[ thoughts in the wee morn ]

   "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." -- Brian Littrell

   Dreams.

   They're such fragile creations. Creations of imagination, of the intangible desires in your heart.

   I believe that God not only instills these dreams in us, but He also helps us achieve them. I believe that we should run after them with all our determination, with the faith that if it's meant to be, it'll happen.

   I believe that without dreams, our lives are mundane. We have nothing to strive for, to push for, to work towards otherwise. What's the point then?

   I've always loved the quote above. It has a bit of a fairytale ring to it, I think. But lately, it's taken on a new meaning. If you dream ridiculous, impossible dreams, and run after them with all your heart, and don't quite achieve them -- you'll still achieve more than you would if your dreams were smaller, more logically attainable. It puts it in a different perspective, doesn't it?

   People are ridiculed for having strange, outlandish dreams. What's worse is that people take those ridicules to heart and let it tear their dreams down.

   So what's worse then: having a crazy dream, throwing caution to the wind and running after it -- or sitting on your butt, considering "normal" things to do with your life while it passes you by?

   Well. I already know the answer to that. And lordy, I sure hope you do too.

   I want to be one of those awesome old people that can look back on their life and not be able to remember anything passing me by or having regrets. [And I'm not talking about bad memory. Come on now.] I want to be proud of the things I tried. The people I met. The things I've seen.

   "Life is not a dress rehearsal." -- Rose Tremain

   So get on with it.

   Those dreams are there for a reason. Be a dreamer. Dare to dream. And dare to do something about it.

   Want to hear my dream?

   I want to travel the world. I want to travel the world and experience and learn about different cultures. I want to travel the world and hear stories. I want to capture the stories. Then turn around and share them with the rest of the world.

   Fact is, I have no idea how this could happen. All I know is that I have the desire and passion for it to happen. And I know that if it's the right thing to do, it will happen. And I think so far, I've done pretty well with this dream, if you ask me. Mexico, Hawaii, China, now Denmark. And who knows what this year will bring.

   I plan to let this dream take me into the far places on this earth for the rest of my life. Why? Because I know very well that I wouldn't be satisfied otherwise. I have no intention of living with a stifled dream until the day I die.

   Dream on.