Sep 26, 2018

Are you living your dream? – Kandy Shepherd

Recently, my younger brother died suddenly and unexpectedly. It was sad, distressing and I don’t know when I’ll get over the shock and loss. However the upside of the tragedy was I was able to spend significant time with my middle brother. He lives on the other side of the country, and before that in Europe, so I haven’t seen much of him at all in recent years. It was amazing the details of shared lives that siblings seem to remember. He reminded me of all sorts of things I’d forgotten.




 

During our most recent conversation I observed we are quite an eccentric family. He laughed as he agreed but said we have all achieved our dreams, one way or another. “You always wanted to be a romance writer,” he pointed out. Our deceased younger brother became a rock musician later in life, not on a large scale but known and loved in the area where he lived—living the dream of singing and playing guitar on stage. Another has a string of non-fiction books in his area of expertise to his name. The other has the lifestyle he dreamed of and knows he has made a difference through activism.



It got me thinking. Yes, I am living the dream of being a romance writer—and very happy about it too! But I’m also living the dream of being happily married and the mother of a wonderful daughter. How fortunate I am!



Other friends are living the dream of seeing the world now they’re retired. Another is totally caught up in her longed for first baby. Yet another is taking art classes for the first time and discovering her talent. My husband, in middle age, has achieved his dream of cycling across some of the highest alps in Europe. My daughter has her own horse—a dream since she was tiny. Another young person is delighted to have a job and be able to pay rent on her own place. 

So many different dreams motivating and inspiring us!

PS. My other oft-stated dream when I was a kid? To live in a lovely house and have lots of cats. As I live in a nice house with four much-loved cats, I think I can check that one off the dream list too! (Don’t mention to my husband that I’d like to foster homeless cats one day—because that’s definitely not his dream as he fears I wouldn’t be able to part with them!)



What about you? Have you achieved a dream of some kind that pleases you? Do you still aspire to a dream? Is there a dream you had to give up on? Please share your story with us. I’d love to hear it!

8 comments:

  1. Oh Kandy I am so very sorry that you have lost your brother sending hugs, you know as a child I always wanted to be a mother and have my own home and I have achieved that and I am now a grandmother as well and that makes me very happy and I am also not working anymore yay and I get a lot more time to read the fabulous romance books that make me smile and I get to go on cruises and visit new places, one dream I have had is to see Scotland that may not come true but I have visited through some fabulous books.
    Life throughs up many challenges to us along the way and I have coped with them the best I can and yes I am happy :)

    Have Fun

    Helen

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    1. Thank you for your kind thoughts, Helen. I love that you achieved your dreams of a happy family life and are a mother and a grandmother. And how great that retirement has brought more time to read and go on your wonderful cruises. I reckon Scotland might still happen - maybe Greece too!

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  2. Hugs, Kandy, on your brother. All death is awful but sudden death had a shock value that is hard to grapple with.

    After 48 years I am living my dream in a house overlooking the ocean - best thing we ever did! I am so damn happy every day :-)

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  3. Thanks for those hugs, Amy! Your house looks absolutely amazing - what a marvellous dream to have achieved. So glad it makes you so happy! (I haven't given up on that particular dream myself...)

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  4. So sorry to hear about your younger brother. Sounds as if everyone in your family has achieved some of their dreams. Sometime later tonight one of my grown up dreams will come true, as my daughter in law is in the hospital having her baby induced. This baby is a special IVF dream baby, so we are over the moon. I am babysitting his 2 year old big brother, who amuses me and tires me out in equal measure. Hi keeps telling me "mommy is on the big boat bringing baby brother" Guess it's a cross between their cruise earlier this year and the baby!!!

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    1. Laurie, what an absolute wonderful dream to come true for your family. I'm thrilled for you!

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  5. Hugs on your recent loss, Kandy. A sudden death can be such a hard blow. I think it can take a long time to recover -- do be kind to yourself.

    I've always wanted to be a writer, so I'm definitely living the dream. Travelling throughout parts of Europe have been a dream come true too. I often remind myself to appreciate every day and to live it to the full -- that shouldn't be hard, but it's so easy to get mired in the minutiae and the daily grind. Shall continue trying to perfect it, though. :-)

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  6. Thank you for the hugs Michelle. Isn't it wonderful to be living the dream of a writing life! I like your advice about living life to the full.

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