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Rule #55. Chase dreams.
Are you happy? Like, really happy. Not just okay. Not just fine. I want to know if you’re happy. If so, way to go! Keep on keeping on. If not, well, it’s time to do something about it. Maybe it’s time to follow your dream.
What’s your dream?
As a kid, did you dream of becoming an artist? A fighter pilot? A chef? Those are all great dreams. They’re all incredible things to do. Did you follow that dream? Don’t worry if your answer is no, many of us don’t, myself included. There’s no shame in it; we come to a point where we think we should take a safe path and be responsible adults, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it might have been the right call. No one can say.
But…
Are you happy? If you’re not, you don’t have to stay that way. You have the ability to change your life. To start, allow yourself to dream. Do you still dream of painting, flying, or cooking amazing meals?
You can start down that path today.
I know a lot of people will say, “Gee Wade, that’s nice, but I have bills to pay, I can’t just decide to be a fighter pilot anymore, it’s too late.” Well, if you’ve got that attitude, then yeah, it’s too late.
But if you’re willing to get started and keep at it, you can make that dream part of your reality. You don’t even have to quit your job to do it. Maybe someday you’ll decide to do that and make a living by following your dream. Or maybe you won’t, and the dream will just be a part of your life that you love and make extra time to pursue. Both are perfectly acceptable choices.
How can I get started following my dream?
Start small, but start soon. If you want to be an artist start looking for nearby art classes. After moving to the Quad Cities I took a drawing class at the Figge Art Museum. If you want to be a pilot, you’re going to have to learn to fly. Where can you do that close to you? If you want to be a chef, start looking for cooking classes. Start with Google, and see what you come up with. Local colleges and universities are also a good place to look; many offer community classes or workshops. Also, don’t forget to ask at your local library, they can be incredibly helpful as well.
Remember, if you want your life to change, you have to change your life. You may have to make sacrifices, work an additional part-time job, or drastically change your lifestyle. Is your dream worth it? Only you can make that call.
I believe it is.
So does my wife, and that’s why we’re chasing ours. I hope you’ll consider going after your own. It won’t be easy, but it’ll change your life. And of course, I’m happy to help you in any manner that I can, so don’t be a stranger.
“Rules for Intrepid Living” is an ongoing weekly article that gives potential guidelines for how we can all live a more adventurous life.