We’ve all heard the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As a child I remember watching the movie over and over again and wishing that I was one of those lucky children who found a golden ticket in their chocolate bar. We all have our own “golden tickets” in our lives. The first time I heard this analogy I was feeling rather sorry for myself. My life was not going according to plan. I was a divorced, single mother, struggling to make her way through school, living with her parents, and feeling very depressed with my current circumstances. All my life my golden ticket had been to be a wife and mother. Now that I was single I felt as if I would never find happiness. While there was nothing wrong with my desire to be married again, the fact that my entire happiness was dependent on it was holding me back from seeing any of the other blessings I currently had. I had an incredibly supportive family. I was making progress toward a degree that I loved. I had an exceptional three year old who loved me unconditionally, but I was still miserable because I was missing that one thing that I thought would make me happy.
Like so many others, I was so worried about that “golden ticket” that I had forgotten the simple joy I had once felt in a candy bar. I was so focused on what I didn’t have, that I forgot about all of the things that I did have.
There is nothing wrong with having dreams. We all have things we hope for in our lives. The key is not to let your life pass you by in pursuit of finding a golden ticket that may or may not come in this lifetime. Find joy in your journey, no matter how difficult it may seem at the time. There is joy to be found, with or without your golden ticket.