Keep On Dreaming
We all know that having a dream–having something we’re passionate about–is important. But how many of us, once we reach adulthood, lose sight of the thing that once stirred our hearts? Just because we grow up doesn’t mean we should stop wondering about the possibilities in life.
Or about the possibilities in ourselves.
It doesn’t mean we should get stuck in a rut and put limits around everything we once hoped for.
Like the teacher in the kids’ movie The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl, who tells his student Max to stop dreaming.
“Dreaming keeps you from seeing what’s right here in front of you,” he says.
Sometimes we need to look past what’s in front of us so we can see where we’re supposed to be going.
My son helps me to remember this. He’s a dreamer, and his ideas and questions show what an imaginative view of the world he has.
Just a few days ago, when he lost a tooth, he wrote this note to the tooth fairy…
“dear tooth fary,
can you pleas give me super powrs, fors shealds, and flying powrs? and rembr, you don’t have to, but pleas do!!!!!!!”
From my son’s young perspective, why bother getting money for a tooth when you can ask for force shields and super powers?
When I first read his note, I tried to prepare him that the tooth fairy might not be able to grant him powers. I didn’t want him to be disappointed when he woke up in the morning.
“But Mom. She might,” he said. “So I’m gonna ask her.”
Good for him.
I love his “why not” perspective and the way he sees possibility. Like how he plans on inventing a backpack that can make people fly. Isn’t that how cars and spaceships came about? First, someone had a dream that it was possible?
We’ve all heard that at the end of life, the only things we’ll regret are the things we didn’t do.
The time we didn’t spend.
The risks we didn’t take.
And the dreams we didn’t pursue.
We won’t be glad we played it safe. Or held back. Or feared.
I know that if I didn’t decide to pursue my dream of writing books, I’d regret it right now. And even though the journey has been a lot harder than I thought, I’m so glad I’m on it.
I love the band Switchfoot and their song, This is Your Life. The chorus, and the way that it asks, “This is your life. Are you who you want to be?” always makes me stop and think about the way I’m living. It makes me examine the dreams I have more closely.
If you are who you always wanted to be, congratulations. What an awesome feeling.
But if you’re not, why not spend some time reevaluating? Why not try to recapture your dream, or figure out what it might be? Whether you want to write a book, or change careers, or travel to a different country, pursue it. Even if it seems out of reach.
Even if it seems like it’s too late.
Because it’s never too late.
And because, as cliché as it sounds, we only live once.
So let’s keep on dreaming… :)
Nice blog, Genny. I’m happy to see that your custom domain is finally working. I’ll keep reading your posts ;)Cheers!
Genny,Your post, or should I say, your son’s words have inspired me…Why not?It reminds me of my dream to write a book. While walking through Border’s with my husband, he pointed over to that off color entertainment gal , Chelsey Handler’s new book, “Chelsey Lately” and said to me, “If SHE can write a book, YOU can write a book.” Hmmmm, like your son says, why not me?Loved your post, Joanne
That Switchfoot song always makes me do a quick re-evaluation too. Blessings!
great reminder! Sounds like our sons would get along great!
I think that Dreaming Big is an amazing way to live life…We should always try to keep our DREAMS alive…I tell my kids that daily….I loved when David Cook sang a Switchfoot song…It was so good….Thanks for the reminder….
Excellent, excellent. And you are not going to believe this but I just wrote a post about dreams too, although it is a bit different from yours. I’m going to post it tomorrow and if it is ok with you, I’d like to link to your post. Angela
Thanks for the revisit to the dream world… it’s really sometimes better than the real thing–in terms of a break from a hectic life.
Great post! I can honestly say, I am living My Dream Come True But, I agree we need to keep pushing and inspiring… at the beginning of the year, I had 3 personal goals one of which was starting a blog. I’ve been at it 2 months and found it to be the outlet I didn’t know I needed. I love to write and check for comments and “meet” all these other moms out there in the “blogosphere”. I agree, we gotta keep dreaming, keep growing…. Thanks for stopping by my blog… it was great to visit yours. :-)
Thank you for reminding me not only to dream big myself, but to encourage my kids to dream big. I am always cautious not to “sqaush” those little creative pieces of his personality. Even though it seems just silly to me at times, I need to encourage more of it!
This post means a lot to me recently. In my personal life I have everything I ever wanted, and I couldn’t be happier, but I seem to have trouble taking on tasks that I decide might be “too much”.I have been plugging away at my attempt at a book lately and it’s not without it’s discouraging moments. I have always tried to think like your son-that things are only impossible if you don’t think of them/ask for them-but I think sadly as an adult that innocence becomes jaded.If only we were all more like our children.
I love the things that my children teach me about life. Why not stand and soak your shoes with a water hose on a hot day?Why not use your fingers to paint instead of brushes?Why not snuggle on the couch every chance you get?Thanks for sharing-
That’s beautiful. We’re all dreamers in my house – I like to think of it as a gift from God. Imagine what the world would be like if God hadn’t dreamed?
Thanks for visiting me, Genny!And so far I love what I see here!
So true. Moms always need to be reminded of this. We are so busy helping our children dream that we forget the dreams we used to have. I love the quote by George Eliot. “It is never too late to become what you might have been.” Thanks for reminding us.
I dream all the time. In my own little dream world, I get to work from home, writing, taking pictures and just creating. People love to read my work, and I have been offered a book deal! I am a huge believer in following your dreams and your passions. I have always held fast to mine, and some day I hope they will become reality. Some have already been realized, but I yearn for more.When someone catches me daydreaming, I always tell them, “I am in my own little world. I like it there. Everyone likes me!”
It’s sad. I think my realism has rubbed off on my daughter. She never really did buy into the tooth fairy thing. She thinks I come into her room in a black dress, mind you, so that I blend into the darkness. I love your son’s sweet innocent request. Thanks so much for coming by my blog today. Seeing a new face is so refreshing.Blessings.
What an inspiring post! That last paragraph really made me think. And… Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! You have a great “place” here.
Hi Genny,Thanks for stopping by our blog and saying hello! You have alot of inspiring words. I’ll be back to visit again:)
This is a great post, Genny – I’m reading The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. You’d love it, if you haven’t read it already.Have a great weekend and keep on dreaming!
Boy did I need to read something like this today! Thanks for a great post. And the note to the tooth fairy is the sweetest.thing.ever.
Great thoughts Genny, I love your son’s note to the tooth fairy! Raising kids is a great life adventure is it not? :)I’m glad you found my blog so I could find yours!Megan
Thanks to you and your son for the inspiration. Why not?
My kids were obsessed with Shark boy and Lava girl last year. We can all quote lines form that dreamy movie!Thanks for the inspirational post. I am trying to be on this writing journey and your encouragement and perseverance really helps!
Thanks for this reminder. I certainly needed it. And that letter of your sons’ is so sweet! Love it.
And what’s funny, is that kids have dreams that are usually reeeeaaallly far out of reach. Like having force fields. But they hope and reach for them. Then once we become adults, our dreams are more obtainable, like seeing the pyramids, or attempting a tri-atholon, yet our hopes and efforts dwindle. Oh to have the aspirations of our children.
What a fabulous reminder! I think too often we get caught up in doing the mundane tasks in life that we forget what our end goal really is.
What important thoughts to be reminded of–thank you! We should make each day count as much as possible, live and do fully. I don’t want to look back one day from my rocking chair with regrets.Thanks for visiting my blog the other day. Nice to meet you!
What a great post Genny. I have had some thoughts along the same vein (ya know “exactly the same but a tiny bit different”) lately and may blog about them sometime soon. I have more mulling to do first. Thanks for visiting my blog.There are some big changes coming to my blog soon. I love yours and have added it to my blogroll.
Nice job, my husband and I had a dream to move to the county, so we took a leap of faith and moved to rural california. God has blessed our journey and our destination. I enjoy your blog – Storytellin Mama referred me.
What a thought provoking post!! Wow, we can truly learn SO much from our children. Perhaps that is why we are to have “Faith as a Child”?! Sometimes they can see things so much more clearer than we can. There have been several dreams that I have had…to be a missionary overseas –done, to be a wife/mom –done…. now, I am in the process of discovering what new dreams lie deep in my heart…waiting for God to reveal them. Enjoyed your post so much, happy to meet you via the MBC!! :D Have a blessed day!!
THis is a great post and a great reminder. I am a total dreamer. Our lives will only be as big as our dreams. Dream big or go home is my motto.
Dreaming is what keeps me going. :)
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