It’s your time to shine. Right now. As a fragile human in a chaotic world, you can’t count on tomorrow, nor can you afford to postpone your dreams to an uncertain future. The moment to start living the life you want is today.
Many of us believe we’re living ethically by sacrificing our own desires for others. We find joy in giving, which is wonderful, but we mustn’t neglect ourselves. We tell ourselves, “I have to make Mom and Dad happy and pursue medicine as they expect,” or “My husband wants to live in this expensive neighborhood, but I’d prefer a simpler life.” We often think, “I must do everything for everyone else, leaving no time for myself.” By burying our own dreams, we rob ourselves of authenticity.
We even worry about what the Joneses think when we consider chasing our dreams. We tell ourselves, “I need to drive a certain car, maintain a specific lifestyle, or dress a certain way to earn their respect.” But the Joneses are often the least inspired and least happy people. Their opinions are irrelevant.
You are the creator of your life—nobody else. So, what do you want? Life is short, and your days are numbered. Start thinking about what will truly make you happy. It’s your time to shine.
A Personal Awakening
Let me share my story. I was living the American Dream: a big house in the “right” neighborhood, two cars, a husband, kids, and a dog. My husband and I had degrees to prove our intelligence and success. We kept our property pristine, with gleaming windows and green grass. I dressed the kids for church on Sundays and sat in the front row. But it was like painting our toenails while our feet were broken—or, as my husband says, “putting lipstick on a pig.” Everything seemed perfect, yet something was missing. We were living a dream, but it wasn’t ours.
In 2010, both my mother and father-in-law died of cancer, shattering our routine. Standing by their hospital beds, watching them fade, forced us to confront our own mortality. Life doesn’t last forever. We needed to start truly living while we still could.
After my mother’s death, I faced countless fears: admitting what I wanted, revealing my true self, trying new things, failing, standing out, or blending into a dull, gray existence. I was terrified of dying without ever having truly lived.
Slowly, I began confronting these fears. I gave myself permission to decide what I wanted from life. If my time came, what would I want to have accomplished? I wanted to be a great mom and wife, spend time inspired by people and experiences, write books and articles, maintain my blog at renaissancehousewife.com, and travel.
My mother gave me life 37 years ago, and her death gave me a second chance at it. The day she took her last breath, I reevaluated what life means. Through the grief, a persistent thought emerged: “If you don’t follow your dreams now, you never will. Live true to yourself, and forget convention.”
That marked the start of a new me. Today, I’m writing and getting published, spending joyful hours with my husband and family, and traveling. We’re currently living for six months in an off-the-grid home by the sea in Belize, with more dreams on the horizon.
This life didn’t just happen. I made it happen. There’s no dream fairy waiting to tap you on the shoulder. If you’re waiting for a sign, this is it.
Following your dreams isn’t easy. It’s not the simplest path, and it may disappoint those who expect you to conform. Be kind and loving, but stay firm in your resolve to forge your own way. The path you choose for yourself is the only one that leads to true joy.
Whose dream are you living—yours or someone else’s? Now is your time to shine. Go make your dreams happen.
Guest Article By: Domini Hedderman
Domini Hedderman is a blogger and travel writer. For more tips, advice, and lessons learned on the road, follow her story at renaissancehousewife.com.
