I think that many of us have long dream lists, lists of things we'd like to do with and for others. What always challenges these lists is time--there's never enough time to do all that we can imagine. Yet if we do make up those dream lists, we may find that while we can't do all that we want to do right away, in time we will be able to accomplish many of the dreams we hold dear.
I often talk about this to my students as I try to inspire them to be the people they hope to be. I tell them that if they set their sights on the dreams that mean the most to them, they'll likely accomplish those dreams. Further I tell them that I've been able to live out my most important dreams which were to be married, have a family, and teach school. I have one or two big dreams that I'm still aiming for, but I'm happy that I was able to live out the dreams I held closest as a young child and young woman.
I'm thinking about this at the holidays as I can think of a zillion ways to celebrate with loved ones, yet the limitations of time, energy and money make me have to choose the efforts that are most important. As I think of this on this busy Monday a week and a half away from the holiday, I'm about to make a list of what I'll do this year, and what I might do in future years. The knowledge that while I can't do some of the holiday tasks I dream of this year, but I can do them in years ahead is satisfying.
Many agree that life moves more quickly as you get older. Like a snowball rolling down the hill, as you age, you gain so many relationships and experiences--in so many ways your life gets bigger and bigger with more people to love and more important efforts to attend to. That makes choosing what you'll do and when more challenging, but the dream list is a good place to start.
I often talk about this to my students as I try to inspire them to be the people they hope to be. I tell them that if they set their sights on the dreams that mean the most to them, they'll likely accomplish those dreams. Further I tell them that I've been able to live out my most important dreams which were to be married, have a family, and teach school. I have one or two big dreams that I'm still aiming for, but I'm happy that I was able to live out the dreams I held closest as a young child and young woman.
I'm thinking about this at the holidays as I can think of a zillion ways to celebrate with loved ones, yet the limitations of time, energy and money make me have to choose the efforts that are most important. As I think of this on this busy Monday a week and a half away from the holiday, I'm about to make a list of what I'll do this year, and what I might do in future years. The knowledge that while I can't do some of the holiday tasks I dream of this year, but I can do them in years ahead is satisfying.
Many agree that life moves more quickly as you get older. Like a snowball rolling down the hill, as you age, you gain so many relationships and experiences--in so many ways your life gets bigger and bigger with more people to love and more important efforts to attend to. That makes choosing what you'll do and when more challenging, but the dream list is a good place to start.