“Those who lose dreaming are lost.” – Australian Aboriginal Proverb

When I saw that quote on someone else's post, it instantly resonated with me. I understand they are referring to a more complex idea, Dreaming connecting Aboriginal people to their past, present, and future as well as their land and culture*. However, it reminded me of a line in a song that I love "And so I'm told, Dreamin' is what keeps you from growin' old" because I feel it is in our dreams where our vitality lies.

Yet as life marches on, we often do lose our dreams. We stop working on them, we stop trying to make them happen. We discard them as foolish, frivolous, or childish. Childish. It implies now we must focus and be happy with our adult realitites - obligations and experiences. If we are lucky, we are happy with our lives. 

As the kids grow up, I meet more and more people trying to remember who they were before twenty or more years of their life became about everyone else's needs. They might be happy but something is missing. One friend even said they didn't have any interests or hobbies. They're feeling adrift from their own life. Those who lose their dreams are lost.

Our dreams may have become obsolete. Or they may no longer interest us. However, then we need to find another dream or rather be inspired to chase a different activity to fill us with hope and nourish our soul. That's what feeds us energy, and keeps us feeling young, engaged, and alive. 

A friend just got a part in an amateur production. Another friend is taking singing lessons. I have a friend who is midway through a Marine Biology course with no intention of ever using it as a career, she just always wanted to do it.  

Luckily, it's never too late to start dreaming.

Dream of a better world. 

Dream of a better life.

Chase artistic endeavors or endorphin-inducing experiences.

Improve your state of being.

Most of all, start making it happen.

*I am open to correction on any of that description of Dreaming as I found it hard to explain my understanding of it, which might be incorrect anyway.

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