When One Door Closes . . . Keep Dreaming!

Last night I sadly learned that my trip to England had been cancelled.

Just a few short hours before I got the email, my passport arrived.

And a day and a half earlier I had made my flight reservations.

Doors close. They always do.

And while the airline cannot refund our airplane tickets, at least we hadn't made hotel reservations, tour arrangements, and other costly plans that we might not have been able to rearrange.

At this time it doesn't make sense for us to go to England solely on a whim. Our time will come, but as of today we feel strongly that we should postpone any additional or new travel plans. That could always change, but I need some more time to absorb the news.

Don't get me wrong. I am devastated. This would have been my first trip outside the U.S. I've pinned every London and Paris site I wanted to see. I poured over possible tours we might take every free minute I could spare. I spent hours and hours trying to select the perfect hotel location at a price point we could afford. I bugged every friend in the area that I could think of to help answer questions (thanks, Shimelle!).

It just didn't work out.

Funny. Just a few days ago I was in the midst of going over the plans, and I got a little emotional that one of my childhood dreams was about to come true. I admit it. I shed a few tears of happiness at the thought of all those magical wishes being granted.

But today I shed a few tears over an opportunity lost.

I'm very grateful to have been extended the opportunity. I'm so, so sad that it didn't work out.

But it did teach me that sometimes our dreams are far more obtainable that we think. That sometimes we talk ourselves out of things because of money issues, or time constraints. And while those are real and legitimate reasons not to do something, sometimes many of those items can be worked out over time.

I'm determined to go to England, to visit France, to experience all that the world has to offer. It's just going to be on different terms than I had originally planned.

And now, at the least, I have a passport.

Thanks for all the well wishes, and shared excitement. It meant the world to me that people understood and shared in my happiness. You're the best!