When I was 30, I quit everything, packed my bags and uprooted myself. I craved to live and work overseas, and participating in the Japan Exchange Teaching program made my dream come true.
There were repercussions that befell me. Now, I have not secured any leadership role even though I have returned to Singapore for many years. So, I am behind my peers in terms of career advancement.
Not that I care, really.
Recently, my boss shared that she had been one of the female leads in a college-wide performance when she was in college. She would love to pursue drama in some capacity or other, but these days, she has many stakeholders to answer to. So, she plans to fulfil her drama dream when she retires.
Another colleague shared that she had always wanted to be an air stewardess. But due to reasons that she never quite explained to me, she entered the teaching line. So, she intends to be a stewardess when she turns 60. Apparently, Emirates hires stewardesses who are on the mature side.
So, both my colleagues intend to defer their dreams. I guess money is a key factor. It must be nerve-wrecking to embark on your dreams without a substantial pool of money. They are just being pragmatic.
But I am of the opinion that some dreams need immediate action. Our personality isn’t cast in stone, and as unlikely as it may be, we will change the way we feel about life. Deferring dreams seems to be like dishonouring the current you.
When have you given up many things in your life so that you could pursue the one goal that matters to you?