One of my favorite things to do is to dream. (Not actually during the night because I’m prone to nightmares…) But I love to day dream and to picture myself in the future. Sometimes I think of the family I’ll have and what my house my look like, and then picture it in another town. Sometimes I think about the jobs I’ll have or the places I’ll go or the people I meet. And who I will become.
When I was on the plane heading back to NYC, I was using my “notes” to spell check things. (Normal.) I am always in the notes app on my iPhone, but for some reason completely unexplained, I opened the app to a note that I had written in April 2013. I had actually written it while in Dallas last year!
It was a “Dream List” for my blog that I had put together and subsequently totally forgot about. It listed things I wanted to accomplish. I scrolled through the list while in the air and couldn’t believe how many of the things I had done. The list, when I created it, seemed like a total reach. I counted and of the 54 things on the list, I had done 24 of them. While reading the list, it almost felt like I was writing the roadmap of the next year without even knowing it.
Some of the things were: quitting my job to blog full time, signing into a major contract (little did I know it would actually take a year to bring it to fruition), being in Teen Vogue, working with Barbour and Lilly Pulitzer, finding an agent+manager+attorney+accountant… etc.
I teared up a little bit… and then was seriously inspired to make a new list. So for an hour of my flight, I dreamed and dreamed and thought of new adventures, wishes, and goals.
It may seem like a weird time to come up with goals, not quite the middle of the year, but there’s no time like the present, right?! I set goals every week and also for the month, but they’re more tangible “you should be hitting this” kinds of things. Just what I know that I can and should accomplish during the week/month to keep me on track.
But there’s something a little bit magical about setting lofty goals that you can only dream of achieving… and then seeing what you can actually put into place!
I really encourage everyone to make a dream list. (One of my main mottos is “Live Your Dreams” after all!) It’s best to do it in a quiet spot, totally disconnected. Pen to paper feels good when you’re making dreams and you can always go back and type the list afterward. No internet, no distractions… and just go for it! The bigger the better. While goals should definitely have a timeframe, don’t worry about that while you’ll putting together your dreams!
Do you day-dream? Have you ever accomplished something you never thought you could but really wanted to?
xoxo
I am so happy your dream list has developed so well! I think making one is a really good idea!
— Alex at Cashmere Kangaroo
You've accomplished so much and you have so much to be proud of! You making your dreams come true is so inspirational; I'll get right to work with creating a dream list of my own, and hopefully I'll find myself with as much progress as you! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's
So inspiring – it's so fun to dream!
laurenroseprep.blogspot.com
Such a good idea, I'm going to write one too!!
http://www.taylormcunningham.com
I think making a dream list is such a good idea!
Lauren,
http://www.atouchofsoutherngrace.com/
Congratulations on your dream list coming partly true.
I followed Mackenzie, and did a 101 in 1001 list, so a similar idea.
Fie xx
Coffee & Confetti
This is a great idea! I am definitely going to write one when I get home!
Hunter
Prep on a Budget
This is a great idea!
Haley
haleyvalerie.com
i have one of these! they are so fun to keep track of and see how they change over the years!
xx
Bess
bellesinbows.com
Love this Carly, dream on, its obviously working!
collegeclarity.blogspot.com
You go, girl!
I love this! I have been feeling kind of down about blogging lately because my daily views have been decreasing but I think if I set some goals it could really help keep me motivated!
Natalie
http://pugsandpink.weebly.com/
This post is once again right on target for me……Its just what i needed as lately my motivation has been down. You are such an inspiration for me and i look up to you. This is just what i needed to push myself to get back to blogging and not let the little things get me down.
politicswithpearls.blogspot.com
I think it's so important to dream (and dream BIG) because, why not? Congrats on accomplishing so many items on your list.
-Alex
http://www.monstermisa.blogspot.com/
this is wonderful carly — you really are living your dreams. cheers to that!
xo jillian – cornflake dreams
I am so proud of you and very happy that so many of your dreams were able to come true! keep inspirinig yourself and others
Annie
A College Confession
I've been thinking about making a list like this, but whenever I think about I worry that all the things I want to accomplish will be too hard, so I get afraid of putting it down on paper because I don't want to disappoint myself! Maybe it's time I just pull the trigger though! Thanks for the motivation, Carly!
Sammy
http://www.preptista.blogspot.com
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@preptista
Rather than New Years resolutions, I make New Years goals in my yearly planner. It's a great way to daydream, a way to hold yourself accountable throughout the year, but most of all, so fun to look back upon at the end of the year! It's amazing how almost subconsciously the goals become reality. Keep it up!