Don't quit
Never give up
Don't throw in the towel
These messages and others similar to it are embedded within songs, motivational speeches, films and biographies. I believe that we must continue to progress towards the dreams that are placed within our hearts, but I want to encourage those whose perseverance is not in action, but in keeping the dream alive.
Since I was 10 years old I've carried a dream, and though it has evolved and looks a little different than its original form, the heart of it remains 14 years later. I remember a time during the dark days of my mental health, when much of my weariness stemmed from feeling burdened in having carried this vision, that I fought so much to keep alive, when other factors wanted to kill it. Our dreams are like babies that we nurture, and they grow in ways that transform and shape us. We take the likeness of the dream as we become greater versions of ourselves, and the dream takes our likeness as it flows from our uniqueness and individual personality traits. Maybe you consider your dream a friend, a journey or even an enemy that seems to mock you with doubts and questions of your capability.
However you view your dream, it takes a lot of effort to keep it alive and I feel that aspect can sometimes be overlooked, because the focus is on taking actions, and having strategies in place to bring progress in fruition. All of these are necessary, but some of us have been nurturing a desire for many years of our lives, and we want to feel some relief from how heavy it can feel sometimes. I found that as I got older, the dream got too big to carry in my arms, and it weighed my back should I transfer the weight, it morphed into such a size that was so much bigger than myself. Whatever you've had to protect your dream from be it; doubters, negative words, failed attempts, financial deficit, toxic relationships, abandonment, rejection, betrayal. I commend you for the bravery and commitment you have to keep the dream alive, even after some of those things may have tried to take everything out of you, left you wounded in need of healing, or even left you without community for a while.
It's highly respected to keep taking action in pursuit of a dream, as statistic show many people give up. I take the time today to honour those who have kept the hope and faith of that dream alive. At times it was frail, during others it may have suffered some scarring, but its still alive and fighting. So many people have unfortunately had dreams within them killed, but you conquered those battles and are still going.
I implore you to seek God for refuge and lay the burden of this dream at His feet, many of our dreams cannot be carried on our own, they are too big for our frail frame but God is strong enough to carry them. So yes never give up and don't throw in the towel, but well done for keeping this dream alive, there are not many survivors and by God's grace you are one of them.