I have a stuffed heart that hangs from the rear view mirror in my car that has the caption “Dream Big”. It is a happy meal toy that I picked up on one of my trips through the McDonald’s drive through! It seems silly to keep it hanging in the car but I’ve left it there because it helps to remind me of the importance of dreams.

I am approaching a milestone birthday in a few weeks…the big 5-0! I’ve started to re-evaluate things. This afternoon while driving in the car during my lunch break, and no, I wasn’t going to McDonalds, I noticed my Dream Big stuffy and I started to think.

When I was younger my big dream was to have a big family, a big house, financial security, a big career and a nice car. ‘Dreaming big’ back then meant striving for stuff.

My big family vision turned into a neat little family of four. When I was a young mother with two small children under three and a husband that had to travel for work, my family seemed huge and overwhelming at times! Over the years, my small family has given me big joy, big worries, lots of support and most of all, contentment.

I never did get my big house. I remember when the kids were young and we had just purchased our first home, which incidentally is the same house Kevin and I live in now, I overheard one of my relatives saying that our “little house was perfect for our little family”. At the time, I was insulted and embarrassed by the remark. It reminded me that the house didn’t fit with my ‘dream big’ vision for my family home.  Back then, I was much more conscious of what people thought of me. I smile when I think it about it now. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that our little house has been perfect for our little family. In fact, the house does not seem so small now. Our little house is bursting with the memories that we’ve built along the way. In fact, since the kids have now grown and left the nest, the house seems much too big!

When I dreamt of financial security way back then, it looked something like this; a huge bank balance, designer clothes, expensive cars and lots of spending money. Well, our bank balance has never been ‘huge’ but we have been lucky enough to keep a roof over our heads and food on our table. We’ve enjoyed our life. It wasn’t always easy and we struggled. We lost count of the number of times, in the early days, that we consolidated our debts at the bank. We worked hard and we worked together for the good of our family. We’ve rarely had designer clothes unless you count the odd pair of brand name jeans (are levis still fashionable?) and nike running shoes. We’ve been lucky enough to afford a few new cars along the way. We’ve never had lots of spending money. We have had a much worked and fine-tuned budget and a weekly cash allowance. We’ve made it work.

No, I didn’t end up being the high–powered, important, marketing executive that I once dreamed of. I am not famous for the job I do. However, for the most part, I’ve enjoyed the work that I’ve done throughout my work life; fork truck driver, child care provider, marketing director, financial planner’s associate. The times I’ve been unhappy in my work, I’ve been grateful to have a husband that has supported me in changing jobs. I’ve had the pleasure of building relationships with clients and feeling like I’ve made a difference on occasion. Being high-powered and important is over rated. My much smaller career has allowed me to spend valuable time with my family and my friends. My much smaller career has helped provide for our small family. I am proud of the contribution that I have made.

I guess at this stage of my life I’ve begun to realize, life isn’t about the big stuff. It is about the small moments along the way; the small hand of your child reaching for you, the first turn of the key in the keyhole to your new home, the first dollar you saved, the small gesture of gratitude you receive for a job well done, the first small bud of the first flower breaking through the earth in your garden in the spring, the whisper of the wind in your hair, the knowing smile you share with your spouse.

It’s okay to ‘Dream Big’ but make sure you measure and treasure the small things along the way. You will begin to realize that your life is not that small after all.