Dreams

     I think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his dreams is because he took his dreams seriously.  I love the example of his parents letting him paint math formulas on his wall.  Maybe it was because of this and other supportive actions of his parents that contributed to him taking his dreams seriously.  Maybe it was because he had native ability in his chosen field, and that helped him to push on in the face of failure.  

    Dreams are important!  I think what we daydream about in our quiet moments, those dreams that will never be spoken out loud reveal who we really are and what we really long for on the inside.  Maybe not all of our dreams do that, but I really do think most dreams do reveal our truest selves.  

    When I was young, I really wanted to grow up, be a ballet dancer in New York, and have a small apartment where I practically starved to death, but I was happy because I was a dancer.  I wanted to dance more than anything else.  I begged my mom to have lessons, and finally, when I was twelve, I got dance lessons for Christmas.  Years passed and I tried out for dance company in high school.  Alas, my name was not on the list.  Randy Pausch said that brick walls are there to prove what it is that you really want.  If that is true, then I must not have wanted to dance anymore, because I just fizzled out with my dancing after that.  Other things became more important than dancing, like football games, dates, and having fun.  I still sometimes daydream of being a dancer.  In fact, I almost put it on my stars and stepping stones assignment, but it didn't seem like it furthered my ultimate goals in life.  It would definitely add joy and zest to life though.  

    I just realized as I wrote about my stars and steppingstones assignment that I forgot to include my personal ethical guardrails.  Whoops!  

    I had quite an epiphany while doing Stars and Steppingstones.  I realized that I was put on this earth to teach.  I can love others by teaching them who they really are.  I can serve others by teaching them how much ability and special intelligence they have within them.  It's actually really exciting, yet peaceful to have an overall direction and ultimate ending place.  I'm old enough (and hopefully wise enough) to know that simply realizing the dream of becoming a teacher isn't going to magically make me centered, blissed-out, and living out my higher purpose, just a cursory look around the academic arena at some of our teachers would tear down that notion.  But it's simply a vehicle to using the God given talents that I have in the service of others.  I have no desire to actually be an elementary or high school teacher.  Is that bad?  I just really don't want to spend time wrestling with the district system and the rigid regulations that seem to be placed on teachers of that level these days.  

    For what it's worth, my ethical guardrails are; First) never do harm (emotionally, physically, or spiritually) to another person in pursuit of my own goals and dreams.   Second) I will never teach principles that are not God's truth.  Third) I will prioritize highest, the roles and responsibilities God has called me to in the beginning: daughter, wife, mother.