Hi everyone. Just got up after about 5 hours of sleep. I spent way too long on Wizard 101 last night. My level 50 Life character (Gabrielle Pearleyes) got stuck in a battle in Grizzleheim that took me and two others quite some time to complete. When I finish this quest in Ravenscar I will have beat the game completely! Whoo Hoo!! It's funny, the peeps I was playing with in the end were parents like me and we got to talking about our kids. I can't help it. I love my kids. All four of them. They are all unique and special individuals and they each have their own likes and dislikes. I find this fascinating. Their individuality is way cool. Like my oldest - she's married and is a mom and is going back to school to get her degree in education and perhaps law. My middle daughter has received a bachelor's degree, she works in theater and is about to go back to school for her masters. Both my daughters love to write. My middle son is about to graduate high school and is an avid outdoors nut. He loves to fish and could stay on the water forever. He is looking at studying graphic design in college. My youngest son loves video games and is so savvy with them that it simply blows me away. He wants to design and test games. He is a freshman in high school so still has some time to make sure this is what he wants to do, but I don't see it changing.
As parents, we all have dreams of what our kids are going to be when they grow up. We try to set goals in place for them, incentives. We try to guide them, prod them, bribe them with whatever it takes to get good grades but in the end, it's not up to us parents what our kids want to do. It's up to them what they want to do.
I know people who tell their kids who want to pursue their dreams in the arts (writing, music, painting, drawing, etc.) things like "Music's great, honey, but it won't pay your bills" or 'You don't want to go to college for that. You need to learn a skill that will earn you some money. Drawing pictures won't earn you any money."
I think this is such an unfair thing to say. I mean, yes, they need to understand they need to provide for themselves and remain grounded but they also need to be encouraged to follow their hearts and their dreams. For many of them, they have a natural, God-given talent and that talent should be shared with the world. Can you imagine the world without books, paintings, sculptures...music? I can't, nor do I want to. This doesn't necessary mean college is the correct route for all kids. It could be formal training with a professional artist. It could be hooking up with the right people at the right time (I know a 10 year-old girl who plays the drums and has recently gone to Nashville, made a publicity cd, put together a package and has jammed in an un-named country artist's home along with Elton John's drummer and other well-known country music band members). Whatever it is, don't be afraid to pursue it and don't give up.
For all you kids out there (and us adults who are finally following our heart's desire), listen to those around you who have your best interest at heart but also listen to your own heart. You only go round in this life once. Make every day special. Pursue your dreams every day. If you want to be a writer - write. If you want to be a painter - paint but whatever you do, don't let anyone take your dream. Without dreams, what do we have? If it comes from the heart, only good can come from it. Go for it. Hold on tight to your dream. The world will thank you for your dedication, integrity and persistence. Ground yourself in reality, understand that you do need to develop skills that will carry you through life and provide for you and your family, but don't give up on your passions in the process. With time and some good luck, those passions may provide you with the wealth or lifestyle you might dream of, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't. What matters in the end is that you followed your passions, your heart, your desires. If you do this, you'll never look back on your life with regrets.
Hope your day is sunny and wonderful. Mine will be. :-)
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