The content of this post was originally sent out in July’s Email Newsletter.
Dear friend,
Just for a change, I don’t want to ask “where did half of the year go?” because, well, everyone already asked that, and in retrospect, I do know where mine went.
For me, the first half of 2019 went into mothering and homeschooling kids through the end of their preschool years, finding healing, soaking up new books, getting to know myself in a whole new way, writing things (including ones that won’t see the light of day), and dreaming up new dreams.
In many ways, July feels like the first page of a new chapter, for my family, for me, and (woot, woot!) for this blog!
But can I be really honest for a moment?
The other day I chanced upon Kryz Uy‘s 10-year blog anniversary and as I virtually applauded her work (with a double-tap and a click to her blog, because that’s how we applaud fellow bloggers these days right? Lol), I had a fleeting moment of despair.
I thought, “oh wow, we were both blogging for over 10 years; why does it look like she achieved more than I have?” —How’s that for exclusive, email-only content? :) (Ed: Well, well, well, it’s out here on the blog too!)
Almost immediately I laughed at how easy it is to fall into the comparison game. The struggle is real.
But can I just also say that Kryz Uy is awesome?? It’s bloggers like her that remind us that consistency and dedication is the key to making things happen. That, yes, blogging is not dead, and yes, we should all celebrate how our generation has been given this unique opportunity to chase and live our dreams in a way that wasn’t possible a decade ago.
As for me, I had to remind myself that my journey is singularly mine and therefore incomparable.
I am very proud of this space that I happened to create around my passions while keeping a corporate job for the most part, and grateful for all the things God added into my life because of it all.
In hindsight, even as Chasing Dreams turns 10 years old this year, it still feels like we’ve only just begun around here! Yep, just warming up!
Over the past few weeks, I updated the blog with some 10-year milestone posts. Have you read them yet? :)
The Best of Chasing Dreams
A Lookback at the Past 10 Years Blogging
I did a little (okay, not-so-little) trip down memory lane and listed some of the blog’s highlights and milestones from the past 10 years (which are easily some of the highlights of my life too.)
Chasing Dreams, Year 10
Redefining What it Means to Chase Your Dreams
What does it mean to “chase your dreams” even? Here I revisited and redefined what chasing dreams truly means, the good and the ugly.
READ HERE
So before I end this, I want to challenge you to think about that BIG AUDACIOUS DREAM that God keeps putting in your heart.
You may be setting this dream aside for later, or maybe you’ve forgotten about it already as you focus on more pressing things like, I don’t know, bills and family and life.
I was so sure it was the end of Chasing Dreams! I was ready to walk out of it, let it expire, and move on to the next, you know, dream. And yet the purpose and the potential of this space keeps me feeling restless and sleepless that I just had to shift gears and decided to keep going and trying.
And now I’m almost certain that years from now, I’d be glad I didn’t quit.
I challenge you, us, to keep praying for that dream and to keep holding on to it. There’s a reason why you can’t seem to shrug it off! And if I could just make you stop for a minute to linger on these thoughts or maybe nudge you to take that small step into chasing that dream, then my work here is done.
I want you to know that God placed those dreams in your heart for a purpose! And whether or not you see those dreams happening in this lifetime, I know God is already changing you and making you the person He needs you to be just by being brave enough to dream that it can happen. :)
Here’s to chasing old and new dreams, for His glory!
Always for His glory.
Love,
Riz
Photo by the great Sheila Catilo. Thank you, Sheilabeybz!
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