Dreams Do Come True - October 10, 2011

Here are some great words from the 70’s:    “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.” (from the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann )     “Mac Arthur's Park is melting in the dark, All the sweet green icing flowing down, Someone left my cake out in the rain, I don't think that I can take it,  Cause it took so long to make it,  And I'll never have that recipe again Oh, nooooo.” (from Mac Arthur park sung by Donna Summer)  “You've got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.” (from the Gambler by Kenny Rogers)

From the 1970’s came some great writings, recordings, and recitations.  Also one of my favorites from that era is:  A poem by Langston Hughes titled: Dreams

“Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.”

During the 70’s this piece of poetry was like a fresh wind, a writing using our style, using our imagery, using our words.  However,  at that time we did not realize these words were not from our generation or crafted in the 70’s; oh my word, they were written in 1926.  They were timeless. They are still timeless. And so are dreams.

Even for a 1982 born redhead from Nebraska, dreams do come true.

Jen is living a dream, a dream that may have seemed “nearly impossible” by some; “practically impossible” by others;” mathematically unlikely” by still others.  Jen applied for the Fulbright program as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.  The advisors and committee that assist Fulbright applicants from UN-L do an outstanding job of helping these bright and gifted applicants to put their best foot forward in this highly competitive selection process.   That is evidenced by their 2011-2012 Fulbright recipients. UN-L is home to 9 recipients, a record high number, in a year where total applications was up by over 40% nationwide.

In helping Jen prepare, the advisor shared with Jen that she was more likely to be selected as a Fulbright to Turkey than she was to Macedonia.  When applying as a Fulbright you select the country for which you apply rather than applying and then selecting where you go or being told where you will go.  The advisor shared with Jen her chances of being selected for Macedonia were much lower, maybe as low as 8%.  Jen had some time to ponder her application before finalizing it.  She had time to consider her dream.  Which was her dream .... to be a Fulbright or to be a Fulbright to Macedonia?

Against the odds, Jen embraced her dream of being a Fulbright in Macedonia.

Hold fast to dreams.

“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. “ Desiderata 1920

Hold fast to dreams.

Children of the universe, no matter their age, have the right and blessed opportunity to dream!  Hold fast to your dreams, that’s their only path to be able to come true!

There are great American dreamers. There are great Macedonian dreamers.  Hold fast and move toward their fulfillment.  There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who think “I can” and those who think “I can’t”.  They are both right.