Dream Big

"The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little."
~Thomas Merton

My father, especially, taught me in life you have to dream big and never be afraid of failure. A good example was when I wanted to quit my day job as an editor to freelance as a book editor and ghostwriter when I had my son 11 years ago. I had been making really nice "side money" for years, but it was a huge leap to give up benefits and security. Or so I thought. My father said to me, "Quit! You'll never make money working for anyone else. Your income will always depend on what THEY want to give you. Your 4% raise. Whatever. Quit. And you know what? If you fail, you can ALWAYS find another job."

So I quit. And I quintupled my income. More importantly, I was home with my kids. And went on to have more kids because I didn't have daycare costs. And even more than that, I think, I got to soar without having to punch a clock, which was something I loathed with every molecule in my being.

But I was lucky--oh, not in the freelance game. THAT was hard work and never giving up and long hours and tough deadlines. No, I was lucky in that my parents never raised me to work for "the man." They never encouraged me to have modest dreams, but to dream a really great life for myself.

Now, looking at my significant other . . . the total opposite. He raised himself in a virtually parent-less world . . . he lived in poverty and went hungry at times . . . he saw his main parent doing immoral things . . . he wasn't taught right from wrong--and more importantly, no one, ever, told him he could do or be ANYTHING.

Our kids? HUGE dreams. Why not? SOMEONE has to have that big life--might as well be you.

I know so many writers want to quit their day jobs. Want to be published. Want to hit the best-sellers list. Dream it.

Merton is right. Never, ever settle for a lesser dream. You know, I don't always speak my dreams aloud. I don't want people to know what I hold dear to my heart, what I am striving for. But I can tell you, almost every dream I have ever had has come true. Because I wasn't afraid to go for it.

Thoughts?