My mom Sonia and my dad Evald were very special parents. Mom with her routines, her supportive attitude, and stable character. My dad was a visionary who dared to invest in his future. For him, there was nothing called impossible. As a child, I was raised with the idea that if you really wanted to achieve something, you could succeed at anything. It gave me the courage to dream big and freely, and the ability to see solutions when obstacles arose.
When I dream freely about my future, I focus on the big goals, without prematurely looking at everything that stands in the way of reaching my goals. This skill has followed me throughout my life and has indeed led me to dive into things without thinking, which has led to some tricky situations. But somehow I’ve always come out unscathed on the other side, richer in experience.
With the pandemic becoming a reality in March this year, many dreams and aspirations crashed. Personally, I saw how my clothing company that my daughters and I had worked hard to build suddenly faced an uncertain future. My daughter, who was to get married in Spain, had to cancel her wedding. The year, just as one had imagined it, took a complete turn, and no one really knows yet in which direction.
When worries crept in at night, I thought of my dad Evald, and what he would have said. I could hear his calming, reassuring voice assure me that if we just sit tight, focus on the solutions, and stay positive in the meantime, we will come out of this experience richer… I think he would also have said that I should keep a cool head and clean hands! I eventually fell asleep to my dad’s words, feeling ready to see the solutions again when I woke up the next morning.
We’ve all had to redraw our maps, set new goals, and reassess what’s important. That’s why I want to encourage everyone reading this not to stop dreaming! It can feel tough when the future is uncertain, but dreams are a strong life elixir! Having something to strive for, a goal, something that gives you energy and strength when tough times come, it can be a lifeline!
Say what you will about this pandemic, but regardless of how tough this experience is, I hope and believe that it is a healthy experience, training us to be flexible in our outlook and find solutions instead of looking for problems. It teaches us that when things didn’t go as planned, there are 1000 other ways it can turn out, and some of them may even be BETTER than what we could dream of!
And one last thing about dreaming: Dreams are not static, they give birth to new dreams. In fantasy, you are free and can get closer to your innermost core. Dare to dream often, repeat the dream several times, visualize yourself when you achieve the dream. Speak it out to your loved ones. Be inspired by others, it can be an enormous source of strength! Dare to act and follow your dreams – the worst that can happen is that you fail, but then you are at least richer in experience. And last but not least – listen to what the heart says. What do YOU want? What do YOU dream of?
Hugs, Marie
This column was published in Åbo Underrättelser on September 15, 2020. Read it here.