Young or Old: Unlock your Imagination and Dream

From childhood, we’re often asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question that spurs imagination in the mind of a child. I remember my own responses as child to that question ranging from wanting to simply be a teenager to envisioning a range of professions and roles: Chicago Bulls cheerleader, gymnast, dancer for Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, actress, architect, writer, politician, entrepreneur, mother, and wife. Although my older siblings found a lot of humor in my dream of becoming a teenager, those around me-teachers, family members, and friends met my aspirations with support and enthusiasm; and that ignited in me, a voracious appetite to explore and learn.    

As I transitioned to adulthood, the weight of responsibilities and “real life” hit me like a ton of bricks. Becoming a mother at 20 years old only after finishing my freshmen year of college, threatened to stifle my youthful dreams. I feared that I’d fall victim to the conventional life that I’d observed-of working many years in a secure job only to retire and finally “enjoy” my life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ridiculing the life I saw my grandparents and parents live-that is not the case. I found it ironic that they encouraged me to dream, while seemingly deferring their own aspirations. And maybe, just maybe, seeing me pursue my dreams reflected their dreams.  Despite the pressures of “adulting,” I held on tightly-with clenched fists- to the essence of dreaming that was instilled in me.

My story, like many, has deviated from the script I wrote.  I’m often reminded of a quote by Rumi, “Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you.” And as life lived through me, so did dreaming. Even through the challenges and uncertainties, the gift of imagination that was nurtured by so many pushed me to reach for the stars, to take risks, and bet on myself, even when clouds of doubt and fear of failure hovered over me like a looming storm.

We all have those experiences or moments in life that change something inside of you. The summer of 2021 while attending a camp at Ball State University I had one of those moments, while studying the play “A Raisin in the Sun.”  Langston Hughes’ questions in the poem “Dream Deferred” echo in my mind often: “What happens to a dream deferred?” Does it wither like a raisin in the sun, or does it simmer, waiting for its moment to burst forth?” Our dreams, whether nurtured in childhood or kindled in adulthood, possess great power.  They build our resilience, motivate our passions, and shape the narrative of our lives.

Teaching our children the art of dreaming is about cultivating a mindset of possibility, curiosity, and perseverance.  And for us adults, don’t abandon your own dreams in the face of life’s obligations. Dream anyway. It is when we dream that we find our deepest desires and embrace the potential of what could be. And that, gives us hope.