Have You Lived Any Of Your Dreams/Goals?

[Nicolette]

I was just wondering if anyone here had lived out any of their dreams even despite PTSD? Have you accomplished things you have always wanted to do?

What dreams have you achieved and what are you working on?

I just got my fairytale wedding which I have wanted since I was a little girl and I have been able to travel to a few countries with Eqypt being next on the list.

When I was at school I wanted to be a maths and science teacher and I ended up being an Accounting & Business Services teacher at a tertiary college and now teach accounting as part of my Company's services.

I wanted to buy a brand new car (I grew up poor) and I have done that as well as buy my own home by myself.

I now am looking for peace...........

When you write a list like this I think it just brings you back to the reality of some of the things you forget you have achieved.

Never be afraid to dream.................

 

[BethRSA]

Thanks for this thread. It's encouraging that some things have come true and so can the others...

I wanted to become a school teacher and I did (grade 3, grade 6 and substitute teacher)
I wanted to make a difference in children's lives
I wanted to travel and I did (Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, England, S Africa, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Madagascar). After getting PTSD, I still travelled to many other countries in Africa and Germany, France, and Switzerland
I wanted to learn to scuba dive--now an advanced diver since 2001
I wanted to go white water rafting--did on the Zambezi River in 2006
I wanted to ride an elephant--did this October (2009)

I still want to go on an overnight cruise
I want to take the train overnight and stay in a compartment
I want to be happily married and have at least one child

 

[JohnnyM53]

I wanted to be a rock star drummer. I'm not a great drummer but 18 years ago I sat on stage in a small bar and played 15 minutes with a band.

At 15, I was told I would win first place at a karate kata competition. I never went - too insecure and got a job as a dishwasher and needed money. I always regretted not going and felt I was owed a trophy. At age 40, I went for my first time as an orange belt. I won 1st place for katas and 1st place for fighting and came home with two trophies!

I always wanted to be a black belt. I received mine in 2002. I never went to my high school graduation (too much shame, no nice clothes, zero confidence) and so when I heard my name being called to come and get my black belt, the crowd of 300 people cheered for me louder than for anyone else. I swear my feet didn't touch the ground walking up to get my belt and certificate.

I wanted to be someone and not live in shame anymore. I am and no longer do.

 

[2quilt]

I wanted to stop being the one in class whom everyone hated.
I wanted to be really loved.
I wanted to get as far away from my abusers as humanly possible.
I wanted to dance rollerskate to a trophy.
I wanted to travel the world, have food when I was hungry, a nice bed when I was sleepy, and be treated better than the dogs on chains left outside in the bad weather.

I survived, and I have a very comfortable life now.

 

[NarcSis]

When I was very young I always wanted to help and protect others - I do that now as a medic.
I always imagined that my future would be me with a succesful career, married with a home, 2.5 children and a truck - I have most of that now, just gotta get working on the 2.5 children thing..scarey.

My biggest dream was to be a pathologist, so much so, when I was in elementary school, I wrote a letter to the Chief Coroner of Ontario to ask how I could plan my future to become a pathologist - he told me I needed to be a doctor, so my dream changed to attending medical school. I've never accomplished this dream, the going has been extremely frustrating and each time I try to improve myself and take the risk to apply, I am rejected. I'd like to do the 'easy' job of family practice now, but it seems that this dream may never be accomplished - how many times do I have to be rejected before I give up and try to be happy where I am?

I have a new dream and that is to have a Master's degree; I'm currently looking into enrolling in a master's program.

Sometimes I wonder if I should lower my hopes because I always seem to set myself up for a fall. I'm pretty skeptical of dreaming now because my true dream fell through. Probably the only reason I want an MA is to PROVE to someone that I am worth something and prove that I can work hard and that I'd be a damn good doctor if I'd only be given a chance.

Really haven't let go of that dream have I? Uggh. It destroys me every time!!!!

 

[Jagged Angel]

I wanted to travel, and I have quite extensively.

I wanted to get out of the shadow of my brother (who shone at high school) and be somebody, and I did, making my own name.

I wanted to be in a relationship with someone who takes me as I am and loves me despite myself, and I have that now.

I wanted to be smart (I come from a highly academic family)... I always was, but I never went out of my way to prove it. Next year I enter PhD, after blitzing Honours this year.

I wanted to write creatively and get some of this shit out of my head. I do... I write Harry Potter fan fiction, but the point is I enjoy that and people like what I write.

I wanted to make the world a better place. I have been involved in human rights, queer rights, student rights, women's rights, men's rights, environmental rights, sex workers' rights... most of these I have been at the forefront of the struggle.

There are other things I could include on this list, but this will do for now.

I look at this list, and realise that the majority of these things have happened because I have PTSD, some perhaps because there were times that I didn't care what I did, others because I didn't want other people to suffer as I do, and still others because the PTSD created the circumstances under which I needed to do these things.

Thank you for this thread, Nicolette, it has been interesting thinking about these things and where they have come from.

 

[Grainne]

I wanted to be a positive, caring, loving, protective and wise mother - I am on my way to being just that to my beautiful son.

I wanted to know myself with absolute honesty and zero judgement. I am learning to listen to my heart.

I always wanted to work in healthcare and had a great interest in helping people; protecting people. I currently work in healthcare, in the areas of quality and patient safety. I get to speak out and represent the public, from the inside. I love my job.

I want a master's degree..and I will have this one day...then who knows? I want to never stop learning.

:) Thanks Nicolette, for this thought provoking thread. Made me smile tonight.

Grainne

 

[Akita]

I'm too young to really have lived my dreams and goals (after all, I just turned into a legal adult this year!) but I do have some goals for the future and it's really nice to see that people have accomplished their dreams :smile:

 

[Yumeko-chan]

When I was younger I pictured myself being various things, a kindergarten teacher among them.

When I was 11 or 12 I wanted to adopt two little black girls when I was older.

I thought by the time I was 25 I'd have one or two kids. I'm 26 now and I don't have any, but that's out of choice and necessity.

I always wanted to be a writer. Right now I'm fulfilling that dream. I've been writing fanfiction for the last almost-eleven years, and in October I started my first original story. Gonna try to live out my dream of being published :)

 

[goingonhope]

I've lived enough of some important dreams and goals.

...Only one in which I can mention tonight.

:smile: I wanted to escape my FOO, with many a good reason, and to do so still alive and with some reasonably good sanity. Well I escaped them, and I'm alive and I'll settle now for fairly good sanity, even though there's been greater sanity and peace in some previous years.

 

[onebravegirl]

I always wanted a MAN. Not a boy. I had Way Way too many boys. After countless failed relationships... My second husband is a MAN. Not because he is Macho and can bench press 300pounds. He can't. But he is kind and honest, works hard, loves hard, makes me laugh and has stood by me even when I couldn't shave my legs or brush my teeth.
I also always wanted my own horse. Still hoping...
O

 

[Nicky31]

I dreamt of having a life where I was safe and loved. I'm finally there- aged 31, even though my PTSD tells me I'm not sometimes.

My recent passing of my teacher qualification is a big achievement for me having not studied for so long and having experienced such difficult symptoms and facing my fears of getting back to a teaching environment.

I wanted to work in conservation and when I left uni (I never graduated), I got a job as a campaigner for an international wildlife charity. I was there for 4 years or so and I loved it.

I wanted to work with wildlife and spent many months living on the northern most islands of the UK looking after all kinds of creatures, but mainly seal pups- ahhhhhhhh.:thumbs-up

I dreamt of spending Christmas in New York and did this about 5 years ago when I lost Aunt. I spent a week enjoying the lights, the museums, galleries and attractions and lived my dream.

I still have dreams, mainly just to be ok and to continue being safe and loved. Thanks for this thread.