A couple of weeks ago, I was watching "Man Up" (starring Lake Bell, and Simon Pegg). This movie was a romantic comedy and I haven't seen one of those in a while. So while the movie was playing (and I enjoyed this movie a lot!), I got an idea. My own idea for a romantic comedy came to my head, now this happens quite often when I'm watching movies. I'll get ideas for my own romantic comedies, action film, horror film, or any can of movie I'm watching. But unlike other times, I decided to write this idea down. I was going to write a short novel on my idea for my own romantic comedy. I immediately got online and looked up the format for a manuscript and started writing down this idea I had!
When You Have a Dream
I guess by now your wondering why I am telling this story. Well, I noticed that when I got about five pages into writing I had a thought. Why am I doing this? Do I actually think that I can get this published? What, are you stupid? So I went back and saw what I wrote. It wasn't bad, there were a few grammar errors, I'm sure, but not bad. But even though I was pretty happy with what I wrote (I had been looking over every page a million times!), I got the urge to delete it and forget I ever had the idea. I thought to myself: I'm just a normal guy from Georgia, nobody's going to read this or care about it! Spoiler alert! I didn't delete, and later on, I asked myself, "Why did I get this thought?" Sure, this is my first try at writing such a story, so I should be realistic, but I'll never know until I actually write it, right!? But at the time, I got such a feeling of despair that I'd never be a writer. I began to wonder if writing was even worth it. Later on, I couldn't help but think of all the people in this world; all my favorite writers, directors, producers, bands. I thought, "What if they had given up?" What if Steven King gave up? What if Steven Spielberg, John Green, or Chris Evans thought it was too unlikely that they could direct a movie, write a book, or be Captian America, so why try?
Follow Your Dreams! (Not Really)
I know it may seem like I'm rambling on, but I think many people are raised with the motto 'you can follow your dreams!' But when you actually try to step out and follow your dreams, all the people that said, 'you can do anything' are now looking at you like you're crazy! Teachers, friends, and unfortunately even parents may tell you to follow your dreams, but when you go out and start trying to follow those dreams, they tell you things like, 'lower your expectations', or 'it's very unlikely that you'll ever do *fill in the blank*.' Some of us have a mentality that we'll never really accomplish our dreams, so we're never going to try.
I Can
So why am I writing this? I want all the people who are always saying, "I can't, I can't, I can't," to start saying, "I can!" Right now, think about your favorite author, director, singer, whatever it may be, and find out how they got where they are now. While there are certainly exceptions, most of our favorite artists started out as normal people. Normal people with great ideas, and great talent. What makes these people different from you? They went out on a limb. They decided that they are going to write that book, go to college, or start making movies. Rhett and Link were just two normal guys from North Carolina. Now, they have over four Youtube Channels, crossing 10 million subscribers!
You May Fail
Now it goes without saying, you may fail. I know that be jarring after pumping you up, but it's true! You may not succeed, you might fail, maybe you fail pretty bad, or you realize you're not as good as you thought you were! I know it sucks, but it's true! Even so! This doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Yes, failing is a possibility, but that shouldn't stop you! Because you may not fail, and seriously, do you want to be 80 years old, thinking about all the things you should've tried? Personally, I don't want this to be my reality. I'd rather fall on my face than never try in the first place. Also, this isn't about wanting to be famous or rich. This is about filling a void, a need. All creative people can testify, but if you're not expressing yourself, not doing the thing you know you were born to do, you go crazy! This is for all the people who feel knocked down from the thought that they are never going to fulfill their dreams. But go out and follow that dream whatever it may be!
Never Stop!
I'm finishing writing my book! It may never be published! But I love writing stories, and I don't want the thought of failing to stop me from following my dream of writing novels. So weather I become a New York Times Bestselling Author, or if the only people who read my book are my friends and parents, I'm not going to stop. I encourage everyone out there to go out and do that thing you know you were called to do. You never know where you'll end up.
