Article: Flying to the Top - By Julie Jordan Scott

It started out well enough. I was talking to my two older brothers about
the last six months of my life. We do not see each other often. In fact,
twice in a calendar year is amazing! I got very excited at the prospect of
telling them all that has been happening in my life. There have been so
many significant changes in the past six months!

I quit my job with local government. I began the joyful path to a
full-time coaching, writing and speaking career. I published my first
electronic book. I have put on my running shoes and started sprinting
towards all my dreams! I am not sure when exactly it hit me that they had
stopped listening. They were standing there nodding.

Yes, they even maintained eye contact. But they were not present. One of
them was wondering when I would stop talking and serve dinner. The other
one was probably dying to go check on the scores on the TV. All those
memories rushed back from childhood, when I was nothing more than a little
bit kooky younger sister who was always a little bit different from them.
They liked Bob Dylan, I liked Jackson Browne. They liked McDonald's, I
liked Burger King. They went to public universities, I went to a private
one.

I swore I heard one of them say, as I was telling about my plans and
projects, "Yeah, Julie, when Pigs fly."

Naturally I can be very assertive everywhere and with everyone else except
my family, so I simply smiled and got the meal on the table and made more
light hearted conversation in the acceptable Julie way. Forget presenting
myself as an International Business Woman! As far as they were concerned,
my success would come only after Pigs started floating in the atmosphere.
I learned early on that the biggest dream stealers are frequently family
and long-time friends. The tragedy is we allow for it to happen
repeatedly. People smirk at our idea, or question our judgment or decision
making, and we buy into it.

We wonder, "Sheesh, did I make the right decision? Am I sure about that?
Should I have done something else instead?" The When Pigs Fly Sourdough
Bread Company in York, Maine doesn't think so. One brother started baking
loaves of delicious sourdough bread starting his business with 80 loaves.
He has since had another brother join him, and their business is thriving!
They also have some adorable merchandise with Flying Pigs all over
T-shirts and hats. http://www.sendbread.com. I value their slogan, "When
Pigs Fly, Anything is Possible." Pig Bread is flying all over Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Why do people insist on minimizing the dreams of others? I am not talking
fantasy land at all, I am talking about people with workable plans. Plans
to create something out of nothing, Something that perhaps in the past
would have been considered fantasy land, but now is tangible. After
contemplating my brother's reaction to my amazing life, the tables turned.
I feel sorry that they can not capture my vision. There are many out there
who are, and who will continue to.

It makes me sad that those who grew up with me can not see my vision. So
now, I focus instead on creating a "family" of friends who share in my
miraculous life on a daily basis. We all have miraculous lives, don't we?
Who is sharing yours with you? Do you have a Dream Team in place, to share
and grow your future? Start thinking of people who could be Partners in
Possibility alongside you. Start a list of names, carefully considering
whether they will be your dream builders or dream stealers.

I went to Pismo Beach on my personal retreat day this month. I take one
day a month when I soak in the peace and quiet as I make my plans for the
next month and recap my wins and setbacks during the prior month. This
time I took my daughter Katherine with me. We walked along the crisp, cool
beach. She quickly made a friend. I walked up to a kite flier and asked
for a lesson, which he gladly gave me. And then I saw it. An immense
windsock was being hoisted into the air. I watched from my perch as the
kite enthusiast went through his ritual. The sock started taking shape. It
was a very large, pink, windsock pig. I watched and laughed as it flew
higher and higher and higher in the sky. A pig was flying. Soaring.
Gliding. I was laughing. The pigs have it! As do I! As do YOU! You can
have an incredïble life, with rich dreams, and a powerfully crafted
future. When Pigs Fly, anything is possible!

About the Author:
Julie Jordan Scott is a Speaker, Writer and Life Purpose Coach who
believes in living each moment with joy and passion. Visit her website for
many free passion resources. http://www.5passions.com. Or email with
comments or questions: julieja@lightspeed.net