You want to write a novel. Move to another country. Start a business. Learn to sail. Some dreams feel too big to say out loud because people might laugh, or give you a reality check, or ask why you haven't done it yet.
So you keep them to yourself. But sometimes you just want to put them into words.
The Dreams We Don't Talk About
Aspirations are vulnerable. When you tell someone your dream, you're opening yourself up to judgment. They might not take it seriously. They might point out all the reasons it won't work. Or they might be too supportive in a way that adds pressure.
Anonymous sharing removes all that. You can say "I want to quit my job and become a painter" without anyone tracking whether you actually do it. The dream just exists, stated clearly, read by a stranger who doesn't know you.
What People Dream About
- Career pivots - The job you wish you had instead of the one you have
- Places to visit - Countries, cities, that one random spot you saw in a photo
- Creative pursuits - Books to write, songs to compose, art to make
- Life changes - Moving somewhere new, changing your name, starting over
- Skills to learn - Languages, instruments, trades, hobbies
- Experiences - Things you want to try at least once before it's too late
Why Writing It Helps
There's research on this: writing down goals makes you more likely to achieve them. Something about putting it into words makes it more concrete. It moves from "vague thing I think about sometimes" to "actual stated intention."
Even if no one you know sees it, the act of writing "I want to do X" is a small step toward actually doing it. It's more real now than it was when it only existed in your head.
Reading Other People's Dreams
It's fascinating to see what strangers want out of life. Some dreams are elaborate. Some are simple but meaningful. Some are things you've thought about too but never articulated.
Reading them might give you ideas. Or it might just remind you that everyone has a secret list of things they want to do someday - you're not alone in having dreams you haven't chased yet.