I've heard that statement twice over the last 24 hours, once at a meeting and once in reading a gratitude list of my friend Ben. I was prompted to look up that poem by Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?
What I like about sobriety for me is that I can turn back towards those dreams. So what did happen to them, maybe all of the above but I can claim them. I realize that often, I love & embrace my dreams in my head and to myself, in the private corners of my world where they stay safe as I slowly work towards them. ...but what about living a life beyond my wildest dreams? Isn't that what this is about? In ways I feel that already - simply put the life I live day to day is beyond any life I dreamed of having when I was drinking. So, as not to hide and as part of my journey of going FULL OUT Here are a few of my dreams now that I am sober & willing to put them out there no matter how far off they may seem: I want to be in a Broadway show in any capacity, play, musical doesn't matter I want to make a living from this craft, its is my calling, in fact my very being I want to write and perform a one man show I want to be a loving husband I want to be loving father I want to be sober the rest of my life a day at a time I want to allow my life to expand I want to own an apartment in NYC that can house my family heirloom piano I want to furnish it with Stickley Furniture.
Writing these out even as I read them makes them feel not far off. All journeys begin with a step and I am willing to take those steps and do that work ========== Today I am grateful that I do not limit my dreams Today I am grateful for possibility I am grateful for my friend Michael who is bringing my lunch I am grateful for the people that I share a daily gratitude list with I am grateful for what it was like & the harsh reminders I recieve about that, it keeps me sober I am grateful that I smile a lot more than I used to I am grateful for an amazing - AMAZING talk with my sponsee last night I am grateful for progress I am grateful for a new prayer I learned when I'm forced to deal with someone that I'm unsure how to handleGod, bless them and change me.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
What I like about sobriety for me is that I can turn back towards those dreams. So what did happen to them, maybe all of the above but I can claim them. I realize that often, I love & embrace my dreams in my head and to myself, in the private corners of my world where they stay safe as I slowly work towards them.
...but what about living a life beyond my wildest dreams? Isn't that what this is about? In ways I feel that already - simply put the life I live day to day is beyond any life I dreamed of having when I was drinking.
So, as not to hide and as part of my journey of going FULL OUT
Here are a few of my dreams now that I am sober & willing to put them out there no matter how far off they may seem:
I want to be in a Broadway show in any capacity, play, musical doesn't matter
I want to make a living from this craft, its is my calling, in fact my very being
I want to write and perform a one man show
I want to be a loving husband
I want to be loving father
I want to be sober the rest of my life a day at a time
I want to allow my life to expand
I want to own an apartment in NYC that can house my family heirloom piano
I want to furnish it with Stickley Furniture.
Writing these out even as I read them makes them feel not far off. All journeys begin with a step and I am willing to take those steps and do that work
==========
Today I am grateful that I do not limit my dreams
Today I am grateful for possibility
I am grateful for my friend Michael who is bringing my lunch
I am grateful for the people that I share a daily gratitude list with
I am grateful for what it was like & the harsh reminders I recieve about that, it keeps me sober
I am grateful that I smile a lot more than I used to
I am grateful for an amazing - AMAZING talk with my sponsee last night
I am grateful for progress
I am grateful for a new prayer I learned when I'm forced to deal with someone that I'm unsure how to handleGod, bless them and change me.