Anonymous did it again. Whoever this person is put it well: “Follow your dream! Unless it’s the one where you’re at work in your underwear during a fire drill.” Yes – some dreams should be forgotten as soon as possible.
But when it comes to life dreams, rather than sleep dreams, I am coming to believe that it is less important whether you actually reach a goal or achieve a beautiful dream than just to follow. Simply start following and see where it leads.
Let me explain.
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.
“What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors.
“We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!” one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.
The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up jar full shiny pebbles, worms and a wide assortment of odd insects. He showed it to the scoffing visitors and said quietly and confidently, “Even if we don’t dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way.”
Maybe their goal was too ambitious, but it did get them to dig. And that is what following a dream is about – our best dreams point us where we want to go and then nudge us in that direction. In other words, they set us to digging.
But you know how it goes – you just won’t achieve everything you attempt. You may shoot for the moon and only hit the neighbor’s window.
You may fully intend to be in love for a lifetime. But not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized.
But here is the wonder of it all ... when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, “Yes, but look at what I found along the way. Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something.”
I think those boys got it right. It is in the digging that life is lived. It’s the joy in the journey that matters most.
-- Steve Goodier
Image: flickr.com/Brian Dewey