Why Not?

Diana Nyad’s strokes of determination finally paid off. She has become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without shark cages. She has conquered her fears and fulfilled her long-time extreme dream. Diana’s powerful message of “you are never too old to chase your dreams” has echoed in my mind for days. It reminded me of my dream story.

The other day, I stumbled upon my dream list for this year. It slipped my mind that I have it on my phone. Going through it, I couldn’t hide the huge smile on my face. I’ve ticked off one of the biggest goals on that list --- finding a job overseas. Never in my wildest dreams did I realize that I’ll be working abroad. I had so many qualms and excuses. Stepping out of my comfort zone seemed impossible. Then, late last year I had that burning desire to embark on a new adventure. I wanted it deeply and madly. I felt in my heart that it’s time to take that leap of faith. It was early January of this year, when I started my online job hunt. What I thought would be an easy pursuit did not turn out that way. Like Diana, I encountered a lot of setbacks and rejections. I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I was excited yet anxious about what lies ahead. But I never gave up. I kept signing up for different job sites and surfing online for possible jobs. I was bold in pursuing my dream. I stayed in the game though it was tough. Until, one connection on LinkedIn turned this dream into a reality. I’ve recently celebrated my 5^th month here at work and each day I’m learning to embrace the challenges and blessings.

I’ve learned to fill my life with “why nots?” not “what ifs?” So, dare to chase that dream. If you have a dream, don’t just think about it…act on it and find a way! Kudos to you Diana for igniting the dreamers in us!