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If you could experience any historical event in person, what would be the scene your eyes long to see? This weekend marked 45 years ago since the world gathered around to watch the broadcast of Apollo 11, marking humankind’s first steps upon a foreign world. There are many moments throughout history that I would wish to witness and experience myself, and that moment is certainly one of them.
In my lifetime, it has been the heartbreaking experiences that has brought our nation together. To collectively hold one’s breadth alongside neighbors and countrymen, and to celebrate a beautiful and important accomplishment such as the lunar landing and first walk on the moon, well that makes my heart skip a beat.
We all need moments of feeling proud of our accomplishments, fueling us to keep pushing the limits. “Yeah, I did that. It was difficult, but I didn’t give up and I persevered. Now what else can I accomplish?”
As a nation, I worry that we are not unified on any one goal or mission. That momentary sense of pride can be energizing, a propellant to break barriers even further away from where we currently stand. What are we, collectively as a nation, doing that fits that description? So much seems to be a competition; something to be won for the short term, not necessarily accomplished for humankind. Perhaps I romanticize what it truly was like at that time when man walked on the moon, and they too questioned whether or not they were breaking down enough barriers, or positively impacting the world around them. It makes me wonder, though, what my grandchildren will think of my generation’s legacy. It makes me wonder what legacy we will actually leave for them.
When I think of the era of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, I think of determination, dedication, passion… I think of grit. I think of individuals that willingly would sacrifice their lives for exploration and to extend our knowledge as humankind. I know of people whom still fill those qualities now, many of them are currently serving in our military or Veterans or are currently Astronauts in our space program. They understand sacrifice and temporary discomfort, for they know that the impact of our lives extends far beyond the reach of our hands. If we use the opportunities before us to live our life to the fullest potential, then our impact can continue long after we are gone. Each accomplishment, acting as a stepping stone for the advancement of generations yet to arrive.
But how do we do that? How do we even begin to find the limitations of our true potential? If we are living our lives in a place of constant comfort and familiarity, or if we living for small victories and not driven by bigger dreams, then we will never get close to our limits. If we don’t test the edges, push ourselves to try new experiences or take a leap of faith now and again, then we are unintentionally keeping our lives smaller than its intended purpose. We need to dream big.
Dreams. Uninhibited, our brains create ideas and non-existent worlds in our dreams. Our thoughts are free from our worldly limitations. I wonder when the first human dreamt of flying or floating weightless. And, most often, when do dreams occur? They happen in the darkness of night.
A season of darkness, uncertainty or transition is the most important time to allow yourself to dream big, to think without limitation, to stretch the boundaries of what you think is possible. Remember though, when you are reaching for what others say is impossible, you will encounter discomfort and resistance. Strength is built only by resistance, and growth is often uncomfortable. If humankind stopped only when met with discomfort, then think of the amazing feats throughout history that never would have been realized. But we are wired with the ability to work through it, to becoming stronger or more flexible. Isn’t that incredible? We are wonderfully made to rise above pain and we are armed with intelligence to know how to use it to push our threshold of comfort.
You, right now, right where you are, are penning your story. You are changing the course of your own history, and you never know what that will spark in someone else. By sharing your dream and your journey while you pursue it, you may very well inspire others along the way. When you walk through the fire with grace and dignity, you may inspire someone else to rise about their own pain to find new strength to embrace their dreams.
Your dreams are a part of our collaborative legacy that we will leave for future generations. Let us be brave enough to stop living a comfortable life. Let us challenge one another to dream bigger. Let us support one another to “believe in the beauty of our dreams,” and let us lend a hand to make others’ dreams become a reality. Let our dreams bring us together.
So, today I ask you, where do your dreams take you? Let’s start this journey of getting there together, shall we?
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thank you!