Sketches of a Dream

I wrote this in January 2008, just before going back to school. I don't know why I never posted it.


Do you ever hear people say “Live each day like it was your last?” Well, what would you do if it was your last day on earth? Think about it.

I’d probably rent out a park pavilion or one of my favorite restaurants, fly in as many of my friends as possible, gather them all together with my family, and then have a damn good time over food and drinks, just talking about all the times we’ve shared together. And then call it a life.

I don’t think Live everyday like it’s your last, is a good saying. Because I couldn’t nor wouldn’t want to repeat the above day over and over. I think a better question is “If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, would you be happy with your life?”
Answer that one.

Now the truth is, most likely we’re not going to die tomorrow or for some time. So if the answer is No, stop and think, what would you change in your life, what action would you take so that you could answer Yes, if I died tomorrow I would be happy with how I lived.

Start dreaming and make it your own.

Your life is 100% your own responsibility. This can be both completely liberating and completely terrifying. But I will tell you this, the more you start living your dreams, the less terrifying it is to take the first step of each dream. What is holding you back, what piece of security are you holding on to? Security is an illusion- loved ones die, money disappears, marriages end in divorce, the only certainty in life is change. It’s scary.

Do you know what it feels like to have a dream, and actually know you’ll fulfill it? And what happens is with success comes more success. In the last year I’ve written some dreams down, and I have every intention of making them a reality.

So what to do, dreams just don’t happen. Set yourself up for success. First write it down, then tell your friends about it. But pick friends who are going to support and encourage you, not ones who will bring you down. Next start preparing to make it happen. Investigate, talk to people who are doing what you want to do, read about people who have made it happen. Find out about the steps they took and the mistakes they made. Start creating a plan, but be aware the plan will change, plan for small steps and be realistic.

Now it’s time to cut away the fat. What resources is it going to take to achieve your goal? Probably a good deal of money and time. Lifestyle changes have to be made. Three happy hours a week get cut down to one or none, dinners out turn into cooking at home, get rid of the car and take the bus, subway, or carpool. Look at life hour by hour and see what changes you can make, best to implement them one at a time.

Ok, the fat is trimmed, and tough times are on. The conveniences of life have been stripped away, and you realize it will take a year to save up the money you’ll need to start out. So life is harder and it’s going to be like this for some time. What I do now is start devouring books, not just anything though. Read about people breaking away from what they were expected to do with their lives and venturing out on their own, to live their dreams, and find out what really makes them happy, not what they’re told by society will make them happy. These readings will strengthen your mind and its resolve. At the same time, why not strengthen the body, work-out, run, play basketball. If you feel strong in body and mind, you won’t miss your old routines, in fact you’ll begin to see them as the distractions they are/were to you living your dreams.