Midnight Writer

I was walking home from work the other day, pondering the idea of purpose. What was I meant to do in life, and when would I finally take action to bring it to fruition? After daydreaming for a bit, it became clear that most of my “dreams” felt completely out of reach.

It reminded me of a scene from The Office, where the women are gathered in the conference room for a “Women in the Workplace” seminar. Jan asks the group about their five-year plans, and Meredith delivers one of the funnier lines in the episode:
“In five years, I’d like to be five years sober,” she says, then hesitates. “Actually… four and a half.”
It makes me laugh every time. But it’s Pam’s answer that resonates with me now. She talks about her dream of having a home with a terrace where she can paint. Then, more realistically, she mentions wanting to do something with art or graphic design. Jan tells her that corporate is offering a class, and Pam immediately starts listing off reasons why she can’t take it.

That moment holds the lesson I want to explore today. We say we want to chase our dreams, but when they’re actually within reach, we come up with excuses. One after another, until the opportunity fades. It’s easier to stay where we are because it’s familiar. There’s no fear in the known. Breaking out of that comfort zone is risky, and risk is something most of us instinctively avoid.

Of course, fear isn’t the only reason we stall. If you’re familiar with the show, you’ll remember that Pam’s hesitation wasn’t just about fear, it was also about Roy, her partner at the time. His lack of support was a major reason she remained stuck in that loop of normalcy.

The people we surround ourselves with, whether a partner, family member, or close friend, play a huge role in whether or not we pursue our goals. We value their approval more than we like to admit. And if someone close to us is actively (or even passively) dismissing our dreams, it becomes easy to stop chasing them altogether.

That’s why it’s so important to be intentional about who we keep close. We need people who cheer us on, who believe in us, and who genuinely want to see us grow.

Personally, I’ve always wanted to create content. I love film, music, and have so many ideas that I often get caught in the fantasy imagining the possibilities but never taking action, because it all feels so out of reach. I also love to cook, and I’ve long dreamed of owning a restaurant where I could bring all of my passions together.

Right now, I work in sales, something I’m good at, but not something I want to do for the rest of my life.

Recently, I took the first real step toward my goal: I started this blog. A small beginning, yes, but a meaningful one. It’s a place where I can plant the seeds that might one day grow into something bigger. I’m not the best writer, but that doesn’t matter, what matters is that I finally took action. After so much time spent dreaming and talking about it, this step feels huge simply because I did it.

Letting go of distractions, excuses, and the “Debbie Downers” in life and just taking the leap, is the most important lesson I’ve learned. We all have a purpose, and the world needs people to pursue theirs. If we stopped dreaming, the world would stall. If we stopped chasing our dreams altogether, I truly believe it would come to a standstill.

So here’s my challenge to you: What’s one small step you can take toward your dream today? It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real. Share it in the comments, write it down, or tell someone you trust — but don’t let it stay a thought. Let it become action. The world is waiting for what only you can create.

–Midnight Writer

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.