“Dream and, as you dream, so will you become.”

My daughter Sara is an avid horse person. If you are, or have been around a person totally wrapped up in horses, you know what I mean. It’s like a fever for which the only cure is more exposure to the virus that caused the illness. Recently, I received an email from her about wanting a ‘new’ horse, one that she may use to ride competitively.

A little background here: Sara owns a horse (Lilly), she’s a full-time college student, and she lives away from home (insisting on paying her own expenses with a part-time job).  She also volunteers considerable time teaching disabled students to ride, plus she just joined Sigma Alpha - an Ag sorority.

My initial response to her desire was probably less than ideal.  At first I was going to discourage her, and help her focus on "what's important."

But, as I wrote the first line it dawned on me that her dream is what’s important…  

 

“Sara,

 

Hmmmmm, it doesn't hurt to look. I'm not sure Lil needs a friend, as much as Sara needs a horse to ride... But follow your dreams, fella.

 

Dreams are not easy to achieve.  That's why most people talk of them in lofty-splendor, as something to think about but never do... When you dare to aim for achievement, dreams become goals. Then you translate goals into action plans, and an action plan is just a formalized to-do list. Each item on the to-do list is a stepping stone on the path to achievement.  

 

James Allen teaches us that, "dreams are the seedlings of reality." The thoughts you plant in your mind are the pictures of what you will become. If a person dreams of success, in any field of endeavor, and then solemnly works to fulfill that dream she will become that person - it is impossible not to.  Like the acorn becomes an oak tree, she cannot do otherwise. Plant your goals firmly in your mind and you'll become whatever you desire. This is a law of nature. Nature's laws are absolute and undeviating.

 

Most of the time, the course is not clear---it's uncertain, and it's always difficult. At every turn, nature will test your resolve. So few achieve their dreams, and stop short because of the uncertainty and the difficulty. That's nature's way. If it were easy, it wouldn't be special and you wouldn't feel satisfied in the achievement.

 

Whatever you can dream, you can become.

 

That's a whole lot to say, I love you.

 

Dad”

 

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Build Your Dream:

• I Want to be a Rancher –  Leave a Legacy, May 2009
• Next Generation Leaders – Archived leadership posts on Legacy-by-Design.com
• Register for Young Farmer and Top Producer Seminar – Chicago, January 26-29, 2010