Summoning Up The Courage to Make Your Dreams Come True

There are dreams and there are dreams.

I always wanted to win an Olympic gold medal.  That is a dream that will have to remain a dream, as I am now 77 years old.  I wanted to pitch in the World Series, climb Everest and bench press 350 pounds.  All of those things just are not going to happen, I mean, let’s be real.

But I have other dreams.  Some of those dreams are quite daunting, seem impossible.  But here is what I have found, they are not impossible and I can make those dreams come true.  In fact, I have made most of my dreams come true.  So…what does it take to make dreams come true?

First is intention.  I set my mind toward actually making the dream come true.  I disregard everything standing in the way.  I decide that I will make a particular dream come true.

Next is the evaluation of why that dream is still a dream and not a reality.  That evaluation usually comes down to my own fears, my concerns about investing in making a dream coming true and then failing, money, the time needed to make the dream come true and my concern that my wife, family and friends might see my dream quest as foolish.  Of those things…fear is by far the biggest killer of my dreams.

I have a new book coming out called The Geezer’s Guide to Adventure.  In that book, I write about how I over come my fears…how I summon up courage…how I handle defeat and adjust…perhaps pointing myself to yet another dream when one dream turns out to be impossible.  It is a process.

Why do I even mention this idea of turning dreams into reality?  I do it because I see it as the single strongest thing a person can do to brighten their senior years.  It gives us purpose, builds new skills, keeps us active and looking forward.  Lots of people say “I would love to go on safari in Africa” but few do.  I promise you that dream CAN become a reality…but it will take an intention to make it so.

I will give you an example…I have helped dozens of people realize their dream to swim in the ocean with whale sharks.  No big deal?  You might be wrong with that assessment.  First, it involves traveling to Mexico during hurricane season and staying on a small island an hour from Cancun.  Second, it involves getting in a panga boat and traveling hours out to sea to find the whale sharks.  Next, it then requires you to jump in the open ocean, tens of miles from land and into the midst of the biggest shark fins you will ever see in your life. On one memorable trip, we traveled so far out to sea that we saw an aircraft carrier go by.  And then there is the weather…and it can kill you during hurricane season.  A whale shark adventure is the real deal.  And the reports I get back from my friends that actually make their whale shark dreams come true…”Pretty daunting…tested my nerves…did not think I could do it…best darn thing I have ever done in my life.”

In the new book, I write about how to prepare for such a quest, how to build in great safety measures, building up to the event and give tips on gathering the resources (including money) to make the adventure possible.  The book is about what we CAN do.  We all recognize that there are things that are just not possible…but what can we do in the way to make our dreams come true?

I will not be shy in telling you when the book hits the shelves…sometime in the next month.  The book is designed to inspire you to stop dreaming, start doing and to enjoy the great feeling that comes from overcoming all obstacles to do the great things that are still possible in your life.  I think you will like it.

 

Aloha.

 

Don Hurzeler