For most people and some pets, dreams are a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Some are pleasant and they end with a smile when awakened, to others they are bad and called nightmares. In the mind of a senior some dreams are the start of plans for the future, that is, a strongly desired goal or purpose.
The vision of an experience in real life that has the characteristics of a dream, but is locked into reality – that is a real event, entity, or state of affairs for the future. To many seniors dreams are just wishes whispered to themselves as they look at the calendar: I wish that day would come. I wish that day would go away and I could keep working with my friends.
Dreams are dreams, or the start of planning a new life. Those wishes or desires don’t just happen. They must take form in reality, the quality or state of being real. Being real is the key here — dreams can be farfetched wishes that reach beyond a senior’s capabilities or financial or health limitations. It is best like a lot of things in life, like a shopping list so you don’t forget things, to start with a pencil and paper and start jotting down the dreams, realities, and seeing what can be done, and how.
There is that dream of sitting on a lakeside, on a small pier, with a fishing pole in hand. And then there is the one of living in a house, apartment, or condo overlooking a hot beach on a quiet island. Of course, living right where you are, is OK, too, as long as you make a few changes to improve the lifestyle: more friends, a variety of activities, or just sitting back and relaxing for a change with a good book and no alarm clock. These dreams have now been altered into a strong desire and are not impossible or unlikely to happen with some careful planning. Start with what, where, and most important, how? Just remember what Neil Young recently said, “If you follow every dream, you might get lost.”
Narrow down that outsized, unattainable list and work on a plan that is “real” in your personal and reachable environment.
“What?” is likely already solved by narrowing down the dreams into one good one, and have asked the questions: it this doable, affordable, reachable? Can I do this realizing I may not be able to turn back? That would be the dream turning into a nightmare.
“Where?” is an intricate part of “What?” In answering the first question it is part of the dream. But maybe not. There are a lot of lakes, beaches, houses, condos, and apartments in the world and it has to be narrowed down: far away from where you are in another state; down the block or across the city; in another country like Italy or Mexico; and of course, the easiest choice, staying in place with a difference.
And last and most important, “How” are you going to do this alteration process of creating a dream into reality, and that depends upon what the “What?” is. The first thing is to examine the budget and costs of this alteration in lifestyle to see if it is affordable. If so, break out the maps and local brochures and any information about the area if the plan is to move. Search the internet for local cafes, clubs, entertainment, and anything that will make the move a happy one. But then again if the plan is to stay put, then search for the same information in the local area and find the things you have been missing while working every day.
Just remember, dreams are dreams, visionary creations of the imagination, and they can change or be dropped in a whim. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them,” said the inexhaustible dreamer, Walt Disney.
Patrick M. Kennedy does full-service editing and writing and has published several books. http://www.abetterword.com/ and http://www.funwithretirement.com/