The sky's the limit...

“If you want to raise the quality of your life, raise your standards.”

~~~Tony Robbins

These days, I am doing some challenging interior work. I am indulging my creative mind and giving myself permission to dream  BIG! I'm trying to work out in my mind what my life could look like with no self-imposed limitations. For example, if I could pack up and go anywhere in the world, I would move to Italy, no question. 

I have always had a strong connection to all things Italian: the language, the culture, the food...and of course, the men! In fact, I am leaving for my next trip to Italy next Sunday. This will be my fourth trip since 2005 and my first solo vacation ever. I'm staying in bed & breakfasts in Rome & Florence because I want to experience what it feels like to live there, albeit as a guest in someone's home. As much as I LOVE hotels and all the amenities that come along with them, I don't want this trip to be about that. I feel like this is an opportunity to "try on" daily Italian life. I'm testing the waters...indulging in the fantasy of living there someday.

My dream come true...

And who knows?

No one is stopping me from fulfilling that dream but me.

Sure, I can come up with a list of reasons why I shouldn't:

it's not practical, I'm too old, it's too risky.

Then there's the 'other' list....

you know, that one that we keep secret?

Who do I think I am? 

That's for other people, not me.

I don't deserve too be that happy.

Your second list might look different, but I think, if they're honest, most people would admit that have a similar version of their own.

Why do we do this?

Where do we learn that dreaming BIG is unrealistic?

Who says that your dreams can't come true?

I think it's extremely important not to get so locked into the details of what your ultimate life would look like, that you become unwilling to let life unfold. There are infinite possibilities and there needs to be some wiggle room so that opportunities can present themselves in any number of miraculous ways. 

That said, I think the parameters of what I deem possible in my life need to expand...I need to live outside the proverbial box that I've locked myself into. Even if I never end up living in Italy, I need to honor my dreams. You never know what's waiting around the corner when you allow yourself to open to the possibilities.....

Instead of saying "That's not possible for me,"  I need to change my response to, "Why NOT me?"

WHY NOT??