Your problems, my dreams
Some time ago, I was in NYC taking a cab. I really enjoy meeting new people fro different countries and cultures and try to learn about there native land, customs etc. But this time I came across a different kind of learning. This gentleman was from a village in a small country in South Africa. I asked him what it was like where he grew up. He said, " your peoples problems are my peoples dreams." When I asked what he meant he elaborated, and I paraphrase - He said, you have problems with your plumbing, people in my village dream of someday owning a home with plumbing, you have car problems, my people dream that someday, they may own a car, you have problems with your health insurance claims, my people dream of having proper healthcare, and he went on. The list seemed endless, but I got the point.
But here he was. He decided to come to this country and go for the dream. He has a job, he’s saving money, some day, he will have those things that people in his village dream about because he went out of his comfort zone, came to a country, learned how to drive a car and is living in a place with plumbing. And he’s just getting started. He has plans for school, a better job, a family.
A lot of us have dreams, or maybe visions of what we want to look like or be like. Whether it’s muscle size or bodyfat, we shouldn’t give up on those dreams. This site if full of skinny people who dreamed of getting buff, and did. Of bigger people who wanted to get lean and are now fitness models. What many consider insurmountable problems, these inspiring people turned into dreams of something better and achieved it.
And then there’s some of my friends who are so dedicated, and have such high standards that they’re problems are other peoples dreams. it doesn’t matter where we are on the spectrum. We should dream past our problems, believe in them and go for them.
Thanks to my inspiring friends and loved ones that never let me give up on my dreams and tell me to quit whining about my problems.
October 18, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Outstanding post. Thanks for sharing.
October 18, 2009 at 9:08 pm
That was a very inspirational anecdote.
October 18, 2009 at 9:16 pm
“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.”
I just loved this blog. Thank you for posting it. We lived for many years in a country such as you mention, and had those very same experiences as this gentleman had. We, from the wealthier nations, need to realize that we are living a dream. Even though problems arise, we are so very blessed.
Keep strong my friend.
Carla
October 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Thanks for the comments back and taking time to read my blog. As you might have guessed, it was written more for me than anyone else as a reminder to myself I fI could only remember a fourth of what I’d been taught and practice a tenth of what I remember, I’d be twice as good.
October 19, 2009 at 3:55 am
Excellent blog
October 23, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I live in New York City and take cabs all the time. The cab drivers from Africa are always so grateful to be living here. I talk to them at length often.
To bad I can’t say the same for a lot of ungrateful American college kids, especially the plethora of spoiled NYU "I hate America" students we have in spades in my neck of the woods (Greenwich village).
I have also spoken to THEM on many occasions and these kids who go to the most expensive college in this country (Courtesy of their mommies and daddys) , by and large think it’s somehow "cool" to hate America.
I don’t bother talking to them anymore. Why aggravate myself?
October 26, 2009 at 5:26 am
Great blog.