Dreams vs. Reality

Last summer I dreamed that I was a fighter pilot in WWII (too much reading for this history teacher). Then I awoke, in the lovely wheat -poison, for me- fields to hear a low flying prop plane flying overhead. I awoke with a start and started looking for a gun. Then I realized I was at home and the plane (50 ft above the house) does that from time to time because it is a crop duster.

As a teacher, I see thousands of people. I have taught thousands and contracted thousands of diseases (which is why I rarely get sick). It is interesting to see those things people aspire to but never quite get. It may be the Special Ed student who works their tail end off and only gets D's or the staff member who wants a new car but it just never seems to happen (especially on a teacher's wage). Yet, these people still aspire to attaining these things. Some call this perseverance, gumption, or stamina. It demands our attention and respect but there seems to be a point when our dreams are so incongruous with reality that we must give them up or play the fool for the remainder of our lives.

The high school football player who (at the age of 55) still lives in those days of glory.

The successful parent who thinks their kid is the smartest on the planet when they have severe disabilities that must be dealt with. Yet, the parent never gives up fighting what they know to be truth -their student is severely challenged.

With presidential candidates making promises and sweeping statements, I find it curious that some will drop out and seemingly give up within 24 hours. Then during the "decompression" which occurs afterwards, they support a former opponent. It is shockingly pragmatic. People admitting that they don't have a hope to become president (even if they may be the best candidate).

How would we be different if, individually, we were willing to admit fault or error so easily (or even recognize reality for what it is)? Would we give up on our dreams? Probably. But wouldn't that allow us to move on to other dreams that are more likely to occur? I think so -as long as we don't wallow in the failures of the past.

Are our dreams making us unhappy with our current lives? Then maybe it is time to store those dreams for another time or just drop them and enjoy life right now.

I don't know what has inspired my thoughts recently but I am assessing my plans for the future and wondering how many of my dreams are fantasy and how many reality. Let's face it, life NEVER goes the way we expect it to.

--until next time, gsm