I always intended to follow my dreams. Nobody told me they'd get ahead of me so fast I wouldn't be able to catch up with them.

I just spoke recently to my DH about this. We retired early to be able to travel and see the world, and so far the only thing we have seen is the inside of an MRI machine! Had I known I would be restricted I would have traveled more when I was young. I want more time!

It's kind of sad but I really don't have any "dreams" to follow anymore. Just making it through each day.......financially and mentally.......takes enough out of me. Anything more would seem overwhelming.

Interesting you should bring this subject up. I call this a key principle to living life vs. making a living. What do I mean? We see it all the time where people work their butts off and keep saying, "Well, just wait until we retire honey. We'll be able to do all sorts of things then."

The inherent problem with this type of thinking is based on this theory and old saying. "Good things come to those who wait." "Patience is a virtue." It is my observation and experience in this life that the people who subscribe to this thinking will only get "LEFT OVERS" of those who took the initiative and action.

The worse case scenario is the person doing all of the postponement of current benefit and enjoyment of living, ends up dead before they can reap their anticipated rewards of life. Most of the time leaving a family and wife behind.

My sister-in-law is asking my help in changing my brother's miserly penny pinching ways, "for the future," so they may enjoy living now while they are still young and healthy. He just doesn't get it!

My advice to everyone is Carpe Diem! Someday tomorrow will not come whether planned for or not.

All our (DH and my) dreams disappeared with my physical limitations.

I just let my dreams evolve into new stuff, much more local...even to the point where most of my dreams are inside the house.

Maybe it has been a good thing that I have always been lousy at decorating, it makes for moving my inexpensive junk to new places. Spray painting a silly plaster 4' tall lady from the previous wall paint to a sparkling black. Best she has ever looked.

Going to the local fabric place to buy new material for my bar stools. I put an erasable "dreaded honey-do's" on the refrigerator for DH. I think he likes it 'cause he gets to erase little projects.

Trying to keep houseplants alive. Now that is a HUGE dream! Never could do that before. Bamboo is easy, needs only water and no sunlight, good for my half bath.

Cutting out the easy recipes from the newspaper and trying them. We had salmon on a bed of arugula in raspberry balsamic, oil, tomatoes, onion.

Pint size dreams. All house bound, most pretty cheap (that is part of the goal of my dreams).

It does not substitute for the disappointment of the dreams I used to have, the plans we made for this point in our lives.

And my small dreams do not make me feel better in any large way. It is just the difference between existing and having an existence.

In part, it is what I do for those around me that love me and are helpless. THEY want me to have purpose so I create dreams for them. I do not think they are aware of my machinations. They are not supposed to be aware of the darkness inside me.

In the end, I want them to remember more of the fictionalized version of me to tell at my funeral, to tell their children of my "strength."

Now as I type the above paragraph...that is a pretty big dream...huh...

Cyn, so that's why my bamboo is struggling.. too much light!

Dreams...I really don't have any

I often feel as if I am prematurely being forced into Erickson's final stage of ego Integrity vs. Despair although I wonder how much of it is just life itself in becoming a "mature woman" of 46yo as opposed to being the fresh young face on the block. Probabaly a combination of both but MS sure has shortened the time frame.

Integrity vs. Despair – Wisdom (Late Adult: 55 or 65 to Death)

Erikson believed that much of life is preparing for the middle adulthood stage and the last stage involves much reflection. As older adults, some can look back with a feeling of integrity — that is, contentment and fulfillment, having led a meaningful life and valuable contribution to society. Others may have a sense of despair during this stage, reflecting upon their experiences and failures. They may fear death as they struggle to find a purpose to their lives, wondering “What was the point of life? Was it worth it?”

http://www.learning-theories.com/eri...velopment.html

Interesting, Jules. I guess I'm at that stage of Integrity.....certainly not despair, as I think my life has been worthwhile and made a difference....in a good way.

I have a healthy fear of the unknown, when it comes to death/dieing. I am a Christian, so I believe there is a spirit life hereafter.

Blessings,

Was this serious, satirical, or simply a twist on words because we all have challenges?

We all have dreams as in things we would really like to do in life. The real question here, are we going to allow our adversity to steal our dreams? I for one say, no way in h***! If anything my adversity motivates me to experience my dreams with even more intent, if not only to spite the adversity.

Ask ourselves one question. What is the worst that could happen if we pursued our dreams under our current situations? We may feel depressed, in pain and just crappy right now sitting home. I propose follow our dreams and take advantage of their experience in our lives. We're going to feel depressed, in pain and crappy any way so let's go ahead and do it.

Please, allow me to use my recent experience as an example. You all pretty much know how I have daily symptom challenges, blah-blah-blah, right? Did that stop me from taking my wife on a long trip to Hawaii and going on all of those strenuous island excursions? My symptoms didn't go away on those days and most of the time the repercussions for the activities were high. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY! Now the big question. Would I have regretted not doing it knowing what I know now? ABSOLUTELY!

I say go ahead and chase your dreams, make the best of it. Nothing will change in your life unless you make a change. Take the risk. What's the worst that can happen?