Do you remember the dreams of your youth?

For as long as I can remember, I have been a “dream catcher.” 

As a child, I dreamed of singing like Tammy Cheri Gunden, a young girl talented enough to record her own album. 

As a teenager, I was captivated by Amy Grant. Her voice became the soundtrack of my dreams. 

At 18, I competed in a Christian singing competition at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO, reaching the semifinals. The heartbreak of not making it to the finals was profound; it felt like my big break was slipping through my fingers. 

Each birthday that passed seemed to steal a piece of my dream. When John Denver tragically died in a plane crash on October 12, 1997, my dream of singing with him died too, leaving me with a void where my singing aspirations once were.

Have you ever had dreams that you began to pursue but got sidetracked by life instead?

In my mid-20s, my passion for helping others led me to start writing a book about eating disorder recovery (that I never finished). But this endeavor inspired me to create H.O.P.E. Seminars, where I traveled across the Midwest, passionately speaking to teens and college students about overcoming eating disorders. 

The small successes I achieved in this endeavor filled me with hope and purpose. 

However, life took a different turn when my husband and I relocated to Sparta, WI, and we decided to start our family. 

As we settled into our new life, I slowly let the dreams of my youth drift away, until only remnants remained two decades later. While I cherished the path I chose, a part of me always yearned for the aspirations I left behind.

As a stay-at-home mom, my days were a whirlwind of playdates and story times, diapers and runny noses. Life was beautiful and filled with its own precious purpose and meaning. 

Another move brought new chapters focused on family and career. I found myself immersed in graduate school, followed by the start of my career in School Counseling. 

In the midst of these transitions, my dreams quietly remained in the back seat of my life. I often found myself reminiscing about the aspirations I once harbored, feeling them slip further away with each passing year. The rush of motherhood and career left little room for nurturing those old dreams, and the ache of setting them aside began to grow.

 Have you ever heard the quiet whispers of your mind telling you dreams are only for the young or successful dreams only happen to “other people”?

As the years passed, my soul became weighed down by belief systems that whispered subtly to my inner being.

“Who are you to think you can achieve big dreams? How foolish would you feel if you admitted to others that you’ve always felt destined for something big? Those things happen to other people, not you.”

The voice grew louder and more relentless over time.

“People would surely think you’re full of yourself if they knew you’ve felt this way since childhood! And it’s the complete opposite of what you know to be true about yourself. You can’t do big things!”

Do you find your inner self-talk filled with negativity and criticism?

These thoughts settled deep within me, like a cold, heavy fog, overshadowing the warm memories of childhood dreams. The dreams that once sparkled like stars in the night sky now felt like distant, unattainable glimmers.

If you could speak to a younger version of yourself, what would you say?

I could cry for this younger version of myself. 

I wish I could love on her; tell her these are all lies. I would hug her and I would tell her that anything IS possible. I look deep within her eyes and share with her all of the beautiful, unique and special things that she brings to this world. 

I would convey this with all the passion, all the conviction in my voice, so that younger me could feel the love, the acceptance, the understanding deep within her very soul.

Inevitably however, because I was unable to muster belief in myself or my own dreams, I channeled my “dreamcatcher” spirit into others. I found an authentic gift of encouragement that I poured into others; longing for each person to see the unlimited potential that I saw within them, the greatness and beauty that IS them. 

One of my mantras became, “I will believe in you until you can start to believe in yourself.” 

I became a true champion of others, finding fulfillment in lifting them up even as my own dreams continued to fade into the background.

One more move, this time a “return home” to Marinette, WI for what I believed was my dream job at my high school alma mater, ended up turning my life—and my family’s life—upside down. 

What followed was a true dark night of the soul.

Yet, amid the darkness, new life began to emerge. I experienced a renewal in my relationships, pursued a new career as a licensed professional counselor, achieved a second Master’s Degree, and discovered a profound new sense of purpose. This tumultuous period transformed me, much like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings.

Have you ever had a moment of such clarity where everything suddenly made perfect sense?

In March of 2017, I embraced this new chapter by opening Nicklaus Counseling Center, S.C. (NCC). A small, private, outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling agency, NCC became more than just a workplace—it was a manifestation of my purpose. 

Serving others and my community through NCC brought unparalleled fulfillment and clarity. In those moments, it felt as though the disparate pieces of my life had finally come together, painting a coherent and meaningful picture.

Shortly after NCC opened, an amazing woman stepped into our lives, initially in a short-term, part-time role. From the moment she arrived, her impact was undeniable. She swiftly took on the mantle of Business Manager, handling everything from business operations and insurance to client care. She was a jack-of-all-trades and, before long, became indispensable.

But her contribution went far beyond her professional role. She quickly became my best friend, a steadfast partner in every challenge we faced. Together, we could tackle anything, and our perseverance was always accompanied by joy. Laughter echoed through our office, making even the toughest days a little lighter. Her presence turned our work into not just a profession, but a delightful and fulfilling journey.

The togetherness of our journey would be cut short far too soon.

Have you ever felt a loss so deep it was hard to breathe?

In 2022, I faced such a moment.

In the spring of 2022, my best friend and irreplaceable business manager began to face severe health challenges.

By August, she was hospitalized, moved to ICU, intubated, and by November, just before Thanksgiving, she left us. 

The loss was profound, leaving an irreplaceable void in both my personal and professional life, most importantly in my heart.

Have you ever experienced a loss so great, it’s hard to see your path forward?

Life was not kind during my season of loss.

Life didn’t care if I was grieving, filled with self-doubt, or gripped with fear.

I still had a business to run.  If I wanted to keep the doors to NCC open and continue helping those in need within our community, I had to step up.

It was that, or close up shop.

Do you remember your first glimmers of hope after a dark season?

Living in the 100-plus-year-old house that I grew up in, every year my husband buys the most beautiful ferns from Costco for our big old wrap-around porch. It serves as the lovely setting where we hang five ferns. 

Amidst the darkness, a simple sight sparked hope—a pair of finches building their nest in one of my lovely ferns. Their persistence and care reminded me of the resilience I once felt. 

Every morning, as the joyful chirping of the finches replaced the silence of my sorrow, I began to see a reflection of my potential and the dreams I once thought unreachable. 

Watching them persist against all odds, I realized that my dreams, too, could thrive if I nurtured them. 

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, I discovered a tenuous strength growing with each new business task I learned. 

Learning to run the business side of my small agency was difficult, challenging, filled with mistakes but none insurmountable. 

Whatever I lacked in business education, experience, or know-how, I made up for through persistence and a whole lot of setting aside my pride to ask questions and accept help.

Slowly my negative self-talk of:

“Who am I to think I can… (fill in the blank with any of the MANY big dreams)…?

TO

“Why NOT me?” 

AND

“If NOT me, then who?”

Have you experienced something so profound it changed the trajectory of your life?

In February, while listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Goal Digger with Jenna Kutcher, she interviewed Jamie Kern Lima. They were discussing Jamie’s incredible story from Denny’s waitress to starting her own cosmetic brand with her husband in her living room and selling IT Cosmetics for 1.2 billion dollars.

She went on to write her second New York Times Best Selling book entitled “Worthy: How to Believe You are Enough and Transform Your Life”.

I immediately embarked on my own transformational journey, my very own “Worthy Journey”.

My mission was to slay the dragons of wavering self-worth, self-criticism, fear, and self-doubt once and for all!

Have you ever wondered what holds you back from chasing your dreams?

While listening to Jamie Kern Lima’s Worthy book, I threw myself into journaling, creating my own journal pages, and color therapy pages.

I listened to the Worthy book so many times I lost count.

And I listened to as many things as I could get my hands on so that the only things I was allowing my mind to hear were things of inspiration, faith, successful entrepreneurial strategies, overcoming obstacles, stories of perseverance.

I allowed the books to be the fuel to my fire that ignited an explosion of desire to step into the very passion and purpose that God had placed in my heart since I was a child.

And thus, through my “Worthy Journey”, Finch in a Fern: Where Dreams Take Root and Wings Take Flight was born.

Points to Ponder

As you read this, consider your own moments of despair and the small symbols of hope that have appeared in your life. 

What dreams have you left behind, and which are you ready to rekindle now?

Can you remember the last time you felt truly inspired?

What can your own ‘finches in the fern’ teach you about your strength and your potential? Let them remind you that, like the finches, your dreams can thrive if you nurture them. 

Have you ever wondered what holds you back from chasing your dreams?

Imagine what you could achieve if nothing held you back. What would you pursue if you knew you couldn’t fail?

It’s time to act on those dreams!

Take Your First Steps Today!

• Identify one dream you’ve had that still stirs your heart.
• Write down one small action you can take towards that dream this week.
• Share your dream and your first step with a friend or in the comments below for accountability.

Remember, your dreams are worth the effort. Let this be the moment you start nurturing them to take flight.

XOXO Chris