A Note On Dreams

“The only thing that can grow is the thing
you give energy to.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I spend a night in an igloo, I shark cage dive, I visit South Africa, I paint a gigantic mural of an Italian landscape, and Giada De Laurentiis or Bobby Flay cook me a personal meal … these are just a handful of items that make up my “apocolist:” my list of experiences I want in my lifetime. These moments nudge at all areas of life: health, career, travel and experiences, relationships, and just fun.

Periodically throughout the year, especially near my birthday in November, I pull out the list as it marks my new year. That’s when I reflect on my experiences thus far and add any new callings. As I review the list, I see how far-out some items are, while others I could accomplish in an ordinary weekend.

Although many items on the list are highly unlikely (borderline outrageous), I picture myself living out these experiences as if they could happen tomorrow. I’ve learned that if I keep dreams distant, they will never translate into actuality. I have to pull them down from the clouds to be here with me.

As I moved down the list this month, I noticed most of the new items I crossed off, I didn’t necessarily see coming. The universe brought them into existence without much dedicated time or effort on my part. Therefore, this year I am deciding to actively pursue an activity on the list that takes dedicated time, practice, and intention: surfing. I want to learn to surf as a way to better connect to the ocean, the community around me, and my soul.

I’m excited to experiment with something new. At the end of the day, I created my “apocolist” not to check off boxes or to feel regretful about the things I have not gotten to; I created it to dream without restraint and to remind myself to pursue special moments in life.

P.S. If you know Giada, please hook me up.

Dream big,
Carly

Co-Founder, Creative Director // Coventina and Co.