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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Wish AND Work (Reposted)

I was looking through a box of old documents and nostalgic items in an effort to eliminate some clutter from my life. I unearthed a colorful sheet of paper covered in red, white and blue marker, made to look like a flag along with some adolescent writing.

Like most boys my age I had played "war" with other kids and at home on my own. Those who shared in this activity will recall you'd generally use toy or imaginary guns to hold off or defeat an invisible enemy. Sometimes they were Nazis, or British Redcoats from the revolution, sometimes aliens from an unfriendly planet (for me, a Bostonian, this was the era between Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark.) I'd make machine gun, or laser gun noises and toss sock hand grenades with great fanfare. Typically it was the family cat that bore the brunt of the assaults. I could always count on a solid victory right before dinner.

During one of my solitary battles I declared an early conquest and found myself with a little time before being called downstairs for pork chops and applesauce. I decided my triumph required the commission of a new flag and country motto. It was this sheet of paper that opened the floodgate of memories; however it was the scribbled motto that resonated with me all these years later. It read:

"Those who wish, dreams may come true.But those who wish and work will find their dreamsand riches too."

I thought that was pretty good insight for a twelve year old. Unfortunately, it applied perfectly, albeit painfully to a situation I was in at the time because of poor goal setting.

I had my eyes on a dream house in a dream neighborhood for years. I had driven past it, day and night and seen it in all seasons. I'd witnessed pumpkins and holiday lights, Easter eggs and Fourth of July banners. Each time I had passed by it, I was filled with longing. Oh, to raise my family in such a house. It was perfect, I thought and I would never have to move again, because it would accommodate all the milestones in my family’s life. I had wished myself inside it to the point of sleepless nights spent imagining what the floor plan looked like, how I'd furnish it. What type of music would fill its halls? I would wish, and wish and wish.

One day I drove by this dream house and to my surprise saw that it was for sale. What a terrific opportunity --if I had done more than just wish all these years. If I had wished and worked I'd have known the square footage, the age of the home, the property tax. I'd have gotten to know the neighbors. I might have been invited inside and determined if it truly was everything I had imagined. I would have spoken with a realtor and expressed my interest in it long ago. I would have networked. I would have paid other bills and watched my credit scores more closely. I would have saved and invested my money so that when the day had arrived… the day I had wished many years for, I could capitalize on it and then my dream would have come true. Alas, the wishing was vivid, but the work nonexistent. The rule applies to everything you want out of life and I knew it at twelve but had not practiced it.

"Those who wish, dreams may come true.But those who wish and work will find their dreams and riches too."
What are you dreaming about? How much work are you putting in to fulfill those dreams?

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Des'ree - You Gotta Be

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Rob Thomas - Little Wonders