Working Forward Sometimes Might Be Backward

Me on a recent trip

We are often told that we should look forward into all things.  That we need to dream and dream big.  We should reach for the stars.

Recently this little thought had come to mind while I was out working in a field in a heat index of 130 in a small third-world country.  If we could grab a star, we'd blot out the sky (of course assuming that we could manage to hold a star in our hands).  If we dream big, we loose all the little steps that make up all the little details therein.  If we always look forward, we may forget who we have been.

I know, it sounds like I'm being a little jaded, but there's a reason.  Consider many of the child stars that have come to the spot light within the past few years.  They once were praised as being wholesome and winsome and everyone in American wanted to be them.  Then, they became controversial and they became enamored in their own legend.  Soon, it was whatever it took to reach that next rung on the ladder and stay on top--but what did it cost and what was lost?

The progression was a rocket fast launch and none of the hard work to get there was in place to keep them stabilized in the blinding lights of stardom.

I won't lie, I have dreams of becoming a writer, a well known writer.  I have often dreamed and believed that I will soon be discovered and then my career will take off and life will be as I have dreamed...

This is where I need a clown to shoot from the closet with a seltzer bottle and spray me in the face.

Recently, to help my writing I have hired a writing coach who I will promote with out asking.  His name is Steve Adams and he has helped me a lot, though I haven't submitted much to him.  However, from the discussion and notes, I have noticed something.  I need to drop the ideals of being a literary virtuoso and get back to basics.  I need to grip those tethers of "who I am," "who I have been," and "what I want to be" tight and utilize those as my tools for progression and loose the idea of capturing a star.

Let the stars fall into my hands and let the dreams grab me.