When Wayne Dyer was a small boy, he believes he had a silent conversation with God. In their discussion Dr. Dyer believes God asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Wayne responded, "I want to teach self reliance." Dr. Dyer further commented, "I have always done that; I have taught self reliance all my life." God's response, "You better get your little body in to an orphanage and learn self reliance." From age 2 until approximately age 7, Wayne lived in an orphanage in Mt. Clemens, Michigan and later in foster homes until his mother could earn enough money to support herself and three little boys.
What childhood dream do you hold? Even more important, "What have you done about it?" Look deeply into the eyes of a small child and ask them what they want to be when they grow up. You will hear fabulous dreams of being an astronaut, a fireman, a cowboy, president of the United States, or a movie star. Their answers vary with their imagination, their environment and whatever random thought pops into their little brains at the moment.
Randy Pausch dreamed of being a Disney Imaginer. During my years living in Steamboat Springs ski resort, the frequent answer could just as easily have been "an Olympic gold medal skier." Our youth revolved around our dreams. At that point, we believed we could be and do anything we chose. Life continued to be an adventure. Every new day brought something else to discover; we touched, smelled and tasted everything within reach.
What happened to those dreams and that totally uninhibited free flow of exploration and imagination? Far too many of us allowed, yes we allowed, life to drain those aspirations away from us. Sometimes our parents channeled us into their plans for our future. Other instances we subscribed to society's norms by believing our only recourse rested in getting a job and climbing the company ladder. Daring to reach out and live our own dreams felt risky, sometimes too scary to tackle. If I had lived out my father's expectations for me, I would have remained on the farm, married a farmer and remained uneducated. Fortunately that very thought of living in a closed ended life scared me more than reaching out for my dreams. Living in a rut is really living in a grave with the ends kicked out.
Living a life someone else designed and dictated to you is actually an emotional prison. If you are living for someone else's approval, you might as well bury your dreams in a deep hole. There is no point in doing it at all. The only choice in truly living your life rests in declaring to the world you will not be denied. Express yourself; fulfill your dreams and experience all life has to offer. Find out who you really are and do what fills your soul with fire and joy. Live life, don't just exist.
My childhood was so confined and structured that I'm not even certain I dared to dream until my high school music teacher, Earl McCray, told me "You are different than the other girls in this farm town. Go stretch your wings and make something of your life." For the first time in my life, someone believed in me. I ran with it. What a joy to discover freedom and opportunity. So many people are living in a self imposed emotional prison instead of reaching for everything life has to offer. Start right now to LIVE. Regardless of your age, you can still achieve goals and dreams. As long as there is life in your body, a spark in your mind and a burning desire in your soul, you have hope.
Dust off your dreams. Take responsibility for your present and your future. Become self reliant to whatever degree you desire. Childhood dreams existed before daily life smothered the flame of desire. The good new is if we allowed life to wrap its confining cloak around us, we also have the power to unwrap that cloak and use it as wings to fly.
