My husband, the Norwegian Artist, and I believe strongly in the power of dreams.
Not the nighttime dreams, what we view and see when we sleep, but rather, the dreams that reside in our hearts: our goals, our aspirations, our desires for what we want to do with and in our lives.
Everybody’s dreams are different, as unique as each of us is ourselves.
For the most part, people’s dreams — normal people’s dreams — are good. These people have skills and talents and interests, and they somehow want to use these for their benefit, for the benefit of those in their lives they love and care about, and for the world in general. They want to make a difference, a positive one.
The Subnormal People
Then there are the others, the subnormal elements of humanity, many of them quite powerful and wealthy, whose dreams go in the opposite direction: while they want to use what they have for their benefit, very much so, they also do so at the expense of the well being of others.
I’m sure you can think of a few names that fit into the latter category, just as I’m sure that there are members in this category who prefer to keep their names, well, hidden from the rest of us. They like their glory and honor and praise and all that, but for some of these, the sheer wielding of power is its own reward.
But enough of talking about those people; they already factor far too much in people’s thoughts.
The Normal People
I’m talking about you. And me. And all those normal people with good dreams and goals who are regularly told — through mass media and social media and the people around them who believe what they see and hear there — that those dreams are very nice, dear, but you really need to grow up and 1) be loyal to your employer, 2) stop believing fairy tales, 3) buy cool stuff and fit into what the corporate culture says is your box, 4) obey authority, 5) vote, 6) trust The Science, and 7) get into real life, okay?
But dreams and goals are part of real life and real lives. We amazing human beings weren’t created to be living machines, or serfs, or “good citizens,” or consumers, or useless eaters, or essential employees, or voters who “speak” every two years or so. We were created to do and imagine and use our hands and employ our minds and express our thoughts and protect our children and share our abundance (with other people, not government) and ask for help (from God or other people) when we need it and give it to others when we can.
Great Expectations
The artwork, Great Expectations, is an encouragement to you to kick off your shoes, ascend that sandy knoll overlooking the sea, and look out into that big, wide, expansive horizon. The woman in the artwork has done just that, accompanied by her loyal Corgis who are ready to follow her wherever she goes.
She’s looking out to sea because that’s what dreams are: they’re really, really big. So big that you can’t figure out how you’re going to get to the other side, but you know — deep, deep in your heart — that that is where you are going, and even if you get sidelined or distracted or overwhelmed or incredibly discouraged, your dream is as much a part of your life as the sound of the surf is to the sea.
Contrary to the message of our corporate-controlled and highly propagandized society, we need to 1) live our lives with integrity, 2) stop believing what we see and hear on mass and social media, 3) buy what we need and want, not what we’re told is trendy and cool, 4) distrust authority, 5) recognize there are better ways to use our time and energy, 6) trust our instinct and intelligence, and 7) grow into the person we were born to be.
Now mind you, when you do all this, you won’t “fit in.”
But do you really want to?
Thank you for joining me at This Woman Writes. I incorporate the artwork of my husband, Steve Henderson , with thoughts on truth, goodness, life, light , and hope. Click on the image in the article — Great Expectations — to purchase prints or products (coffee mugs, greeting cards, even yoga mats) featuring the artwork. Find all of Steve’s prints at SteveHendersonCollections.com
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This Woman Writes by Carolyn Henderson 