Chase Your Dreams.

"They like, 'Look she's a star, wow.' Try not to gloat."

This lyric is just one of my many favorites from a song my brother wrote me. (Star Now x Lil Pretzel) The song was written as part of my going way gift, & truthfully, it's a song that I play just about every day to keep me motivated & moving forward.

Like any senior graduating from college, you get asked those annoying questions everywhere you go.

"What are your plans for after school? What are you going to do with your degree?"

&, if you're like me, you do your best to smile & answer in the most polite & fashionable manner.

"Oh, I'm moving to California to pursue my dreams. There's a lot more opportunity there."

& usually, you'll get that half smile, concern in their eyes, unsure of what to say response.

"That's great!"

But there's a 50/50 chance that they actually mean it & support you.

See, what I realized upon graduating last May is that "adults" (because truthfully, I don't know if any "adult" is really an adult outside of the age that society has deemed we're "adults"...we can talk about this in another post) are scared of what they cannot see.

They are scared of the future. They are scared of what life holds for them. They are scared of not knowing where their path will take them.

So, when they hear of the things you want to do once you "start life," they're scared for you. Maybe it's because they took a chance & followed their heart, but it didn't turn out how they wanted. Maybe it's because they didn't take a chance & didn't follow their heart & it didn't turn out how they wanted. Maybe they just don't want to see you succeed in something that isn't a 9-5.

Whatever the case may be,

Screw It.

No, seriously. Screw It.

Screw what they have to say. Screw what they think you should do.

Screw their opinion of your life.

Why?

Because. It. Is. Your. Life.

A concept, right?

Subconsciously, & I am not exempt from this, we want others to accept us & our visions to some sort of degree. We want them to see our goals & we want them to support our dreams. But, in reality, not everyone is going to root for us.

& that's okay.

It's more than okay.

You have something they don't have.

You have you.

I'm a believer that God doesn't put something in your heart unless He knows you're capable of it. The road there might be rocky, but you are built to overcome any & every obstacle that is thrown your way. So, so what if they doubt you? & so what if they think you can't?

Because in your heart, you know that you can. & you know that you will.

& that's what counts.

You count.

Your thoughts count.

Your dreams.

They. Count.

Chase your dreams & know that anything is possible. The worst thing that can happen is you fall & you're back to square one. But, the best thing about falling is that you learn & can pick yourself back up to keep moving forward. It's not easy, but if it's worth it & you believe in yourself, you'll keep pushing. Your dreams don't need to please others & you don't need their approval for having them. Don't let those voices into your head & stifle the life you see yourself living. They already have a life to live. Don't get trapped in their opinions.

If you want it, you will work for it & you will not give up on yourself.

You are your biggest cheerleader.

You are your biggest advocate.

& you are important.

Seriously.

So, please keep being you & keep dreaming until your dreams become your reality. Anything is possible, & your dreams are attainable.

I promise.

If no one else believes in you, you believe in you...you have everything you need to set the world on fire.

May your day be ever filled with love, light, and of course, an abundance of chicken tenders💜🌻✨

Cheyenne Pajardo