Have you ever taken a different direction all to realize, you were going in the wrong direction and your second guesting yourself has taken you away from what you really want.

When I was growing up I had a dream for myself. I wanted to go to California and sing with Michael Jackson. I was eight at the time. I laugh at the thought now. But my eight year old self knew what she wanted.

When I told my grandma, she told me I couldn’t sing and that another girl we knew could sing better. Still it was my heart at the time. I would walk around the house with my tape cassette and headphones singing Michael Jackson songs. My parents smiled but didn’t want me to go in that direction.

You know what’s funny? About a decade after I forgot that it was my dream, I ended up in California. I wasn’t singing with Michael, but I was closer than I had ever been in my life. And I had a beautiful voice. A voice only strangers encouraged. A voice that was ready for professional coaching. At least that’s what the vocal teacher told me. She said, ‘I can no longer help you,’ and suggested a private coach. This was after singing Dorthy Dandrige’s version of ‘That’s Love’ in class. I was proud of myself. At the time I didn’t have the heart to beg my mom to pay an extra $2500 a semester for lessons. She was already paying my tuition at USC. I had grants but it only cover about half of my tuition and my apartment wasn’t included. My dad said I should have asked him.

I tell you the story to let you know. We know what we want, but we let the people we love talk us out of it. They want us to avoid the hurt that goes along with it. Or we try a little bit realize how hard it is and get scared. At 18 years old I was living in the same state as Michael. I thought it was silly by then. My eight year old self was probably having a fit that I didn’t pursue it. I had several chances as well. It would have required me to chase it, but it was there. I was so close. Every time I saw a glimpse of that dream, I stayed quiet and away from the possibility. Instead of grabbing it, I shrank. I didn’t think I was good enough. Especially after an attempt that was a disaster.

Decades later I remember those days and wonder what would have happened ‘if I’d of…’ Now I think about what I really want. And while the dream to sing professionally no longer holds light, I do have 2 others. Of course nothing in life is easy. So as you chase your dream(s), remember, yes it is possible if you believe and prepare to reach for it. Don’t join the if I’d of club. We already have too many members.