Dreams & The Dream!

When I was a teenager, my dream was to be a great stage actress & opera singer. Vocally, I studied for the opera & had great comments on my ability and potential. I longed for such opportunity. I would listen to Saturday radio (sorry, no TV in my early teen years) & imagine I was on the stage as the leading female performer or Carmen in the opera of the same name, etc.

However, that was not to be. That was not "The Dream" that I was to pursue! Instead, I married & had 3 beautiful daughters before returning to college to complete 2 degrees. After my husband died at age 44, I threw myself into a very responsible job I negotiated with our local hospital board.

I live in a small community and in those years, we had a community theater group that housed a number of very talented performers. The group did some awesome productions, including "Camelot" in which I played Guinevere! After Alan's death, I did a small stint in the chorus of "The King & I" - then went on to play Julie in "Showboat". Then I turned my attention to the director's role. Bit off a huge chunk with "Fiddler On The Roof". It was so successful, they asked me to turn around and direct one of my all time favorites - "Man of LaMancha". How could I say "no" to such an ego-boost as this.

I share the above because those dreams I had as a young woman lying across my bed on Saturday morning (when I was supposed to be cleaning my room) eventually "came true". However, not the way I had imagined or to such resounding success as the great white way - BROADWAY!

I believe that dreams have a Source much greater than me! Those youthful dreams were part n' parcel of a growing creative 'streak' that would permeate everything I was to do with my life. Acting & directing theater was only one expression. But it was not the "ultimate dream" to which I was to devote considerable energy, effort & commitment.

It may take years before we are able to sort our many (or 'mini') 'dreams' from 'The Dream' for our lives. On the journey to that point - if we're fortunate enough - we will have opportunities to engage the small dreams & bring them to reality. That has been true for me.

I'm enamoured of the whole creative process it takes to bring scripts to the stage or to film. I'm an avid devotee of the work of Spielberg & Lucas. In my wildest dreams, I imagine having written a film treatment that is picked up by a Spielberg or Lucas who then brings it to the silver screen. As, the joy I feel when I envision in my inner eye attending its premier & the Academy Awards ceremony (in a black dress that hides the growing middle of a 'chronologially maturing woman').

I bring this up because over the years - when life got very stressful, I would take a break & write 'film treatments'. One particular one is quite good! Of course, it would be wonderful to have the 'dream' of a maturing women come to life via one of my "stress-relievers". And who knows?

The point of my post is to support each of us in our mini-dreams & especially in coming to discover "The Dream" that will fulfill our life's purpose.

And to encourage each of us to know that the 'mini-dreams' can have their place in reality as we wait & watch for those opportunties to cross our paths.

So let's "plan" for both & enjoy them equally as they come into view!

Have an awesome "super" day,

Linda, a fellow dreamer