What are the consequences of deferred dreams?
Dreams are the cornerstone of life. They give us a reason to get up in the morning and help to make life more palatable. Dreams nourish the spririt and soothe the soul. The Christian gets through life on earth by cherishing the hope of an eternity with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Without dreams, there can be no hope. Without hope, life is misery. Misery paves the road to hell.
Every child is born with a dream. We start out in life, taking that first leap of faith with our eyes wide shut. Over time, life begins to barrage us with it's traps and snares; and that leap gets smaller and smaller. So, what happens to the person with dreams when life throws a curve ball? What happens to you then?
One day you're playing short stop in the now famous negro baseball league. You've been travelling around the country, relishing in your freedom. Thriving on the adulation of sports fans all over the country. Your dream propelled you to shoot for the stars and eventually, play for the national league, following in the steps of Jackie Robinson.
One day, you're in college. The first in your family to even enroll. Your mother only has a 4th grade education, but she has sacrificed everything to get you where you are today. You have been offered a position in New York city, an opportunity to sweep the dust of back country Mississippi roads off your feet and never look back. You've already completed a summer internship and the sights, smells and sounds of the Big Apple gnaw at you each and every day as you long for the school year to be over so you can return.
And then the shoe drops.
She's pregnant. Abortion is not an option. He's already had one child out of wedlock; it pains him to produce another one. She's already helped to raise her 12 younger brothers and sisters. She wasn't even planning to have children until she was at least 30.
They wait. He begs; she hopes. He pleads; she prays.
They marry.
What happens when dreams are deferred? bitterness, anger, resentment, depression.
Fists swing; pans fly. Words sting; love dies.
Words that cut deeper than knives. Loneliness, isolation. Looking for release. Desperate for hope.
And then it comes. Another opportunity to finish college. A chance at a good paying job; the first house purchased.
She's pregnant again. He suggests abortion.
Fists swing; pans fly. Words sting; love is dead.
American association of cancer researchers
3 years ago
2 comments:
Deep piece.
I was thinking the other day about dreams and how children always dream big dreams. They never say "I want to be a janitor" or "I want to be a cashier". They want to be doctors, lawyers, astronauts.
In a sense we all defer our dreams. I admire the people who grab life and work it.
It is so important to remember that it's never too late to live out our dreams. Colleges are never vanishing if and when we decide to finish a degree. It's never too late to mother. It's never too late to develop a new skill, learn a new thing, become our destiny.
It's never too late. I took a class in graduate school with an 80 year old woman who was pursuing an advanced degree "just because." Don't play.
But, some people get stuck. They take one too many hits and then sit down and wait till it's their time to die.
And they suffer for it, as do the people around them. And the bitterness is spread.
Thanks for responding MsKnowItAll.
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