“DREAMERS AND DOERS”
Whoa. It’s been quite awhile since I wrote an entry. It’s not that I haven’t had a lot to talk about. It’s just that for the longest time I didn’t really feel like writing. Blame it on loss of inspiration, cave time, hibernation, whatever.
So … it’s been three full months now since I left my old life. I won’t pretend that it’s been a rosy ride; In fact, it’s been far from it --- some days have been literally downright rotten. But it helps that I knew fully well what I was getting myself into; I jumped into it with my eyes wide open.
I’ve heard that “happiness or satisfaction = expectations – actual reality”, and it’s true. So it’s actually good that I managed my own expectations in this transition stage. After all, what can one reasonably expect when you’re starting all over again? Welcome to 'My Life, Rebooted'.
I guess you could say that one of the silver linings in my life now is that I’ve found a sense of personal freedom. Maybe not yet the much sought-after financial freedom, but internal freedom, nonetheless. Few rights are as empowering as the ability to choose, especially the ability to choose for yourself. Jack Welch said it well, “Control your destiny or someone else will.”
I’m far - still very, very far - from where I want to be. But I have faith that I’ve chosen a path that will eventually take me to where I want to go.
“Twenty years from now, you will regret more the things YOU DID NOT DO, rather than the things YOU DID DO.”
Aside from learning to be a start-up entrepreneur, one thing I’ve been enjoying - aside from occasionally indulging in DVD marathons, that is - is having enough time to invest in personal interests, and getting involved in personal advocacies. Life’s Directions. Small steps in nation-building. Education. Innovation and Creativity.
Us humans, we’re made up of hope. Strip that away, and there’s nothing left except the day-to-day drudgery of our existence. We hope that things can be better. That our lives can be better. That our world - no matter how big or small we define it – can be better. Else what on earth are we living for?
“You’ve got to dream up the world you want to live in …
You’ve got to dream out loud” – U2, “Zooropa”
This new chapter in my life has also led me to meeting a lot of very interesting people, and believe me, there’s a lot of them out there. But the ones who’ve struck me the most, the ones who’ve really inspired me - they have a certain vibe about them, an inner mojo.
At their core, they’re true believers. They’re Dreamers – people who seem to have direct access to an unlimited wellspring of hope. But it’s not that which sets them apart. They’re Dreamers who are also Doers. Dreamers are a dime a dozen. But Dreamers who actually move their butts and do something … they’re the rare gems.
The Caltex Ad asks, “What Moves You?” Dreamers and Doers - they’ve answered this question. They let themselves be moved … and then they started making things move.
If you’re gonna dream, you might as well dream big. As my spiritual director said, if you’re gonna ask God for something, then don’t waste your time asking for the small potatoes … a promotion, a new car, etc. Ask for the big kahuna, things that make a difference. Ask for love, purpose, direction … (insert your own personal advocacy here).
One thing I’ve learned from dreamers/doers who’ve gone through a lot - they know all too well that the bigger the dream, the bigger the price tag. Dreams may be free, but turning those very same dreams into realities is never, ever cheap. At some point, if you’re going to go for it, then you’ve got to know exactly what you’re willing to give up.
I have a friend who had it all in the corporate life. And yet she turned her back on it, in order to study Theology. She’s been in Sales all her life, and became one of the best at it. But she realized that her dream is “selling” God to others. The price tag? Her job, her car, her financial security. Nowadays, she’s adjusted by commuting to and from school. Her dream came at a cost, and she coughed up the dough.
“I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else fades away”
- Oriah, “The Invitation”
Recently, we had “Agimat” – a Retreat on Leadership on Spirituality - with a Local Government Unit. One of the highlights was a sharing which was coincidentally given by my teacher in High School, Mr. Pagsi, all of 79 years old. He gave an inspired performance (somehow, calling it just ‘a talk’ undermines the experience) and touched on these themes. His message? You’ve got to dare to dream. And to dream, you’ve got to have passion. But all the passion in the world is useless, even dangerous – without the right direction.
So … what moves you? What’s your dream? How big or small is it? And what price are you willing to pay to at least try and make your dream a reality? And realize this – that by not doing anything, you’re already paying something.
“The Goal is Soul” - Bono
