As I’m writing this, the world is trying to stop the spread of Covid-19. The economy is in shambles, unemployment’s at a record high, and most people are under some form of stay-at-home order or lockdown. Things will probably remain like this until a vaccine is found. Nobody knows what the future will bring. You might be thinking that now is a horrible time to chase after your dreams.
You might even be right, but what’s the alternative? We’re in extreme times now, and we can’t be sure of what the new normal will look like once everything settles. But the future is always uncertain. If you wait until the time is right, you might never chase after your dreams. Live in the moment. Seize the day. Even if most of your time is filled with responsibilities, you need to give yourself a little time to strive towards a better tomorrow.
Some people have extra time to spend now because of furlough or unemployment. I’ve been lucky enough to work from home these past two months, but I still have extra time because I don’t have to worry about my commute. I have an extra hour and a half to play around with each day. It’s tempting to spend that extra time playing video games or reading, both great ways to distract myself from the world news. To be honest that’s how I spent my extra time during the first few weeks, but now I’m trying to use the extra time to chase after my dreams instead.
20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
– Mark Twain
I’ve decided to chase after my dreams. You should make the choice to chase after your dream too.
What do you want from your life? You’re the only one who can make it happen. Set aside time to pursue your goals. Don’t worry about what others think, as long as you’re taking care of your responsibilities, you deserve to take care of yourself too.
When you know what you want out of life, you should start making it happen. You probably won’t be able to reach your goal right away, or else you would have done it already. You might even think your dreams are impossible. That’s okay. You’re just trying to make your life better now. Take a step in the direction of your dreams. Even if you never reach them, you’ll get to experience the joy along the way.
Take a step. Just one step, no matter how small, and you’ll be one step closer to your dreams. A little progress is better than nothing, right? Once you take your first step, you can see what you’re capable of. And just by the act of doing something, you’ll be expanding your skills and pushing your boundaries. You’ll become more capable. If your dream seemed impossible before, it will become just a little more possible now.
Whatever step you take doesn’t have to be perfect. That’s okay. The important thing is you’re moving towards your goal. Imperfect action is better than perfect apathy. Do something. Anything. Take your first step.
And tomorrow, take another step. Force yourself to move towards your goals each day. Don’t worry about how much you do, just do whatever you can. Eventually, each step will be easier to take. It will become a habit for you. Get comfortable with pursuing your dream, you can worry about increasing your effort later. You might make mistakes along the way. That’s okay too. If you find a better way of doing things in the future, you can always modify your plans along the way.
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Decide what you want out of life, and make it happen. Be bold. Find the courage to take your first step. It may never be the perfect time to follow your dreams. But it’s always the perfect time to start right now.
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