Hey everyone!
Well, this actually the newest post on my blog - [link] - but I feel that the message I was trying to convay was really important, so instead of forcing you to view my blog, I decided to post it here where it is more convinient....

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Everyone had childhood dreams that were unique to their life, situation and personality. Some of us wanted to be famous movie stars and become the people we see on screen. Others wanted to become professional athletes and dreamed of competing in the Olympics. I even knew a few children who wanted to be Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. Regardless of what dreams we had as children there was one thing that they all had in common; when we grew up these dreams suddenly became unpractical.

When you are in highschool, it’s no longer reasonable to fantasize about being a movie star or becoming a professional athlete. No one thinks about how they can make their dreams reality. Instead, they throw their dreams away and start to plan a more realistic, plausible future.

Suddenly, the things you have always dreamed of being able to do seem unimportant, as they lay away in a dusty storage bin entitled ‘unpractical’ or ‘dumb childhood dreams’. Now everyone is focused on their new dreams, their new future. Dreams that involve achieving high grades, winning awards, filling out application forms. Dreams of going to university or college. Dreams of becoming a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher.

Now don’t get me wrong. If these are the things you’ve always dreamed of being, then by all means, shoot for the moon. But when these are our new “dreams” just because our old ones won’t get us the best salary, or fantastic benefits; that’s when I have a problem.

People are given these notions that they can only be successful if they go to university and get a high paying job. Sadly, that is our societies vision of ’happily ever after’ when the bottom line is that money can’t buy happiness. Money can buy you a nice house, organic dinners, fancy cars; luxuries. But money can’t buy freedom, memories, enjoyment, smiles and happiness. Personally, I’d rather be happy than have lots of money.

I always hear people say,”Oh, you’re so smart, you should be a teacher” and “You have such strong debating skills you should be a lawyer”. But what if I don’t want to be a lawyer, a teacher or a doctor? What if I don’t want to be like the people I encounter in my every day life; the people who make lots of money and drive fancy cars, but are unhappy? They are unhappy because they hate their job, and each new day is like a living hell. Who wants to live like that? I know I don’t.

Instead, I’d rather follow my dreams. I want to perform on Broadway. I want to write a novel. I want to enjoy my life.

A lot of people have told me that I’ll never make it; that I’ll never be good enough to make it big. And that may be so, but I’m never going to know just how far I can make it until I try. I’ve been told not to waste my time trying, but why shouldn’t I? If I’m going to try, I’m going to try hard. If I’m going to dream, I’m going to dream big. Who wouldn’t? If we have one life to live, why would you waste it by ignoring your true goals and ambitions. Why not try taking some chances even if that involves making mistakes? The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll fall. True, you may fall hard, but as long as you pick yourself back up again and continue on, you’re succeeding.

-Rebecca xxox