Harold Arlen and EY Harburg wrote the lyrics to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” of The Wizard of Oz fame. Not only is it a song and movie that I grew up with, but one I also shared with my children. The angst of Dorothy wishing for a life beyond her grasp is a song full of hope:
When all the world is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble all around
Heaven opens a magic lane
When all the clouds darken up the skyway
There’s a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain
I think back to my younger self and my dreams for a life filled with meaning and purpose. The road has not been smooth and carefree, and like Dorothy, I’ve battled demons both internal and external.
I am grateful for the battles, the learning, the failures and the successes. I am lucky to have reached this time of life, while others have not been as fortunate.
Never stop dreaming….
“And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true…”
