If you're a dreamer, you learn about the life of a dream. Each dreamer's dream-life is somewhat different, yet there are likely common elements in the dream lives of all of us.
For me, the dreams are born long before they are realized. My dream to be a teacher was born in me when I was in kindergarten. I LOVED school and I wanted to be a teacher like my awesome kindergarten teacher, Ms. Ball. She inspired my first revelation and opened my eyes to the wonderful world of learning--I wanted to do the same for children, and about twenty years later, I did become a teacher.
I also had the dream to be a mother. That dream was born in me in my earliest years--like many young children, I played house, mothered my five younger siblings, imagined being a mother, and drew pictures of my future families. It wasn't unti my thirties that I realized that dream, and like teaching, parenting was as wonderful and rewarding as I imagined (though with both roles, there were challenges too).
As an educator, I had many dreams about what a good education for every child would look like. It took a long time to make some of those dreams a reality while I was unsuccessful with other dreams in that realm. Essentially I wanted to revolutionize education in ways that made education environments warm and welcoming for every child. I wanted to increase the number and diversity of skilled staff working directly with students everyday. I wanted to reduce the number of bosses who spent their days ordering teachers around but seemingly not doing as much good work with or for students, teachers and families as possible. I wanted more ready integration of new knowledge about cognition, technology, teamwork, social-emotional learning and more to modernize education. Education is a rich landscape for progress, but too often old time, outdated structures and oppression obstruct that progress.
I have also had many dreams about what a good home, family, neighborhood and community are like. Essentially all of those dreams include ways to enrich lives, increase peace, decrease violence, protect natural resources, preserve beautiful natural places and build greater camaraderie and care. I desire similar warmth and collaboration throughout the nation and globe too--I believe war is barbaric, and we can work as a global people towards greater diplomacy to solve problems and lift the standard of living for all.
My dreams also include respect for all and high regard for our wonderful, natural variability as a people. I hate the prejudice that exists, prejudice that leads people to harm, hurt and hold one another back. These dreams also include working on myself to rid my lifeways of ingrained and systematic prejudices as well as working in the greater community to do the same.
The dream seeds are planted, and daily I work to make those dreams a reality. A challenge is that when you are working on too many dreams, it is difficult to make any dream come true. That's why you have to prioritize. I tend to prioritize from my dreams related to my closest associations outward to the greater world. I look for opportunites to work on my dreams, and I also look for others who share my vision. I read their words, observe their work, support some, learn from many and chart my course ahead.
Dreams are powerful starts to positive change--it can be frustrating to have a dream unmet, but in time and with good energy, typically some or all of your dreams will come true. You will retire some dreams because other dreams will become more important to you as well.
Just because dreams take time doesn't mean you should give up on them--keep dreaming and reviewing those dreams you hold close. Define your dreams with greater detail and work on your dreams with greater focus. Then your good dreams will come true and your life as well as the life of the world will be better for it. Onward.