You see things; and you say, “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say, “Why not?”
–George Bernard Shaw
When I was a kid there was never really any question of what I wanted to be. No one in my family had ever graduated from college or become anything more professional than a nurse. We were desperately poor for a great deal of my childhood years, which meant the focus was on surviving now, not on what we wanted to be in the future.
My sister and I played “secretary” with empty Kleenex boxes that we had drawn typewriter keys on and pretended we were working for Shawn Cassidy and John Travolta. To our adolescent minds, that was the pinnacle of success. Secretary to the stars…(grin). I was secretary for many people as an adult, but alas, no stars.
What’s was your dream?
If you're “living the dream”, I take my hat off to you! If you’re like most people and “not so much,” then let me ask you a question.
“What are you waiting for?”
There are a million excuses for why we give up on our dreams. Our life shifts and suddenly we find our dream is a million miles away. Some of us have even forgotten what our dreams were. Some have had so many hard knocks that they refuse to try anymore. Some found out the dream was too hard and gave up right before it came true, but most people stopped believing in dreams and started believing in survival.
The most important set of beliefs are the ones you have about yourself.
No child says, “I’m going to be a mess when I grow up.” But, somehow, that’s where we end up. Not a ballerina, not a fireman, not an actress…a mess.
What went wrong?
Somewhere along life’s long and dirty road, we stop believing in our dreams. Just like Santa and the Easter Bunny, we find what we once saw as limitless possibilities has become endless responsibilities and the dream dies.
The truth is: YOU WERE MEANT TO SHINE.
All else is a lie.
You were always meant to be something wonderful. While your may have come from the darkest of beginnings, you got this far because inside of you still remains limitless possibilities. Dreams don't die.
People do.
It's time to wake up those dreams and put them down on paper. Write ‘em on toilet paper if you have to, but get them fresh in front of you again. Every person has a talent. Something that they can do better than anyone else. What’s yours? What can you use it for? How can you develop it, share it, live it now?
Some dreams change over time. Let’s face it, we get older and being captain of the kickball team isn’t really feasible at 41 years old, but playing kickball with your kids or the kids in the neighborhood is. Prima Ballerina at 70 may not happen, but paying for a little girl’s dance lessons who might be is. Policeman at 13 is not possible, but neighborhood watch and school patrol is needed everywhere. World famous chef? Cook for my family! We’ll take it! Seriously, there are plenty of people out there who need help with meals (Know any single moms? Elderly neighbors?).
It may take some creativity, but if you believe it, you can be it, even now. Your dreams were not meant to die with you. They were meant to be shared and carried on by those you share them with. If you can be programmed to give up, you can also be reprogrammed to succeed.
Today, give your dreams new life by writing them down. Then, (gulp) tell someone else what they are. (Bartenders don’t count, unless you are one or that’s your dream). Speaking the words out loud gives life to them. Every day take one step toward your dream. One little change can set into motion a chain of events that can take you higher than you ever imagined.
God did not create you to be a caterpillar all your life. He planted those dreams inside you and has given you everything you need to make those dreams fly. Great people are not born that way, they become great by perseverance and by believing in their dream no matter what.
Today it’s your turn. What’s your dream?
–George Bernard Shaw
When I was a kid there was never really any question of what I wanted to be. No one in my family had ever graduated from college or become anything more professional than a nurse. We were desperately poor for a great deal of my childhood years, which meant the focus was on surviving now, not on what we wanted to be in the future.
My sister and I played “secretary” with empty Kleenex boxes that we had drawn typewriter keys on and pretended we were working for Shawn Cassidy and John Travolta. To our adolescent minds, that was the pinnacle of success. Secretary to the stars…(grin). I was secretary for many people as an adult, but alas, no stars.
What’s was your dream?
If you're “living the dream”, I take my hat off to you! If you’re like most people and “not so much,” then let me ask you a question.
“What are you waiting for?”
There are a million excuses for why we give up on our dreams. Our life shifts and suddenly we find our dream is a million miles away. Some of us have even forgotten what our dreams were. Some have had so many hard knocks that they refuse to try anymore. Some found out the dream was too hard and gave up right before it came true, but most people stopped believing in dreams and started believing in survival.
The most important set of beliefs are the ones you have about yourself.
No child says, “I’m going to be a mess when I grow up.” But, somehow, that’s where we end up. Not a ballerina, not a fireman, not an actress…a mess.
What went wrong?
Somewhere along life’s long and dirty road, we stop believing in our dreams. Just like Santa and the Easter Bunny, we find what we once saw as limitless possibilities has become endless responsibilities and the dream dies.
The truth is: YOU WERE MEANT TO SHINE.
All else is a lie.
You were always meant to be something wonderful. While your may have come from the darkest of beginnings, you got this far because inside of you still remains limitless possibilities. Dreams don't die.
People do.
It's time to wake up those dreams and put them down on paper. Write ‘em on toilet paper if you have to, but get them fresh in front of you again. Every person has a talent. Something that they can do better than anyone else. What’s yours? What can you use it for? How can you develop it, share it, live it now?
Some dreams change over time. Let’s face it, we get older and being captain of the kickball team isn’t really feasible at 41 years old, but playing kickball with your kids or the kids in the neighborhood is. Prima Ballerina at 70 may not happen, but paying for a little girl’s dance lessons who might be is. Policeman at 13 is not possible, but neighborhood watch and school patrol is needed everywhere. World famous chef? Cook for my family! We’ll take it! Seriously, there are plenty of people out there who need help with meals (Know any single moms? Elderly neighbors?).
It may take some creativity, but if you believe it, you can be it, even now. Your dreams were not meant to die with you. They were meant to be shared and carried on by those you share them with. If you can be programmed to give up, you can also be reprogrammed to succeed.
Today, give your dreams new life by writing them down. Then, (gulp) tell someone else what they are. (Bartenders don’t count, unless you are one or that’s your dream). Speaking the words out loud gives life to them. Every day take one step toward your dream. One little change can set into motion a chain of events that can take you higher than you ever imagined.
God did not create you to be a caterpillar all your life. He planted those dreams inside you and has given you everything you need to make those dreams fly. Great people are not born that way, they become great by perseverance and by believing in their dream no matter what.
Today it’s your turn. What’s your dream?
The Butterfly Project© 2009
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
