Dreams Come Alive

I bumped into a neighbour in the lift this afternoon and after we exchanged pleasantries and wished each other a happy new year, his response to my question “What does 2010 have in store for you?” was a drop in the shoulders, a resigned look and a lacklustre “It’s the same thing, year in, year out. What is there to look forward to?”

This is something that I have noticed in many people, the shrug of the shoulders and a subdued lament best encapsulated in the Singlish “like dat lor”. What is it like, living life this way, with nothing to look forward to? Every year and everyday is a relentless slog, where problems take centre stage over possibilities.

Whatever happened to the childlike excitement; that inspired anticipation; that positive expectancy? What if everyday brings forth new creations and new challenges to excel in? What if we wake up looking forward to start the day because there is a glorious goal to achieve, a dream to make come alive? Just think what a difference that would make to our daily lives.

Even in the habitual activities, what if everytime was like the first time? Just like falling in love, looking into our partner’s eyes, that light kiss, the hand holding…the shivers down the spine and quickening of the heartbeat. There used to be an Emirates TV commercial with the tagline When was the last time you did something for the first time? That ’something’ does not necessarily have to be a new thing. It could be a normal, usual thing which you see or experience as if it was the first time. Imagine how different your life could be with this new perspective. Choose to have it this way. Choose happiness. Choose joy.

What is one thing you want to do for the first time today?