The Dreams of our Youth

You used to dream big.

It came naturally. You didn’t have to plan. You didn’t have to get excited about it. It just happened.

When you were a kid, you imagined a world without limits. Nothing could stand in your way.

If someone asked you what you were going to be some day, you actually said whatever it was that you wanted to be.

You didn’t give a practical answer. You didn’t check the classifieds to see what was available. You didn’t explain how your qualifications limit you.

You were going to be remarkable.

An astronaut. A superhero. A doctor. A fireman. A nurse. Mother Theresa. Santa Claus. The blind man on stage with U2.

You didn’t just state your dream, you declared it. Your eyes lit up with life every time some asked you and had the chance to answer.

You were filled with hope and expectation.

Nothing could stop you. And you dreamed big.

And you didn’t just want to be those things, but actually believed that you could. And you believed that one day you would.

photo by Kristian Karkovski (Creative Commons)

Then something awful happened.

This awfulness wasn’t immediately obvious.  In fact you hardly noticed when it happened.

It was subtle, and it took time. But bit by bit, it overcame you, and now it defines who you are.

All without you really noticing.

You gave up on your dreams.

You became content. You stopped hoping for more.

Even worse, you stopped believing in something better.

You gave in to the world around you. You settled for what you are today.

The problem is not that it is bad to be what you are right now. It works. It keeps everything in order. It pays the bills.

It keeps you safe.

At some point in our lives we made an agreement. One of safety. One of ease.

It felt good.

Once you tasted this giving in, this compromising, you decided to let it be your story.

Why struggle? Why fight? Why be disappointed by unmet dreams?

There are no more obstacles in front of you because you dropped out. No more difficulty. No more struggle. No more pain.

Instead of pursuing your dreams, you decided to settle for something else.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

We can start dreaming again.

I do not want to be content with the way things are right now.

I want to live a life that matters.

I want the hungry to be fed. I want the naked to be clothed. I want the thirsty to have water.

I want to stop living my life through movies because reality is way too boring.

We can do this. We just have to face our fears. We have to be intentional.

We have to choose to live a better story. We must imagine so much more than what is.

If we don’t, then how will anything ever change?

I can’t promise that your dream will come true. But I can promise one thing.

For the first time in a while, you will feel fully alive.

The world needs you to do this. We need people who forsake comfort so that they can change the world through big dreams.

What do you dream about doing with your life? Have you settled? Share in the comments.