Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I don't believe that people can have too many dreams. I don't think that people should ever give up on those dreams either. I saw a quote that spoke this better than I could.
"No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high...You should never agree to surrender your dreams." - Jesse Jackson (Okay, I know I just quoted Jesse Jackson but please focus on the quote! It really is a good one!!)

My grandpa has more reason to give up his dreams than anyone else I know. And he's never done that. He fell of a ladder and broke his back years ago. I've never heard him be bitter about his limitations.
But the other day I saw the first hint of disappointment in his eyes. I told him that I would be going to Maine on my trip. He said he always wanted to go there but never had the chance. I told him that if there was ever a way he could make the trip I'd have him there in a heart-beat.

It reminded me of when I was little. He told me that his grandpa always loved the banjo and that it made him wish he'd learned how to play. I made it up in my mind then that I would learn to play the banjo. The other day when I told him I'd take as many pictures of Maine that I could, I added a dream to my already long list. I'm getting a banjo and learning to play a song so I can play it for him...and maybe even teach my Papaw how to play too!

There are alot of things that make you want to give up on your dreams. Sometimes the worst enemy of your dreams is your own doubt. Why is that? Even if you never accomplish your dreams, you will be more remembered for never giving them up than you will be if you give into doubt. So never surrender your dreams, to anyone. Let them soar and free. Let yourself soar and be free too.

Besides, you can never be too old (or musically challenged) to learn to play the banjo.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Little Moments of Win

I was not in a good mood when I came to work tonight. I sulked and pouted and griped and groaned. Then I stumbled onto this site called It Made My Day (itmademyday.com). On the banner for the site it says "Little Moments of Win." And I loved that. There are a lot of sites today where people are able to complain and talk about how their lives are terrible and will never go right and it was nice to see that people still get to win.

My favorite story of the many I read was this one:
An elderly man came into the shop where I work in wanting to place an order. While I was working we got to chatting and he told me that he was one of the oldest students at the nearby university. I asked him why he decided to start studying again and he said, "I just thought, what does one do between now and death? Might as well learn Turkish!" IMMD [It Made My Day]

That is such an inspiration to me. Sometimes I feel like I'm just taking what life throws at me. Good and bad (complaining about the bad and being ungrateful for the good). It's nice to remember to seize every moment between now and death. Have fun as much as possible. And maybe even learn Turkish!

Every day has the potential to have little moments of win.

And by the way...I'm not in a bad mood anymore.