There are people in the world who will tell you to follow your dreams, and then there are people who will tell you it’s just that— a dream.
But I’m here to tell you why you need dreams, at all stages of your life— even after you achieve the dreams you’re currently following.
We need dreams because they push us to pursue all the challenges life can throw at us. Without dreams, why would we even try? What would life be without them?
Grab a warm beverage, because it’s #TeaTime, and time for a little inspirational story:
Meet 17-year-old Pagan, who just landed a book contract fresh out of high school. She had her whole life ahead of her, and getting that book contract was her dream. She found herself thinking: what do I do now?
The answer should have been simple— as a writer, I obviously had more than one story to publish, and more goals than I can count on one finger, but back then, I honestly hadn’t even thought past ‘getting published’ for the first time.
When my contract fell through, and I was not able to find anyone else willing to publish my book, all I could feel was sadness and heartbreak. Feelings of failure buried me in a depression that nearly broke me. I honestly thought I’d lost my chance at success, and for a few months I completely gave up on that dream. I didn’t have any motivation to continue, because I’d already felt fulfilled when I got the contract. It wasn’t until later that I regained enough drive to finish what I’d started, and with that drive came motivation for tons of other projects that I now pursue daily.
We all have dreams in life, and they don’t have to be big dreams, but they should be pursued no matter what. Maybe you dream of landing the perfect job, or travelling the world, or buying your first home. Maybe you dream of owning a dog, or meeting ‘the one’, or starting a herb garden on your windowsill.
Whatever they may be, your dreams are what will keep you sane and stable in times of turmoil— that feeling of unfinished business is what stops us from giving up in our darkest moments. They are the light that shines in the midst of a mental breakdown, because we know deep down that they could still come true. Dreams are made of hope, and stars, and sunshine.
I want to know, what is your dream, and what can you do today to bring you one step closer to it?
(This post is part of the Tea Time series. Follow along on Twitter + Instagram using the hashtag #TeaTimeSeries)
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