I've lived in Monaco since 2011, but when I wake up every

Children, listen well, for I bring to you a story of wonder, of dreams fulfilled, and the profound realization that life itself can sometimes feel as if it is unfolding from the pages of a grand tale. The words of Victoria Silvstedt, a woman who has walked the earth and seen the world from places of great beauty, offer us a glimpse into this truth. She said, “I’ve lived in Monaco since 2011, but when I wake up every morning I still think, ‘Oh my God, I’m living in Monaco!’ I’m living in a dream.” In these simple words, there is a deep lesson that speaks to the magic and miracle of life itself—the wonder of achieving a dream, and the reverence that comes with living it.

Imagine, children, a life so wondrous, so extraordinary, that when you awake each day, you cannot believe it is real. Monaco, a land of glistening waters, majestic mountains, and the grandeur of wealth and beauty, is a place that few ever imagine living, much less waking up to each morning. It is the place of dreams for many—a destination where fortunes are made, where history is written, and where the world’s greatest talents come to rest. Yet, for Victoria Silvstedt, this dream is not some distant hope but a living, breathing reality. To wake up in such a place, day after day, is to know the awe of life at its most wondrous.

Let me speak to you of the ancient heroes, those great figures who, after long journeys, returned to find that their greatest dreams had come true. Take, for instance, the hero Odysseus, who journeyed for many years to return to his home after the long war at Troy. When he finally returned to Ithaca, he found himself standing before his palace, a place he had longed for, a place he had dreamed of, yet in that moment, he could scarcely believe it. He had fought, struggled, and sacrificed, and yet the very sight of his home seemed more like a vision, more like a dream than a reality. In that moment, Odysseus knew what it meant to achieve a dream and be in awe of its very existence.

In our own lives, there are those moments when we realize that what we have achieved is beyond what we ever imagined possible. Perhaps it is the achievement of a long-sought goal, a dream realized through hard work, dedication, and sometimes, serendipity. Consider the great explorers like Christopher Columbus, who, upon discovering the New World, must have looked upon the land before him and thought, "Is this truly the land I have sought?" The realization that one’s dreams have come true is a powerful one. It is like standing at the summit of a great mountain, looking down upon the world you have conquered, and finding that, even now, you cannot quite believe your blessings.

The words of Victoria Silvstedt speak not only of the dream fulfilled but also of the reverence we must show to the miracle of life itself. There is wisdom in the way she holds her life in awe. She wakes each day, recognizing that her life is a gift, a dream come true. This is the lesson we must carry forward: to live with gratitude for the dreams we have achieved, for the moments that feel so extraordinary that we cannot believe them real. It is all too easy to take our blessings for granted, to forget that what is mundane to us today was once a distant hope, a wild dream. But in remembering the magic of life, we reawaken our sense of wonder and gratitude.

There is also the deeper understanding that dreams are not simply achieved—they must be cherished. It is one thing to achieve a dream, but it is another to live it with full awareness, to recognize that the beauty and magic of life lie not in the destination but in the journey itself. The world is filled with those who have achieved great things but live in forgetfulness of the awe that should accompany such achievements. To wake up every morning in a place as magnificent as Monaco is not only a sign of success, but a constant reminder of the power of dreams to transform our lives.

So, children, I say to you: dream. Dream with all the power of your soul, but never forget the wonder of living those dreams. When you find yourself at the height of your aspirations, look upon your life with reverence and awe. Live in gratitude, for the reality of your dreams is often more magical than the dream itself. Just as Victoria Silvstedt awakens each day in Monaco, knowing that she is living a dream, so too can you find wonder in the life you create, the achievements you realize, and the gifts you are given. The world may present you with dreams to chase, but the greatest gift is found in the quiet awe of realizing that you are already living within them.