Leading By Example

by Lynn Trahan

Every parent tells their child, “You can grow up to be anything you want to be.” We carefully plead with our children to pursue their dreams, no matter what they are. We prod them supposedly on their behalf, truly believing they can accomplish anything. How poor an example we must set, having let our own dreams die.

We too had dreams once upon a time, long ago. We wanted a particular lifestyle, a career we were passionate about, or just to be fabulous at something! We daydreamed, wished on, and pursued a goal with wonder and glee. Then something happened. Life interfered and we lost our focus. We allowed truckloads of trivial garbage to be hauled into our lives. Our focus went from our pleasant daydreaming to a desperate attempt to keep the garbage from piling up too high.

Our dreams were put on the back burner in order to deal with the here and now. Responsibilities multiplied like rabbits in a communal den. Dreams are dreams, they are not demanding. That’s what draws us to them. They are what we choose to think about, not what has to be considered. Dreams give us hope, energy, and the drive to do something with our lives. This is what we want for our children, but not for ourselves, why?

The greatest gift we can give ourselves and our children, is to follow our own dreams. To lead by example. If we should fall while pursuing our dreams, at least we were going somewhere in the first place!

Copyright © 1996, 1997 Lynn Trahan All Rights Reserved

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