"Someday Happened"... And It Can Happen For You Too!

A few years back, my wife and I took a weekend trip with a friend to visit her younger sister at the University of New Hampshire. Although several years older than our host and her friends, we all found ourselves delighting in the joys and freedom of their senior year. We embraced the party atmosphere and traveled back in time as we simulated our own carefree college days. We tailgated before the big football game, ate plenty of junk food, and went bar hopping in Portsmouth—to only the best and most popular bars, of course.

Before heading back home, the four of us decided to take a short drive up to Maine. Thirty minutes later, we were navigating our way through the streets of York, Maine en route to the Sohier Park Welcome Center where we hoped to get a glimpse of the Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick. With each turn of the winding roads, we seemed to get a little bit higher. We were in awe of some of the magnificent and charming houses and the breathtaking views that the homeowners were lucky enough to call their own. We drove slowly and cautiously, wanting to take it all in as we traveled toward our destination.

And that’s when I saw it. It’s easy to miss the little things when you’re looking at the extraordinary scenery and the expensive finishing touches that trim the lavish homes. But I didn’t miss it. There it was, perfectly centered and hanging slightly above the double car garage doors—a small, but beautiful sign that simply stated, “Someday Happened.” I read the sign, once to myself, and then again aloud from the backseat of my friend’s SUV. And then I started to cry. It was the most beautiful sign I had ever seen. There was nothing fancy about it—no special font or illustration to make it appear more decorative. It was just two words that spoke volumes to me. At that moment, I put myself inside the home and inside the minds and hearts of the owners that I knew nothing about. All I knew was how powerful that statement was and how much it spoke directly to me. I knew that the homeowners must’ve had a dream—a dream of someday owning a home, right there on the coast of Maine with a stunning view of the everchanging beautiful and natural scenery before them. Theirs was not the biggest nor the most extravagant house on the block, but that didn’t matter. Their dream had come true. Their someday had finally come...and it was perfect.

At first my friends playfully poked fun at me for getting so emotional and teary-eyed, as I often do in the strangest of situations. But when they realized why I was so affected by that sign, they understood and actually found it endearing. I couldn’t help but feel connected to those homeowners that I didn’t even know. I appreciated their journey—not being afraid to want something so much and doing whatever they needed to do to make it happen. I, too, had my own hopes and dreams, and at that moment, I realized that they had come true. I had everything I ever wanted—a wonderful family, the perfect dog, amazing friends, a great job, an exceptional wife, and a beautiful home of our own. At that very moment, everything was put into perspective and I was overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion. My someday happened.

Expecting the best view that day to be York Beach, the Atlantic Ocean, or the Nubble Lighthouse, I was pleasantly surprised by one that was even more intense, more meaningful, and more memorable. It was more than just a sign I saw that day—it was a reminder to keep dreaming big dreams and to do everything I can to make them come true. And it was also a reminder to take time to appreciate even the smallest of blessings and be thankful for all that I already have.

Several months later, my wife and I had just gotten home from a birthday dinner she had taken me to. I was unwrapping some gifts she so graciously had for me. Before opening the last one, she shared with me that it was something she made for me herself and that she really hoped I liked it. Homemade gifts are always the most thoughtful and special. As I tore off the last piece of wrapping paper, my eyes teared up and I clutched the handmade present against my chest…

The beautifully carved wooden sign with the hand painted letters that read, “Someday Happened,” has been displayed in our living room ever since.