Dream House. Dream Car. Dream Boat.
There’s no doubt Barbie lives a dream life.
She has pursued her goals in her hundreds of careers and various passions. She is surrounded by a robust and diverse community of family and friends. Her wardrobe is endless and enviable. And let’s not forget, Ken.
She may be a simple doll, but Barbie encourages and empowers us to see that life is full of opportunity. And that opportunity begins with believing in ourselves.
Mattel may have supplied us with never-ending accessories for Barbie, everything from clothes to furniture to homes to cars to pets. But without infusing all of those things with our imagination and stories, there’s no dream life for Barbie.
Our God, who loves us immensely, has also given us accessories. Thankfully, they come in more colors than pink. We know that he uniquely made us, and our gifts, talents, skills and interests are there to help us create our dream life. Honoring those qualities we hold within us builds the foundation of our dream life.
I am likely at the midpoint of my life. While I definitely have regrets about not taking action on moments in the past twenty years, I know that my future still holds plenty of opportunity. By the time we are in our 40s, it’s easy to convince ourselves the time to try something new has passed. We’re too old to begin a new hobby, start a new career or pursue the dream that continues to pull at our hearts.
But that is simply untrue.
We’re not too old, and it’s not too late.
YOU are not too old. YOU are not too late.
Let’s say you want to learn to be more of an everyday cook in your kitchen. Make a list of what it would take to do that. Your list might include finding an online cooking class, researching what tools and appliances you need, or buying a book about the everyday kitchen. Don’t get overwhelmed by the idea of making a full meal. Just focus on the joy you feel about learning more about a topic that interests you and use that to propel you. Choose one of those baby steps and take that action. That’s you identifying and building your Something More life!
For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
You still have time to create a life you love. When you feel that pull to try something new, whether learning to cook or starting a new job, lean in. Listen to your instincts. Embrace the gift of who you are created to be.
Believe in who you are, who you can be, what you can do and your ability to try something new.
As Barbie taught us: