Dreaming The Future

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” - Edgar Allan Poe

She was a dreamer, even as a little girl. Although she had many friends, she also loved her time alone, time with bees and butterflies, the blooms of Spring flowers or the rustling leaves of Fall. She wasn’t a child that needed others to entertain her. She was quite content with the silly conversations she had with her dolls or the new cat that had come to live with them. Remembering, it seems there was always music playing in the background of her mind. They were the songs that made her skip when no one else was looking or dance under the spray of the garden hose on a hot summer day. She was a child who found joy in the simple things and could create a memorable moment from almost nothing.

She was a happy child and whether awake or asleep she dreamed of the future, a future filled with rainbows and music and the sound of laughter and warm sun on her skin.

The sun woke me this morning with its warm, gentle rays sneaking past the curtains on the window. I hadn’t planned to sleep so late but the bed was warm and the dreams sweet. It would have been nice to stay a bit longer.

The first hours of the morning are so kind. They offer the solitude that permits my mind to wander aimlessly from the past to the future and everywhere in between. Lingering in the past brings me pleasure as I remember the days of my youth when cares were few and the future seemed so full of hope and possibility. It was a time of imagining that people were good, the earth healthy, and opportunity abundant. What a dreamer I was, way back then.

Perhaps I am still a dreamer for although I have seen some hard times, I have always believed that the sun would return and warm my skin. Worry is for those that don't believe and love and laughter is always right around the corner. It is the benefit of being a dreamer I think, being able to see the beauty in simple things and understanding that obstacles are nothing more than diversions designed by our Creator to get us where we are supposed to be.

It is a gift to be able to escape the sadness and evil in the world in a moment of solitude and silence. Even in the quiet hours of the morning, there is a song in my heart and an expectation that something good is about to happen. The simple things bring such joy and serve to remind me that nothing bad lasts forever. It may be the solitary leaf that retains a tight grip on the tallest limb of the tree long after winter has arrived. As a dreamer, I hear that little leaf whisper - “never give up”. I watch the feral cat make its rounds of the neighborhood and I hear its message – “look around, be aware of your surroundings”. When the deer grazing in the backyard stands perfectly still, ears listening for intruders, I hear it say to me “you are never alone, just listen for the signs”. These are the memorable moments created in the silence that only a dreamer understands. They bring comfort and hope for a future that will shine brighter than the noonday sun.

Sitting here with my thoughts this morning, I am aware that although I am older, I am still very much like that little girl of so long ago. Over the course of my lifetime I have acquired many friends and yet I am still perfectly content to be alone with my thoughts. Time has not changed me from the person who found such pleasure in the simple things. Although I have accumulated more than my share of material objects, few of them are considered necessity and most, little more than clutter. Magical moments still surprise me and I am still awed by rainbows and wildflowers, and the sun, whether rising or setting can still take my breath away. Even now, I would still rather dance in the rain than on a ballroom floor. And yes, I still despise shoes and love squishing mud between my toes. That part of the little girl in me will never die.

I must be getting on with my day now. I have listened to the news and yes, most of it was bad but, I have also checked in with my friends on Facebook and Twitter and found many messages of hope. My friends are people who care about the earth. They care about animals and human suffering and although we rarely chat, we continue to share news that concerns us all. It may be news of the Buffalo being killed in Yellowstone or the fight for continued protection for wolves who could be taken off the endangered species list. permitting hunters to kill them once again. Another friend may send a message regarding the crazy political climate or concern over GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) in our food. These are the things that feed a dreamer’s dream of a brighter future, a better tomorrow, a healthier planet, and an end to human suffering. These are the things that keep a song in a dreamer’s heart and a smile on her face.

The world is full of dreamers. We are not extinct and we are not a dying breed. We call ourselves by many names and we come in every color, size and shape. We are responsible for creating a future for future generations and for creating memorable moments today that sustain us for the work that lies ahead. Will you dream with me and help create a sustainable dream for all of us?

© 2013 Linda Crist, All rights reserved.

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake." - - Henry David Thoreau