I Would Like to Remind My Mother

Illustration by Phoenix Richards (@phoenixri).

My mother keeps telling me that I am a dreamer, and that I am at risk of major disappointments as long as I do not lower the ceiling of my expectations.

I am aware that my mother loves me, but I am also aware that she is wrong.

Dreams, as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary, are “strongly desired goals or wishes”. The definition is broad, and so are our dreams.

I would like to remind my mother that dreams do not necessarily have to be realistic. Personally, my dreams are my motives to wake up every morning and truly live. Dreams are subjective to every person and their living conditions; thus, they are adjustable.

I would like to remind my mother that our dreams are the reason behind all of our decisions, and that our dreams cause the constant shift in our personalities. Our dreams are our perception of life and the paths we choose to follow.

I would like to tell my mother that she was partially right. When I believed that dreams are mere pursuits, I narrowed down my paths and ended up bumping into brick walls along the way. Once I changed my mindset and viewed the bigger image, I knew that dreams are expectations for future mental occupations.

I now know that my dreams do not consist of becoming a doctor, an engineer, an architect, or a lawyer. My dream is to find happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction.

Today, I feel closest to my dream than I have been in twenty-two years.

As Paulo Coelho once said in his book, The Alchemist, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ◆