A Dream Deferred

I know of a person who had high aspirations and sought to do wonderful things with their dream. They do everything by the book; attend college, attend graduate school, and etc. But only they discover that the very dream that pushed them to late hours of study and dedication has now betrayed them as their dream lies just out of reach. They just don’t have "it" to succeed in their field. Not that they aren't smart but something that they missed earlier is now proving to be their downfall. The proverbial saying of "close but no cigar" comes to mind.

I began to think of this person and I asked myself, "What does a person do with an empty shell of a life?" The very passion for living and the taste buds of your life have been forever muted and numbed. How does one recover to live a fulfilling life upon discovering that their life dream is just a fraction of what it could have been? Just a scant distant reminder constantly poking its head up of the life deferred. What does that person do?

I discovered that it is just plain miserable to be around a person like that. I feel boxed in and sucked in the unyielding black hole of their misery. I say, "Leave me alone" because my life has plenty of misery in it.

On the serious side, there is nothing more tragic than a person living in a shell of what used to be. I am not sure what is worse; being the bystander having to listen to one moan and groan about the past or actually be the person who can't let go. Either one is not an attractive choice. It does bring to remembrance, Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman and how this dear old man was living a life that once was real but had faded softly into the horizon yesteryear.

The tragedy occurs when he lives this pretended life to keep up appearances for his family. Only to find that he is empty, broken, and despaired. His allusions and made up kingdom quickly makes haste and crumbles. Not to ruin the story but Willy later commits suicide.

I came to the conclusion that either two things can happen:
1. You can live in the past and mope about what could have been and relive the memories and watch as the "peers of your dream" succeed while you live an empty life or
2. You can discover that life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and that there is One who has laid everything out for you. The dream or calling that once served as the inspiration and driving force can now become a testimony of the creativity of the Master planner. New dreams, passions, and purpose can and will emerge if you allow it. Life is about the journey so pick yourself up and enjoy it.

So I guess don't be like Willy.