I dream very vividly, as I am sure do many of you. One of my most oft recurring dreams is falling. I sometimes dream that I am falling off a roof or out of a plane. Usually, it is as simple as stepping off a curb and twisting my ankle as I land. The fall is never associated with anything good. There is probably some deep-seated, underlying meaning of falling dreams, like I am heading into an unhealthy situation or I have over-spent or I shouldn’t leave my current job, who knows really? Even if Dr. Freud were sitting in front of me, I wouldn’t fully trust his interpretation for as much as he would like to be, he is not in my head or in my heart – where I truly believe dreams originate.

When I was a little girl, I never dreamed I would be a recruiter someday. I did dream about becoming a wife and a mother. I dreamed about being under the lights on a stage. I dreamed about swimming in the Olympics. But I never dreamed I would make a work life and love that life in the recruiting industry. Just goes to show you that not everything starts with a thought or a dream, sometimes it just starts and then runs away with you. And then you are living the dream before you know it.

I was eighteen when I started my first, real full-time job. I had been there about two weeks when the dentist I worked for looked at me and said (early one morning), “Remind me to never hire an eighteen year old again.” I cocked my head quizzically, feeling slightly offended when he said, “You are too damn happy in the morning.” He downed a cup of coffee and walked away. I don’t think it had anything to do with being eighteen. I think it had more to do with enjoying my work and being anxious to be there on time and in a good mood. I toned down my smile after that.

How do we maintain a happy composure during times of trial or economic downturn? It isn’t always easy, as a matter of fact, it is downright difficult. For me, I read everything I could get my eyes on, if I knew I wasn’t the only one struggling then I would feel better about my situation and keep plugging along. It worked, most of the time.

Living the dream is a personal choice. You can choose to be happy or choose to be a grump-asauraus – Of course, there are situations in which we may find ourselves that can hinder our ability to actually live the dream. Keep striving; never give up on the possibility. I know, this sounds like one of those achingly-sugary motivational posters with a guy hanging off a mountain. I’d be sorry if I didn’t know for myself that it works…, however, in my dream, the mountain was climbed; I got tired of hanging by a rope.


©by rayannethorn