dreams
Practicality is so praised in our world. In a real way, society discourages dreaming after a certain age, arguably when we approach the end of our public school days. When a young child voices their hopes of being an astronaut, a writer, or an actress, they are praised for ambitiousness, deemed wide-eyed and endearing. They are never told to think smaller or pushed to choose a simpler and more practical future for themselves. Somewhere along the line a person becomes naïve for having “unrealistic” aspirations and for clinging to their childhood dreams.
We lose sight of the things our hearts really desire by forfeiting them to society’s script for a successful life.
Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best idea to drop everything and move to Iceland to become a freelance photographer with no real funds or experience. What this means is that you should not stop working hard to reach the goals you set for yourself so long ago because they don’t seem to result in immediate success. Practicality is still a necessity, but it should not be paramount to staying true to your heart. Instead it should be used to discover how to practically turn dreams into reality. There are paths to where you want to be, but sometimes you have to search for them in order to get yourself there. It’s silly to abandon the journey simply because it is difficult or uncertain, especially when the end destination is your authentic satisfaction.
I have to often remind myself that ignoring my dreams only makes them less possible and makes me less genuine. Losing dreams I have always held on to results in losing a part of myself, a piece of me which is still a wide-eyed child inspired to be my best and live up to my full potential. I would like to be encouraged by others to hold on to this childishness and for them to avoid mistaking it for naïveté.
I recently submitted a piece of writing on a whim to Local Wolves, a publication I have admired for some time now. I have longed to be a writer since I first fell in love with words as a child, so it was fitting that my first time in print should cover my decision to stay true to this aspiration, and I think it goes right along with the point I am trying to get across today, so I will share it again to wrap up my thoughts.
“Ever since I was a kid, I have had my nose stuck in a book, most of which reminded me of the outstanding courage, kindness, and creativity I possessed - they always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. As I progressed into a more independent existence and approached college, the world told me that my dreams of becoming a writer, a teacher, a creator, were irrational. I was told that an English degree was the cliché of the impractical college education; of the dreamers who chose this path, only a select few were lucky enough to go where they really wished with it. So, I decided to apply to a program which was less exciting to me, but generally more practical. After months of my heart dueling my mind, one reminding me of my true aspirations and the other logically following the world’s rules for stability and success, I took my dilemma to my dad. He brought me back to my childhood dreams and reminded me that to stay true to those wishes was more important than to follow society’s instruction to stay simple, safe, and practical. Today, I am pursuing my interests, holding on to my courage, my kindness, and my creativity, despite common culture’s advice to stick to a script. Today, I am grateful for the stories and the people who provided me with the words I needed and pushed me to listen to my heart intently. Today, I hope you remember the desires of your heart and stay true to yourself in the same way - I promise your happiness will always be greater when you do so, it is not a crime to be a dreamer.”