What were your childhood dreams and desires?
Posted on November 23, 2013 by Shifra Wylder, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth." ― William W. Purkey
I’ve always loved this quote. As an adult I read this and realize that’s exactly what children do. We need to be more like little children.
Recently I was reminiscing about my childhood. Some good times and some not so good times. Yet I came to this conclusion; I had childlike faith and DREAMS!
When I was five or six years old, I remember being in my basement listening to “Hang on Sloopy” by the McCoys. I loved that song and played it over and over again while stomping my feet and singing my little heart out on my pretend microphone. At that moment I was a singer! A rock star! Not even entertaining the thought…I had absolutely NO talent in that area and I could not sing. I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket!
Within the next few years as I listened to the other children singing at school and comparing my voice to theirs, I had to an eye opening revelation that singing is not where my talent lies. I am not gifted to sing at all. In fact I was nowhere to be found when that gift of singing was handed out. If I were gifted to sing, if that was truly where my talent and abilities were, I would have been a rock star for sure.
Children are always asked the pivotal question; What do you want to be when you grow up? As an adult (in age only) I respond; “I don’t want to grow up. I want to be a child again.” But as a child, I would always respond, with a big smile on my face, “I want to be a nurse, a veterinarian and an artist.” I never could and still can not pick just one thing. I don’t want to limit my options.
Looking at those heartfelt choices of what I wanted to be, I now realize I have always wanted to help people (and animals) to heal them and make them better. I was always creative. I would get lost for hours in drawing and painting or making crafts. I was in my element when I was using my hands doing anything that had to do with creating art or helping people.
I believe those are my true core gifts, talents and my heart’s desires. That is what my DNA is made up of, what my destiny is and who God designed me to be. Had I not had an eye opening revelation at an early age that I was not gifted to sing, not because I couldn’t but because it was not what I was designed and destined to do, I probably would have spent many years chasing after something unattainable and would have pursued the wrong paths.
It took me decades to reach this epiphany of my childhood dreams and desires and to do something about it. I’ve made some poor choices and decisions, yet made some really great ones as well. Pursuing the dreams that God planted in my heart as a child is one of those great decisions. Those desires have taken root and are beginning to grow. To be able to live out His plan and purpose for me, to be who the Creator created me to be, is a dream come true.
Take a moment to think back. What were your dreams and desires as a child? What did the Creator place in your heart for you to pursue? Not what people told you you couldn’t do, but what you know you are gifted to do. It’s never to late to pursue and accomplish those dreams.
