Fear

How many people in this entire world have dreams they have never pursued out of fear?  How many children are pushed into careers, following in their parents footsteps because it is comfortable and makes sense. All the while day dreaming about a completely different life? Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we teach our children than normal means going to college to secure a good job. Then you must get married, have children and a pension plan. Pay a mortgage, and car notes and have nice things all around you. Why does this translate into normal? Because it is generations of brainwashing, money = Happiness! Let's get honest people Money=opportunities. Let's start to teach the truth, money is not what makes you happy, but it does allow you the security you need to find your happiness. For example, having all the potential in the world means nothing if you cannot financially support the path to your dreams.

As parents, some of us should be ashamed of ourselves for expecting our children to fall in line. Get a good Government job with benefits, I am in no way saying these jobs are under par. If your dream is to be a cop, or Correctional Officer then you should, however if you want to design airplanes or raise cattle then maybe a government career is not the path you should be on.  What does your child love to do? Do any of us know? I do, I talk with my daughter. I will not let her settle, we discuss all the options out there that she can apply her talents and passions to. I tell her she can do whatever she wants, I encourage her to join the peace corp and travel. See the world, talk to people about life. FIND YOUR PASSION! She is 16, now and she has so many talents, I am excited to see where she takes them.

Understand this, I had a passion for art all my life, I did not pursue it until my mid 30's, what a waste of time. I spent a long time working in a career that was not my dream, but it paid the bills and I was good at it. I was unhappy and had a longing for something different. This longing turned into an ache and when I could no longer stand the aching inside of me, I did something about it...I took a leap.