What did you want to be when you were little? Did you have dreams of being on a big stage, or of helping people have better lives? Did you want to go to the moon? Did you want to help animals?
Did you achieve those dreams?
According to an online study, only about 22% of adults end up in the professions that they dreamed of as children. Most of us seem to have wandered into other things, and often we are very comfortable where we are. We forget what we wanted, or dismiss it as mere childish fantasies.
Whether we wanted to help people or animals, travel the world or stand on a stage, those desires of contribution and significance can be very deep. We may forget about them for a season, but they are not gone.
Especially as we move into the third stage of life, with kids out of the house and maybe retired from our full-time employment, those dreams may ambush us again, making us feel dissatisfied and restless. What can we do to fulfil them? If not now, when?
Some dreams can be fulfilled by volunteering or starting a new career – if you never made it into veterinary school, maybe now is the time to help out at the animal shelter. If you didn’t hit Broadway, maybe community theatre will scratch that itch. If you love teaching, I can guarantee your skills will be welcome as a volunteer at your local school or community centre.
The important thing is to acknowledge your desire and see what you can do to bring it to life, instead of suppressing it.
Some dreams are bigger – maybe you have always dreamed of travelling, of seeing the world, maybe making it a better place. Do you want to help build schools in developing countries? Or maybe you just want to see the wonders of the world and celebrate that glory and beauty. Where would you like to go?
Maybe it is time to build a business around a passion you never had time to pursue before. What can you offer the world to make it a better place?
The picture that accompanies this blog post is of a lake in New Zealand. That’s a long way from my home in Winnipeg, but I wish to eat in that glass restaurant one day. It’s a dream, but it is one that I am determined to pursue.
Don’t give up on your dreams – the world is waiting for you to share your talents and to enjoy its beauty. Get out there and make those dreams happen.
Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canucks!