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Many of us want to be more than just a parent, spouse, friend or family member. We all have dreams that we would like to see come true someday. The question is: what are you doing to make them happen?
When I was a little girl I dreamed of being a ballet dancer. I took dance classes and my favorite out of all of the classes was ballet. I would watch the older girls in their toe shoes and dream of being just like them. When it came time to advance from the ballet slipper to toe shoes I was told that this is hard work, that you will have to practice as much as you can or the shoes would be to hard for you to dance in.
I took that information to heart and when I got my first pair of toe shoes I was in those shoes as soon as I got home from school every day. I did not walk on my feet I walked on my toes. My mom had to insist that I stop wearing them at times when we were heading to school, church or to visit family. I worked hard to break in my shoes, to be able to walk on my toes as if that was how I was taught to walk. That year I had made it so that I could dance with the ‘big’ girls in class wearing those wonderful ballet shoes. I was only ten years old at that time.
That dream was crushed soon after for me. Not because of anything I had done but because of the financial situation in my life with my parents. They couldn’t afford to pay for my classes anymore and even though my dance teachers begged my mother to do things for them in trade for my tuition it never happened. I remember them telling her that I was the youngest student they had ever had that was really good on my ballet shoes and that I had great potential to be something if she could just keep me in the classes.
I have to say I was crushed. I didn’t want to believe it so I kept walking around in my toe shoes for many months after that. I even got a Ballerina Barbie doll for Christmas the prior year and the only two things I ever had with me were those toe shoes and that doll. Family life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be in our house and eventually anger took hold and my ballet shoes and dance outfits were tossed out so that I would face the truth, then it was my doll that went. Parents mean well sometimes but they didn’t realize how they crushed my dream on those specific events in my childhood.
I turned into a child that was shy, quiet, did what I was told but didn’t ask for anything, didn’t dream of doing anything. When my parents divorced my mom got me a clarinet and put me in band classes at school. The music helped and I was good at that too but eventually I was reminded that it’s only a dream and wanting to play music for life wasn’t going to happen, just like being a ballet dancer.
When I grew up I realized that those that love you the most sometimes can’t handle the fact that you are chasing a dream and making it come true. They feel they should be chasing there own and when they aren’t and you remind them of what they would rather be doing they sabotage even those they love to keep from acknowledging the pain that comes with not chasing your dream.
So I ask again, what are you doing to make your dreams happen? Are you learning all you can about the subject in question? Are you surrounding yourself with others that are positive and go-getters, doers and dreamers? Are you taking steps even if small ones towards that goal around your life? We all have responsibilities and we have to have shelter, clothing and food for our family, and ourselves but what do you do on those off times? Do you sink into the couch watching TV and wishing for a different life? Do you pick up a book and read to get lost in those characters because your life isn’t going where you want? Or do you say I have far too much to do and am far to busy raising my children and keeping them going in all their activities? Are you using excuses like I fail at things when I try them so what’s the point?
No matter what your dreams are also important. Your dreams keep you going and alive in the grind of life. Those dreams give you a sense of accomplishment, confidence and pride in the ability to chase a dream, be an example to your family and know that anything is possible if you work hard and go after it. Do you watch a toddler go from crawling to walking without falling down? What dream are you chasing today and if you haven’t started then why? There is no better time than now. What are you waiting for?
I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Please share it with someone that you think it would help or touch. I’d like to hear what dreams you are chasing so leave a comment below. Have a blessed week!