the unexpected dream

*There will be a brief interruption in the 31 Days of Creating White Space posts for this sponsored post from BlogHer that was previously scheduled.

The boys and I have had the opportunity to watch Monsters University a lot lately. I love this movie. It is the perfect blend of humor and fun for kids and adults.

I especially love the message of this movie. That you should believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. This is a great theme for kids to see. That Mike and Sulley were very different and they both have different strengths. Mike perseveres and keeps pushing himself until he achieves his dream. But his dream changes a little bit along the way when he realizes where he is gifted.

Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 10.23.42 PM

It reminds me a little bit of my own post-college story.

I graduated from college and moved to South Carolina for grad school. I had big plans to move to a big city, intern with a major wedding planner and get a job in a big city planning million dollar weddings.

After grad school, I accepted a job here in Columbia, and really enjoyed it. And a few months after that I met Todd, and we started dating. I knew immediately that he and I would eventually get married. And all of my goals and dreams began to change.

I knew that my home was near him. All the things I thought I always wanted began to shift as Todd and I began to plan our lives. I started planning events here at the University and then we got married. After Hudson was born over a year later, I realized that my dreams were to be his mommy. And have more children and raise them in a loving home.

My dreams and plans all changed, for the better. I never knew that I could love being a mother so much. Much like in Monsters University and the way Mike changes his plans and goals when he discovers his strengths. I hope my boys always know that no matter what their dreams are, or how often they change their goals, that they can just go after it.And do what makes them happy and what inspires them.

To be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card and a Monsters University Blu-Ray Combo Pack, answer the following question in the comments . How did you believe in yourself and achieve your dreams?

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “”#SweepstakesEntry””; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post”
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available 
here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/3/13 – 11/3/13.
Be sure to visit the 
Monsters University Page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments

  1. Jessica says

    Thanks for the giveaway! I’m learning to believe in myself more and more everyday as I learn how to be a good mother to our baby boy. It is the most challenging but most rewarding job I’ve ever had!

  2. Jean says

    We have all been there and as women we are far harder on ourselves than anyone else. It has taken me many years to understand that just because someone sees you a certain way, doesn’t always make it true. On a day when my world had imploded and I was feeling each and every one of my shortcomings, a wise friend took my hands and looked straight into my eyes and heart and said: “understand that you are perfect right now, at this time, no matter what, just as you are is more than enough. You are perfectly made by our Father. You will be fine just as you are because GOD loves you and those you love regardless.”
    What a gift she gave me that day. I have never forgotten and I am not sure my friend will ever believe how much she helped me that day. See, even she doesn’t always believe in herself! All we can do is raise each other up and pass it on as I have tried to do every day. GOD loves us no matter what!
    You are a doll!

  3. says

    I feel like I am living my dream raising my three year old boy with my husband of 7 years…and we have another baby on the way in January. Thanks for this giveaway!

  4. Elizabeth says

    I am learning to change my priorities from what I thought I wanted (success, wealth, status according to the world) and refocusing on what God wants my priorities to be. There is a lot of pressure from the world and very unrealistic standards set. But I’m loving staying home with my daughters and teaching them to love Jesus and others. 15 years ago I didn’t think I’d get married, let alone be a mom! But I am happier now than ever and wouldn’t change it! And I think my girls would love this. We haven’t seen it yet.

  5. says

    I’m realizing my dream by being a stay at home mommy to my 4 kiddos. I know that I couldn’t do that without the support and hard work of my hubby. =)

  6. Kristi Peshke says

    Like you my dreams have definitely changed over the years. Right now I am just living in the moment. I have dreams of places to go, but who and where I will be I find I am happier just enjoying where I am right now.

  7. says

    I believe in myself and am learning to achieve my dreams by going out on a limb and doing some things that are uncomfortable…. not always fun, but it helps!

  8. says

    I believe in the woman God created me to be and that He puts me exactly where I need to be. I can then choose how to be the best version of myself. I’m not always successful but these things keep me going.

  9. HM says

    Becoming a teacher and high school varsity soccer coach after I put myself through school… But now I get to live an even better dream, being a mom to two little ones under two.

  10. Mami2jcn says

    After my parents divorced when I was 6, I had to leave the US to live in South America with my mother. During the 2 years I lived there, I completely forgot how to speak English. I returned to the US and had to go back to school, absolutely terrified because I didn’t understand a word that anyone was saying to me. But I worked hard to regain my language skills and believed I would catch up. Two years later I won the award for top English student in my grade. This was my dream come true. The boy who won the Math and Science awards that year went on to Harvard years later, so those awards were very prestigious. No matter how unattainable a goal seems, you can’t ever give up.

  11. Bethany says

    I believe in myself by being constantly amazed at my beautiful family – I’ve had to do something right to be blessed with them!

  12. says

    When I was in high school, I realized, after about 2 years, that I had the opportunity to be Valedictorian of my high school class. I worked really hard, studied really hard, and never gave up on that dream. I graduated as Valedictorian of my class WAY BACK in 1990!

  13. amy pugmire says

    by getting a scholarship to play volleyball in college when I was told being only 5’3 it would NEVER happen. Hard work paid off!

  14. jenny says

    I believe I’m just the mommy my kids need me to be and I’m still achieving my dream of raising two beautiful, intelligent, fun, loving girls….

  15. Jessie C. says

    I believe in myself because I know I am loved and I achieve my dream by expecting the hard way ahead and taking one bite at a time.

  16. Lisa Brown says

    Haven’t achieved my dreams yet, but I stay positive and don’t let others influence me in a negative way.
    jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com

  17. April G says

    My dream of being a great SAHM and raising healthy, happy, productive little members of society is a work in progress. 😉

  18. Robin Wilson says

    I always wanted to be a teacher. Two weeks before I graduated high school life through me a curve and I was diagnosed with Lupus. I wasn’t able to go to college then or later, but later as a wife and mom (a dream I didn’t even know I had) I have fulfilled that dream. I “teach”, though it may be life lessons, without a degree.

    zuzu.wilson(at)yahoo(dot)com

  19. says

    Knowing that I had to pay for my graduate degree (and undergraduate), I worked as many as 3 jobs while going to school full time. It was hard, but it was worth it! Thanks kmassman gmail

  20. says

    I achieved my dreams because I reminded myself “just keep swimming… just keep swimming”. I put myself through university and became a teacher (with debt that I have thankfully since paid off).

  21. Kerry says

    I had some weight to lose and with the power of prayer, positive thinking and believing in myself I was able to achieve my goal!

  22. Susan Smith says

    I started my own business while raising my children and I believed in my self and achieve my dreams by having positive self talk, and reflecting on all of the things I have been able to accomplish in the past.

  23. Lisa Garner says

    I became a mom at for the first time at 18 and though I had lost out on my dream of becoming a nurse. It took years but with lots of dedication I finally was able to graduate from nursing school.

    lisalmg25 at gmail dot com

  24. Betty C says

    My dreams have changed so many times. I’ve achieved some of them and others are no longer important. If I have raised my children well then I will have met the biggest goal.

  25. Harmony B says

    No matter what the obstacles and there are many, I believe in myself and have picked myself up and keep striving for my dreams

  26. Dee says

    I believe in myself and achieve my dreams by understanding that what I have to contribute is of value and by surrounding myself with positive thoughts and, better yet, positive, supportive friends. I also write out inspirational quotes each week and place them around the house as a reminder that I can reach my goals. 🙂

  27. Sarah L says

    25 years ago I didn’t think I could sing, but I took singing lessons, joined two choirs and have been singing ever since.
    Thanks for the contest.

  28. kjasus says

    i knew since fifth grade i always wanted to become a teacher. now i am a teacher, for the fifth grade! i love that i have achieved my goals

Leave a Reply to Susan Smith Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *