Inside The American Dream

Living The American Dream

America is a land of dreams. Everyday, thousands arrive in its shores hoping for a better life. Each carrying in their hearts a bag full of lifelong dreams.

Some had to go through the worst of odds to pursue them.

For others, it becomes a legacy handed down as a precious gift from one generation to the next.

Sadly, some got so burned that they simply gave up on their dreams. A few even tragically gave up on the very dream to live.

Walking along San Francisco Bridge, we saw a sign and a wreath of flowers in memory of those who lost their lives when they jumped off this bridge. I was out for words. All I can do was say a prayer for those whose lives were lost. Everyday, somewhere in our planet, someone thinks life is no longer worth dreaming for. It’s up for the rest of us to show them that there is so much to dream for, live for. That there is always hope.

In all, everyone has a story to tell. A story mix with the good and the bad.

This man was playing his music along the pier. Beside him was an empty can for people to drop their coins, a dollar or two. I wondered what was his story. What was his American Dream? Whatever they are, I hope he found them.

Stories of triumph and struggles, laughter and tears, love and loss.

Stories that make us realize we are not so different after all. That we all dream and hope for the best of blessings for ourselves and the people we love.

Some dreams reach their happy endings. Others lead to heartaches. A few may even turn into our worst nightmare we can’t wait to escape from. However they turned out of be, we should keep trying “living our own dreams.” Life is too short not to go after the very things that gives us light, purpose and meaning.

Eleven years ago, I reached the shores of America with my bag of dreams. I was ecstatic to finally be in the land of plenty and vast opportunities.

Several years later, I found out that it takes a lot of hard work, trials and sacrifices to reach for my dreams. That there will be many obstacles along the way including people who will try to crush them. So many distractions, detours, mistakes and wrong choices. In end, it’s the simple need for freedom, happiness, love, faith and inner peace that makes up the basic core of my American Dream. It’s not about having lots of money, a big house or a fancy car that anytime can be taken away.

Time is a great teacher. There will be moments in our journey when we’ll get discouraged when our dreams don’t turn out the way we hope them to be. There will be moments when we may even stop dreaming because no matter how much we try, we can’t seem to find them or make it right. The good news is, when we stop dreaming, our family and our truest friends will carry us in their dreams until we are ready to stand and make our own.

There is something about California sunshine. Feels like Summer all the time and I can pretty much hear Pharrell Williams song “Happy” playing in my head. Oh, and I wasn’t the only jumping to its beat. Yep,”cause we’re happy!”

Joining my sister and her husband in California for my son’s Spring Break reminded me the value and importance of following my dreams.

Our visit ignited a new fire inside me. Being around family, traveling around the beautiful sights of Sonoma County and San Francisco inspired me to renew and rethink my American Dream. This time, it will be my American Dream and that of my family.

In the next few months, I ask for your prayers that everything will fall into place. That God will guide me to find the right job, the right people to trust and build meaningful relationships, a new place to call home where I can make dreams that are good, lasting and real.

Thank you for your visit today and for sharing your own dreams through your posts and comments.

In the next several posts, I will be sharing the many reasons why me and my family fell in love with California for the second time and why the American Dream is worth fighting for.

What are your most treasured bag of dreams? How do you wish to tell your story?

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