Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

Daydreams, Detours, and the Journey That Shapes Us

Adventure isn’t just a destination—it’s a mindset. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how childhood dreams evolve, how unexpected detours shape our path, and how slow, steady growth leads us to the places we’re meant to go.

Do you remember daydreaming? Sitting in the cool shade or whizzing round the block on your bicycle? Dreaming of catapulting off to the places you had seen on TV or read about in books. The call of adventure was real, present, and just slightly beyond your reach. Yet, you knew that someday, somehow that expectation would become real.

As you sit at the kitchen table sipping your coffee, where are those places? What did you dream of experiencing and doing?

I remember talking with middle school friends about what we would do when we “grew up” and could be on our own. I wanted to go to France, see Paris, and walk down the street with a parasol in my hand. I imagined twirling it around as it bathed me in light shade and protected me from the heat of the day. My best friend wanted to do a solo sail to the Caribbean. Now, I must remind you that I grew up in the Midwest and water came out of the tap, and sailing was nowhere in sight. Still, you could have this dream. If she had imagined skiing or climbing a snow-covered mountain that would have been more appropriate as the Midwest gets its fair share of snow in the winter. But no, landlocked as we were, she wanted to sail.

Where did you want to go when you were younger? Put yourself on that bicycle with the wind flowing through your hair and billowing your shirt. As you cycled around the neighborhood, where did you imagine going? Now that you clearly have that in mind, did you ever make it there? If not, what got in the way?

Often, we have plans and things get in the way. I wanted to go to Florida a few weeks ago, and Milton got in the way. What kind of name is that anyway? I remember Milton Berle, a very funny comedian who started in showbiz as a child in silent films. Imagine that! I certainly cannot imagine a child being “silent.” Then we could look up Milton Friedman, a famous economist (yes, they exist), who received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. Now what does someone have to do to get such an award? Make a deep dive into the economy! This Milton advocated for a slow, steady stream of money flowing into the economy instead of rapid unexpected changes.

I like his idea of slow and steady. Isn’t that how most of us grow? Year after year, making adjustments and changes that move us forward and give us new views of the world. Where are your changes taking you?

Want to explore how daydreams and detours shape personal growth? Visit Hooked to Books’ inspiring quotes from Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, Poem Analysis’ breakdown of Dr. Seuss’s journey poem, and Tag Vault’s reflections on optimism and resilience.

If you’re reflecting on dreams, detours, or personal transformation, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and life-stage growth.