06/23/2025
When I was little, I used to hold a plastic Oscar in front of the mirror and practice my acceptance speech.
I dreamed of winning an Academy Award.
Of walking the red carpet.
Of being a star.
(And yes—marrying Leonardo DiCaprio. Obviously.)
That dream followed me into college.
I worked two jobs to pay for a private acting conservatory in New York City.
My teacher, Wendy, was intense. Strict about everything—especially punctuality.
Every week, I’d slip out of freshman psych five minutes early, hop on the A train, and head downtown to the studio.
We rehearsed for hours with scene partners outside of class.
It was exhausting, but I kept pushing.
Until one day, I was 3 minutes late.
And Wendy destroyed me in front of the class.
She told me I’d never make it as an actor. That I lacked discipline. That I wasn’t cut out for it.
I remember running out of the building and calling my mom, sobbing on the streets of Manhattan.
And then I did something that changed my life:
I quit.
We’re told to follow our dreams at all costs.
But here’s the truth:
It’s okay to let go of a dream that no longer fits.
Because I didn’t love doing the thing, I loved the idea of it.
And when I finally gave myself permission to walk away, something wild happened:
New dreams started to grow.
A few years later, I left the U.S. to start a new life abroad.
I built a career in marketing.
I launched businesses.
I found my voice in a completely new way.
That decision didn’t break me.
It built me.
So here’s your permission slip:
You can outgrow your dreams.
And still build a life you’re wildly proud of.
What’s a decision that changed everything for you?
