Keep a Space for Dreams in Your Life

I have a huge pile of books in my home. I have read most of them, but others still await their turn. Yesterday, I picked one up from the pile – it’s called Leading from the Edge. The book is all about leadership. It draws on the lessons of someone called Shackleton, who decided to explore Antarctica. He was challenging himself and others to do something no one else had done in some of the worst physical conditions: cold, ice, wind, rain. His trip didn’t last long before the ship became incapacitated, and he was left with a crew, some flimsy tents, lifeboats, and his wits. Everyone survived a grueling 497 days.

Shackleton had a dream, and he also had a harsh reality. I think about that as I reflect on my dreams for humankind and the ones I have chosen to pursue as my life’s work. We all know stories of serious conflict, health challenges, injustice, inequity, fear, etc. Some of those stories are the lives we lead; some are the lives of those we love, and some are our neighbors here and now and long before.

Many dreams have come true, and more will come true because we do not lose our grip on them. We continue to see what appears out of reach as doable. We continue to believe we can convince others who have more to use their influence for the good we know must be achieved.

The advice we can take from Shackleton is simple. The book refers to some of the great leaders of companies today who walk and talk like him. In each story, the theme remains the same: we need dreams, and we need leaders who keep that dream in focus and are willing to call on us to pull together to move deliberately forward. The book tells stories of dreams that survived terrible dilemmas, terrible weather, battles, and bad-performing businesses.

When I think about dreams, the words of an old Disney song play in my head.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you’re fast asleep

In dreams you will lose your heartaches

Whatever you wish for, you keep.

 

We need to keep our dreams. I have a dream for the world and KenCrest’s contribution to it. Everyone has what they need to bring their giftedness to life. Everyone has a life filled with love, and all that love makes possible. Love makes everything possible – food, clothing, shelter, learning, giving, sharing, risk, respect, appreciation, belonging.

What is your dream? How do you live that dream in your life and work? Are you keeping a place open to explore it and nourish it? I hope this poem reminds you to hold on to your dreams and to seek the dreams of others. Feel free to share if you want.

Hold Fast Your Dreams

By Louise Driscoll

 

Hold fast to your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And, sheltered so,
May thrive and grow
Where doubt and fear are not.
O keep a place apart,
Within your heart,
For little dreams to go!

Think still of lovely things that are not true.
Let wish and magic work at will in you.
Be sometimes blind to sorrow. Make believe!
Forget the calm that lies
In disillusioned eyes.
Though we all know that we must die,
Yes you and I
May walk like gods and be
Even now at home in immortality.

We see so many ugly things—
Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings;
We know, alas we know
How quickly fade
The color in the west,
The bloom upon the flower,
The bloom upon the breast
And youth’s blind hour.
Yet keep within your heart
A place apart
Where little dreams may go,
May thrive and grow.
Hold fast—hold fast your dreams!

You can find this blog and previous ones on the employee portal –  I Want to Start a Movement Archive – KenCrest