Abandonment of childhood dreams

At what point in our lives do we decide to abandon our dreams?

I say this after recently discovering the work of two former colleagues: one a photo editor and the other a improv actor/writer. While most people were switching jobs, going to graduate school or starting families, both of these colleagues continued to pursue their craft. Rather than abandon their work when things became challenging or hope seemed lost, they continued to dedicate a substantial amount of time and energy to their work. Now, after nearly fifteen years, they are beginning to receive public recognition for their art.

What gave them the fortitude to persevere?

For whatever reason, most of us believe that overnight success is standard for anyone who makes something that benefits a wide audience. But overnight success is a myth. Rather than look for approval from others, we need to believe in our work regardless of how difficult it may be.

Personally, I have provided countless reasons why my childhood dreams would not be fulfilled. Most of them are related to the difficulty of building a stable career when no one is looking. However, there is an advantage to pursuing your dreams when the world is looking the other way. The advantage that comes with toiling in obscurity is that you have a limited number of critics. In short, the only critics you have early on are your own.

Photographer Sean Tucker provides some insight into the long journey it took him to become a self-sustaining artist in his recent blog post, Winter in Cumbria. Sean’s story is like many others. It’s one filled with grit, hustle and passion. It’s one filled with steadfast love and devotion.

At the end of the day, instead of asking ourselves “when will I become successful?” We must ask ourselves how much do we love what we’re doing? Do we love it so much that we are willing to never gain public recognition? Or better yet, do we love it so much that we are content with never earning a penny for our art? If the answer is “hell yeah!” then we should continue to pursue our dreams. However, if the answer, is “no” then it’s time to find something else you love.

Losing our childlike wonder and fascination is something we all should preserve. We all should have that one thing where nothing stands in our way of doing that one thing we love. What’s yours?