#505: Following Our Dreams Without Regrets

"When a dream is calling you, there's just one thing that you can do. Well, you gotta follow that dream wherever that dream may lead." -- Elvis Presley, "Follow That Dream."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=
7kdLUt5ktmg

I realized yesterday, mowing the lawn of all things, with this song running through my mind, that we all have dreams, some large and some small, and that following them does not mean dropping everything and moving to a new town.

It may be as simple as signing up for lessons to fulfill a dream of playing a musical instrument or going to a gym for the first time as the first step toward a dream of getting in shape and losing weight.

Following a dream may not necessarily cause a change in the world but simply may be one that provides us inner satisfaction and pride of accomplishment such as running a mile, doing 20 pushups, singing in a choir or teaching someone to read.

"Keep a-movin, move along, keep a moving," Elvis sings and that is exactly what we need to do to fulfill our dreams -- keep moving in a positive direction taking consistent steps to take us one more stride, one more positive day toward our goals.

Although his song's words relate to finding true love, the message of following our dreams is an important reminder to follow our dreams without fear of failure or uncertainty and without regrets or recriminations for failing to act.

One of the saddest things we can do in our lives is to give up on something important to us, in essence failing to try to make our dreams come true.

Imagine how grand it would be if we could live our lives as another famous singer, Frank Sinatra, sang, "Regrets, I've had a few, but then again two few to mention."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=
zNeKxSaWJa0&feature=related

..."I've lived a life that's full -
I've travelled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets? I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course -
Each careful step along the byway,
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew,
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way.

...To think I did all that,
And may I say, not in a shy way -
Oh no. Oh no, not me.
I did it my way.

...Yes, it was my way."

We may have regrets over things we wanted to do but have yet to accomplish, but why don't we vow, right now, that we will dust off those dreams and chart a course to accomplish them before our end truly comes?

One of my dreams I've had since a young child is to visit Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, even for a long weekend and even if by myself. With you, I vow I will price airfare, car rental and motel and begin saving to fulfill that lifelong dream.

In future blogs I'll share other dreams and what steps can be taken right now, right where I live, to bring those dreams to reality.

Will you do the same? Will you share in your reply or your blogs what some of your dreams are then list the steps you will need to take to make that dream come true?

Let's do it our way!

Let's follow our dreams!