Of what good are moderate, practical dreams? It is impossible to be a great leader if your view of the future is moderate or pedestrian. Consider: He is a fool, who, given the power to make any wish come true, asks for only a loaf of bread, because he is hungry. Dream big!
Do you dream of a great future, or are you simply preoccupied with getting by? Without hope for the future, you are practically dead walking. Big dreams make you truly alive through the odd combination of anxiety plus positive expectancy, risk and adventure.
“I bargained with Life for a penny, and Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening, when I counted my scanty score.
For Life is a just employer, he gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages, then you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire, only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I asked of Life, Life would have willingly paid.”
Source: If Caterpillars Can Fly ~ So Can I, Jessie B. Rittenhouse, My Wage
QUESTIONS:
What about the ordinary man—aren’t the vast majority of the people just getting by and trying to make it day to day? If everyone were a transcendent dreamer, who would sweep the streets and clean the gutters?
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Everyone’s idea of a big dream is different. For one person, their big dream is finishing University, as no one in their family has done so. Another person may see that as a norm. With that, although I believe some persons are just comfortable with getting by, I do believe that some are achieving their big dreams. The problem is that our dreams are probably bigger so we think their dreams are not big enough.
Undoubtedly a vast majority of people are just focused on getting by day by day focused, trying to navigate life’s challenges and make ends meet. Granted, not everyone can be a transcendent dreamer but that doesn’t diminish the importance of those who play critical roles that are often overlooked. The person who sweeps the streets or cleans the gutters is just as equally important as the one who dreams of changing the world. Every person, irrespective of their goals, makes a distinct contribution to the human fabric.
Moderate, practical dreams have their place. By the very definition of leadership, we can’t all be leaders and the majority of us will fall into the class of the “ordinary man”. Street sweeper and gutter cleaner is a hyperbolic example used to obfuscate the joy and success that can be found in moderation, simplicity, peace, and earning a living day to day creating a better future for yourself or your children. Satisfaction and success are an intrinsic individual emotion that is unique to each of us. There are big dreams but there will always be even bigger dreams that are tempting to attain.
Kyandra, I love the descriptive language! I speak of street sweepers and gutter cleaners with ample respect, having spent two years as a janitor myself! Going to university, with nobody to support me, and with no financial aid package, I worked full time, sweeping and mopping a factory floor, cleaning ashtrays and scrubbing toilet bowls.
So, I dreamed of a greater career upon graduating, but what if janitor were my lifelong job? I raise the hyperbolic examples to make us confront the elitist thinking in society. Certainly, nobody will admit openly that such careers are occupied by “lower level creatures” who must be stuck at the narrow doorway of their intellect.
It’s totally true that most people are focused on taking care of their everyday needs and responsibilities. Everyone has different dreams and goals for the future, and not everyone has the same big ideas. But having dreams, no matter how big or small, can give us motivation, inspiration, and a sense of purpose. Every person contributes to society in their own special way, whether it’s through their work, creativity, kindness, or other qualities. Without people willing to do tasks like sweeping streets and cleaning gutters, our communities would struggle to stay clean and organized.
Dream big! Wow I am inspired! Not only to think about my immediate needs but something bigger. Not because I may want something, I can wish for bigger.
While it’s true that the majority of people may find themselves focused on the day-to-day challenges of life, that doesn’t diminish the value of their contributions or their potential for contentment and fulfillment. Society thrives on the diverse roles and responsibilities fulfilled by individuals with varying ambitions and dreams. Not everyone is meant to be a transcendent dreamer, and that’s okay. The essence of a thriving community lies in its ability to recognize and appreciate the contributions of individuals in all walks of life. Whether dreaming big or navigating the daily grind, each person’s journey adds richness to the fabric of society. It’s the balance between ambition and pragmatism that sustains the intricate web of human existence.