Remember When You Dreamed of Where You Are Now

When I was a senior in high school, I had a playlist on repeat called Island Kine—created by one of my favorite Hawaiian surfers. I can’t even remember how I got into it, but I loved it. I was in a season of uncertainty, unsure of what came next. All I knew was that I needed a break—from the rain, from the stress, from everything.

At the time, I was navigating the transition into independence, a new ADHD diagnosis, undiagnosed depression, and the quiet chaos of just being a teenage girl—an underrated struggle in itself. I’d never been to Hawaii, but the music transported me. The songs about the ocean, the warmth, the rhythm of island life—they lifted my mood, even if just for a few minutes on the way to school.

After graduation, I used all my gift money to book a last-minute trip to Hawaii before starting my gap year in the DR. That one week changed everything. I had never felt so at peace. For the first time, I could feel who I wanted to be—and maybe even who I truly was underneath it all.

Fast forward two years. When my gap year ended, I made the decision to go to college in Hawaii. Everyone said it wasn’t realistic—I’d applied late and had no clear plan. But I was on the phone with admissions every single day. I called financial aid nonstop. It was the first time I truly fought for something I wanted.

And eventually, it worked. I ended up living in Hawaii for nearly three years—a dream turned reality.

Living there taught me something vital: I have more power over my life than I thought.

That realization led me to a new dream—making the DR my permanent home. Not just a place I visited, but a place to build a life. I wanted to raise a family here, grow roots, create something lasting.

And here I am.

I still don’t have it all figured out. I don’t know exactly what my career looks like. I have a job I’m grateful for, but it’s not my endgame. I earned my degree, and honestly, I’m not sure it’s made a difference in my current life (but that’s a conversation for another time).

When I start feeling anxious about the future, I remind myself: I’m living the life I once dreamed of.

I dreamed of graduating high school—did that.
I dreamed of living in Hawaii—did that.
I dreamed of building a life in the Dominican Republic—doing it now.

I see now that what I need always finds its way to me.

I once dreamed of buying a home—so I’d never have to move again or rent, so I could finally lay down roots in a community. I dreamed of having a car—so my family could feel safe and secure. I dreamed of having a mango tree—now I have two.

And I don’t share this to brag. Honestly, I hesitated to even say it out loud because it can come off the wrong way, so sorry if I sound like an asshole. This is about realizing that we have the power to shape our reality.

What’s meant for you will come. It may not show up exactly the way you imagined it, or on the timeline you planned—but it shows up. And sometimes, it’s even better.

So I challenge you: look back on a time when you dreamed of the life you’re living now. Even if things aren’t perfect, even if you’re still figuring it out—can you see the ways your past self would be in awe of how far you’ve come?

For most of my life, I’ve been focused on what’s next—always asking, What else do I want? But as I head into 2026, I’m finding more peace in recognizing how much of what I once longed for… I’ve already created.

This life I’m living now was once out of reach—and yet, here I am.