Cherished Dreams

Yes, I do have dreams that I cherish. Not the kind that I get while I'm soundly asleep, though I have to admit that I've had some night-time dreams that I valued immensely. I speak of dreams that are synonymous with hopes, aspirations and desires to achieve more, to progress beyond my current position in every aspect of my life and to witness the same in the lives of my fellowmen. I cherish these dreams, not only because they are like looking for constellations, a compelling reason to search among the stars, experience exhilarating joy and relief  and perpetually look up in awe, but because they are, to my life, like the green matter in a leaf. I believe if I cease to dream, I would wither and die.

One of my favourite poems is Langston Hughes' Dreams. It says:

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go,
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
     _ Langston Hughes

In two very compelling images, Langston Hughes has captured how very essential dreams are to life and fruitful living. I, very humbly, share his view. I believe that we should not only have hopes and aspirations, but we must cherish these for if we cherish our dreams, we will certainly 'hold fast' to them.

Regrettably, children and young people are often encouraged to 'dream big' and more often than not, 'big' is a "one size fits all". I believe 'big' should always be relative. We should all dream big; but, as far as dreams go, my Jupiter might be your pluto, not a dream at all, just the status quo. My position is that every man, woman and child should always be relentlessly pursuing a dream, aspiring to something, hoping for something, striving to achieve something. This is what adds energy to life, creates passion and keeps us forging forward. I absolutely believe, though, that it is only when dreams are individual and personal that they can truly be cherished. How much we cherish our dreams will determine the length and breadth of the waves we ride, the mountains we climb, the rivers we cross and the ditches we cautiously step into and emerge from.

One of my favourite childhood experiences demonstrates how much a cherished dream can motivate us to accomplish. I started high school at age ten and completely and totally registered myself without my mother or father being present.  I was eager to be going to high school. It was not just any high school, it was the one I dreamt of qualifying in the Common Entrance for because it was the 'top school' where I lived. I skipped and jumped and did my chores impatiently everyday from the time I got my Common Entrance results until the day for registration at the high school. Finally, the day came and my mother and I set out to my 'top school' to get me registered.

After a bus ride and a pretty long walk, we were just about two blocks away from the high school when we came to a wide ditch in the road. I mean a really wide and fairly deep ditch had been created because the road had been dug up, apparently to fix some underground pipes. My heart sank. My mom took one look at the ditch and declared that we had to turn back and take a very long alternative route to the school. She expressed her concern that we might get to the school too late for the registration but she stated firmly that there was no way she was climbing in and out of that ditch.
I persuaded her to let me tackle the ditch while she took the alternative route and I'd wait for her at the school's gate. She set off and I, very cautiously but boldly, climbed into the ditch. When my mom arrived at the school, I was waiting for her at the gate. 

I had climbed in and out of that ditch, dusted myself off, walked the two blocks to the school, entered the school's office, and explained the situation to the secretary. The secretary, contrary to the usual practice, gave me the forms that needed to be filled and asked me to fill them out. Of course, I did. Filling those forms meant that I was registered at my 'top school'. One of my cherished dreams was being realised. I had worked hard for Common Entrance (without the advantage of after school classes) and all I needed to do was register on that day or it was quite possible I could lose my place. I probably would have waded across the Demerara, if it were necessary because going to that high school was something I had aspired to. I was ten then; I am much older now, and much more driven by my dreams and aspirations.

I do not dream of finding the formula for world peace and global economic prosperity; I believe in the word of God and I know these will always be elusive. But, I do dream of changing the world. It is my aspiration to change the world, not by doing any great and noble deed, but by using all my God-given gifts to make a positive difference in the lives I touch. I believe this is possible if I am the best that I can be in each of my roles.

 I hope and dream for myself and for others also. I believe if we have a circle of cherished hopes and dreams, we can all make a difference in the world. I have hopes for my sons; I have dreams for my husband. I have dreams for my church; I have hopes for my students. I have dreams for my relatives; I have hopes for my friends. I cherish all of these hopes and dreams. Because I cherish them I am motivated to so live and so do that they might be accomplished.