God gave us fingers–Ma says, “Use your fork.”
God gave us voices–Ma says, “Don’t scream.”
Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and carrots.
But God gave us tasteys for maple ice cream.
God gave us fingers–Ma says, “Use your hanky.”
God gave us puddles–Ma says, “Don’t splash.”
Ma says, “Be quiet, your father is sleeping.”
But God gave us garbage can covers to crash.
God gave us fingers–Ma says, “Put your gloves on.”
God gave us raindrops–Ma says, “Don’t get wet.”
Ma says be careful, and don’t get too near to
Those strange lovely dogs that God gave us to pet.
God gave us fingers–Ma says, “Go wash ’em.”
But God gave us coal bins and nice dirty bodies.
And I ain’t too smart, but there’s one thing for certain–
Either Ma’s wrong or else God is.
Shel Silverstein is my favourite poet. I’ve read Where the Sidewalk Ends a million times over. This poem is from it. He doesn’t think we need permission either.
The word has a touchy-feely quality that makes me feel kinda icky. ‘Dreams’ can seem kinda pie-in-the-sky. Especially in business.
It’s not that ‘dreams’ are unrealistic or unreal. God, no.
It’s that people often use the word to talk about things they’re not acting in direction of. They use ‘dreams’ to discuss the things that they hope to get, but are doing nothing to create.
What they’re talking about is dreaming.
And it’s a whole other kettle of fish. But it’s getting mixed up with the ‘dreams’ kettle. When I talk of ‘dreams’, I’m not talking about dreaming, I’m talking about making a firm intention to manifest the things you want for your life and your world.
I’m talking about getting off your ass.
I’m talking about making small, concrete and strategic daily choices towards your dreams. I’m talking about action and persistence.
Dreams only come true if you’re true to them.
It’s not going to be handed to you. Hoping isn’t enough to make it happen. But You are.
