Do you go down the rabbit hole?
Last weekend my husband and I had lunch at one of our favorite resorts. Nestled amongst majestic pine trees, blue skies, and a picturesque river, it’s hard to not take in the rarefied air.
We were waited upon by a young man who was clearly in his element. His greeting was genuine and sincere. When we asked this young waiter how he was doing, he answered in an enthusiastic tone, “Living the dream!” His response was immediately infectious, and my husband and I couldn’t help but ride his wave of enthusiasm.
Throughout our meal I kept envisioning a handheld holographic device that could project a pocket or life-sized 3-D image of any famous inspirational person. Imagine seeing a favorite historical figure or celebrity standing in your living room and delivering a famous speech, or singing an uplifting song. Now imagine a special family member or friend speaking encouraging words to you via a holographic image.
I believe we need to be reminded of who we once were when we came into this world, with our hopes and dreams fully intact. From my earliest memories I knew exactly what I loved and what gave me the greatest joy. I also knew when I was in my element and when I was not. The former made me feel happy, energized, and uplifted. The latter made me feel depressed, misaligned, and disconnected from my true self.
Ideally, we shouldn’t need to justify why we love something. Loving it is reason enough and the reason for living.
Living the dream can manifest in many ways, and it needn’t be grand in size or expensive in cost. But living it we must, whether it is a part-time hobby or dedicated career. Nothing has taught me more about myself nor given me greater satisfaction than pursuing a dream and seeing it come true.
I think what impressed me most about our waiter was the fact he wasn’t waiting to receive permission to live his dream. He was fully invested and exactly where he was meant to be—in his element.