Bringing Mae Flowers

There are ancient ruins across the street.

I can see Porta Nigra from my room. As I write this, I am sitting in the open window, sipping a cup of coffee while my laundry dries in the open air. Tourists walk under the gray stone arches onto a bustling street. A scene so different from last night when rain poured down, reflecting like falling stars in the streetlights. I can hear a group of students laughing and shouting in German, a language I know just enough of to decipher their excited chatter. It all feels like a scene from a movie instead of my reality.

I am living the life I dreamed of.

Like many literary lovers, I once imagined living like the Bohemian Club writers and artists from the turn of the century. I knew it was a fantasy that view could ever see into fruition unless they were fortunate enough to be born with a fortune, so I was content to daydream. Whether it was through reading, writing, or social media, I got my fix by living vicariously through others. I figured that life was too short to be bitter about the hand I was dealt, so I might as well enjoy it in other ways.

I’ve never limited myself to a single dream.

Some people find fulfillment in following a straight path their entire life. They know from a young age what they want to do, where they want to live, and who they want to be. You’d be forgiven for thinking that I’m this type of person. I’m pragmatic and calculated when it comes to my career, relationships, and finances. I always think long-term. You would think that would limit my opportunities, but I found that wasn’t the case. By being strategic about the dreams I chased, I was able to achieve more of them.

Perspective is the key to happiness

As I look out at this ancient city in awe- struck wonder, it occurs to me that this is the hometown of thousands of people. Just as I sometimes forget the rugged majesty of the Rocky Mountains that surround my home, they must also forget the enchantment of the history that surrounds them. Our ability to adapt to anything is both a blessing and a curse– we can get used to anything. What was once terrifying can become normal, making life’s most difficult transitions bearable with time. But the trade-off is that things we once found exciting can become boring. Changing my perspective is what allowed me to adapt and appreciate every curve life threw my way.

Changing your dream doesn’t mean giving up.

My life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would when I was 15 or 25; I’ve never published a book, I’m still working a 9-5, and I didn’t get the first stamp in my passport until I was 31. And that’s okay. I may never achieve everything I wanted to, but I’ll end up doing many other things I never imagined. Maybe I will eventually live the life I dreamed, but in many ways I’ve learned that I already am.