Dreams have a funny way of shaping our lives. Sometimes they take us where we expect, and sometimes they lead us down roads we never imagined. For years, I lived the dream of being a professional singer, traveling across the country, pouring my heart into each performance and connecting deeply with people along the way.
But life, in its not-always-gentle persistence, eventually nudged me toward something new — a calling I hadn’t seen coming, but which was waiting for me nonetheless. This journey from stage to page taught me that dreams can evolve, often in ways that require us to summon incredible courage, adaptability and trust in ourselves.
When I first started singing, the thrill of performing was everything. Music offered freedom, joy and the chance to connect with people in a way I’d never known before. Each audience brought a new set of faces, and each performance felt like a small adventure shared with a crowd of strangers who, for a moment, became part of my world. For five years, I traveled from one city to another. My days were filled with rehearsals and road trips, and nights were spent in the spotlight, hoping my voice could make people feel happy, uplifted and inspired. It was exhilarating, challenging and fulfilling all at once.
But as anyone who has pursued a passion knows, the path isn’t always smooth. I faced long hours, unpredictable schedules and stretches of loneliness on the road. Yet, the struggles felt worth it because I was doing something that resonated so deeply within me. Singing was my big dream — or so I thought. It wasn’t until I felt the push toward a life change that I realized dreams don’t always stay the same forever.
Looking back, I can see the subtle changes that began stirring around me. As with many industries, executives were always looking for the next big hit. As time went on, I could no longer deny that this industry shift didn’t align with me anymore. This was a confusing and emotional time because I had defined myself so completely by my music. Letting go of it felt like letting go of a piece of who I was.
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This wasn’t just a simple pivot; it was a moment of reckoning. The idea of leaving music as a career forced me to confront who I was beyond my identity as a singer. The day I sold the last of my musical equipment, I stood on the sidewalk and sobbed.
As I began to process this shift, I spent time reflecting on the parts of singing I loved the most. In addition to performing, I’d always enjoyed songwriting, the storytelling aspect of crafting lyrics that could resonate with someone else. This realization was my first clue. Maybe storytelling itself was what I was most drawn to — the connection, the sharing, the chance to give others a glimpse into emotions and experiences.
I began to explore writing as a serious pursuit, but it wasn’t an easy transition. I returned to college to earn an English degree, and discovered that I could weave together experiences and emotions from my life on the road and create something entirely new. Storytelling offered me a way to connect with others, just like music had.
With each step forward, I started to view my life not as a series of separate chapters, but as a continuous journey of growth. Music was a significant part of my journey, but it wasn’t the entirety of who I am. Just as I found resilience on the road, I found that I could bring that same resilience to writing. Embracing this new life path taught me that change doesn’t mean letting go of our former passions — it means expanding our understanding of what we’re capable of and finding new ways to express our creativity.
Today, I’m grateful for both the path I left and the one I chose to follow now. Moving forward into something new was daunting, but it allowed me to see that each one of us can evolve in beautiful, unexpected ways. Life sometimes has a way of pulling us into directions we never imagined, but if we accept and embrace the changes, it can lead us to even greater joy and fulfillment.
To anyone who might feel the same tug to step into the unknown, to dream a new dream, I want to say: Trust in your journey. Let go of rigid ideas about what you “should” be and open yourself to what you could become. Life is full of surprises, and each of us is capable of so much more than we know. So, if you feel your dreams shifting, lean into it. You might just find that the evolution of a dream is not an end, but a glorious beginning filled with possibilities waiting for you to explore.
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The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds comes out Jan. 14 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.
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