Sunday 9 May 2010

Follow That Dream!



I was reading through the posts of a fellow blogger, Batty from Start Making Memories, yesterday and was immediately taken by the theme of 'each day making a memory'. It took me back to the reason I was inspired to start this blog. Recovering from a 40ft free fall over the edge of Blaina Quarry, I had suddenly realised that life is actually very disposable. One day you can be healthy and the next day you can be stuck in a wheel chair or, even worse, not here at all. Luckily I only suffered with having to have a new shoulder. It made me think long and hard, to take a look at my life so far and rethink where I wanted to go. In attempt to keep my mind and soul strong whilst going through the lengthy period of physiotherapy, I decided to look back over my life and document the special memories that I had, and that was how this blog was born. As this blog grew, along with sharing my adventures, I also began to document the moments of my life that provided inspiration. My camera soon became my best friend, providing me with a means of capturing some of those special moments.


As you may be aware, I have recently launched a new blog detailing 40 things that I want to achieve over the next two and a bit years. New memories that I want to build, dreams that I want realise. This is where Batty's blog caught my attention yesterday. There was a statement on one of the posts that questioned 'should dreams be limited or limitless?' For me, this is an easy answer.... Dreams should be limitless. Dreams are the hopes that fuel our souls, that give us that energy to jump out of bed each morning and do something different, that provide the genuine spirit that helps us smile to even the most distant of strangers in the street. Do we need to be diagnosed with a fatal disease to decided to actively live the last few moments of our lives?…. No, we just need to dream, and live out those dreams.

For me, I am a single guy with a mind that reaches out over a thousand horizons. My head is always full of a million dreams, each one in a different direction, with a different purpose, triggering a different emotion. The thought of putting a limit on my dreams is like closing a door.


The nearest I can describe the feeling, is like when reading a fabulous book. You know it is a special book because you have become familiar with the characters within, like they are members of your own family. You suddenly realise that you are on the last page. You know that finishing the last words on the page will bring that relationship with the characters to an end. Eventually you close the book. You feel satisfied that it was a great read but you also feel empty because that bond is no more. If you have dreams but those dreams are limited, what happens after you have achieved those dreams? What happens if you reach the end of the book of your dreams, and close it? Every day should hold dreams, every day should create memories, every day should be lived and enjoyed. I can't even begin to try to comprehend the day where I wake up in the morning and have no dreams.......

"The day I stop dreaming...
...is the day I die"

I'd love to hear your thoughts, and about some of your dreams. Please do one thing after reading this post, just take five minutes out of your day to sit back and think of your dreams.



Graham

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"My head is always full of a million dreams, each one in a different direction, with a different purpose, triggering a different emotion. The thought of putting a limit on my dreams is like closing a door."
If only every living soul had this thought instilled in them, the world would be such a zealous, optimistic place! but people are afraid to dream, because not all dreams become realities, if so, i wonder, why be afraid of something's that's not real? it's not going to manifest to hurt you in anyway, and if it does manifest, it's a dream you've created, out of your thought and your imagination, dreams cost nothing, dreams are worth everything!

You talk about diversified, scattered dreams, in a different direction, calling for different emotions, that's scatter in its most profound beautiful definition! I like that, scatter, thats what I aim & live for, to have dreams heading in different directions, stretching my passions in all the different ways possible!

Graham, keep on keeping on!, its amazing how much you can touch other people by simply dreaming, your many dreams give a vivid impression of your adventurous personna!

All the best wishes.

Anonymous said...

What a positive message!

I do believe dreams are meant to be followed. Some take more time to achieve, some don't come easily but I'd rather keep on searching what I'm looking for than settling in a life of "I wish I had...".

I think my own dream revolves more and more around photography. I love this world and I truly enjoy sowing its beauty and its dark side. I want to get more serious about it, even though I know it won't be easy.

Graham Ettridge said...

Batty, I promise I'll keep on going :) Hope you come along for the journey! Thank you for such an amazing comment!

Zhu, you are such a wonderful photographer. I always take such delight in looking at your photographs. You manage to catch so much of everyday life in your shots, making them beautiful and educational all at the same time. I agree that dreams do not have to be achievable, they just need to be dreams that make you smile and give you purpose :)

City Breaks Amsterdam said...

Graham,

Dreams are a part of our life, i do believe in dreams coz, if we want to achieve something, that we really can't get without dreaming about it.

Keep Posting my friend.

gama said...

Your writing is very interesting ...

I like...

Cocaine Princess said...

Great quote and so true.

I love the first picture, so beautiful.

I'm gonna check your new blog out.

Graham's Photobook....Through The Eyes Of A Dreamer

Please click on the link below to view or purchase my new book.