When I was a child, I just knew I was going to be something special when I grew up. I knew I would be a lawyer or an engineer or even a doctor. When my parents bought me my first guitar at age ten I just knew I would be a rock star. At forty-two I still have that dream.
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There have been many dreams and schemes throughout the years: golfer, writer, attorney, photographer, computer programmer, actor, artist. The only one that came true was the computer programmer.
I’m here to tell you, it stinks. Don’t get me wrong, I kind of like my job and I’m grateful for the job, especially in this economy. But the grind of 8-5 every day and living with the corporate bullshit that goes along with the job is about as much fun as having a catheter inserted.
Even at this age I dream about what it will be like when I grow up. What am I going to do for the rest of my life? I still think about this even though my life is halfway over.
But at this point, I think I have it figured out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. I have figured out the perfect career for me. It does not take any additional education. It doesn’t take any special training. It is something every person in the world can do, but I’m a master at it. You can do it too.
Give up?
I’m going to be a Professional Dreamer. That’s right. I’m leaving my amateur status behind and heading for the big time. I’m going to DREAM for a living.
What does this job entail, you ask?
I’ll tell you. I’m going to win the lottery. Once I win the lottery I’m going to buy everything I ever wanted so I can dream some more. This is going to be tough. It entails lots of daydreaming. It will require long showers where I’m totally in the dream zone.
Sleeping in the car is essential. Drinking too much alcohol is a requirement. Living my life in a fuzzy haze is my new mantra. Setting unrealistic goals will be a daily occurrence. In addition, changing those goals in a timely fashion is what dreaming for a living is all about; sometimes hourly.
So tomorrow I’ll get up and go to work at my designated time, just like I will for the rest of my life (and just like you will for the rest of your life too). I will trudge through the mediocrity of life as an analyst, living my life as dully as possible. And in another 30 years when I have retired, I will sit on my patio looking into the distance, thinking about what my life should have been. An old man, coming to the end. I will continue my profession right up to the day I die. That’s what dreamers do.
I carry around a notebook everywhere I go. I keep this notebook so I can make notes on things I want to write about or observations I see. On the inside sleeve I have written a quote.
It’s never too late to be what you might have been.
George Eliot
While that quote has good intentions, it rings true for almost all of us. We are all living what we might have been: Dreamers!
