When The American Dream Isn’t Enough

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What do you do when your dreams of living a creative life clash with thinking you should be living the “American Dream?”

I used to feel like I needed to divide myself into multiple people. I had to be the person who should be happy and satisfied with her good office job. I had to be that grateful person to my family and friends because others had it worse. I shouldn’t complain.

Then there was the real me who I only allowed myself to be in the solitude of the night. The me who wanted to leave that office job behind and create all day, every day. The me who had a spiritual experience every time I wrote a story, went on a photography trip or found a new way to edit videos. I stifled that me a lot, though. I hardly let her out because who had the time.

But she clawed at me, whispered to me in my dreams, showed up whenever I disengaged from another meeting. She wouldn’t be ignored, so I let her out. I left my “good” job, determined to make a career out of my creative dreams. And I’ve never been happier. If the pandemic taught us anything, it should be to never wait on your dreams. Failure can be scary, but regret is a ghost that can haunt you for a lifetime.

If you can relate, take this as a sign to do something to live your dreams, even if it’s just going for a walk and taking photos or outlining that short story that’s been dancing around in your head. It’s time.