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The Mic Is On for TWO DAYS: Leave a Wish for 2009

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

What Is Your Wish, Your Will for the Year to Come?

Leave a wish, a word, a thought.
Leave a hope, a goal, a want.
Leave a message for a friend or the world.
Set it here for us all to remember.
Leave one or one hundred.

Happy New Year!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Would You Help Me Answer this Man Who Has a Dream?

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The Comment and the Dream

Personal Identity logo

In January, 2008, I wrote a strategy called How to Make Your Dream Come True — Thought, Strategy, Action. The article included these steps (abbreviated here).

  1. Define the dream.
  2. Define where you sit.
  3. Plot your strategy.
  4. Detail your needs.
  5. Determine your commitment.
  6. Enlist support and advocates.
  7. Write the story.
  8. Know how you’ll ask.
  9. Define yourself by the dream.

Yesterday. September 30, 2008, a man wrote two comments in response. I bring them forward here unedited.

September 30th, 2008 at 4:28 pm e
Pama said Hello,
I’m writing because I have nothing to lose except to not fulling my dream. I cannot allow my dream to just remain only my dream. I must make it into reality. About five years before 9-11-01 I had a thought, a way I could earn a living, travel and help our US Military families and our fallen hero families. I had defined my dream, worked up my plan of action, worked with success to make it all happen. Then as I was almost to seeing my dream to into reality two things happened to set me back lightyears. I was hit hard but not yet down. Rebuilt, regrouped and moved forward again. Life was helping me realize my dream again. Then like a bad storm, 2005 hit me slap in the face. Left with very little and a buring dream still not fulfilled. Its been years, stories, hopes, hard work and I am in my later fifties now. I have not giving up but the endless goals to reach my dream are showing its toll on me and my money stream. I have never once asked for money, nor have I asked for help from others out side of my mother (in her 80s now). I want to see my dream through to its highest potential. Any advise would be much needed and applied to my goal of realizing my dream. Thank you for your blog site and I have enjoyed your wisdom. Pama

September 30th, 2008 at 4:41 pm e
Pama said Please forgive me for all the misselled words and bad grammer, half thoughts. I was typing straight from my heart, not my mind. I knew if I stopped long enough to make the needed corrections I would chicken out and never hit the send Submit Button. Hope you understand, writing here is a huge step for me. Thanks again, Pama

military rose_from_geek_philosopher

Dear Pama,

I sit staring at the months-old blog post where you left this comment yesterday. I wish I knew more about your situation. I have many questions. I’ll simply respond this sentence that implies whether you should keep going on.

I have not giving up but the endless goals to reach my dream are showing its toll on me and my money stream.

Be certain that you’re not moving forward because you don’t want to give up. It’s human to hold onto a losing battle because we don’t want to think we lost. We put our head down and end up losing more because we don’t see that we’ve changed, the game has changed, and so has the world. So reevaluate before you keep go for that dream. Stop. Go somewhere. Sit on the side of a mountain. Think of life without it. Then if you go again, start from the beginning and know exactly what dream you’re going for.

That way you’ll be certain the dream is still out there. After all, once upon a time a boy could dream of leading a caravan across the desert. That choice has gone.

You’ve never asked for help. . . . why not?

Seeking knowledge and requesting someone’s aid in moving something forward is willingness to show a commitment to your dream and to yourself. Asking for help can be an investment in a relationship. It also allows the giver a chance to be generous and to contribute what they do far better than you ever will be able to do. Mostly importantly, it elevates your cause by allowing others to be part.

Asking for help is a sign of trust. Is your dream big enough to share? Can you trust folks to be part of your dream?

Those are my thoughts. I hope they’re even close to where you are.
I wish you hope, energy, and the wisdom you need.

Liz

If You’re Reading . . .

Please help me answer this man who has a dream. Add to my response or correct what I’ve gotten wrong.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Wishes, Dreams, and Vision

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I've been thinking . . .

about wishes.

I’ve never been good at wishes. They always seemed so big.

When I was a child, I heard of wishing on birthday candles, and wishing on stars, and three wishes that are in fairy tales. My cousins would on twisting the stem of an apple — a person had to twist it just the right way, just the right amount, and said just the right words.

A thought of a wish opened a universe that stunned me with wonder. . . . IMy mind wouldn’t interrupt. . . . I’d lose myself in infinite possibility and thoughts in color.

I never knew what to wish for. It wasn’t a lack of imagination. It was incomprehension.

When I went to college, no one wished anymore, they had dreams. Dreams seemed to come to me more easily.

Dreams were more grounded, but without strong wishing experience. I was a dreaming novice. I imagined a dream house — it ended up being three. I dreamed a life. When I was done, I had 23 unique and complicated scenarios, each complete with scenery and plot lines.

I’ve never been good at dreams. Well, I’m only good at them in the way that dreamers dream, which is having lots and lots of them — not one big one.

In my career I uncovered a vision. I had one without trying. It was a dream on the horizon of my life. Yeah, right there where I can see it.

I put a dream on the horizon. I see it in perfect vision. Each day I look out at it and think about the steps to how I’ll get there. Everything, everyday gets me closer.

Like a pilot flying from NYC to LA, I am off course most of the way, but I’m adjusting every minute. I get there eventually, and that vision shows me what the next vision is.

I wish I knew that from the beginning.

All of those wishes on stars could have been the start of a vision.

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