Cobwebs and Clutter: Dream Big

Dreaming is living. It is a belief that tomorrow can (and will) be better. It is faith that we can be more than we are today. It is the knowledge that destiny is bigger than each of us. As long as we have dreams, we have hope; as long as we have hope, we have strength; as long as we have strength, we can change the world (or at least our little corner of it).

Jeff dreams of performing on Broadway while I harbor literary ambitions. Our son dreams of being a rock star. The the last several years his guidance counselors have tried to dissuade him from this career path saying, "That's pretty unrealistic," and "What ELSE would you like to do?" Interestingly, the same people who don't believe he can be a professional musician - a star - encourage high school athletes to pursue their dreams of playing pro sports. In reality, even if Jade doesn't hit the heights of fame and fortune, the possibility that he can make his living singing, playing piano, plucking guitar, and writing songs is pretty good. Unlike those few hundred pro-sports jobs (in any given arena), musicians are everywhere - film, television, Broadway, symphonies, cover bands, studio gigs, back-up singers, advertising. You get the idea. (Don't get me wrong. I think it's fine for kids to want to play pro ball, but I don't think it's fine for adults to encourage that dream but not another, which is a much more viable career path.)

Over the years, Jeff and I have repeatedly voiced our support for Jade's choices, and we have helped him construct a plan - which includes a degree in music - to reach his goals. One of the best parts of being a parent is sharing in the excitement of feeling that life is new and the world is waiting to be taken by storm. I am encouraged by my son's belief in his dream as well as his creativity. And there's plenty of creativity to go around, it seems. My nephew, Ben, also expresses himself artistically, though his media is visual rather than performance based. While he is tight-lipped about his actual plans, as a family we see his potential and are drawn into his hopes.

These two boys - on the verge of becoming men - embody the best of each of us: belief, innocence, passion. As parents, those are the qualities we must encourage and protect. In return, we are rewarded with the grand adventure of watching our children grow and become more than we ever imagined they could be.