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This is a guest post by Maria Dixon Photo Courtesy of h.koppdelaney

Note from Justin: This woman has been the consistent influence that taught me how to never make an excuse for not going after my dreams. She has dealt with me since the day I was born, and for that I am extremely grateful. She is my mom. Now, she has been making some pretty big changes recently. She has started song-writing classes, she is looking to change careers, and she is really taking her dreams seriously. She has always been an inspiration for me so I asked her if she would write an article on starting to go after your dreams. This is what this dynamic woman who has had a heavy hand in my becoming who I am today had to say.

We all have dreams, that one thing that you want to do, that vision only you can see, but only when you are paying attention.  It’s usually something that has followed us for years; something that doesn’t go away with age or circumstances.  They can be quite irritating, these dreams.  They haunt you in the middle of the night, tug at your heart in the middle of the work day, or scream at you when you see someone else following their dream.
It is also imperative that you follow your dreams. Imagine, if Ben Franklin had not “discovered” electricity, Thomas Edison would not even have known to dream of the light bulb, and I would not be able to type this article on a computer, in the comfort of my own family room.  People call this the butterfly effect; one dreamer opens the door for another dreamer and so on and so forth. 

For someone mentally challenged, their dream may be to love everyone around them.  Have you ever taken the time to observe or get to know someone who is mentally challenged?  If not, I encourage you to do so.  They don’t have all the “rules” that bind them up and keep them from doing what they want.  Children pretend they are dinosaurs hatching from an egg simply because they can still imagine that to be the case. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” The innocence and trusting of children that says something will work just because they believe it to be so; is never something we should walk away from.

Easier said than done, I know!  Life usually throws circumstances at you; things rarely go the way you plan.  Even if life has gone exactly as planned, you may find yourself sitting at a desk wondering what this was all about.  Something awful may happen to you, or the mundane may just wash every part of yourself away.

“Figure out who you are and do it on purpose!”-Dolly Pardon

I’m figuring out who I am, getting to know all about me, flaws and all. I dare you to do the same.

I enjoy crafts and needlework. If you know anything about crafts or needle work, then you know the back of something can be a bit of a mess.  The really great needle workers can make it all look almost as good as the front.  However, no matter how good it looks, there is always a difference between what is shown and what is behind it.  Life is that way. There is always something, a wart so to speak, behind the person we are.  Embrace those warts, don’t hide from them.  Some warts must be removed, in order for you to be healthy, others add to who you are.

Examine yourself. Don’t be afraid. Figure out what you need to do.  Begin to take action.

“The number one mistake people make in life, is being so afraid to make a mistake that they never get started.”-John C. Maxwell

If it is not something you can handle yourself, reach out for help. If you’re not sure what your dream is, take the time to search yourself for one, even if it’s just a small one. Trust me, you have a dream, it’s in there, we were all made with a purpose.  And don’t just keep your dream in a neat little box in the corner. Go out and live it! You never know who you will inspire.

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