To Dream or not to Dream

            To dream or not to dream, is that the true question.  In my days and times the most popular person to have a dream or whose dream was talked about the most is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dream.  Some don’t agree with his dream and many others do.  We are now living his dream in some places and in many places we are not.  Question, do you have a dream?  I am not talking about when you are sleeping type of dream, the type you may soon to forget.  Do you have a lifetime goal that is “bigger than you?” 

                Let me share with you my dream.  My dream is to establish a place I call SAGEVILLE.  I dream of having a large piece of land free of the ills of everyday society.  I want drug-free streets.  I want to control radio and television broadcast.  I want to have internet service with quality controls.  I want every school to be well funded, every hospital well equipped.  And yes, a police force that really serve and protect the people.  Now I am not trying to become a socialist dictator or have some extreme religious camp.  I would like to control the surrounding environment as much as possible.  Why do I feel this is necessary?  Because I see today’s society not do a good job at it.  Laws are double standard, so is housing, and banking.  Broadcasting is perverted for selling sex, drugs, and violence.  Schools are funded unequally if funded at all.  Streets are full of corruption.  So my dream is for SAGEVILLE.  I see a need for it.  It will happen in one form or another.  But it’s my dream and I take steps to reach it every day.

                This paragraph is for the dreamers.  Don’t let anyone deter you from dreaming.  And you can’t stop believing in your dream.  You are the origin and caretaker of your dream.  Sometimes people cheer you on in your face and at the same time they are saying to themselves that you fell off the wagon somewhere.  And at times they can’t wait until you shut up with all that foolish talk.  These are the dream haters.  They are your fuel to keep going.  And once you make it, they will be your biggest fans.  A dream is something only you can take away from yourself.  And, know that all dreams are not written in stone as you might want them to appear.  There is a season for everything.  Be adaptable with your vision, but keep everything in line with your ultimate goals.  I might not ever live to create SAGEVILLE as I want it, yet the pieces to the puzzle are in place and I place more pieces into place each day by reminding myself of my dream.  I remind you to live your dream.  It is better than sitting back in misery for not trying.

                So you don’t have a dream.  Ask yourself, what is your purpose in life?  Think it out.  Think about everything you have been through and the talents you possess.  Think of the skills and gifts you have.  Think of your position in life.  Now think how you can make the world a better place.  We all are born to reproduce and nurture the world we live in for future generations.  Shoot for the stars and don’t be afraid if you feel as though you won’t reach it.  Touching the heavens is just as rewarding.  If each individual live out a righteous dream of creating a quality environment or better products and services, then the world would be so much more peaceful and prosperous.  Our journey through life will be much more enjoyable and rewarding.  Your life is more valuable if you dream.  Do not be complacent and satisfied with the everyday routine and hustles.  Make sure you dream of a better place, or a better way.   Create a better product, and give a better service.  Make a better world, and create it with your dreams.

Working To Improve Self is KEY

        Life never ends with its obstacles and joys right? We all ride the roller coaster of life. Just like the roller coasters at theme parks, my aging body can not take the bumps and rumbling of the ride. Unlike theme park rides, the roller coaster of life is a ride I am committed to ride. In order to have a smoother ride in life, you must prepare yourself with life saving skills. One skill we must develop consistently is self improvement.
        The topic of self improvement is sometimes exhausted or never contemplated. I don’t know where you stand on this but look up at the sky. It never is the same. The sun, clouds, wind, moon, humidity, and the variety of the gases which makes up the sky changes everyday. Just like everything we encounter in our lives changes us each day. Our free will as humans gives us the opportunity to cope with life. Our experiences in life can make us better or worse, according to what you learn and implement. The skill of self improvement makes good men and women who are better prepared to cope with life. The term man and woman has no age bearing on it. I know fifty year old men who have a mind of a teenager. At some point in life they decided to stop learning. They decided to stop improving their state of mind and how they react to life. I am not making the notion that you can reach a pinnacle in life where you know it all. The more you learn, the more you learn how much you don’t know. So, life is a cycle.
        At birth life begins for us. At that same time the learning process begins. After a certain point in our lives we become complacent. We actually get tired of learning. So, we live with what we know to get us by. I think it’s a fault in which we view how we are educated. Our parents, teachers, professors, friends, and family fill our heads with so much knowledge until we actually give up questioning and being curious about life. We stop being curious about who we are. We stop wondering what makes “me tick” , who am I, how can I become a better person. Do you want to become a better person? Some don’t. Some live life satisfied with where they are, never reaching their full potential. Why don’t we? God has given us life and tools to live: mind, body, and soul. Last, God gave us free will like I mentioned before. Using the power of free will to focus on improving our mind body and soul will guide us to becoming better people. A better world starts with making yourself a better person. So we must make seek self improvement as part of daily life duties.
        For now, give yourself an honest test. Think about yourself and what you know you can improve on. Write it down, and everyday for the next week work on improving that one aspect of yourself. At the end of each day write down the steps you took to improve yourself in that one aspect. The following week choose another aspect of your life you seek to improve. Keep your progress written down. Do that for a month, and then review your notes. You will learn a lot about yourself in the process of making yourself a better person. But don’t stop. Not only will you feel like a better person, but your love for self will spread to others around you by making steps towards self improvement.
Sage Nasiha