Photo by Vicky Lorencen

.

Have you ever wanted to quit on a dream? I have. I suspect we all have. Dreams are easy to carry when they are fresh and so are we. But they can feel burdensome once the real work begins. Little wonder we want to say “enough”!

Recently, at least two of my writing friends wondered if they should loosen their grip on their dreams and let go. Can you relate? Before you make that decision, may I offer some things to think about?

Will your life be better for giving up–will you feel free to pursue other things–or will you miss having a dream to chase?

Can you live with the wonderings and the what ifs–I wonder what would have happened if I’d stuck with it just one more year . . . sigh.

How will others be influenced by your decision to let go? Now, typically, when I’ve asked myself that question, my mind has automatically gone to the many, many friends who have been my cheerleaders, mentors and shoulders to cry on . . . what would it do to them if I said enough is enough? For certain, they would still love me. They’d understand too. Some might even envy me for taking such a bold step. But mostly, I would feel like I’d let them down. The same goes for writers I’ve tried to encourage along the way. If I quit, would it make them question?

But only last week, I realized I’d be letting down more than my writing friends. My teenage daughter told me, out of the blue, how much she admired me for having a dream and for sticking with it and having perseverance. Wow. I had no idea the ripples of my dream went out that far.

And so, for me anyway, quitting isn’t an option. I’m too far out in the ocean, too deep in the jungle or too far out in space (choose your metaphor!) to turn back now. And I’m glad to know you will be sticking with it with me.

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
~ Harriet Beecher Stowe