Why do we work jobs we hate? I know what your going to say, and I understand why your going to say it. I’ve said them myself before. But nowadays, the common household answer just does not suffice. It seem more like a band aid to cover the oozing sore of mediocrity. Oh, I
am sorry, did I tug on it a little to hard?A friend of my was speaking to a bunch of high school kids just the other day about dreams. It sounds like a good subject matter to share with the next up and coming businessman or woman, doctor, lawyer, President, etc. et etc., right? Right. But what about the current businessman or women, doctor, lawyer, President, and so on? What about their dreams. How many of them are actually walking out the dreams of their childhood?I don’t know the numbers, but I am sure that the majority of them would say that they are not living in the reality of their dreams. Somewhere between shooting for the moon or chasing after rainbows and their present pursuits, their dreams got tossed out of an open window like some empty soda bottle as they drove down the interstate of the urgent, or the byway of compromise.Maybe someone told them it was childish and unrealistic to dream so big. And I’ll bet that someone was just another disillusioned dream, too, thinking they were doing other a service by put the fire of passion and desire out so that the other wouldn’t burn. I tell you what, that person is only serving themselves. You see, watching other burn scares people who have long since been extinguished. Their jealous, fear, pride, (you name it) cause them to rear up and save, don’t you dare judge me by your actions; by your passions; by your dreams.And so the illegitimate firefighter puts out another fire, because if they cannot chase their dreams, they’re sure aren’t going to let another do it. It reminds me of the Pharisees of the bible. Jesus rebuked them because, having the knowledge of the way and yet not entering into it, they set up barriers and guarded it in order to impede other from entering it. (Side Note: Folks, welcome to false religion 101.)
As a result, many people end up in a occupation that does everything but fulfill them. They regret for tossing the bottle out the window, but even more, they feel stuck on a highway with no off ramp in sight so as to turn around to go back and find their dream. The cares of the worlds continue to force them on down the road. Finally, many despair and commit various forms of suicide, running off the road, driving into oncoming traffic, or just hitting the brakes and causing a hundred car pile-up.
Maybe that’s you. Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “screw it”. And you feel like careening off the shoulder, or turning into that tractor trailer heading your way. And perhaps there are some of you who feel like you missed your exit and your getting nervous, or your screaming at the passengers in your car for distracting you.
I want to say to you, don’t freak out, calm yourself, there is an exit coming up, and your dream is not too far back that you can’t go back and get it. Sure you may feel regret and frustration with every mile you retrace, but all those temporary moments will pale in the light of the joy and relief you feel when you see your bottle still lying there on the side of the road.
“Hey,” you say to yourself, “There it is, just where I left it.” Pick it up and recall the fire and the passion you once had and let it burn all the more brightly.
