“Within us all there lies a broken dream, ‘our inconsolable secret,’ as C.S. Lewis calls it, that is so precious to us we protect it with a thousand defenses. “The secret which hurts so much,” Lewis says, “that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism and Adolescence.” We know that we are made for glory, but we’ve only known hints of its joy. In the midst of life we long for more. Something is missing; creation is aflame with a glory we cannot touch but we know it’s ours. We are moved by ancient music, but cannot find the great dance. So “we pine,” as Lewis says. But such pining is too much to bear. So we bury our longing, and protect our dream’s sleep.” – C. Baxter Kruger

By Dawn Onley

Go back and re-read that quote, slowly. Word for word.

Understand that it is describing quite eloquently and succinctly what we do when we bury our dreams and failures and anything else that is too painful to face. We pretend like it doesn’t exist and then we continue this dance called life until the music stops playing, all the while never fully grasping the enormous power we wield to write our own song.

There is nothing sadder than a person who has given up on their dreams.

Even before they verbalize it, if they ever do, you can feel it. You can sometimes see it in their eyes and hear it in the words left unspoken. It’s in the heavy way they carry themselves. It may even be in the vices that are picked up along the way.

Somewhere along the line, the day to day doldrums of life took over. Other stuff got in the way. Dreams were pushed to the backburner. Even worse, dreams were outright abandoned.

Walking away from our dreams is too heavy of a burden to carry. It’s not worth it.

We must go after our dreams, those things that leave us breathless with excitement, while we still can. While we still have time. We must keep the fire lit. It’s not too late. We haven’t come too far. If not, we will never know what could have been. We will forever “pine.” A life of regret is not a life at all.

When my sister and I get together for any period of time, eventually the topic will turn to our dreams. She will tell me all about her plans once her youngest daughter graduates from college and I will discuss things I’m working on. We almost certainly will start talking fast, excitedly, as if we can taste our dreams. I hope we never lose that because this is what keeps our dreams fresh and alluring and totally achievable.

The thing with dreams is we can play it safe for awhile, if need be. We don’t have to choose right this second. We don’t have to jump in with both feet — although there is an unmistakable freedom with going all in. Still, one toe dipped in the water is a great start. It’s a good way to test the waters. It signals that we are getting ready.

Us playing small does not serve the world. 

Go catch your dreams.