Living a Dream
Amy Wallace here, pretending to be Rachel for a day… except that won’t work because her singing is something I can’t even pretend to aspire to. So I’ll talk about something I’ve been musing on a lot lately.
There are tons of people in this world who want to be famous. In fact, we’re a culture of celebrity stalkers and American Idol followers. From six year olds singing pop hits and dreaming about being on stage to people in their seventies pursuing a dream of fame and fortune.
The sad fact is it’s tough to live a dream. Even harder to stay the course till achieving that dream.
But if you’re going to be one of those who gives their all and sticks it out, there are a few things necessary for the journey: Passion, Hard Work, and a Community.
Living a dream takes passion. Not just the “I want to be famous” hope but something deep down inside that burns hot and spurs you on to keep at it. Know what you love and do it with everything you are.
Living a dream also takes hard work and sacrifice. I’m really not sure what I thought being an author was going to be like. I know I didn’t daydream about hours in a desk chair and endless to-do lists. I sure didn’t dream about giving up my evenings and weekends to work when I already had another job I loved.
But in return for those things and more, I’ve watched my words touch hearts and change lives. I’ve watched my children learn that dreams and success are worth working for. And I know deep down I’ve done what I was created to do. There’s a real satisfaction in that.
Living a dream also takes a community. My writing mentor, the amazing Mary Griffith, said two things that stick with me in everything I do. First, bleed into your work. Give all you are to the work, be honest, and pour yourself out. People will be inspired by that.
Second she said to pull someone else up. I didn’t get to live my dream without a number of folks standing with me, encouraging me, and helping me keep going: my family, my writing partners, fellow authors, editors and tons of other people.
No one makes it on their own and enjoys the success alone. Living a dream is meant to be shared.
So what does all this mean for you? It means that you can achieve your dreams and leave a mark on this world for good. Each one of you has special gifts and talents that are unique to you, gifts and talents this world needs. So go after your dream, but go into it prepared. Do something you have a passion for. Be willing to work hard. And don’t go it alone.
Living a dream is the toughest path in life. But it’s worth every hard step and will give back more good than you can even imagine.
Amy Wallace is a wife, homeschool mom, author,
speaker, president of a local ACFW writing group, co-leader of a young writer’s
club, and avid chocoholic. She loves crafting high-action suspense that delves
deep into heart issues.
Amy is the author of the Defenders of Hope series: Ransomed Dreams, Healing Promises, and just released: Enduring Justice. Visit Amy at www.amywallace.com and join the Dark Chocolate Suspense newsletter http://www.amywallace.com/Newsletter.html.
Best Selling and award winning author Rachel Hauck lives in central Florida with her husband. She is a graduate of the Ohio State Univerisity and has traveled internationally as a software trainer.
But, writing is her love, and she hopes to spread the fragrance of Jesus with her words.
Her current release is Love Starts With Elle from Thomas Nelson, her second lowcountry story is a 2009 RITA Finalist. Look for "The Sweet By and By" by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck this August.
Check out all of her books and musings on her web site at www.rachelhauck.com.
Living our dreams is exactly how I feel. To make this possible I believe in setting goals, to help build character, motivation, and self esteem. Achieving these goals takes determination and a commitment to complete. Completion of goals, gives a direction of mindset and lifestyle to help maintain these goals. Once reaching this completion, makes all dreams possible. At http://determined2.com Interactivity that promotes successful pursuit of life goals. Living a dream does take passion and hard work.
Posted by: Successful Goals / Resolutions | April 20, 2009 at 04:11 PM