I Have A Dream .......

After I woke this morning and while I was making my bed, I turned on the morning news as is typical to try and grasp the daily headlines prior to taking my shower. Much of the news was centered around the public memorial for Nelson Mandela currently taking place in a rain-soaked stadium in Soweto, South Africa. During the past few days, I've heard a great deal about this man I so admired with numerous comparisons being made to the likes of Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, and our own Dr. Martin Luther King. These truly unique individuals form an exclusive fraternity made up of the kind of character that can only be described as true grit, as they had the strength, patience, fortitude and perseverance to see their vision quests to a successful completion.

Dr. King coined the iconic phrase which best describes the ambitions that must have been held by each of them during their struggles. Although I have heard highlights of the "I Have A Dream" speech many times over the years, it never ceases to bring tears to my eyes, as once more I am reminded of the incredible weight of words when they are combined in such a manner as to convey such a powerful message.

Did you know the man who asked Dr. King for the copy of his speech afterwards and who still holds it in his possession today was interviewed this past anniversary of that monumental day and stated, “Nowhere on the handwritten copy of the 51 minute speech are the words I have a dream ….." I found that incredible seeing that these are the very words that have been used to identify this particular speech in the hearts and minds of a generation of people who, like Dr. King, shared his dream as well as their own.

All I can think is that as he peered out over the multitude that day, these were the words that struck a chord in his heart, and these were the words that resonated with all those in attendance who were there seeking inspiration to propel their civil rights movement forward. How courageous they must have all been to seek to change the warring tides of humanity through peaceful demonstration …. to choose to lead by example in the face of such hatred and prejudice. That was truly a profile in courage and one deserving of commemoration.

I think everybody must have dreams ….. though some dream bigger than others. My dream – though seemingly so simple – has been so difficult to achieve. I want to experience great love, and in so doing, live together with my partner in a traditional and loving household. Through our example, I want to show others that true love is still possible, and only through love can one begin to elevate the consciousness of the world around them.

Though the example of my life will never quite measure up to those whose lives and causes fill the pages of our history books, it does have value. Movies, television and books all tend to paint true love as something that occurs to us when we're young; however, I am a living testament to the fact it is still possible even after the age of fifty, and perhaps having suffered more than a few of the hard knocks that can occur over the course of a lifetime, I appreciate it even more, because I know I am fortunate. Many women like to say, "You don't need a man to be happy," and I suppose that's true, but having a loving and supportive partner adds beauty and texture to living where none previously existed.

I suppose in the end all I'm really trying to say is whether your dream is like mine or more worldly and humanitarian in nature, to embrace it to the point you can't bear to let it go, because only through believing can all things become possible.