Dream Big

Guest post by Jessica L. Beck

I Hope You Dream Big

Children will learn more by what you do than what you say. 

I type these words into my phone while sitting on the swing in my backyard. The creaking sound and rocking motion is always enough to lull my one-year-old son to sleep when nothing else works. His hand is gripping my shirt, and his warm face is pressed into my neck. He breathes in and out, softly.

Sometimes when I find myself here, I marvel at this miracle. I sit and look out at the palms in the backyard swaying in the wind. I lean my head back and think, what a blessing.

But sometimes the busy highway of my mind goes in a hundred different directions; the work I am behind on at the office, the dishes in the sink, and the upcoming event that I don't have an outfit that fits for. And every once in a while, my mind wanders in the best way, and I think of story ideas that I would love to tell. I quickly tap notes into my phone and promise I will get to sitting down and writing these soon.

At bedtime, I read my son a book about chasing his dreams; telling him he can be anything he wants to be. I say "Ryan, I hope you dream big," as I see his eyes start to close and feel his body soften into mine. 

But, after my son goes to sleep, I end up cleaning, answering overflowing work emails, or prepping meals for the next day. I tell myself that these things take precedence, and I will have time to write someday.

I am realizing that this small pocket of time each evening spent intentionally working on my goals, can one day achieve big results. John Maxwell said it best - consistency compounds.

My best writing has come out of my greatest struggles. I read once that nothing that ever happens to a writer is ever wasted.

As I swing with my sleeping toddler on my lap, I let my mind wander to the day he can sit and read the books and articles that his mom wrote. I am reading a book to him about following his dreams, but really, I am reading it to myself, too.

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Jessica L. Beck is a Human Resources Professional who writes about human resources, working parents, lifestyle and health. She lives in FL with her son and husband. https://jessicalbeckwriting.my.canva.site/