Having been faced recently with a host of events that caused me to rethink my dreams, I felt compelled to ‘write myself out of it’ and perhaps inspire others whom may feel as if there is no sense in trying.
As we grow, our dreams reflect our place in life. A child wants a paper route so that she can afford a puppy. A boy cuts grass so that he can buy his first new bike. A teen gets a restaurant job to buy their first car; a young adult has to work 3rd shift and has 5 classes to earn their degree. What these very different dreams have in common is a means to an end. We learn from an early age that to dream means to have an idea, have a plan, and put that plan into action.
We also learn at a young age that sometimes someone may come in with a more efficient way to deliver papers or people are beginning to cut their own grass. When those curve-balls threaten our flow, does this mean that our dreams cease? Does this mean that we find something else to aspire towards? Does this mean we completely abandon what is important to us?
Short answer: No. What it means is we must learn to adapt and find different, more innovative ways to achieve our goals. We must learn from our mistakes and take lessons from other’s lives. We must not forget that the destination is only part of the journey. We must remember that our testimony of our travels will mean more than any prize we may receive in the end.
That is the key difference between dreaming as a child, and as more mature creature: realizing that the means has far more substance than the ends, and that there is a possibility that there may never be an end—or the end we imagined will be modified. That is when we must accept that life is one continuous, bumpy, malfunctioning ride that sometimes causes us to pause, look at our surroundings, and use that information to leap forward. When it gets difficult, when it gets trying, and when it seems impossible, that is when you know your triumph will really matter.
The only difference between dreaming and reality is opening your eyes.
Peace
~Robin
