It started with dreams of a bigger world, explorers seeking land and new territories for their mother countries. It was soon followed by a brave little group of puritans seeking religious freedom to live and worship God in their own way. Then there was the dream of Independence and fighting for freedom from our past, from a world of magistrates and strings attached. Pretty soon there was the dream of claiming land- escaping an ancestry of the feudal system- dreams of owning and keeping and tilling your own land and reaping whatever your could sow- hard work that earned something you could keep- the beginning of capitalism and endless opportunities. There were dreams of gold and dreams of unregulated innovation and development. There were dreams to break away from the molds of the past in a land of equal opportunity, dreams of a clean slate and building a new name for your family and posterity. The American dream continued to grow, making education and jobs available to all. Pretty soon the expansion of a transcontinental railroad started to connect all of the dots across the country and dreams spread in every direction. A few decades later the American dream was the picturesque modest home, nicely groomed yard an automobile and a happy family. And over the next few decades something happened- the American Dream got “Biggie Sized.” It turned into a five bedroom home, a three car garage, a couple of cars and a boat, a pool, and a house full of electronics and toys and home theaters and entertainment centers and closets full of clothes and more clothes and pantries and cupboards and two refrigerators full of food, and basements full of “stuff”. And that is just the tangible- there are also the memberships and fine dining, vacations and second homes and trust funds and private schools. I suppose part of the American dream is to “dream the impossible dream”- to think bigger and better than the current state- it is to continue seeking more. But sometimes I wonder- do we forget to look back and appreciate all of the dreams that have already been accomplished, the dreams achieved by those before us that we too easily take for granted. Are we living the American Dream but still asking for more? Will we ever be satisfied or is that the bittersweet of endless potential? Do we lose touch with reality- asking for more, frivolous living built on debt turning our American Dream into a bunch a mini- Versailles? The dreams and potential are still there and endless- the dreams of a start-ups or running your own company, the dream of developing new software, new energy or a medical cure. American dreams have come in many shapes and sizes. It’s the beautiful melting pot of dreams that makes so many of them come true. Dreams can be large or small, but it is a common thread that we all share. Some have been fooled by empty dreams and others have dreamed bigger than they could ever be. Dreams have been dreamt and lived. We share the feeling of disappointment of failed dreams and the joy of dreams come true-- but the opportunity that we have to dream it is the American dream.
