What dreams have you given up on? What do you still hang on to?

[Autumnismyfavourite]

I realised a long time ago I was never going to be a White House staffer. In particular I was never going to be on the staff of President Obama or Bartlett! I wasted many hours on that daydream.

I am also never going to a writer. I gave it a shot - I sent a selection of poems and short stories to Faber no less! 😀

I do still dream of a road trip across America one day.

And living in a dilapidated house in rural Tuscany where I get up and paint each morning (despite my lack of talent), drink amazing coffee and occasionally go into Florence for an art fix and wine.

I have given up on my idea of a loft apartment in New York while I write or else earn an amazing living as a powerhouse somebody (albeit without too much stress).

I have definitely not given up on my dream of living in a small wisteria covered chateau in France where i serve up amazing meals for my children and DILs and grandchildren and having them all sit back and sigh and pat their stomachs and comment lazily; 'Mum is an amazing cook'.

That one is still good.

All of them. Just grateful now for what I have. Taking pleasure in the small things

I love that it's a château! and I can picture the scene @NewLifeHappyLife
I'm reminded of a french drama years ago but can't remember name.

@ringoutsolsticebells contentment is good. Eludes me.

I have never given up on any dreams. I may have tweaked them slightly Yep be more realistic but I subscribe very much to the notion that it’s never too late and you are never too old to achieve something.
It’s all about managing your expectations.
I tell my Year 3 class this at school. It’s unrealistic for your dream to be to score the winning goal in the World Cup Final, but somebody does that, every single time. So it’s not impossible.
However if playing football professionally is your dream and you are willing to put the work in, consistently, for years and years, there is a chance it could happen.
I am nearly 50, I have achieved a lot of my dreams, the others I am working on.
Samuel L Jackson didn’t make his first movie till he was 51.
Colonel Sanders opened his first restaurant aged nearly 50.
Toni Morrison published her first book at 39.

The only thing none of us can ever do is get any younger.

Why can’t you be a writer? You already are, if you have had things published? You’ve achieved that.
Why, specifically, can’t you get a job at the White House? What’s physically stopping you?
if it’s just something you no longer want, then you haven’t given up on that dream. That dream has changed, is all.

I like your approach but not entirely convinced. I think if I was talented enough to be published I'd know by now.
(I'm afraid I submitted work to Faber and never heard back, sorry I was unclear!)I
can't go work in American politics. I have children and also I really would not get a job.

I like your thinking though.

When I posted earlier I was thinking why on earth did Lucy Jordan give up on riding through Paris at the age of 37!

Faber aren’t the only publisher.

No. And indeed people who get published generally put a lot more effort in than sharing work with one top publisher!!

So perhaps you are right, maybe it's something I didn't want enough.

I've given up all hope of having beautiful thick swishy hair.

I haven't given up trying to become an illustrator.

I'll never be miss world.
I may still be a champion line dancer.

Borka - I hope you manage your illustrator dream. Have you a particular market/style?

I didn't know line dancing was a competitive activity! @countvoncount

Being really skinny 😂 really, was a teen dream. Thought once I was an adult and lived by myself I could just stop eating and nobody could make me. Instead, I ate everything 🤣

Working a summer in Ibiza. Got too caught up in my degree and two post-graduates.

Future dreams are mainly travel and money related. Visit Svalbard. Pay off mortgage by mid-40s. Set up business with DH.

Thank you! I'm aiming for picture books.

Barring lottery wins, I've realised I'm never going to own that big wooden Scandi style house overlooking a beach. (I'm still holding out hope for that beach hut one day though.)

Neither am I going to be a best selling author. I get bored too quickly and would never have the staying power to finished a novel.