Some months ago, I was listening to Dolly Parton in a radio interview talking about her book “Dream More: celebrate the dreamer in you” and she said something that caught my attention. She said that dreams and wishes are different. She went on explaining that dreams are those for which you work hard while wishes are basically hopes. In the interview, she told the story about how when she was a high school graduate her dream was to be a star and how people laughed at her when she said it publicly.
I can’t agree more with Dolly. I believe a dream motivates you to work hard, makes you willing to sacrifice, and encourages you to overcome barriers. Sometimes people do not want to or are not willing to make a bigger effort or to make a change for those things they want. I think everybody has dreams but not everybody has the courage of pursuing them and like Dolly says they end up being only wishes.
Sometimes people discourage others in achieving their dreams. So when you are sure of what you want, go for it. I had a good friend that always said “it’s better to regret what you have done than what you haven’t done”. I believe that from every experience in life, you can always learn something and there is when you become wiser.
Other times you find people that inspire you to reach your dreams. In my case, I have a very close role model. My second oldest sister is being a plastic surgeon doctor for the last eleven years. A couple of years ago, she achieved her master in Health Administration while taking care of her two kids, working for a hospital and her own office. I admire her will and tenacity.
I can tell you that it feels extremely rewarding to achieve a dream. I’ve been attending college while working full-time and I’m about to conquer my dream. Although there were times when I wanted to quit, I did not stop. Some people told me, “I don’t know how you do it”. I was working over 45 hours a week, commuting, tending my home, and taking three or four classes per semester. Well, I think that my dream motivated me to continue.
So I invite you to pursue your dreams and NEVER STOP DREAMING!
Rosana Smith 