You may dream of stardom, wealth, or of life in an exotic land. Maybe your dream is to save lives. I make it a point to remind you that those dreams are valid and lovely; never will I discredit the things your heart desires. However, your dreams are no more noble, important or of worth than anyone else's dreams. My dream is to go through an entire day without being afraid, my dream is to never hit my head on a ceiling fan, my dream is to feel completely free being myself. What size are my dreams? Are they not big enough? I have been told time and time again that I need to "dream bigger." In one moment, my dreams go from beautiful to lackluster. Dreams lie in the heart of our very being, they are part of us and they are not to be measured.
At what moment did society decide that dreams are only valid when they're larger than life? Each person is often asked, "What is your biggest dream?" Never once have I heard someone utter the question without using that superlative. Biggest. Is that to imply that dreams aren't even real until they're deemed large enough? Dreams have never had a unit of measurement and that shouldn't change. Each dream is created from fragments of our souls, and each dream provides us with a moment of solace. Dreams are not small, medium, or large. They are unique, powerful, and sacred. Forgive me, for I am not willing to let anyone paint their picture of my dreams.
I dare someone to tell me to "reach for the stars" one more time. It's impossible to count the number of times each individual has encountered that phrase. It'd be like trying to number the stars themselves. Motivational speakers, teachers, parents, strangers and advertisers all use those words to push you to want more, to be more. Their encouragement, although it shouldn't be completely discredited, presents a major problem. What happens when our dreams are not those others had envisioned for us? Many people do not want to reach for the stars. It is not because they lack motivation or skill; they just want to be among the trees and the flowers. Maybe they just want to lie on the clouds. The stars are not the home those souls long for, merely the home they're told to reach.
Do not tell me my dreams are too small. Do not tell anyone that they need to dream bigger. Your dreams, my dreams, and everyone's dreams are more than enough. Each of us is free to decide where we belong. Our souls and our dreams are not one-size-fits-all. To those lying beneath the trees, among the clouds, between the galaxies and in places unimaginable: allow yourself to dream your own dreams and never stop.
