Dreams Come True

The other day, while trying to study for finals, and in the middle of a mixed mood episode (see Saturday Dec. 10 and Monday Dec. 12), I glanced at my lip gloss tube and noted the following phrase: Dreams Come True. Now, my first thought was, "What the heck is a corny phrase like 'dreams come true' doing on my lip gloss? Are they saying their lip gloss is just That Good? Or are they trying to send sublimal, non-suicidal messages to messed-up teenagers, as per 'Reach for the Stars' slogans found in public high schools, etc.?" My second thought was, "Wow, that's aactually kind of true."
I certainly don't tend to look at things this way very much, but, well, many of my dreams for my life Have come true and Are coming true, as we speak. Maybe not always quite the way I've envisioned them, because in my fantasies I'm always skinny, emotionally stable, and blissfully happy. But this is life. And sometimes, Life Sucks. So the fact that I am so lucky (blessed) to have so many of my dreams come true is really a miracle. Here's a few I've thought of:

1. I no longer live at home. Now, that may seem rather heartless to you, but, honestly, my home isn't always the nicest place in the world. In fact, most of the time it's incredibly painful and depressing. And now . . . I'm moving towards independence, living in a room that's all mine, and not at all my parent's. I am not (read: much less) under their thumb. Now that's a dream come true.
2. I'm studying to become a clinical psychologist. Kids, as scary as it is, I will someday have Dr. and the front of my name! I have dreamed of that since I was a little girl. And, oh!, not only will I have Dr. in front of my name, but my doctorate will be in something I Love. I once told my quasi-mollesting youth minister that when I grew up, all I wanted was to make people happy. He laughed hysterically at that and made fun of me, rather cruelly I now realize. Well, guess what, hon? You know what, I'm not trying to make people happy now, I'm doing something even better and more idealistic. I hope happiness will be the end result, but now I'm doing something even more profound: I hope to help people's souls become Healthy, and have the capacity for happiness. I can't think of any other vocation that could top that.
3. I LIVED IN EUROPE. The further I get away from my wondrous undergrad, the University of Dallas, the more I realize how incredibly lucky/blessed/privaledged I am to have studied in Rome for a semester. I learned so much in such a short time! I learned that "America, right or wrong," is not patriotic. I learned to have an openess to different perspectives and different ways of doing things, from national policies to grocery stores. I learned that American chocolate Stinks. I learned to love and appreciate the Catholic Church, particularly our beloved Papa, John Paul II. I learned that, yes, I truly can do things on my own, that I can navigate countries where I don't speak the language, that I can travel All By My Self, that no matter how scary things may seem, I can do it. Yes, there were struggles. But they were all made worth it by walks down the Via del Corso and gelato at Blue Ice. I think I can honestly say that, difficult as they were at times, those were the happiest four months of my life.
4. I have friends. Not just any old friends, either. Friends who really love me and plan to stay by me Forever. Even when I whine and fuss and cry and do stupid things. And, honestly, I never thought I'd have friends like that. But, lo and behold, I do. The dream of having true friends, not just close aquaintainces, has finally come to pass.
And I could go on and on. But I'll stop here, because I've really got to go pack to go back to Texas. However, it's been a good thing to think on. What are you're dreams that are coming true?