Dreams Shift: My Hopes Five Years Out
Five years ago, my dreams looked completely different. I was climbing the traditional ladder, focused on the next promotion, the bigger title, the more impressive resume line. Success meant hitting benchmarks that someone else had defined for me.
Today? My hopes and dreams have evolved into something more personal, more authentic, more aligned with who I actually am rather than who I thought I should be.
The Truth About Goals vs. Dreams
A goal without a plan is a wish—that's business school 101. But hopes and dreams? Those are north stars. They're the things that pull you forward even when you can't see the exact path to get there. They shift and change as you do, and that's not failure. That's growth.
So let me be real about what I'm hoping for right now, both the practical and the seemingly impossible.
Personal Hopes That Keep Me Grounded
Training and health: I hope I can continue to show up consistently for my workouts with limited injuries or setbacks. This isn't vanity—it's survival. My training keeps my brain functioning and my stress manageable. When I'm physically strong, I can handle the emotional weight of leadership better. When I skip workouts for too long, my mental managers get overwhelmed faster.
Connection for my son: I was scrolling social media today and saw a post from a mom grateful for a group of boys hanging out at her house. My immediate thought was: damn, I wish my kid just had one close confidant. It would change his world. As someone who understands the social complexities of adolescence professionally, watching my own child navigate friendship challenges hits differently. One solid friend. That's all I'm hoping for.
Willie's reading journey: I hope Willie picks up sight words and reading this year because he really wants to. There's something beautiful about a kid who's excited to learn, and I want to honor that eagerness while it's there.
Dreams That Feel Big But Possible
European adventure: I dream of a time when we can all go to Europe together without worrying about pricing or budget constraints. Not staying in hostels or stress-planning every meal. Just having the time of our lives, showing our kids that the world is bigger than Vermont, that adventure is always possible.
Reconnecting with Casey: I hope that as our kids become more independent, Casey and I can get back to our adventuring selves. We fell in love as people who chose experience over security, and sometimes I miss those versions of us. I want to rediscover what we're like together when we're not just co-parents managing logistics.
Professional Dreams I Can't Quite See Yet
The book journey: I dream of getting my manuscript published with the right group and seeing some really incredible things happen—things I don't even know are possible at this time. This one feels both terrifying and inevitable. I've been building the GRL Initiative not because I have a clear business plan, but because something inside me knows there's more here than I can currently see.
The book represents something bigger than just getting published. It's about proving that authentic leadership stories matter, that messy middle journeys have value, that you don't have to have it all figured out to have something worth sharing.
How Dreams Change Us
Five years ago, my dreams were about external validation—titles, recognition, climbing higher. Today, they're about internal alignment—health, connection, authenticity, impact that ripples outward in ways I might never fully see.
Five years ago, I wanted to be impressive. Now I want to be useful.
Five years ago, I was trying to prove I belonged in rooms that weren't designed for me. Now I'm focused on creating spaces where others can belong fully.
The shift isn't just about getting older or having kids, though both of those things matter. It's about finally understanding that the most meaningful dreams are often the ones that serve something bigger than your own advancement.
Why I Share These Hopes
I'm telling you my hopes and dreams not because they're particularly unique or inspiring, but because they're real. They're the mixture of practical and aspirational that most of us carry around—wanting our kids to be happy, hoping our marriages stay strong, dreaming of financial freedom and professional fulfillment.
The dreams we're willing to say out loud have power. They become north stars that guide our decisions, even when we can't see the whole path.
And maybe, when I'm brave enough to admit I dream of European adventures and published books and my teenager having a best friend, it gives you permission to dream your own seemingly impossible dreams.
Because here's what I've learned: the dreams that feel too big to say out loud are usually the ones most worth pursuing.
What Are You Hoping For?
Your hopes don't have to be noble or impressive. They can be as simple as wanting your kid to have a friend or as big as changing your entire industry. They can be about health, relationships, adventures, or quiet moments of contentment.
But they need to be yours. Not what you think you should want, not what looks good on paper, but what actually makes your heart beat a little faster when you imagine it becoming real.
Five years from now, these dreams will probably look different too. And that's exactly as it should be.
What hopes are you carrying right now? What dreams feel too big to say out loud but too important to ignore? Share them in the comments—sometimes speaking our dreams into existence is the first step toward making them real.
Ready to start turning those dreams into action? Follow along for more real talk about building the life you actually want, not just the one you think you should have.
