Dream Catcher: From My Dad
“I wish I could do him more justice than a couple Facebook posts.”
“You being you honors him more than any Facebook post could.”
A letter from my Dad. I hope it inspires you the way he always inspired me. -Julie
“Birthday greetings from the high country [Colorado]! Wish we could be there to help you celebrate. Hope you have scheduled something fun for the day far from your regular “Spartan” routine.
…Enclosed is a birthday gift I hope you will like. It struck me as being very timely and meaningful to you as you launch your new venture. This pendant seems to be more symbolic of attempting to achieve great things–maybe even beyond your dreams. I thought you might be able to use this pendant as an icon (for you and your clients) in your trade.
Dreams should never be viewed as something surreal or something otherwise unattainable. Dreams are simply somewhere you would like to be. As children, we had no limits on our dreams. That’s one thing that made being a child so wonderful. No one nor anything was in our heads that could get in the way of our dreams. It was as adults that we were taught that once we had limitations and “insurmountable” obstacles to our dreams and, in the rush for simply keeping up with the values of our culture and cohorts, we lost our dreams, forgot about them, or gave up on them. With our own self-doubt and the help of others, the limitations to which we succumbed were invented and even fabricated by us.
So this “dream catcher” has more meaning as a reminder of our childhood when dreams were indeed quite achievable and unencumbered with the crap and trappings we convince ourselves were in our way– that we believed we simply could not overcome. Those who fail are merely those who have self-rationalized that failure is justified (ie, “I lost, but that’s OK because things got too tough”) rather than that the success achieved is to be glorified (ie, “I won, because I prevailed in spite of the odds”).
The dream catcher reminds us that for every problem or obstacle there is a positive “response” to be made rather than a negative “reaction”. The response is that of a child that has no limits; not the accepting, self-defeating adult.
Winning, if not the simple act of trying to win, is a potent example statement of self-worth. Think about that. That’s why there are gloriously huge upsets in college football, or any sport. Don’t dwell on the victorious upset. Think about the “why”.
It comes with the hope it continues to inspire you on your journey and the journey of others you will lead. Dreams were meant to be caught.
Happy Birthday, and with lots of Love,
Dadoo”
