She works for a video game company, writing in a universe she’s loved since childhood. In return for doing this job she loves, she gets a salary, vacation days, health benefits. This is a dream.
She discovered the story of a brave boy in New Orleans, who during Hurricane Katrina drove a busload of people to safety. Lack of publisher interest didn’t make her lose faith in her story and the courage of this boy, and she decided to self publish to make sure his story was told. This is a dream.
She worked on her novel for several years, joined a critique group, participated in the writers’ community, and kept trying. Her debut novel is coming out in the spring of 2012 from a major publisher. This is a dream.
He made his own publishing deal with a small press and has his second novel in a series (third book total) coming out in 2011. He was nominated for a Hugo, and was invited to be Guest of Honor to a regional convention. This is a dream.
She started her own business, which would allow her to support herself comfortably only working halftime. She spent the rest of her time engaged in whatever creative projects struck her fancy. This is a dream.
Her dad wants her to attend an Ivy League college she couldn’t afford. She wants to study voice, composition, and writing and live abroad for awhile. She’s like an echo of myself, but she’s not. This is a dream, and it’s hers. Here’s hoping she gets to live it.
Allow people to live their own dreams. Every dream is as different as the dreamer, and each one is valid and special in its own way. When we look down on someone else’s dream, it’s because it threatens something inside of us.
We can do better than that.
The Practical Free Spirit 
It’s interesting to think that I actually know most of these people. And I suspect that many of the other people I know are doing the same. There are a surprising number of people out there living their dreams… perhaps more than we guess.
Sometimes we fail to frame our knowledge in this way. We say, “So-and-so is doing xyz” and then we’re critical or snarky or indifferent and don’t even realize they’re following a dream.
Well put. I think you’ve hit the heart of the issue with this line:
“When we look down on someone else’s dream, it’s because it threatens something inside of us.”
It’s interesting seeing myself in there, and trying to guess who the others are.
I realized right now upon re-reading that dream #3’s write-up is generic enough that it would fit a whole bunch of writers. I did have one particular writer in mind though. 🙂
I really admire every person on that list. Even the one that is me. 🙂
don’t wake me up, it’s a good dream.
Please carry on. Your dreaming will inspire the rest of us. 🙂
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