The Biggest of Dreams & Ambitions

I talked yesterday about dreaming and setting goals for yourself. I brought up the idea that some people seem to think that we should dream and set goals within our “means.” And I do not agree. At all. Not even in the very slightest.

Today I thought I would share with you some of the dreams and ambitions that I have for myself. In every single aspect. For myself personally, for my family, for my growing and emerging business [though as far as my business is concerned, you will have to head over to my photography blog for the more indepth and detailed plans I’m making right now.

First and foremost, I will talk about what my hopes are for my blog. While I’ve been blogging for about a year and half or so, I still have a lot left to learn and a lot of followers left to gain. 6.2 billion people in the world…230 people hasn’t even begun to make a dent. [Ok. Realistically, I know that is impossible, no matter how determined I am.] But I do hope to expand my readership and really get my name and my brand out there. I would love to be as successful, in my own ways as some of the bigger and most well known blogs out there.

But no matter how big my blog gets, no matter how overwhelming and crazy my life may become, I don’t ever want to lose the connection I have with my readers. This is something I am still working on daily, but I think it is essential to growing readership and you guys are what makes me want to keep blogging, your comments encourage me and offer me the extra push I need to keep up the creativity and the blogging on days when I don’t necessarily feel like it.

Personally, I hope to always, always always keep my family first. I know so many moms [and dads for that matter] that get sucked into their careers or other aspects of life and they lose focus on what matters the most. If my business ever begins to take over my life, I hope that I am able to not only recognize it, but step back long enough to reevaluate what’s going on and fix it. Family is too important to me to ever put them on the backburner. I think that’s why I’ve always been more attracted to self employment and careers that enable me to choose my own hours and be my own boss.

I want to always be positive and encouraging to my husband and my son. I want to always  keep their dreams front and center, right beside mine, so that we can all work together, push together and strive together to be everything in life that we hope to be. I never want to put myself or what I want ahead of them. If anything, I would rather put them before me. Never myself first. I want to always lift up my sweet Little Guy and drill into his head that he can do everything and anything he ever hopes to do.

I would love to get into teaching some day. Teaching photography, teaching writing, speaking at Blog Conferences. Anything I can do to implore some of the things that I have learned in life to others. I think that learning comes as much from your own mistakes as it does from taking to heart the mistakes of others. If I can offer my knowledge [or wisdom or whatever you want to call it] to some one else, then I feel like I will be leaving a part of something behind.

I want to write a book. I’ve always wanted to write a book. Right now isn’t the time for it, believe me I’ve tried. The words aren’t there for a book. Blogs, yes. Poetry? Yeah, I’ve got that in me too. But right now, there aren’t enough words or creative ideas floating around the noggin’ to successful write a good book. And when I say that I want to write a book, I mean that I’m anticipating writing something as awesome as Twilight some day.Or perhaps something as great as the works of Nicholas Sparks or Jane Austen. I don’t plan on writing a book and publishing it myself. I plan on making the NY Times Bestseller list. And I will. One day.

Likewise, that book? That best seller? You’re going to see it on the big screen. At the Box Office. Raking in the Number One position. I promise you. One day.

I want to really dive into my photography. I would love to see my photographs in Wedding Magazines someday. Or in some of the big, major photography magazines. Maybe even in National Geographic or Southern Living or something if I get into nature photography. Which I probably will, if for no other reason than because I enjoy it and find nature beautiful.  Like I said before, you’ll have to head over here to read all of my business and photography goals. Gotta drive the traffic that direction some kind of way, right?

When I get started back to school next year, I plan to major in Photography [of course] but I’m also planning to take plenty of classes in Creative Writing {maybe even get a second degree or double major}, Graphic Design, Business, Finance, Religion and probably some Government classes. Surprisingly, I aced my American National Government class in college and I really do enjoy politics. Problem is, I’m one of those people that thinks everyone should believe what I believe. Oh well.

I want to take advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the military discounts offered by most schools. Education is a great thing and I really enjoy school. And class. I’m somewhat of a nerd, if you haven’t figured it out. And I want Little Man to grow up seeing how important education is. I want him to grow up seeing his mom and dad still pursuing their goals and striving to learn.

I want to keep a happy home and healthy marriage. That’s so, so important to me. It’s good for my own mental health as well as for Little Man. It’s been studied that kids who grow up in healthy homes where their parents have strong, communicative marriages are more likely to succeed in life and go on to pursue their dreams. With the way our society is these days, I have to give Little Man the best chance I can. Because he won’t get it in the real world.

I want to always be striving to better myself. Go the extra mile, go the extra distance, finish what I start. I want to reach the point mentally and financially where I can give back to people. Charity means a lot to me, and when I get to where I can give as much as I want to, I will. [Don’t get me wrong, I give to charity now, I just mean that when I can really give as much as I want to, I will.] I have a few ideas in mind in how that will relate to my photography business as well. Just got to wait to play it out.

And I want to always, always do everything that I do to the fullest and to always give every single ounce of glory to God and no one else. Without him, I couldn’t have accomplished the things I’ve already accomplished, nor will I be able to achieve anything else without his help.

What are your dreams? Whether you feel that they are realistic or not…what are some of the things that you would love to say that you accomplished in life? I think God gives us that drive and those dreams for a reason. I truly believe that God wants to see us accomplish the things in life that mean the most to us, no matter what they are.