A Small Dream, 35 Years in the Making

Today’s joy comes from a long-ago memory. When I was 12, I traveled to Germany with my grandparents. We visited a charming, upscale china shop where my grandmother and aunt admired every detail. I wandered, mildly intrigued, until I saw something that stopped me in my tracks: a vibrant, playful china pattern. It felt magical and elusive—colorful, cheery, a little over-the-top. I brought home a brochure but, in true childhood fashion, lost it almost immediately.

For years, that pattern lingered in my mind as a beautiful mystery, one I didn’t know how to describe or even articulate. Fast forward 35 years: I stumbled upon it on Etsy. It had a name—Acapulco—and suddenly, I had a way to find it. I favorited pieces and imagined bringing one home someday, but I hesitated. Why? It felt indulgent, maybe too posh. Do I even deserve such a thing? I thought of my husband’s likely grumbling over “more dishes.” I kept putting it off.

Until this week.

I received a contract, my largest in a while, and thought, I want to celebrate with this dream come true! So, I finally chose the teapot (or maybe it’s a coffee pot—hard to tell—and it doesn’t matter). It now sits in my office, reminding me daily:

Go make your dreams come true.

Stop waiting. Stop hesitating. Sometimes, the things we think are too frivolous are exactly the reminders we need to go take action.

Here’s to choosing our dreams, big or small, and to taking the next step.