From "What? Like it's Hard?" to "We did it."

I’m sorry for calling you that.

For describing you as “the dream that wouldn’t die” in workplace settings and mindset trainings.

But something tells me that you don’t care all that much, and don’t take offense.

You’ve always been stronger than my fear.

You’ve always been stronger than my moments of illusion, clouded by doubt and circumstances so grim I couldn’t even appreciate existence.

I cursed at you, wishing you could make yourself smaller, more palatable, more believable.

I looked back at the mess you made of my life, the no longer willing to settle for less-ness and hated you for it.

Pressing record and talking when no one was listening for what felt like years on end.

Writing words that made my heart race, and made me avoid my phone like had just drunkenly texted a boy, but instead, it was me posting something on the internet, hoping to make a difference.

One night in April of this past year, I cursed you, and wished you away with a fervor and intensity that was so raw and primal and visceral. But you stayed.

All I wanted was to feel like a normal person again, and not to feel so aggravated and triggered by all my peers who were seemingly lightyears ahead, with their spouses and houses and offspring, when all I had was you; all I had, was my dream.

Now, I am grateful you pushed me.

You ruined my life and gave me everything in return.

You helped me to see all the areas where I was settling for less, and demanded I ask for more, standing beside me for every single one of those last 2,555 days, even when it felt like you were against me.

It is with great honor and reverence that I sit here in reflection on all the greatest moments from the last 7 years, lumping the highs in with the lows.. is it all not just one in the same?

A picnic with over 30 registrants

Driving to the bank to deposit quarters to offset the overdraft

Being invited to read my writing aloud in public forums

Leaving my dream apartment to move into the childhood home I resented

Making planner after planner after planner.. and being able to say now, with full body conviction, that it’s the best product of its kind on the market

This week I ate dinner in one of the papercutouts I used to keep on my nightstand representing the dream of New York, and spent this past summer living in an apartment you wouldn’t even be able to wrap your mind around.

I have a passion and obsession with life that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for your influence.

Thank you for never giving up on me, and most importantly, thank you for ensuring it was physically impossible for me to give up on you.

If this was the kind of magic we were able to create in 7 years, I can only begin to imagine what’s next.

I love you,

Allison Ziggy.

Happy 7th birthday.

September 1, 2019

August 1, 2026