B.R. Maul asked B.R. Maul:

Someone recently asked me the following question: "What's it like living the dream?"

B.R. Maul The person who asked me this knows enough about me, so I wasn't sure what part of my life was being referred to as "the dream."

So I asked, "What exactly is 'the dream?'"

"Doing what you love to do for a living..." was the reply (in a nutshell).

This would have lead to an interesting conversation, but the question was only in passing so I spent far more time thinking about what I would have said, then the amount of time I actually said it.

Yes, I love writing. And yes, it was what I dreamed of doing as far back as fifth grade. However, I didn't start writing until I was in my thirties. After high school I spent about fifteen years putting off what I wanted to do so I could do what I was told I should do, which was get a good job, buy a house, buy nice cars, and have nice things. Mind you, it wasn't one individual, or even several people, that told me this. It was implied, taught, and demonstrated over and over in society, to include much of my extended family and friends. For some reason it seemed only the elite, or extremely lucky people, were allowed to do what they love to do.

How did that work for me? It was horrible. Growing up I watched many family members and friends working jobs that they didn't like to save up money in hopes that one day, when they could retire, they would do what was in their hearts to do. Only...I never saw it play out that way. Life has other plans. What we do for a living, our work, is what we will spend most of our time on that God has given to us. And next to the relationships we keep throughout our life, our work is what will help shape our world.

It didn't feel right. Even as a little boy, something seemed wrong about it all. Sadly, I watched family, friends, and people all around me, sell their most precious time for an hourly wage, borrow money to get stuff, get another job, borrow money and get more stuff...and so on. It broke my heart...and still does. This is a heavy topic, but one that is near and dear to me.

Let me set the record straight. Jobs, exchanging our time and efforts for money, are important. Heck, I still take on jobs whenever it is necessary. But, it's important to stay out of debt and keep spending low so we can do what we love to do, what we're made to do. A person who loves to bake may not make near as much money baking as they would if they went to school for, and got a job as, an engineer (although some bakers do), but when baking that person will love what they do. That person will rise up to challenges. That person will know what joy is.

Doing what we love beats waiting for the end of a work day, and living for the weekends. It is freedom at its best! It's a decision one has to make and a way of life one needs to follow through on. Yes, we have to give up things we feel entitled to, such as new cars, a bigger house, cable, and more...but, oh, it is so worth it!

No matter how much time a person sets aside to do it, everyone has the ability to live their dream. The first step is deciding to do it.

Blessings to you my dear reader.

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."
Proverbs 22:7 (NIV)

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