"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- MARK TWAIN
It can be easy to get caught in the rat race these days. "Go to school, get good grades, keep your nose clean, get a good job with benefits and they will take care of you." Ever heard that?! Yup, me too. And with all do respect to our teachers, parents, coaches, and other elders; they knew what they were talking about... when we were in the Industrial Age. However, my friends, we have entered the Information Age. Yes, remember your first computer? Remember dial up internet? Remember your childhood email addresses, which yes we all still have but refuse to repeat outloud when someone asks. Remember when someone said hey have you heard of Facebook? And then you created your account. That was all the beginning of the Information Age. Where no longer can you count on your university degree getting you the big job you were "dreaming of." Now perhaps this paragraph was mostly babbling on my part, or perhaps you have learned a thing or two about the Ages.
Now back to that rat race... Mondays are the worst right?! Start of a new week, a full 5 more days before the next weekend, ugh. Tuesdays, well could be better. Wednesday, now here we go "hump day" we're at the top of the hump and its all down hill the rest of the week. Thursdays arent so bad because *sniff sniff* smells like Friday. And Friday, well how could it get better than to work in your favourite jeans!? Saturday is perfect because it belongs solely to you and no one else; get up when you're done sleeping, eat when you're hungry, wear flip flops, slippers or anything you want on your feet, freedom at last. Then comes Sunday morning, which isnt so bad, but Sunday night brings cold sweats, shakes and nausea all around. Because, yup tomorrow's Monday. And the rat race continues. "The problem with being in the rat race is, even if you win you're still a rat!" (Joce Dionne)
But what if? What if there was something more? What if you could work harder now, run for your goals and dreams; pay now and play later? Would you give yourself a chance? What if? And if you found that, why wouldn't you at least give it the "good ole college try?" I mean you'd be crazy not to, right? So why not?
Everyday people become another day, week, month and year older, and sweep another dream under the rug. Perhaps it was vacationing every year and being able to take friends of family with you. Perhaps buying a big ticket item for someone you've always loved and appreciated. Perhaps its secretly buying Christmas for a dozen needy families... anomously. Perhaps its just being out of debt, head above water and breathing comfortable in your finances. I can't tell you what you have shoved under a rug, and maybe you dont think you can either. But I can tell you to start sorting through those dust bunnies, hair balls and bread crumbs under that rug and pull those dreams back out one at a time. Put them infront of you and picture yourself in them. Whats the worst that can happen? You dont get them perfectly, because you didnt put an honest effort in? Well hate to break it, but our subconscious minds are powerful enough to remember them deep down and create everlasting regrets for at least not trying.
So, said best by Mark Twain above, "throw off the bowlines" and sail. Dream big, believe in something worth believing - no better place to start than YOU!
Keep Dreaming,
M
