As we were driving recently, my son shared with me his life plan (his words). Some of his dreams I have heard before, but a few new ones were added as well. Here’s what he shared:
“After college I am going to be a professional baseball player. Since I will have a lot of time in the off season, I plan to spend that time as a food critic. Once my baseball career is over, I am going to continue as a food critic, but also be a baseball coach. Eventually I will retire. When that happens I am going to open a restaurant, and invent better baseball gear. I think being a food critic for so long will help me with the success of the restaurant. Oh, and the first thing I am going to invent and market is a better cup. The cups are really not comfortable and make you itchy.”
I enjoyed listening to my son, with all the enthusiasm, share his life plan. His ambitious goals made me smile, but also pause. Dreaming–big or small–wasn’t part of my daily life before I divorced. It was overwhelming trying to focus on a broken marriage, work, and the kids; there was no time for more than planning and getting through each day.
Life changed significantly when I separated, but I didn’t expect a renewed faith in dreaming to surface within me as a result of the split. But it did. Listening to Monkey made me smile at his aspirations, but at my own as well. It feels good to have a dream.
What happens to us as adults that causes us to lose our ability to dream that big?
I believe it is never too late to dream.
Tell me: what is your dream?
Photo Credit (girl with balloon)
I love his ambition and his interdisciplinary dreams 🙂
Dreaming big is a wonderful thing, but over the years, I’ve also looked introspectively and realized that sometimes, it’s the little things that bring me the most happiness. And lately, I’ve been focused on those. So far, it has been working really well for me.
I imagine your approach means you are less frustrated than I am with my goals. I didn’t dream at all during my marriage; life was overwhelming. Now that I have made significant changes in my life, I continue to want to dream big even with my restrictive schedule. Thank you for sharing this perspective.
How could you not love listening to that. Wishin I had a dream right now! Maybe in the future!
I love those parenting moments; they are awesome.
Great minds really do think alike! (And sometimes I get lucky and think the same thing along with them) 😉 I’ve been pondering that same question a lot myself. I ask myself, “Just why *can’t* I become a professional wrestler?”
You can, Vinny. Go for it! 🙂
I think my Big Dream revolves around writing and publishing a novel. I’d like to do so and make enough money so that I don’t need to work an 8-5 job as I do now. Before anyone suggests I want to be a freeloader and I’m afraid to work, let me say that I’d simply like to work a job that I enjoy, rather than one I’m in solely because I have bills to pay.
I’d love to work at something that didn’t require me to be in an office and answer to a boss, something creative I could use to contribute back to the world. Something that would afford me to the time to truly experience the world and enjoy my time in it with my loved ones. I’m almost 40 and while I don’t feel like I’ve stopped dreaming big, my Big Dream is still coming into focus.
I love your dream, Sean. I know you are working hard towards that goal (NaNo and NaBlo participation). You will achieve your goal; I know you will.
I know two young ballplayers who will be his first customers for that “better” cup!
I think he should design a new cup before he finishes his own baseball career.
I love this post girl! I wrote today about my dreams of working on a political campaign, only to be sidetracked by becoming a mom. At this point I’m passing my dream (hopefully) to one of the kids. If their interested.
http://suburbiainterrupted.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-political-post-that-has-nothing-to-do.html?spref=tw
You need a new dream, then Dani! Thanks for the kind words on the post.
Love it! There’s a great logical foundation and flow to his life plan, too. Right now, I dream of watching Nats games without any political ads. Oh, and sleep. I dream of sleep…
There will be no political ads next year, Joe. That is something great to look forward to next year.
Seems like when we’re kids everyone tells us how we can do anything and be anything. And everyone cares about our future and tells us to dream big. And then we get out of school, and BAM! No one cares about your dreams, your thoughts, or your future. They only care that you show up to work and not mess it up. That’s it. And so the dreaming thing gets lost. Fast. That’s what I think happens. I think as an adult if you want to keep dreaming, it takes A LOT more effort than when you’re a kid because no one wants to hear your dreams or opinions as an adult.
We can lose our ability to dream big as we get older; I completely agree TB. The great thing is that we can continue to dream quietly if no one will listen.