Exploring Peace with Whitney R. Simpson
  • Home
  • About
    • About Whitney >
      • Whitney's Bio
    • Client Consent Form
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Giving Back
  • Services
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Yoga & Meditation
    • Energy Work
    • Retreats
    • Event Request
    • Freelance Writing
  • Community
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Whitney's Books

"You Gotta Have A Dream"

1/25/2012

 
Picture
I recently had the opportunity to see the musical production Annie at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.  Annie has been a long-time favorite, ever since I was a young girl.  My grandmother sewed several Annie inspired outfits (I clearly remember a romper and the red dress) and I even had a permanent during the craze to complete the Annie look with my own curls.  I was nearly 8 years old when the movie was released and my parents took me to the big city of Atlanta from our small town in South Carolina to see the musical production.  So, to take my son back to see the show at the same age was pretty exciting.  And, to make it even more exciting, one of my cousins was in the cast of this production!    

As we sat and waited for the curtain to lift, I started remembering my view of the stage as an 8 year-old, something I hadn't ever really pondered before.  I had always remembered the clothes and the hair and the excitement that the film and the musical stirred in me.  I also noticed the little girls in the theatre with their Annie shirts and dolls and books that some were hoping to get signed by the cast.  And, as I reflected I couldn't help but wonder what was so special about this fictional character.  

Of course, Little Orphan Annie had been around for many years in comic strips before she came to life on stage and on screen.  But, the entire Annie phenomenon was captured for me in just one line of the musical.  Annie wisely tells some "down and out" adults in Hooverville, "Well, you gotta have a dream."  She is right, isn't she?   If we don't have a dream, how will we ever become who we were created to be?  Annie didn't accept her circumstances.  She wanted to be loved.  She wanted to be cared for.  She wanted to be able to love back.  And, after years of not giving up, she had her dreams come true...even if they were different and even much bigger than she could have imagined!  

My cousin is one example of someone chasing her dreams.  She has experienced a traveling Broadway show and landed a part in one of her dream productions, Annie.  However, you don't become part of the Annie cast without having a plan and some dreams.  And, you don't fulfill God's destiny for your life without a plan and some dreams.  What are your dreams?  Write them down (Annie had a letter written by her parents that she re-visited often) and share them (it was no secret that she was leaving that orphanage someday).  

Annie is a great reminder to us that we should always be striving toward something greater.   Afterall, "you gotta have a dream."


Making It Magical

1/9/2012

 
Picture
Our seven year old experienced his first trip to Disney World on New Year’s Eve.  We went to visit family in Florida after Christmas and made a quick trip to Orlando to meet Mickey and his friends.  If we had realized before we set out on this journey that it was one of the busiest days of the year at The Magic Kingdom, we may have changed our minds!  However, we were determined to take advantage of being close enough for a visit and set off for a long day in the park.  The morning came early and we were all fighting cold and sinus issues.  However, the adrenaline kept us going and the early morning hours were a success!  It was an exciting morning with short lines and fun rides.  Everyone employed by Disney was extraordinarily helpful and pleasant, even at the crack of dawn.  It was nice seeing the morning come to life behind Cinderella’s castle.  

When our family rode, “It’s a Small World” before lunch, I specifically noticed a gentleman riding solo in front of us.  My heart was saddened for him because he didn’t have anyone to share his ride with that day and I was thankful for our time together.  Around lunchtime, the crowds starting picking up and we were starting to wonder if our decision to brave the crowd had been a wise one.  

That’s when the true magic happened.   I heard my name called across the park.  I looked up and spotted some long time friends from our small group.  Amazingly, out of all the people and all the parks, we were standing within feet of people that we’ve shared life with.  People we’ve shared joys and tears with over the years.  Our kids were ecstatic finding friends at Disney.  These were friends that we didn’t realize were there at the same time as us.  We would never have been able to track down this family amongst the crowd if we had been looking for them.  That is when the magic came in to the kingdom for our families.

We rode rides together and sat together and watched two parades and a street party.  We all agreed that this surprise encounter made Disney truly magical for our families.  As I reflect upon the characters in those parades and see Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Donald, the Dwarfs and the Princesses, I am reminded that even they have one another.   They have companions to share the journey.  Truly, living this life fully includes relationships.  We can ride the rides solo, but if there is not anyone around to enjoy the ride with us, it seems a little pointless, doesn't it?  Who do you share the journey with?  Are you in a small group?  Have a spiritual director?  Participate in bible study?  Have an accountability partner or spiritual friends to share life with?  If not, let this be the year you open yourself up to share with others.  You'll be blessed and you will likely be a blessing.  Here’s to making this year magical!



      How about a Monthly Dose of Soul Care?

    Subscribe

    Picture

    Whitney R. Simpson

    author  
    deaconess
    ​​retreat leader
    spiritual director

    yoga & meditation teacher



    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture



    Click to connect:

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Anxiety
    Aromatherapy
    Beads
    Body
    Book
    Breath
    Centering Prayer
    Christmas
    Community
    Contemplation
    Devotional
    Discernment
    Disciplines
    Downloads
    Dreams
    Embodiment
    Energy Work
    Equality
    Essential Oils
    Everbloom
    Family
    Favorite Things
    Fear
    Food
    Giveaway
    Giving Back
    Guest Post
    Healing
    Inspiration
    Journaling
    Justice
    Kombucha
    Labyrinth
    Lectio Divina
    Lent
    Life
    Listen
    Love
    Meditation
    Mindfulness
    Ministry
    Mission
    Music
    Mystics
    Neighbors
    Older Adults
    Peace Seekers
    Podcast
    Poem
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Prayer Of Examen
    Quotes
    Relaxation
    Rest
    Retreat
    Rule Of Life
    Sabbath
    Sacred Ordinary Days
    Scipture
    Scripture
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Small Groups
    Solitude
    Soul Care
    Spiritual Direction
    Spiritual Formation
    Spiritual Friends
    Trafficking
    Upper Room
    Walking Meditation
    Wild Goose
    Women
    Yoga
    Yoga Nidra


    ​archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    April 2011
    January 2011
    October 2010
    August 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010


    Content @ 2010-2023 
    Whitney R. Simpson

    Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC

Join our Community
Schedule Soul Care
Listen to the Podcast
Read the Blog
​Contact Whitney
© 2022, Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC
Picture
Photo used under Creative Commons from lululemon athletica
  • Home
  • About
    • About Whitney >
      • Whitney's Bio
    • Client Consent Form
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Giving Back
  • Services
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Yoga & Meditation
    • Energy Work
    • Retreats
    • Event Request
    • Freelance Writing
  • Community
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Whitney's Books