“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what shall one day be. Your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.” – James Allen
The Everly Brothers knew about dreams
In a hit 1958 song, the famed Everly Brothers recorded the following words about dreams:
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The Everly Brothers created a hit, and raised awareness of the significance of dreams. In today’s complex world, we collaborate with dream and sleep experts – those destined to help us understand the significance of our dreams and how dreams are affected by sleep patterns. (http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-everly-brothers/all-i-have-to-do-is-dream.html)
Dreaming big dreams, and making them real
Perhaps the most significant speech about a dream is that associated with the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. In a moving historical moment, Reverend King delivered a speech that transformed lives, including his own: 
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” (USConstitutionhttp://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/index.html -)
Are you living your dreams?
Each and every day, people across the country and around the world are living their dreams. Are you one of them? You may think that your dreams are out of reach and that it is impossible. But, people prove every day that someone is going to get rich, famous, healthy, or otherwise improve their lives. The ‘Make a Wish Foundation” makes dreams come true for countless numbers of people annually. http://www.medaloffreedom.com/MartinLutherKingJr.htm) Do you think that the children involved are non-believers? Do you think for a moment that they do not visualize their dreams becoming reality? Do you think that they allow illness or oppression to stand between them and their dreams? Of course…the answer is a decisive no!
Dreaming of a future that could be
As a young girl, growing up in an abusive household, I often dreamed of what could be. I looked at the relationships that my friends had with their parents and families and wished that I could be like them. I knew that I could be better, that I could do better, and I set out on a mission, at age 14 to prove it.
My healthcare career began at age 14 as a volunteer. At the same time, I found as many jobs as possible to generate income. The jobs were varied – from assisting an accountant with the daily receipts of a number of local food establishments to babysitting and more. I worked long hours and I worked hard. I developed a strong work ethic from my affiliation with the accountant…he taught me the importance of completing a task and realizing my goals. He served as a referral for me when I applied to nursing school, and he became a lifelong friend and mentor.
I knew that to realize my dreams I needed a good education, and I saw nursing as the vehicle to help me to reach my goals. Although my initial program was only three years, leading to a diploma, I graduated with honors and went on to complete baccalaureate and master’s degrees on a continuum of learning that has not yet stopped many years later.
I was fortunate to have had a role model…someone who believed in me and my ability and who helped me to understand the value of dreams. Today, somewhere…someone is going to go back to school to improve their life. Someone is going to become a lifelong learner.
Someone is going to look in the mirror and see that they need to lose a little weight and they will make the decision to become healthy. Someone will run their first marathon or improve their health. Someone, somewhere – is going to set out on a pathway to success and reach beyond their dreams to change their lives. That someone might be you…or someone you know. Read more at B is for Balance, 12 steps on Amazon.com
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