Why I Keep Going For My Dreams, And You Should Too

Posted by Seth on February 3, 2010 under Living Your Dreams | 2 Comments to Read

When I was 16, my dad died.

It was awful. He wasted away for 8 years from Type I diabetes. Amputation, Blindness, heart Attack, Dialysis, Stroke, the whole bag. But it wasn’t really diabetes that killed him. I think it was a broken heart.

I can’t say for sure. But it broke my heart to watch him go down like that.

My best friend at the time, Jon, he overdosed 7 years later. Heroine.

My step-father at that time, Charles, he committed suicide 16 years later. That was last year.

The three most important men in my life at age 16, are now all dead. Since I am alive, I think I owe it to myself and the memory of these men to go for my dreams. That is reason # one.

My grandfather immigrated here from Ukraine at age 7. He had 8 brothers and sisters, and his parents were escaping religious and political oppression. They had a hard time, couldn’t get in for two years at Ellis Island. Spent two years in Mexico. Came back through Ellis Island and settled a section in Auburn, Michigan. He worked hard. Worked at Defoe shipyard, worked “down to the Dow” (Chemical) and built three houses. He put his wife through school. Went to night school to learn english and get a high school diploma. Watched both his kids die. Cleared weeds after work to save money for the first house. And Reinhold Braun ministered to the sick, the dying, the shut-ins and the lonely for 40 years. He busted his butt so I could have a better life. That is reason # two.

My daughter. Period. That is reason # three.

My stepdaughter. Paloma has another father, but I am her dad.For whatever reason, he hasn’t had the where with all to be a part of her life. Now I ask you, should a kid miss out on having a dad? Sometimes going for my dreams means that I am away from home, speaking, traveling to a seminar. But going for my dreams makes me a solid person. I can be a present dad to both of my girls. That is reason # 4.

Ultimately, I am so freakin’ passionate about life. I am endlessly interested in everything. Like Oprah said, “you can do anything you want, you just can’t do everything at the same time.” So I figure, I’d better get after it. One thing at a time. Well, Ok. I end up going for three to five things at a time. I can’t help myself. Really.

I could go on. It might do me good. What are your reasons? The world needs dreamers. America needs dreamers. Your family needs dreamers. “If you have built your castles in the sky, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put the foundation under them.” -Thoreau.

I believe this more strongly than most anything. Dreams make life rich, full and beautiful.Go for your dreams. More importantly, dare to open your heart to your dream. My dad stayed closed and it killed him. Be willing to feel the cold sting of rejection, criticism and disappointment. In the end, those individuals that dreamt big and failed will have no regrets. Those who kept the dream in their souls will have to wonder… did I lose the chance?

Why do you keep going? Please post your comments. This is an incredible question to ask.

Thank you,

Seth