What’s your dream? As children, we might have been asked this question hundreds of times, but as we grow up, we hear it less often. People tend to lose grip of their dreams and become more realistic as they get older, neglecting their inner child’s voice.
Whether big or small, realistic or fantasies, dreams are important. Our dreams provide an escape from the real world, a secret hideout when life is becoming a little too harsh. It’s your own private place that no one can invade – you can build as many dreams as you wish and shape them as you like.
Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things, and you say: ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were, and I say: ‘Why not?’” Our fantasies don’t have to be locked in our thoughts forever. If one has enough courage to chase a dream, it could come to life. Our country itself is a living dream of Sheikh Zayed. Who would have thought a desert could be converted into green landscapes, and buildings could be built in the middle of nowhere?
Walt Disney was a man who believed in his dreams and was determined to bring them to reality. He dreamt of becoming a professional artist. Not only did he achieve that, but he became a producer, director, co-founder of the Walt Disney Company and creator of Disneyland. He brought joy to the world with the characters he created: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and many more.
Never underestimate the beauty of your dreams. You have a dream to climb Mount Everest? Why not? You dream of having a family and raising children you would be proud of? That’s great. You want to become an astronaut? Or build a house out of sweets? You want to swim the ocean and meet every fish and whale? There’s no limit to realising these dreams – just your own imagination and ambition.
In psychology, what helps in achieving dreams is writing them down on paper. Writing makes the brain feel that what you write is its task to fulfil. It’s better to work on it immediately, rather than leaving it to move to the back of your brain.
If you’re already working on your dream, go easy on yourself. Sometimes things happen and we can’t do anything about it.
As Disney once said: “Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better.” The world will reward you for your hard work eventually, and none of it’s going to waste, but sometimes you have to be patient and let the magic work itself out.
Dare to have a dream and be bold enough to chase it. Life is too short not to live it to the max.
Fatma Al Moosawi is studying medicine at UAE University.
If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, contact Melinda Healy on mhealy@thenational.ae.
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