Let’s Get Real

One criticism that I'm expecting from people is: that I'm idealistic, unrealistic, and naive. I've gotten that so many times in my young life that it's something I almost always expect people to say about me (though, thankfully, none of you have said that to my face!). It's fine, really, because I do tend to think differently. I guess I just choose to see the world for what it CAN BE instead of for what it is. But, anyway, that's not the point of this piece; the point is that I'm dedicating this to people who need me to speak to them a little more realistically.

So, let's get real: not everyone can afford to quit their jobs in pursuit of a passion. For most, if not all, of us physical needs take precedence over psycho-socio-spiritual ones. We all need to eat, sleep in a safe home, take a bath, wear clothes, and pay bills (some pay larger bills than others though!). Even if we REALLY wanted to sing, dance, cook, paint, write, act, or whatever else it is that we want to do, we need regular jobs that give us our 15-30. And I totally understand. For even now, as I talk of pursuing my dreams, I worry about how to pay for my credit card, insurance, and retirement fund payments. And, oh yes, my precious gym membership… But I dread the thought of having to ask my parents for money. I want to be financially independent.

However, all these needs shouldn't bar us from doing what we REALLY want to do, even if we don't get into full-time careers doing them. Yes, there is always the excuse of "not enough time" or "not enough money", but really, would you rather face each day regretting what you didn't do, or at least wake up knowing that you have a little something to look forward to today?

All of us have 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week. We all need to eat, sleep, bathe, work, stufy, travel, and what-not. But what if the key to living a piece of your dream is doing things a little differently? Wouldn't you?

This reminds me of my pre-gym days, when I was constantly wishing that I had enough money to get me a Gold's Gym VIP membership (you know, the one that cost Php85K, discounted?). I was daydreaming, praying to God that I come across some big-time "racket", and even trying to convince my dad to loan me the money. When all these didn't work, I decided to get up and get real. I wanted to work out, I wanted to lose weight, but I didn't have any money. So I surveyed my stuff at home: a stepper that helped me lose my first 15 lbs. back in 1995, an ab-roller that helped me lose some post-graduation flab, a pair of 4-lb. weights, a Playstation that could double as a VCD player, and… the stairs.

So I bought tae-bo and yoga VCDs, cleaned my equipment, and got to work. For several months, my workout routine consisted of: waking up at 4 a.m. to walk up and down the stairs, then work out with the tae-bo VCD, and do some light weights. At night, before going to sleep, I'd work out with my yoga VCD. It was highly effective, and very inexpensive. (But now I can afford a gym membership, and although it's not Gold's Gym, it's my most precious investment.)

Okay, okay… Most of you would probably dread having to wake up at 4 a.m. just to do what they want, but all I'm saying here is that it's possible; we CAN do what we want to do–and it probably doesn't require anything life-changing. One inspiring speaker I recently listened to said, "Visit your passion." Now let me ask you, when was the last time you opened your little box of treasures and visited yours?

For the realists: Life is a series of trade-offs; we've got to learn to trade some to earn some. (I think that's about as real as I can get.)

So now I'm trading in some time and some money for a chance to fulfill my dreams. Maybe all YOU have to do is wake up an hour earlier, park your car a block farther, or spend a couple hundred bucks on that pottery or photography lessons that you've always wanted to take. In that sense, you're quite lucky because you don't need to jump ship to get where you want to go.

The question NOW is: are you willing to do things a little differently to make some dreams come true?

(Written: A Spoonful of Sugar, 12 June 2003)