Photo: D. Paul Graham, T18, Circuit of the Americas circa 2022

“Monday 5 Things”™….. Dreams …..

Dreamland. Dreamer. Sweet Dreams. Dream On. Dreams. Dream Weaver. Dream Cars. Six songs and sixty-four very fast Italian ponies. Songs about dreams seemed to follow me everywhere last week. Chasing dream cars with my camera has always been a dream of mine. With thanks to Amos Lee, Supertramp, Eurythmics, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Gary Wright, the dream team of the Speedbourne Racing / Ferrari of Atlanta race team, and moments of solitude trackside in Austin, this morning’s M5T shares contemplations on dreams.

1. Dreams Make Life Worth Living.

Life is short, so why not focus on how you want to live your life? Dreams give us the opportunity, perhaps even the audacity, to decide to go for it. Whatever that “it” means to you. No matter your age. Dreams give us direction and focus, give us meaning, and give us a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

2. Dreams Inspire.

Dreams inspire you to keep moving forward. Your commitment to your dreams inspires others. Dreams make you reach higher. They set your attitude and foster hope. Dreams are vital to a positive state of mind and nurture courage. Big dreams inspire big actions. Inspired dreams give us motives make a difference, to love passionately, to work enthusiastically, and to play unreservedly.

3. Dreams Define.

Dreams should be specific and determined. Making dreams a reality must go beyond chimeras and mere words. Dreams without actions taken every day, are simply whimsy and folly. Dreams identify the very core of your beliefs, aspirations, and motivations. Actively pursuing your dreams aligns how your live your life. They clarify how you define success, how you spend your time and money, and the people you have in your life to achieve that success.

4. Dreams Are Personal.

It should be no surprise that you and you alone are responsible for making your dreams a reality. No one else will pursue your dream for you. In fact, it is more likely that others will try to negate and dissuade your dreams; sadly, those closest to us may be the most vocal cynics, squashers, naysayers, and pessimists. Ruthlessly protect your vision of how you will achieve your dreams. Resist the negativity of others and their expectations of how you should live. Live your dreams on your terms.

5. Dreams Are a Journey.

Pursuing dreams elicits hopes and fears; elation and anxiety; pride and insecurity; and strengths and weaknesses. The journey of making your dream a reality is full of emotional, spiritual, and physical ups and downs. And along that voyage, there will be failure, many opportunities to give up and quit, and decision points for time, energy, and sacrifices required to make your dream a reality. It is only with time, patience, and an innate commitment to your dream will you fully appreciate the value and experience of the journey. Never give up; move through the hard times, the detours, and the renewal needed and embrace the lessons of failure. Dream with meaning, direction, and purpose. With no apologies, excuses, or regrets.

In the words of that great philosopher, Steven Tyler, “Dream on, dream until your dreams come true.” Here’s to taking steps every day to make your dreams a reality by doing what you love with the people you love most.

© 2022 D. Paul Graham, all rights reserved

For over 10 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T ™.  Each Monday, Paul shares his observations, thoughts and passions on people, life, and culture.

You can find M5T each Monday here on www.southmag.com and by friending D. Paul Graham on Facebook. Paul is a contributing photographer to South Magazine. His photographic work can also be found on Instagram @dpgraham and at www.imageGRAHAM.com . Your feedback is always welcome. Email Paul at dpg@imagegraham.com