One of my all-time favorite quotes comes from the well-known philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. These very famous two lines say, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” I love this quote because it gives a simple and concise command, yet a bold and brave one. It is a quote that extends to all people, and certainly each and every one of us should take it to heart.
Why might you want to keep this saying running in the back of your mind? Well, why not? It is a perfect motivator, one that might reminds us why we get up every day and live the lives that we do. It is a perfect jump starter, words that can push someone to get up and go make their dreams a reality.
Some may think of such a quote as a cliché, perhaps, but I find it to be of the utmost importance. Growing up, everyone hears the same lines over and over again: “What are your dreams? Goals? Ambitions?”, not to mention the age-old favorite, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” These questions that we are continually prodded with by our elders tend to become more of an annoyance than anything else.
A point to ponder is this: do we ever really follow our dreams, goals, and ambitions? Or do we just fall into the societal pattern of going through the motions of a typical life? Do we simply survive, or do we thrive off of life? We hear of many success stories, both past and present, of people fulfilling their biggest dreams, whether it be an Olympic medal or a best-selling novel. This begs the question, are only a select few of us truly destined and capable to accomplish our greatest desires?
I am here to tell you that regardless of what your life dreams, goals, and ambitions are, you should pursue them. Find your passion and pursue it. That passion may not be found through a college degree or cubical career, and that’s okay. In fact, you may not even discover your passion in life until you are middle-aged or graying, and that’s okay, too.
I believe that we all have a purpose and a passion in life, no matter how big or small that may be. So, whether you’re 15 or 50, I want to encourage you to find that passion and go after it with greatness. Discover what drives you and then do it. Take the path less traveled, and see where it may lead you. I promise you that along the way, you’ll learn more about your potential and this thing that we call life than you can ever imagine.
