If you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true? You don't have to be a 'lutellen' to see the logic in that statement.
But what is an appropriate dream? Here in Honduras I have met a couple of people who are following a dream. The first is a couple who, 9 months ago, sold everything in Edmonton and bought a little coffee shop here iin West Bay. She is the barrista while he manages things I guess. She does some baking as they sell some pastries with the coffee. There are also beans available, but the reason we walked in was the wifi -- $5 for half an hour, or a free half hour if you buy something totalling $5 or more. No kids involved makes the move a little easier, but they were still easing their way into the Roatan way of life, planning some renovations (she wants to have a wine bar along side the coffee), but following a dream. The other lady is also an ex-pat Canadian -- a marine biologist from St. Catharines (Brock U) who traded the Great Lakes for the Carribean where she does the commentary on the glass-bottom boat tours. A knowledgeable lady who also has no intentions of going back. Making the dream come true.
I admire these people almost as much as my Dad and Mom who at 39 and 27 years old respectively, left house, home, family, culture and language to follow their dream of their own farm. And they had to drag 3 kids under 3 along for the ride. I know it wasn't easy, but the dream was strong and so was their determination. My family has now been 50 years on the farm outside Niagara Falls, and I have a video of my Dad doing a tour of his farm for his brothers and sisters who were in Germany and who I was visiting. He was a man who achieved his dream!
So what is an appropriate dream for me? I used to do 5 and 10 year plans, but reality shattered the planning out of life. I am not looking for New Year's resolutions, because a dream is more a life-long thing.
It was a gorgeous day here with warm sunshine most of the day. The ocean was calm and the water had settled after the storms of the beginning of the week. In other words, the water was clear and bright and the view onto the coral, fantastic. There were many of the fish that I have seen before, and even some growth on the coral that was new to me. I swam through a large school of sargent majors and chased a couple of parrot fish. Sometimes I came to the surface to laugh aloud at the sheer delight of the activity. And then there was swimming this afternoon-- with almost noone in the water -- a whole peaceful world all to myself. Joy, that contentment coupled with delight, is certainly a valid aspect of a dream.
And today I add: Went for a nice long walk with a lady who came down on the same plane. We checked out the end of the island and the gorgeous houses there. She was most certain that it was her dream to retire there. Turns out she is a doctor in Toronto, and so will probably be able to make that dream come true. But I knew for certain, that is not my dream. Certainly I enjoyed the sun, sea, surf and the magnificent structures, but the main thoughts are how the people that I love would enjoy this or that. Richard, there were tidal pools like little craters in the coral. Joanna, the water is lovely -- I have done more swimming in the last two days than in the last 6 months. Ian, there are lots of places to sit and watch the world with a beer -- and the beer is relatively cheap, and talk -- LOTS of people love to talk. Kieran, there is sand and lots of kids playing in the sand and the surf --even watched one eating sand today. Shammie, there is fantastic diving and lots to see not far off shore. Jennie, there are hills that would keep you happy running or mountain biking --and even a spot just around the corner to get a mountain bike for reasonable -- and a decent Schwinn! Clara, there was a little one crying when placed in the water, but I think you would love the gently rolling water.
Dreaming? yes and trying to come up with the essence of the dream.
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