Today I have invited Marci Nault of 101DreamsComeTrue to share her thoughts about the power of writing down your dreams. In only 5 years, Marci has accomplished 90 out of her list of 101 dreams for her life (including seeing her first novel, The Lake House, published by Simon & Schuster this year). Pretty impressive, isn’t it? Marci describes herself as an ordinary person. It was writing down her list of dreams that took her on an extraordinary journey.
“Where did the time go?” Is a common phrase you hear along with, “How is 2013 half over already?”
Feeling as if time is speeding up is a common occurrence these days. Maybe it’s because we move at such a fast pace trying to fit as many activities into children’s lives and our own. Or the fact that most media is made to only capture our attention for less than five minutes so we can absorb more.
It seems that everything in life is screaming for us to take a look, notice me, I need to get this done – I could go on forever on all the things that have our attention.
So for one moment, I want you to stop and think about the trajectory of your life if you keep this pace. Are you going towards your goals? Are you headed to the dreams you long ago put away for “someday” in the future?
Now imagine what happens if you keep going for another ten years at this pace. Will you look back and be thankful for all the wonderful moments, or will you feel as if life sped past without a moment to breathe?
When our dreams aren’t allowed to be at the forefront of our minds, it’s so easy for them to get pushed under the pile of laundry, the dishes in the sink, the hectic schedule, the bills that have piled up, or the feeling that we don’t deserve them so why even try.
Five years ago, I was at the lowest point of my life. Let’s just say that a higher power took a wrecking ball to what I thought I wanted to make certain I’d see the life I was meant to live. At this time, I sat down and made a list of 101 dreams I wanted to come true: live in Florence; become a published author with a major publisher; travel; learn to communicate without need or expectation; fall in love with life and myself; and many more. On this list I placed all the things I wanted to explore, try, experience, change about myself, and a life that I thought could only be part of my imagination.
Something miraculous happened when I made this list – it began to come true. At first it was small things. I was offered a spot on a camping trip in Yosemite to hike Half Dome. I didn’t know anyone on the trip, but I’d made a rule, if I had the chance I had to take it. So I went and had the time of my life.
More offers began to present themselves and with each dream that came true, I began to gain confidence that I could complete my list.
I kept my dreams in a prominent place in my home, and read a few of the items everyday. There were times when I was afraid, oh let’s be honest there were moments when I was on my knees in tears, but now after completing 90 of my biggest dreams, I believe anything is possible and taking risks and moving towards my goals has become a way of life: I’m now a novelist, my book The Lake House is published with Simon & Schuster and on the shelves; I’ve lived in Florence, Italy; jumped off cliffs on a hang glider; danced at Carnival In Rio; became a competitive figure skater; learned to tango and salsa dance; opened my own business www.elegantbridaldesigns.com; and many more.
When I began this list, I had no idea how I was going to make any of it come true. I didn’t have a career, the place I was renting was being sold, and I was completely lost. But doorways have opened, and I’ve found my way. I’ve learned to embrace fear – it means what I’m going after really matters.
Without this list, I don’t think I would’ve accomplished my dreams. I believe I would’ve placed them in the “someday” pile under the necessity to-do-list. But my life changed by making my dreams my biggest priority.
If you make that list of dreams more important than your to-do-list, if you bring your family together and design your life around each other’s dreams, I guarantee you won’t ever look back and wonder what happened to those years. Instead, you’ll look forward and say, “What more can we do?”
About Marci:
Marci Nault’s debut novel, The Lake House (Gallery/ Simon & Schuster) was a Chicago Tribune, Cape May Herald, CBS, and Amazon Premier summer read pick. Originally from Massachusetts, today she can be found figure skating, salsa dancing, hiking and wine tasting around her home in California. Marci is the founder of 101 Dreams Come True, a motivational website that encourages visitors to follow their improbable dreams. Her story about attempting to complete 101 of her biggest dreams has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and she regularly speaks on the subject on radio stations in both the United States and Canada. She’s also the owner of www.Elegantbridaldesigns.com, a couture lingerie, dress, and jewelry store.
