What's your dream?

My dream is to be Independently Wealthy.  I know, I know...who wouldn't want that?  But it's not just about having enough money that I could toss it around like confetti at life's party.  Today I find myself wanting to ponder the motivation behind this desire.  To understand what it is that I like about the idea of being independently wealthy. What prompted my reverie on this subject today was soup.  Yes, soup.  This morning I took the opportunity of needing to be at home to wait for an important delivery to make a new soup recipe.  Now, I'm not a big soup-maker to begin with, but several weeks ago my naturopath gave me this recipe for Indian Spiced Squash and Kale Soup and I've really been wanting to try it.  It sounded so tasty, and it is; I'm eating it right now as I type this.  So this morning I was in my kitchen, chopping up carrots, a potato, kale, roasted butternut squash...and I was really enjoying it.  Not in the "I think I'd like to be a chef" kind of a way, because I've waitressed and watched the Food Network and even hosted a local cooking show on TV for three seasons, and I know that real chefs don't get to fa-la-la their way through a leisurely, quiet morning of soup-making.  There's a reason Gordon Ramsay has a show called "The F Word". Maybe it was the pure simple enjoyment of the task at hand.  Creating something out of "nothing", working at my own pace, not thinking much beyond the next vegetable.  One thing at a time.  Obviously having the consciousness to be able to be "in the now" is possible for anyone, independently wealthy or otherwise, but as a single working mother I know that my typical day-to-day life is usually more harried.  I'm sure it's the same for married couples with multiple children, or folks with extremely demanding jobs or other responsibilities and commitments. And the thing is, I don't envision myself being independently wealthy and just making soup or eating bonbons for the rest of my days.  That's not me either.  Oh sure, for the first few months I would TOTALLY immerse myself in the experience:  let myself sleep and wake to my natural rhythms, instead of to an alarm clock every day; do things purposefully without rushing, really taking things in with all of my senses.  Just savouring a morning shower or hot bubble bath, taking time to look up and shop for and cook really delicious meals, reading the huge list of incredible books I'd like to read, taking long walks and doing yoga and making time to learn to play piano, and to really learn to play my guitar; that kind of stuff. But I'd need something to do after a while.  I'd get ridiculously bored just being around the house all the time.  So what is it that I hunger for? Meaning.  Purpose.  Adventure.  Making a difference.  Joy.  Fun.  Play. If I were independently wealthy, I'd like to help out some family members too.  Really help them, in the "teach a man to fish" kind of way, not just by "giving them fish".  (But there would be some "giving of the fish" too, if the independently wealthy part of the equation happened).  And I'd volunteer to the causes I now volunteer with, and be able to help even more; maybe even help develop plans to help sustain them.   Spread joy and help out and do good work in the world. And see the world.  Oh it would be so great to take my son around the world, and see all the amazing and beautiful sights and people and places around this planet.  To take some good along with us: do something to help out in needy communities, spread smiles wherever we go; and share some smiles with each other.  Just kick up our heels and have fun together, without rushing to head to the next appointment or errand or worrying about how to pay for it all. And find love again.  I know it's out there. Not that I need to be independently wealthy to be able to do that. :-) Of course, life is pretty good the way it is now.  I have dear friends and acquaintances that I love and am so grateful for; we have a lovely home and I have the means to take care of it and of us; and work is taking me down some interesting paths that I'm really excited to see where they lead to.  And I can choose to be as present and joyful in my life as I'm able, given the circumstances in which I find myself.  Regardless of my circumstances.  It's good to know that.  And I do know that, and try to practice it as best I can every day. But it's always good to have dreams.  They do come true.