730 words 

submitted to Personal Growth 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

by Gia Dalton 

We all have dreams, which include thinking about what life will be like down the road. How much happier we will be when we get our degree, car, home or move to a new location. We continuously look over the rainbow, as it seems much more appealing than where we are, and what we have now. 

Understanding it will take hard work, commitment, perseverance and often sacrifice we make adjustments to our daily routine. Instead of going out for coffee we make one at home.  We cut coupons, shop frugally, and do not accept every invitation to dine out or attend social gatherings. We save instead of going on vacation. We work extra hours or take a part time job in addition to working a full time one. At night we grab something to eat, shower, get a few hours of sleep and wake up, only to do it all over again. 

Any dream or goal worth having takes hard work, but we must remain mindful to enjoy the journey. Don’t miss the day, or neglect to see the beauty in life in the moment. Some times the dream waiting for us on the other side of the rainbow does not provide the satisfaction, or happiness we once thought it would. In fact, it could be a let down all together. Often times life throws us a curve ball that inevitably changes everything… including our dreams. 

It’s easy to get caught up in wanting more. We have been socialized to think that owning more, having more, and bigger is better. This mentality, if you choose to buy into it, dictates what a successful person looks like. That somehow if you do not have a grand home, new car, perfect body or the latest cell phone, you haven't really made it. But wait….isn’t that all wrong? 

Without good health, there is little or no chance of working towards achieving anything. As a healthy body is needed to work, play…live.  A healthy mind is essential to facilitate and nurture  joyful, rewarding relationships. And a healthy spirit is the foundation that everything is built upon.  Yet some how we take a healthy body, mind and spirit  for granted. 

We need a healthy body, mind and spirit. Eat nutritious clean food. Get an adequate amount of restful sleep. Exercise daily. Feed our spirit with prayer. Practice gratitude.  If there are health concerns, address them.  Have yearly physicals, and wellness visits. When life throws a curve ball in our direction, we realize just how important having a healthy body is. Everything comes to screeching halt when we are suddenly stricken with an illness.

In that instant that the only thing that matters is regaining our health.  Our some where over the rainbow dreams are replaced with  thoughts of family and friends. People that are dear to our hearts. Not a grand home, new car, cell phone or wanting to shed a few pounds. Willingly and without hesitation we toss those dreams to the curb!

A light bulb goes off in our heads. Blink, Blink. We see the light. Perhaps neglecting our bodies, working long hours, not getting sufficient sleep, eating fast food, and the stress of having to achieve, obtain more at all costs, is what sent us into a downward spiral. Wow! That is a wake up call. 

Working hard and doing our best tells the world about our character. There is nothing wrong with that. Yes, we should have dreams, but we need to be certain that those dreams are ours and not what society tells us they should be. 

Dreams of being a better person, helping others, is much more admirable, and charitable than having the very best. And what is the “very best” anyway? Perhaps the “very best” is good health.  A healthy body, mind and spirit. All three are vitally important, interdependent, and essential to living a happy, successful life. Anything more than that is cake. A cherry on the ice cream sundae. 

Just like Dorothy in the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, we discover “ There’s no place like home.”  Home, where we feel secure, happy and loved. Our mind is suddenly clear and sharp. Our senses vividly awakened. Spiritually we are filled with the beauty of God. We have everything we need, wanting for nothing. Our somewhere over the rainbow is found in our heart. 

Bio

Gia Dalton is a International visionary writer, speaker, coach, teacher and Intuitive Life Strategist. Currently writing a book, A Modern, Bohemian Guru, she states, “My mission is to motivate, empower and inspire the lives of others with integrity, beauty and love, giving the glory to God. ”