Hey Guys! It’s Dad.
It’s funny when, where, and how we learn our life lessons. If we’re plugged in, they seem to be around every corner. This one was no exception.
Last night I had a really peaceful dream; a dream that taught me something and it made me smile. In my dream, a father speaking with his young son. I don’t think it was me in the dream, but I could feel how much the father loved his son. He wanted nothing more than to help his son achieve happiness and success in his life. Their conversation went something like this.
Father: “Hey buddy! So what do you think you’d like to do when you’re older? You know, for a job? What interests you? Remember, if you love what you do, you’ll never mind having to wake up early to go to work!”
Son: “I want to fly, Dad!”
Father (with a chuckle): “Don’t we all, my man!”
Son: “I mean, I guess I really do like playing video games. I love basketball too. It’s is awesome! I kinda like art, like painting and stuff. But (laughing) I really wanna fly! Not like an airplane, but just me…flying.”
Father: “Well those are all great interests. Are those things that you’d like to pursue now, or in the near future? Did you want me to sign you up for some art classes, or to a basketball rec league?”
Son: “Uhhh…No thanks, Dad. I just want to go watch TV.”
Father: “Well, if you want to succeed; if you want to really create a comfortable and happy future for yourself, we might want to look into it sooner rather than later. I can set it up for you. You just let me know. OK?”
After a long pause.
Father: “Think about it, kiddo. Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond, or do you want to be a big fish in the ocean? The earlier you start, the more experience you’ll have with whatever you’re doing. Don’t you want to be the big fish?”
Son: “I’m not a fish, dad. I’m a bird. I want to fly. I really just want to fly”
The dad smiled and hugged his son tightly and told him, “Then you go fly, little man! You go fly!”
That’s it! It was pretty awesome. I woke up in one of those “ah-hah” moments. It reminded me of how important it is to be ourselves! We don’t have to strive for the “American Dream.” We can make our own dreams. You could live in a bus at the beach and surf all year. Heck, you could video yourself doing it and probably make a killing; a happy, peaceful living. And the whole time, you’d be surrounded by people who share your passion. You could open a nursery and teach people how to grow and cook their own food. You could work for the president, and maybe knock some sense into him.
Just keep your spirit plugged in all the time. Make sure that the path you’re taking leads to peace and happiness within yourself. Make sure that you let yourself fly!
My generation is the end of an era that taught us to “Do well in school, go to college, get married, buy a house, have kids, then retire and enjoy your golden years.” By “Golden Years” they mean “when you’re really old.”
It’s sad to say, but sometimes those golden years never come. But …I promise that the very best years will never come if you keep looking into the future to find them.
The Golden Years; they are here right now! Enjoy your lives right now. Explore your interests now. Of course, those interests will probably change, and if they do, explore new ones.
If you’re a fish, I hope you swim in the ocean. And if you’re a bird, I hope you fly to wherever your dreams lead you.
I love you guys.
#5words
Dad
Harvesting Insights 