I've lived my whole life building up dreams. The popular saying, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars," never appealed to me; I didn't want to settle for the star when there was a possibility of getting the moon. Simply put, I had a fear of missing.
Imagining a world in which I didn't get the moon frightened me. It wasn't necessarily a desire to obtain perfection, rather, it was a desire to live out life as planned. At a certain point, individuals come across a moment in their lives where they are hit with a 'eureka' moment. Specifically, they come to a realization of their future and the possibility of their goals. I've done a good job of postponing this moment.
Many know me as a realist, not a concrete one per say, but pragmatic during situations. This by no means entails a lack of creativity or imagination, rather that I like to make level-headed decisions grounded in reality. I like to think of myself as sensible.
Here's the conflict: individuals with big dreams but also a realistic way of approaching life will often find themselves at clashing crossroads.
This story isn't unique to me. It becomes apparent that human nature is built around ideas of progress and improvement (i.e. achieving goals and dreams). From the discovery of fire during the Stone Age to the invention of the lightbulb by Edison, human species have always had a thirst for this idea of "bigger and better". Actions and thoughts thus have always revolved around this deep-seated desire that one cannot avoid.
Through a modern lens, these thoughts can be concluded within the spectrum of individual dreams. The relationship between dreams and reality is a complex one. If the desire comes first, hope is what follows soon after. Taking into account the intensity of human desire, hope can dangerously cloud aspects of reality. The difference between seeing the cup half full and trying to ignore the fact that the cup is half empty is crucial to self-evaluation.
I identify as a personal optimist; I seem to look at my own life in the most positive way possible. The "realist" in me seems worlds away during such situations. Although I am sensible enough to understand the effect self-produced hope has on how I perceive my future. It is a possibility that I push away the realities to fuel my desire to dream. It is a possibility that I am taking a risk putting so much pressure on such dreams. It is a possibility that such dreams may be impossible. But I cannot imagine a world without hope... nor do I wish to.
This article is merely an observation. Readers, being human, will have different interpretations whether it is agreement or disagreement.
As for me, I will keep dreaming. Why? Because I cannot help but be human.