I always dreamed of building a career with horses while traveling the world. But many people tried to crush those dreams, telling me to “be realistic.” They said working with horses was only for the exceptionally talented or for those who inherited a family business. Traveling, they added, was something you could only afford with a well-paid job. I heard the phrase, “You can’t live from a job with horses,” more times than I can count.

After hearing these stories, I started telling people that I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. But deep down, it was never a question. The signs were always there—I was meant to work with horses. Yet, society’s expectations pressed my dreams under the surface, suffocating me. Back then, it felt like I couldn’t breathe the kind of air I needed to feel alive. How could my fragile teenage self have known that I actually knew best? How could I have had the confidence to ignore everyone telling me that my dreams weren’t an option?

But somehow, I kept hope alive. I kept dreaming. And, unconsciously, I started manifesting those dreams into reality. In 2021, I appeared on First Dates, a Dutch TV show where strangers meet for a blind date. During our conversation, my date asked me about my dreams, and I told her I wanted to travel—specifically to Norway and Iceland. I didnt realize it at the time, but saying those dreams out loud was the first step towards making them real. Looking back now, I see that I was already setting things in motion, even if I wasn’t fully aware of it.

After the episode aired, I read plenty of hate comments on Twitter. People said I was childish, asking, “Does this girl even realize that traveling costs money?” But honestly, I didn’t care. Who takes the time to write hateful things about an 18-year-old girl and post them online? The funny thing is, the more people disbelieved in me, the more it encouraged me to prove them wrong. Three years later, I achieved those manifestations: I worked with horses in both Norway and Iceland while making money.

These accomplishments gave me so much confidence and sparked personal growth. They showed me that I’m capable of following my dreams. Today, I can proudly say: I did it.

This feeling of accomplishment has brought me to another big change I want to share with you.

I canceled my plans to volunteer in Uganda because I got the job offer of my dreams in New Zealand. A while ago, I reached out to Lighthorse Adventures with my application. At the time, they didn’t have a position open but told me I could apply again in the future. This was when I used a trick my uncle taught me when I was 16: “Plant seeds.” Even when you don’t get the job or aren’t ready to accept, stay connected. Ever since then, I’ve always made an effort to build relationships so people remember me when I reach out again.

I asked the person I’d contacted when the best time to reapply might be, showing them I was serious about joining the company. A month later, they emailed me with an open position. We had a phone call, and last week, I received the job offer. This stable aligns deeply with my values and offers a beautiful opportunity to improve my skills. I can’t describe how excited I am to invest my time and energy in such a place.

The big thing for me personally is that when I first visited their website, I thought the stable was out of my reach. I’d never put so much effort into an application before because I wanted the spot so badly. Even though there are so many factors making me nervous to go, I can’t let them stop me. I’m 21. I should take big risks. I have to try things that might seem impossible. And if it doesn’t work out, it won’t be a failure—it’ll be a brave attempt.

I’ve been delusional from a young age. As a kid, I would spend my days daydreaming because life felt boring. I never understood people who say childhood was the best part of their lives. I was always the weird kid, constantly exhausting myself trying to adapt so I might fit in one day. Children are such honest judges, and I was too insecure and vulnerable to deal with that.

As an adult, I’m glad I was never able to fully adapt. Instead of losing myself, I stayed true to who I am, and that has become one of my greatest strengths. My vulnerability allows me to connect with people on a deeper level, to understand and support them in ways that make them feel seen. This depth of connection is something I treasure. Of course, vulnerability comes with its own pain. When people let you down, it hurts more. But I’ve learned that time heals, and those connections, even the fleeting ones, are worth it.

The biggest fear I’ve had to overcome to pursue my dreams is leaving my loved ones behind. In the beginning, this wasn’t an issue, but after losing my mom, everything changed. My connections with family grew stronger, and the fear of losing someone suddenly became very real. My mom passed away just four days after her diagnosis, and this experience shattered the illusion that we always have time. When people tell me, “Don’t worry, no one will suddenly die,” I know better. It only takes one moment—a car accident, an unexpected diagnosis—for everything to change. This fear of loss stays with me, but it has also made me realize that living fully and fearlessly is the only way to honor the time we do have.

Traveling and working abroad has been a way for me to embrace life despite these fears. After two failed attempts to make a horse job work abroad this year, I finally found success on my third try. It was a rushed decision—I left just two weeks after applying—but it turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made. The work environment was incredible, and I felt genuinely valued for the work I did. That recognition boosted my confidence and showed me what I was capable of. I bought my first car and explored the beautiful scenery of Iceland independently. That experience gave me the belief that I can create the life I want, even when things don’t go as planned. It also taught me that embracing vulnerability—being open to failure and loss—is what makes this journey so rewarding.

For anyone who feels their dreams are unreachable, I want to ask you something: Who told you that? Who made you believe that you can’t achieve your biggest dream? Did they ever have the courage to try themselves? Or is it just their own fears talking? If you’ve never truly tried, how do you know it’s impossible? These limiting beliefs are so deeply ingrained in us that we often mistake them for truth, but they’re not. And once you start questioning them, you open the door to a new reality.

Embracing being “delusional” has taught me that I can create my own reality. The energy I put out into the world shapes my opportunities. When you focus on what you want, you unconsciously start working towards it. I once heard someone compare it to counting yellow cars. If someone paid you $10 for every yellow car you saw while driving, you wouldn’t miss a single one. That’s how manifesting works. Once you decide what you’re looking for, you start to notice the opportunities that align with it—and suddenly, the “impossible” becomes possible.

So, stop limiting yourself. Connect with your dreams, your energy, and your mind. Allow yourself to be delusional, because that’s where the magic happens. You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you try.