"Now," she said, startlingly down to business, "tell me what you expect from life. Fame and fortune aside -- those we take for granted."
Truman Capote
(from the unfinished novel "Answered Prayers")
We have been dreaming a lot in our house these past few weeks, months even. The days have been filled with possibilities, what ifs, wonderings, brainstorming, lists, and many, many unanswered questions.
The other day I sat in the garden, I picked up a frangipani flower, and I looked at the way the petals fold towards the middle with such architectural precision -- almost like a Frank Gehry building -- and it got me thinking about the nature of dreams.
What do we dream of? Fame and Fortune aside. (for that's too vague, and too prosaic) It's much better to hone your dreams, until they have the precision of a laser beam, cutting through the murk.
I dream of inspiring people. I dream that what I draw, or what I say, might illuminate some of the wonder of the universe that people are too busy (or to preoccupied) to see.
Of course, I also dream of money and of recognition (I won't say fame, I'm too introverted for that). But those are all things we can't just dream about, those are things we have to constantly and tirelessly work towards
The dream, on the other hand, is that little pilot light in the soul that is always in danger of blowing out. Any rejection, any setback, and the light extinguishes. It's the small light that guides our hearts in the right direction, and gives us courage in the dark nights.
So, to all of you out there, tirelessly working towards your dreams, guard that little light with your life. And then work hard; work harder than you've ever worked before. Never give up.
And when life seems overwhelming, and your little light is flickering in the buffeting winds of the world, go pick up a flower, any flower, and contemplate the miraculous universe that made it. While there are flowers, there is always hope.
So, what do you dream? What is that small light that burns in your soul?