!!!
(c) photo courtesy of cgoulao
“I’m not quite sure how I discovered Maggie’s blog but discover it I did and I’ve been reading it regularly for years now. I have an undying love for her, despite the fact that she has no idea who I am.” This is how I feel about you and your blog! I’ve been lurking around here for at least a couple of years now, but have never commented. So why am I finally commenting? A good friend of mine recently passed away, which made me realize how important it is to actually go out and DO all that stuff you think about doing. Exactly what you are saying in this post. So thanks for reminding me and for making me laugh so much over the last few years!
I’ve been trying to remember to work on my Mondo Beyondo list for awhile now, and this post is great inspiration. Starting it now, thanks Laura!
G - Aw, thank you so much! I’m so sorry about your friend! Make a Mondo Beyondo list and watch your life improve dramatically!
Thanks for reading!
Kelly - HECK YEAH! Get on it! I’d love to read it after you make it! I need some more ideas for my own! WOO HOO!
Laura, I am with G. Although this is not the first time I have commented, I rarely do because, Hello, I don’t know you and you might think I am a crazy lunatic?! Anyway, this is one blog that is truly fun to read, just to read. You are talented.
Also, I can relate to your Italian lessons. I have recently been lamenting that I have not accomplished anything since I graduated from college (other than popping out two beautiful babies) and I was feeling pretty down on myself about it. So, I decided I wanted to complete a sprint triathlon. Instead of just saying I wanted to do that, I actually went out and signed up for swimming lessons to improve my form and help me be a stronger swimmer for the race. It felt so good to do that! And I know I am actively working towards reaching my goals, not just thinking how cool it would be to reach them.