Dreams Are a Part of Life
Remember: if you donīt do your best, a job thatīs half done isnīt worth the effort. Go for your goal and never give up! Itīs all up to you to make a difference in the world, whether it is large or small. Perhaps your contribution wonīt be as dramatic as Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone, but still, your contribution to society is important. Ned Washington wrote, "If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do." He is right when he says that "no request is too extreme." Itīs up to you how hard you must work for your dream.
You are the one who has to decide
Whether youīll do it or toss it aside.
You are the one who makes up your mind
Whether youīll lead or linger behind.
Kindly or selfish, gentle or strong,
Keeping the right or taking the wrong.
Careless of honor or guarding your pride,
All these are things you must decide.
Yours the selection whatever you do,
Remember the things men call character
And testimony; itīs all up to you.
anonymous
Dreams can come true. Itīs all up to you. A few years ago, I decided it was about time to finish something I had begun when I was young. I decided to go back to college and get a degree. It was one of the most difficult challenges I had ever come upon. Here I was in my late 40s and I was going back to college. On the first day of school, I had butterflies in my stomach, I was feeling nausea from the stress, and I was wondering if I had made the right decision in my life. Was I crazy to take upon myself this feat at my age? After getting through the first month, I realized it wasnīt so bad after all. The only thing I struggled with was algebra and studying for tests. I just took one day at a time, knowing that I had committed myself to this task of getting a degree. I trekked across campus as fast as I could, trying to get to class on time. The young college students were sweet and let me know they were happy to have me in class, making me feel accepted. After four long years, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree and the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. With that behind me, I decided to be brave and try something I hadnīt done before. I submitted my first novel to several publishers. It was called "Melinda and the Wild West," a family saga with three more books to follow. After a while, American Book Publishing, a traditional publishing company, accepted my work. I was elated. All of this happened because I believed in myself, because I worked hard, because I had a dream. I knew that if I didnīt believe in myself, then no one else would. Yes, dreams can come true if you work hard and never give up.
Each of us has something to contribute to this world and hopefully build up and uplift others. We can do this by educating and improving ourselves. James E. Faust expressed it in a different way. He said, "The Lord has a great work for each of us to do. You may wonder how this can be. You may feel that there is nothing special or superior about you or your ability The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself."
Faith is the secret of success. I believe what Mack David wrote: "Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true."
Written by Linda Weaver Clarke, author of the historical/fiction/romance series: "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho." To learn more, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.