I’m up and out, all day long
Out and about chasing dreams
I’ve seen my dreams fall and crash
And many more come to pass
Dream failure can be depressing
But every success steers me on
To dream bigger and reach farther
Every success says to me
“Dream better, reach higher.”

Life is for dreamers who are passionate and relentless in their pursuits, undaunted by mishaps and failures. Those who give up easily see very few dreams accomplished. Diligent persistence is the key to accomplishment. I say so because I am a dreamer and I have lived many dreams. Of course I have recorded significant losses but those only serve to realign my focus and boost my “dreamability.” Yet, dreamer that I am, I am learning to pause every once in a while and savor the fulfilment of a dream before you go pursuing another.

I used to be that way – never stopping to celebrate an achievement. So long as it is a challenge, I am giving it all I have but once it is accomplished, I move on to another. In fact, as the one at hand nears completion, I am already envisaging what next: there has to be something else – I couldn’t imagine me not having something significant I am working on. I recall when I was rounding up my PhD, a close friend with whom I was sharing how so worn out I was with reading asked instead, “So what next?” I responded, “This is it: I’m done!” “Really?” She asked sarcastically, “Get over this. We’ll give you a couple of weeks and you’ll be onto something else.” Relentless pursuit of life goals is admirable but is can be also be as draining as it is fulfilling – failure to pause and appreciate accomplishments is the mother of restlessness and discontentment.

Life is for living not for pursuits irrespective of whatever it is we pursue. Life is to be enjoyed and the only route to genuine enjoyment is to appreciate who you are, where you are, how you got there, and for as long as you are there. If you don’t, restlessness will drive you from one height to another, living the pains and losses, totally missing the pleasures of each layover. Eyes focused on that to come, we are bound to turn complainers before whom our little blessing count not because we are waiting to count the bigger ones ahead, which automatically diminishes once accomplished because our eyes are set on even bigger goals ahead.

If we don’t consciously wean ourselves of this endless pursuit for more, we are bound to spend a lifetime hunting and never enjoying the fruits of our labors. We are bound to miss the beauties encapsulated in the moments we live in because our eyes are fixed on future goals and dreams; unable to seize the moment and make the most of it because upcoming pursuits have become priority. We neglect the blessings before us because we are hoping for something that is to come. We miss opportunities present and lose available benefits because we want more that is to come. We live a dream, admired by others, yet disgruntled, possibly miserable because we are always gunning for what is ahead.

Among the key choices we have to make in life is to learn to pause and savor the moment. It is great to look ahead but in those pause moments, look back and appreciate how far you have come. Those who snub the past lose touch with reality and slip into exaggerated lifestyles. They turn restless ingrates, always pursuing, always complaining about what they have not while all they have lie unappreciated. The ability to look back with gratitude opens the tap of appreciation for those who were there for us and even against us at the time, for ourselves and the virtues we have developed in the process, and fosters faith in our ability to go much farther. It makes us more sensitive to those who are where we were and attentive of those who are where we are headed. Of course there could be regrets lining the past but taking the pause to look back with gratitude empowers us to look ahead with faith and courage, fully connected to reality as we pursue our dreams. It might just be your pause time. Stop and enjoy it.

Glory!