Follow your dreams or listen to wisdom?

Just dropped mom and dad off at the airport. Mom wanted to talk to me about my wife's condition and how important it is for me not to get sick...she stressed, - "you have 9 kids". Her intentions were gold and the message was clear. She said, "you have got to think of yourself first" which, is typically the wrong advice. But, everything she said around that would translate that to, "You have to think of your health to take care of everyone because in order to help your family you have to be there so don't do things on a hunch." Such great advice...She's so wise.

On the drive home I thought about the silliest thing though - the deception of the worlds advice to "follow our dreams". Where in the world will that advice lead, really? For some, it may be attainable, for others a complete waste of a life. How do you really know the difference? There are several things that bug me about the "follow your dreams" maxim. The first being that most dreams are had when we are young and naive. The thought that comes to mind are kids that play basketball and dream of the NBA. I suppose some will make it. After all, SOMEONE has to be on the court to play. But, for the most part...not so many will make it. It reminds me of the stories my friend told me about his son making it a few rounds in American Idol tryouts. There are soooo many for just 1 spot. I guess the trying makes you better though. But, in the case of basketball...I imagine the numbers are even more lopsided. For a guy that is 5'3" or so to really follow that dream, well, Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb are the only 2 that I know of that made it to the NBA. It should be considered foolish for a majority of people...those 2 were extraordinary at it. That's the bar. Extraordinary...not just really good.

So, for kids to have that dream and have parents that are 5'3" tall - would be considered a longshot at best. Is it really wise to follow that dream? The kid may be better than all his friends and kids in school...but, more than likely there'll be a day when he gets overshadowed...literally.

Having dreams at such a young age without the wisdom of understanding things around you or seeing potential obstacles that may be outside your control to overcome (like how tall you will be)...could lead you to waste your life, don't you think? I mean, some dreams are good to always try to follow...like; loving better, being sweet to everyone, helping others....But, the career dreamer? Maybe that person should wake up and see what they need to dream about in realistic terms..then dream about reality.

What in the world got me thinking of that? Well, in short, something a very good friend of mine said, "Just because you have an idea, doesn't necessarily mean it's a good one". More and more I see the wisdom of those words. I understood them as advice and not a put down...meaning, they aren't words meant to squelch my creativity...but, rather reign in the pompass attitude that could easily go along with the successes of previous ideas and have the attitude of, "I just told you what's going to work in the idea I just gave, duh." The wisdom of others could see the shortcomings of my idea without having to implement them first. Even MY ideas? I know..hard to believe.

My mom shared with me some of her great wisdom...my idea is to encourage my wife's diet and furthermore encourage her in what she's having to go through by eating the same way to spur her on. And I have seen great benefit in it. My mom's advice about my idea was to get tested for the foods and seek a doctor's opinion (don't get me started) about MY food allergies and how a diet like that might affect me. Because, doing what's good for my wife and family and ACTUALLY DOING what's good for my wife and family might be miles apart right now. They might be dead on...but, the point is to have that checked out. Just because it's MY idea, doesn't even remotely mean that it's truly a good idea or beneficial for the long term like I think it is.

Thanks mom!