Do I have a right to dream?

A guest post by Marga Zebrowska, a writer and COO of True Me.

The times of the pandemic and finacial turmoil have painfully verified our plans. Unfortunately, I realised the difficulties I experienced over this time directly impacted my long-term and next-week goals.

I kept asking myself - do I still have the right to dream in the current state of things? 

Or is it better to reduce my desires to the basic ones - keep a roof over my head, fill my family's fridge and survive relative health until next New Year's Eve?

We, women, demonstrated remarkable resilience during these challenging times. We took on the responsibility of keeping our families in good health, nurturing our children's mental and physical development, and navigating the chaotic school environment. We were not just home managers, but the pillars of strength for our loved ones. 

The temptation to postpone our dreams for "later" was huge.

Except "later" may never come. Urgent organisational matters will always be more urgent, and the post-pandemic world will become more complex. Eliminating the effects of the pandemic will probably take years, not to mention the challenges of the current political and humanitarian turmoil. We get too tired of everyday life to even think about making our dreams come true. Shouldn't we just postpone them?  

It took me several years to realize a simple truth - there is never a 'perfect' time for bold dreams. But that doesn't mean we should give up on them. It's never too late to start. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are worth it. 

Regarding the established "model of life", everything seems to be arranged in appropriate boxes: studies, work, marriage, family, apartment, retirement. Few of us dare to go beyond this scheme and change their order or create additional boxes: writing a novel, setting up a foundation, or learning Arabic. 

But when we start creating our box, "it would be nice to learn flamenco", the prose of life effectively intercepts this idea before it becomes fully-fledged. 

What if we began with a single, small step?

Instead of overwhelming ourselves with the thought of writing a novel, let's start by subscribing to a writing group on Facebook or following an inspirational Instagram account, like True Me. 

"It will be nice to start painting." Let's watch one of the tutorials on YouTube, buy a small set of paint, or borrow it from our children. Let's practice dance at home. Let's use an app on a bus to learn a language. Let's reach out to thousands of sources available at our fingertips.

Let's start here, where we are right now. 

Let's start where we are, doing what we can. By dedicating just 15 minutes a day to something we love, we can uplift our mood and inch closer to our desires.

This sense of fulfillment will empower us, influencing other aspects of our lives in a positive way.