Growing up with immigrant parents, no one ever sat me down and asked, “So, what do you want to be when you grow up?” They were too busy working, paying bills, and keeping the lights on. Survival came first. Dreaming was, let’s just say, not on the family to-do list.
And to be honest, who really knows in high school what they want to do for the rest of their life anyway? Some kids seem sure, heading off to college to become doctors, lawyers, or nurses. Others take a gap year and suddenly “find themselves” while backpacking through Europe (and let’s be real, maybe also “finding” themselves at a few questionable hostels 😂). Then there are people who stumble on a random spark, an idea, a chance moment, and suddenly that little spark changes everything.
For me, I had ideas here and there, but every time I shared them, someone was ready with a list of reasons why it wouldn’t work. Too expensive. Too risky. Too out there. People can be dream-crushers without even realizing it.
Then I read something from Vishen Lakhiani, the founder of Mindvalley, and it stuck with me. He said to dream the craziest dream you can imagine. Write it down, hold onto it, and see it through to the end. He discussed using the Silva Method of meditation to visualize himself traveling from Malaysia to the U.S. Taekwondo Championships. And guess what? He got there. But here is the twist: he never visualized himself winning. And he did not.
That story stayed with me because it showed the power of seeing yourself inside your dream. Vishen said to imagine it as if it has already happened, to visualize yourself living it, breathing it, and believing it. That is how you begin to manifest what you want.
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Then I came across another story that reminded me of that same lesson. I was scrolling through TikTok and saw Dave Fogarty, who shared a clip from his graduation. In the video, the speaker’s voice calls his name and says that he will study Mining Engineering at Adelphi University and that in ten years he hopes to be a billionaire. The crowd laughed. But he never backed down. His story resonated with me because, like Vishen, he kept going. He tried business after business, failing again and again until he finally found the one that became his calling.
Both stories carry the same heartbeat: visualize it, believe it, and keep moving toward it, no matter how many people laugh along the way. Because when you say your dream out loud, it can make people uncomfortable, especially those who have stopped dreaming. Do not let that stop you. Keep dreaming higher and higher 🌟.
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That stuck with me. Do not just dream halfway. Dream the whole picture. Do not stop at “I want to write a book.” See yourself holding it, signing it, or spotting someone reading it at the beach or the airport while you casually pretend not to look. If Abby Jimenez can spot a reader at the airport and follow them for a TikTok moment, you know I absolutely would too 😂.
One of my own bucket-list dreams was Hawaii 🌺. Before the pandemic, my family tried to plan a trip with my mother-in-law, but the cost was ridiculous, six or seven thousand dollars just for flights and hotels. Forget it. I filed it away under “someday.” But one random day in the middle of the pandemic, this little voice in my head whispered, “Go check flights.” So I did. And they were unbelievably cheap. I booked four tickets on the spot. The airline said they would honor them for two years, and sure enough, when travel opened back up, we went.
It was everything I had dreamed of, and honestly, even better. And the best part? That reminder that dreaming does not cost a dime 💫. The dream itself is free. It is holding onto it, keeping it alive, that positions you for the right moment when suddenly it becomes real.
I have always had different dreams. Traveling more. Giving my kids opportunities I never had. Writing books that reach people 📚. And yes, even the wild ones, like maybe winning a Pulitzer one day. Outrageous? Sure. But someone has to win. Why not me? Why not you?
And it is not just about the big, shiny dreams. I remember when banks used to have “Christmas clubs” or “vacation clubs.” You would put aside a little each week, and before you knew it, you had enough to do something special. Dreams work the same way. Start small. Save your change, recycle bottles, whatever it takes. Add a picture of your dream to your phone wallpaper or tape it on your fridge. Every time you see it, it is like giving your dream a little caffeine shot ☕✨.
So here is what I have learned: do not be afraid to dream. Do not water it down because someone else thinks it is too big. Do not stop at the halfway point. Picture it all the way to the finish line. And while you are sipping that cafecito with french vanilla creamer, like me right now, think about the dream that has been waiting patiently for you to take it seriously.
Because the truth is, when the time is right, you will be ready 💖.