Who I dreamt to become when I was a child

A story to share. Food for thought.

Cashier at Trader Joe's: — Question of the day: what did you want to become when you were a child?

Me, without thinking, quickly and confidently: — A dancer.

Cashier: — And now you are…?

Me: — A dancer and a dance instructor.

Me, on the way home: yay… It is crazy how unconsciously confident that answer was. I find myself reminiscing about my career path lately, especially as the kids get older and will be off to school soon. Even with the fact that I was actually a medical doctor, a paediatrician in Belarus — I still answered "a dancer." And then my memory went back to the little girl who loved dancing so much, who used to rehearse dance shows when nobody was watching, for an imaginary audience. It was important to me that they would see me one day. Our inner artist wants to be seen. It is an art to find your Ikigai — the thing that is also going to support you financially, especially in the dance world, where that is a real challenge. So we will see how life unfolds for me.

What would you answer, my friend, if someone woke you up in the middle of the night and asked what you dreamt to become as a child? Does it match your reality? Are you using your gifts in life?