There was a time when I was younger, these days that could mean in my 60’s, when the metaphoric idiom “The sky’s the limit”, applied to my dreams, visions and goals. It really meant that that there was no limit to what a person could have or want.  I really did believe this and thought that anything was possible. It served to keep the naysayers at bay and to focus on what I wanted. 

In the late 60’s, when I was 20, I dropped out of college thinking that life was bigger than spending my time in a classroom.  I soon realized that in order to live I needed to work.  There was no one to catch me financially, or any other way for that matter.  I worked for 10 years and decided that without that degree I might be limited from reaching the sky. Realizing at age 30 that I couldn’t envision myself sitting in a classroom with 19 and 20 year-olds, I decided to apply to graduate school.  I mean, after all, I had worked for ten years, five of those running my own business. And it was my vision, after all. I was off and running, talking to everyone and anyone who would listen, getting referrals and names of people I could talk to and before I knew it, I actually had a choice of which graduate school I wanted to attend. 

The sky really was the limit. My life took off in new ways with lots of twists and turns and the dreams and visions just kept coming.  For 25-years my husband, Steve, and I ran a successful consulting practice which gave us the flexibility to attend all of our sons’ lacrosse games, school events, to travel the world and to be our own boss.  We were surely  reaching for the sky.

When we entered our 60’s we pivoted, knowing that we wanted to give up our business one day to travel and live in other countries. We got certified to teach English as a second language and the next set of dreams and visions became a reality.  We taught college students in South Korea, high school students in Budapest, and had lots of adventures both during and in between these dreams. 

We are back in Budapest this year and the big difference for me is that I am not working. I am joyously retired.  Instead, I’m writing and exploring this incredible city.  I have time to reflect on the past and to take that knowledge with me as I change and alter my future dreams and visions.  There are not as many places I want to travel to and there are no more jobs I want to apply for. My children are grown and on their own, with lives that are reaching for the sky with no limits. My parenting days are minimal.  I have three wonderful grandchildren.  When I see them it’s pure joy, but I don’t have day-to-day responsibilities there either.  However, the sky may not be limitless for me anymore. My time on the earth has the reality of years left, so I try to spend it with people I love and care about, doing things that bring me joy.  I think when I was younger my world was broader and deeper and I had more responsibilities and obligations and I know I spent a fair amount of time with people I may not have wanted to be with, but work or social events called in a different way. 

These days, I love my alone time, and I especially love my time with Steve.  After forty years and lots of water under the bridge, he is the person I most want to be with.  I miss my women friends–you know who you are.  That will never change.  My mother modeled for me the importance of having great women friends in my life.  She had lifelong friends and so do I. 

I continue to have dreams and visions and I will reach for them. Although they may not be as high as the sky, that works just fine for me.

Stay in touch.  I love hearing from everyone.

With love and gratitude,

Marsha