Part 1
Facing the Facts
We often picture rather vividly ourselves living happily in the future- you’re familiar with this I’m sure. We all seem to have some version of a daydream in which we see ourselves sittin’ pretty, smitten with the realization that all our hard work has paid off and we’re finally where we want to be… The details change as we do of course, but the feeling that things are “just right” is a constant.
Everything looks as close to perfect in this picture as it can get- whether it’s where you are, what you have, who you’re with… Lately, I envision myself knee-deep in the restoration phase of the van I am currently working my ass off to buy. I see myself laughing as I clumsily navigate the use of power tools I’ve yet to touch, exchanging beer and good conversation for assistance with labor from my dear unfortunate friends. I see it slowly coming together between weeks spent bumming around every beach I can drive to in search of the best surf spots around, bonding with my van as it allows me the mobility I desire and the ability to do what I’ve been dreaming of for so long…
When the present moment feels like it’s light years away from whatever you’re picturing in your mind, it can seem like all it will ever be is what it has been so far. A daydream. It’s in those moments you need to realize that your desire to attain those things is no longer acting as your motivator and has become another obstacle standing in the way of you making it your reality.
Sometimes, I’ve learned, it’s necessary to put a little distance between your head and the clouds and take a nose dive straight into the now- where the ability to shape your future truly lies.
“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal.
A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan.
A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.”
-Greg S. Reid
The simple truth is that you’ve got to face the facts and do what you’ve got to do to get to where you want to be. Getting organized is about the least romantic thing I can say to those in this situation but it’s what we need to hear. It’s time we stop romanticising everything and get down to business so we don’t end up fantasizing our lives away.
I try to remind myself that I can have all the sexy time with my van that I want- after I actually hand over the cash for it and get my hands on the steering wheel. In the meantime, I’ve got to embrace the grind because if I don’t, that day is never going to come.
“If you don’t make the time to work on creating the life you want, you’re eventually going to be forced to spend a lot of time dealing with a life you don’t want.” -Kevin Ngo
It’s inevitable that we all have to work, that we will face obstacles, that we will get swept up in our daydreams … So why not put the hard work towards the things that fulfill us most? Why not try to approach our obstacles with more level heads and better organization? Why not get swept up in making our daydreams a reality instead of purely daydreaming?
The picture that you often refer to in your mind? It doesn’t have to stay there, make it a point to hang it on your wall someday.
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by Alexa Francisco
New to Grandeur?