The first symptom of the process of our killing our dreams is the lack of time. The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the Good Fight.
The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day-to-day existence, and we hear the sound of lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those who are engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are fighting the Good Fight.
And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state, we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams – we have refused to fight the Good Fight.
When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a short period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.
We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves. That’s when illnesses and psychoses arise. What we sought to avoid in combat – disappointment and defeat – come upon us because of our cowardice.
And one day, the dead, spoiled dreams make it difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death. It’s death that frees us from our certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons
Words from Petrus to me during The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
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Yeah… So true. What do you do if you went through all three stages and you are still alive, but still lost? Learned something, possibly – a lot, but something still seems to be missing… Maybe shared experience, maybe guidance, maybe something else?..
Does that mean all those agitated because of lack of opportunity are actually dreamers who still seek their dreams and have decided not to give up, whatever it may be? Isn’t giving up better in this case! Atleast the agitation might end?
Truly Inspiring words yes! YET they inspire us all quite differently. I have been dreaming since I was 9 years old. DREAMS? There are many different types. My dream was to sing and perform on the stage but sadly the fight I lost was with myself, never had the confidence to become the performer that I dreamed of being so I suppose I killed my own dream. I’ve always worked and looked after my family and continue to do so at the age of 52 so wouldnt know what it is like to do NOTHING! Lack of time is part and parcel of a life such as this, with all the responsibilities that go with it. If you are able to find the confidence you need to get you through life and trust in yourself then you can be sure to make better choices from the beginning of your lifes journey and maybe be in the right place at the right time then of course you can Dream away of Peace and lazy Sunday afternoons surrounded by whatever it is that makes you HAPPY! That just may well be family and friends X :)
snit to neni vsechno bit a ne bit,snit pred deset let, chtel jsem byt opravarem,ale roky lety, uz neverit, ze mne chce do prace,jsem smutny,a jinak jsem rad a radsen splnit splnit rad.
I am living my dream everyday. As I take a look around and am thankful to be here on this planet and making the change in myself and those around me.
im guilty.. :( im fighting for my dreams!!! should!
…I’m dead :(
that’s the most true and honest reflection !
Conclution:I’m still fighting 4 my dreams!
yo sueño a diario,aunque no los vea realizados sigo soñando, soy de las que pienso q nunca se deja de soñar.
q gran verdad ……..y el camino a santiago quiero recorrerlo q maravilla dios para linpiar el alma mente espiritu ………seria un lujo te amo paulo
Mira tines mucha razon, pece a que soy una mujer madura, conservo la jovialidad de la vida en mi mente y mi cuerpo, gracias a que siempre tengo sueños y metas que cumplir. Mis sueñosme dan vida!
con 44 años hoy, he aprendido despues de tantas cosa vividas, buena y malas…que los problemas …..bienvenidos sean , puesto que estamos vivos,,y tenemos la capaciad de solucionarlos o no. esta en cada uno, al igual que los sueños, es muy bueno tenerlos.. todos creo …tenemos algo de DIOS de loco de genios y de ignorantes uniendo todo…uno aprende a ver su camino, sea cual fuere, desde otra optica, y por ende cada uno le da la perspectiva que nos conviene… a la espera de lo inesperado cada dia nuevo.
Sunday whip of life, DREAM! thank you.
When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a short period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.
So true!Let’s learn to keep the joy and anticipation in our life so we can shine and inspire others.
These words touch the internal pain OF many people
Entre o sonho e a fantasia eu fico com os sonhos.
What a bunch of confused nonsense!
yes
Life is adream… whatever I think is part of my dream. I progress with my dreams… I learn the best and ready to suffer the worst has come from dream. I ffel that one is when lives with oneself only then learn to visualise the dream. Dreams are rudder of life . it gives new meanings, shapes and targets to us. Dreams helps us to understand the better meaning of our travelling. We stop dreaming only when we are dead. Killing dreams is nothing but death of oneself in circumstances of despair, satisfaction, jelousy, hated, arrogance, anger and unhappiness. if it is occured we stop dreaming and involve ourselves in conspiracy, scheme and making traps for those who dream better than us. killing of dream shall not be occured for the progress of our soul. keep dreaming and achieve them, it will take us to new heights. The survivor, the winner never kills the dreams, he just fulfills them and moved on to upper mountain in the never ending journey..
I read this and can’t help but wonder about contentment – when does this happen if after realising a dream you then start on another? Surely, when you have realised your dream, you should be allowed to sir back and experience that Sunday feeling without the pressure to emback on yet another. I am looking for contentment, not continous quests.
contentment arises only when one can dream without attachment; that is… to commit wholeheartedly but surrender the outcome and simply dream for the sake of dreaming.
i completely agree with Asghar.Life is turning your self into budhhahood.
Thank you Mr. Paulo. Your lines are an eye opener and a justificaton for the path I have chosesn. I was once reduced to penury but I am rebuilding myself upon my dreams…I work for long hours everyday; I have no week-ends, no sick leave, no off-timings. I work in one of the most hostile environments in the world…..but still I enjoy my work…
Every person has his/her personal dreams, but i believe that you have to become very selfish in order to pursue your dreams , since in a society, you have dependents,who demand your time and finances.If in the course of your duties, you can also fulfill your dreams , then you may consider yourself very lucky, but most of the times , one has to sacrifice one’s dreams for the sake of your near and dear ones.
You are so right. This philosophy is very western where you can pursue your dreams, leave your parents, wife and kids and have a fresh start any time you want. There is rugged individualism and each one has to fend for himself. Our eastern societies limit our dreams because we are part of a structure and if you are not aligned in that structure, it will be a disaster.
Very good thought, brother!
so true Gurvinder :)
REALISATION OF DREAM IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF kILLING THEM wHEN YOU SEE THAT THE DREADMS ARE GETTING REALISED THEN THE HAPPINESS COMES THROUGH THAT FILL YOUR HEART WITH HAPINESS & JAOY THAT TAKES PLACE OF YOUR ENTHUSIADSM FOR FIGHT.
bUT YET A GOOD THOUGHT TO PROCESS IN LIFE.
Destiny is something which makes our friends our enemies and our enemires our friend.hitler and masulini had a dream and they fullfilled it..!!!!
I think the problem with us is not about having a dream,it is something else..even for the sake of argument I agree with you that we should have dreams..when we achieve them then what..more dreams..!!!
life seems to be much more than achieving ur wishes and dreams……!!!
hitler and musolini did not fulfill their dream. They tried to, and failed in the end, because the dream of freedom that the other million people had, was stronger. Strong enough to unite them and make them win their battle in the end. With much sacrifice ofcourse, but those sacrifices were not made in vain.
Very powerful message Mr Paolo… And right ontime as it is the time for change…any change at this moment in life is required, any!!! What more can i say but to thank u deeply for choosing that topic!!
interesting read indeed,quite an eye opener.
Could the seeking of new experience in order to better understand myself be the reason for dreaming
Por esta razon soy y sere una eterna sonadora; y siento que la vida me ha premiado con cada meta alnanzada.
El que se rinde y deja de sonar es UN MUERTO VIVIENTE.
Gracias Paulo por tu INFINITA SABIDURIA.
please read oshos book. ur dreams will be shattered.
this is so true !! its always wise to take the first step to follow your dream, than to regret later.
Once I was thinking what I am doing is not fruitful, but when I started reading Poulho, I came to know how important job I am doing, “DREAMING”….. buttttttt….. I am waiting how to practicalize my dreams.
I will love to read in Poulo’s blog.
I feel that the quote of being cruel if our dreams are destroyed is really true……….. i have came across with those passing through these circumstances and personally feel bad for them.
Well i will take care of my dreams….as soon as i have any of these symptoms…(the secret is that few of my dreams are dead and now i blame nobody for them)
Awesome! Thanks for this post, people around me thought I was crazy when I said have time for my dreams and pursued them after managing all chores of home and workplace.
Also, no one believed that one person can do both work and pursue dreams…
Thanks, I have forwarded this link to all those people around me…
wooww really inspiring !!
I am in early 30s and still breath ma dreams, I live wid them only, I sleep wid it n awake wid it.. thnx for making us know tht how rotten dreams sucks ..luv u for tht dear Paulo
When I was little, I have dreamed of big things. But as I grew up I realized the consequences of how hard to get it then I started to shrink it as the years go by. But not I realized this is not what I want. what I have now may be another person’s dream.
I always tend to bargain things. Things that must not have been mine and i feel defeated inside but I rationalize “this is better than nothing at least I have some” but still I was miserable.
May be that is why there is faith so that we can hold on something even if we do not know how to get it and Hope so that when things gets tough and you are confronted by your dream you can still have strength then lastly Love so that you would learn to and value and realize you deserve it. For the reason that God enstore it for you and you have fought the good fight.
i quite agree…:)
I am happy to read this on my birthday.Thanq dear Paulo.I feel young day by day.And at any cost I make my dreams come true.Otherwise,according to me,WHY ARE WE HERE.We have to fill this place with love and happiness.
souhlas
Dear Paulo,
The three reasons you so thoughtfully give – inability to prioritise time; perceived certainty; and the illusion of peace – would you agree, they are also the reason why the churches are getting empty?
Those who don’t go, are too busy, trust in science and think they will have a long life. Those who still go, have both time and uncertainties which drive them to search…
Thanks for your beautiful writing!
Mark
Muy impaciente. That’s how I feel. Creo que hay mucho que leer pero hay mucho mas que experimentar. We need more to do and more to risk. No crees?
dreams are my soul
Hola!!!! Saludos desde Mompox municipio del departamento de Bolívar en Colombia :D
es un placer seguirte por estos medios virtuales.
Me gusto ese tema, pero surge la idea de que es inevitable, sin una gran determinación, matar nuestros sueños!!…mientras de ves en cuando demos lugar a nuestros instintos, seguirán surgiendo nuevos sueños!!
saludos y quiero invitarte a conocer Mompox…en tu libro las confesiones del Peregrino, me surgio la idea, de que si llegas a conocer mi pueblo, quizás puedas algún día citarlo en un futuro escrito, ya que Mompox tiene su propia magia!!!
sadly but true I do belive that in todays society we have lost something very special. Finely learning at 40 some of the things that I have lost from following somebody elses path for me and not my own. I belive that I too can become an alchmest with a little work on my part.
a sunday afternoon … ? what hate on such a thing that you know nothing of in your ‘grand’thinking of what killed your dream. im sorry if your dream got killed by somehow by somebody discouraging you. im assuming ‘your dream’ was weak and self centered. or whatever it was that turned you off. Great dreams have great enemies. dreams about only for yourself dies in yourself. if you dont know that yet you lost in the Good Fight. Martin Luther had a dream aside from the oppositions but he, as an example, followed through. Lincoln had a dream, JF kennedy had a dream. Jesus had a dream. The question is are you willing to die for your dream? or are you as spineless when ever the reality of life stares you down at the barrel of gun.
till then dreams come true … but there is a difference in ambitions.
TENGO 50 AÑOS LO UNICO QUE ME HA FALTADO EN MIS SUEÑOS HA SIDO EJERCER LO QUE ESTUDIE PASE LA PAGINA MI SUEÑO ACTUAL ES O TENER UN NEGOCIO QUE MÁS QUE DARME PLATA ME GUSTE LO QUE HAGA, DESEO PODER TENER LO RECURSOS PARA DESARROLLAR UN CENTRO EDUCATIVO PARA NIÑOS CON SINDROME DE ASPERGER AUNQUE PUEDE IR A ESCUELA REGULARES ES DIFICIL TANTO PARA ELLOS COMO PARA SU PADRES LO HE VIVIDO CON MI BELLEZA DE HIJO SON SERES INTELIGENTES Y UNICO ASI AYUDAR A DESPEJAR UN POCO LA IGNORANCIA QUE EXISTE LEO SIEMPRE LO QUE HA HECHO LOS FAMOSOS CON ESTE SINDROME EJ. BILL GAYS PERSONE MI INGLES
olá Paulo, sonhar é a coragem de ir em busca de encontro de si próprio. sonhar é caminhar sempre para uma nova direçao. precisamos está á essa busca de sonhos para novos horizontes de caminhos diferentes e indiferentes pessoas. bjs magic.
Mr. Coelho:
Very interesting. It hits reality and make us think.
Thanks .
I’m 54 years old. I worked all my life to achieve my dreams. Six years ago, I was on the top of the world. In the last four years I have lost EVERYTHING I worked for . . . my husband died at age 52, I lost my job, my house is now in foreclosure . . . I have no family . . . I’m tired. That song from Les Miserables says it best for me:
I had a dream my life would be
So different from the hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed
Gracias por compartir esto… será mi carta de fuerza y Juro que nunca voy a renunciar a mis sueños.
un gran abrazo.
FS
ES TERRIBLE MORIR, CUANDO UNA PERSONA ENFERMA O SUFRE ALGUN ACCIDENTE PRODUCE UN DOLOR INMENSO LA IDEA DE MORIR. TANTO EN EL COMO EN SUS SERES AMADOS.
PERO CUANDO EL ESPIRITU MUERE, LA VIDA SOLO SE VUELVE EN UNA MALA COMEDIA DE TELEVICION, EN DONDE SOLO VES IMAJENES, SIN PODER INTERACTUAR CON ELLAS O CAMBIAR EL GION. SI EN EL BUDU, LOS MAGOS CREEN REVIVIR LOS CUERPOS DE ALGUIEN QUE YA HA FALLESIDO, CREO QUE EL MORIR DEL ALMA EQUIVALE A LO MISMO CONVERTIRSE EN UN SOMBI, SIN VOLUNTAD, SIN FUERZA, SIN NINGUN DESEO (NISIQUIERA DE SER FELIZ).
AFERREMONOS A AESA PARETE QUE NOS HACE REALMENTE HUMANOS Y SON NUESTROS SUEÑOS Y FELICIDAES, NUESTRAS ESPERANZAS Y TRAJEDIAS. ESO QUE PERMITE AL HOMBRE MULTIPLICAR LA VIDA; SOLO AQUEL QUE SUEÑA PUEDE CONOSER EL FUTURO.
What about the peacefulness that comes from seeing one’s dreams fulfilled?
I sincerely think that a warrior needs to be able to abandon anxiety and enjoy his or her victories.
Palabras muy sabias, siempre hay que soñar… soñar despierto y luchar hasta alcanzarlos……
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