If You Are True to Your Quest
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I am not sure about my motivational rationale concerning addressing the issue of dreaming. I would like to think that it was merely my excitement about the topic, which is central to who I am, or perhaps that I wanted to address those who might diss dreaming. Having been honest with my readers and instead of pondering about why, I decided just to write this essay on the importance of dreaming. I am writing this article at 2:00am, because I could not get to sleep while pondering. Therefore, I got up and went to my computer and began this essay. I have selected four individuals with whom I am personally in sync with regarding the value of dreaming. They are Don Quixote, Randy Pausch, Saul Alinsky, and Edgar Allan Poe. Therefore, let me begin with Don Quixote. 
If you are a regular reader of my webpage, you have read a dozen or more articles about Don Quixote. I have written about that Man of La Mancha, because I can see many parallels between us. He validates how I feel. Even though many tend to write Don Quixote off as some knight errant that joists with windmills, he is not some foolish knight of old. In his and my defense, neither he nor I are on a fool's errand. Let me explain. Don Quixote and I use his song, Impossible Dream, as our theme song of life. Whether it is social movements, political issues, addressing personal needs, or whatever, central to our very beings is that we are "willing to march into hell / For that heavenly cause." Lest you think that phrase is a melodramatic statement, mention to me topics like dealing with racism, sexism, or homophobia, I will joist with anyone on social issues that are important to me...as did the Man of La Mancha.
Don Quixote and I are on our quest, which contain a long list of various forms of Dulcineas. Our list comprises of things that we consider important and cover issues from political to personal matters. Additionally, nothing will stop neither he nor I from our quests of achieving our goals...even to our deathbeds. Trust me, and I trust the Man of La Mancha. The next dreamer was Randy Pausch, who I do not see any significant difference between him and Don Quixote. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and had pancreatic cancer. He gave his Last Lecture less than a year before he died. 
Watch the link to his hour long lecture, which is at the end of this article. He was more alive giving his Last Lecture than anyone in attendance. Pausch said, "If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you." Pausch didn't sing his message as did Don Quixote, but it was the same meaning.
Pausch reminds us that our dreams will come true if our quests are true. Therefore, as Pausch said, "Give yourself permission to dream." Saul Alinsky, the radical reformer and community organizer in Chicago, said precisely what Don Quixote and Randy Pausch said. "We must believe that it is the darkest before the dawn of a beautiful new world. We will see it when we believe it." How is that any different than either of the other dreamers believed. We all need to live our dreams. 
My other dreamer was Edgar Allan Poe who said, "Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." Many write-off Poe as a spook writer about ravens quoting never more and/or a troubled alcoholic. Poe understood the reality of life. Dreaming is not what one's brain does while asleep. Dreaming is what one's brain does while awake. Therein lies a critical issue. Dreaming is assertive and not just some nighttime lark. 
Click on this link, which is an introduction to Randy Pausch's Last Lecture and includes the actual lecture.
Visit the On Seeing the Light page to read more about this topic.
Visit the Darkest Before Dawn page to read more about this topic.
Visit the The Last Lecture page to read more about this topic.
Visit the Dancing with Death page to read more about this topic.
Visit the "Don Quixote" page to read more about this topic.
Visit the Man in the Arena page to read more about this topic.
Visit The Mentors and Me page to read more about this topic.
Visit the Music I Love and Why page to read more about this topic.
Visit the Best and Worst of Times page to read more about this topic. 01/22/16 Follow @mountain_and_me |
