The Dream Cycle

June 8, 2020

If you’re not a dreamer, this may not be for you—but then again, is there anyone on this planet who isn’t a dreamer? Maybe a rare few.

We all have many dreams about many things, but today, I want to talk about that one dream—the one we all have seen at least once in our lives and quietly wished to fulfill. Imagine reaching a point in life where you pause and realize you’re not living the life you once imagined. You wanted to do something meaningful, but somewhere along the way, you simply didn’t. Why?

Maybe you were too afraid to take the first step. Maybe you weren’t sure whether your dream was valid. Maybe you spent too much time worrying about what others—mostly strangers—would think. Maybe your parents had different plans for you. And now, that dream quietly slips into the folder labeled “what could have been.”

And what happens next? The cycle.

You comfort yourself with the thought, “It’s okay. My children will do what I couldn’t. They will fulfill my dreams.” And then they grow up. And one day, they find themselves making the same sacrifices. They’ll give up their dreams for you, just as you gave up yours. And the cycle of silent regret continues.

But here’s the truth: only you can break that cycle.

Let me share two thoughts on this:

First, if you couldn’t fulfill your dreams, don’t make someone else carry the weight of them. Instead, support others in achieving their dreams, especially those you care about. You know the pain of broken dreams. Don’t become the reason someone else lives with that same ache.

Second, it’s not too late for you. You’re still here. You still have time. So take a moment, ask yourself what kind of life you truly want to live. And at least try. Try once. Try hard. Life isn’t meant to be filled with regrets. Yes, chasing a dream is hard. But the best things in life don’t come easy.

So that’s all I wanted to say.

This is my opinion.

Now tell me yours in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

TheSparklingWords // Anushree Vaishnav