The Vengeance of Unfulfilled Dreams
Criticism, lack of money, lack of “know-how,” and the onset of “reality” after high school and college are all often the most common excuses people give for leaving their dreams to be unfulfilled.
Some let naysayers and nondoers tell them to “get real” or call their dreams and desire to pursue them “crazy” and “stupid.”
Others make up a boundary between them and their dreams because they think they don’t have enough money or knowledge.
And then most fall victim to the predetermined destiny that society establishes for all of us. That we need to get a degree, get a job, find a husband or wife, “settle down” and to basically give up, and be happy doing something we may despise.
Letting go of dreams may be a little difficult at first but also relieving. You don’t have to put yourself out there anymore, you don’t have to listen to the naysayers, no risking it, and no more hard work. It might seem like Easy Street.
Settling down may be nice for a few years or even a few decades for some. But after awhile something happens…
No matter how far you bury your unfulfilled dreams in the ground, no matter how much dirt you throw on top of them, they rise from the dead and claw their way above ground like zombies.
By the time they reach the surface, they’re full of vengeance and thirsty, thirsty for blood.
They’re after you. They want you and they need you.
They’re going to haunt you to the end.
Every year the ball drops on New Year’s Eve your unfulfilled dreams come flooding back to your memory.
When you lose a loved one, you think of how short life is and your dreams come back hoping for you to achieve them.
The days when you don’t feel like getting out of bed to go to work, your dreams come crawling back, carrying the “what if’s?” and the “shouldas, wouldas, and couldas.”
The longer you wait, the louder and more vicious your unfulfilled dreams will become. They eat away at your mind, your soul, and your heart. They stalk you and are there at every turn in life asking you “what if?” and force you to ponder about what could have been, what you should have done, and what you could do if you could go back in time.
Your unfulfilled dreams won’t be unforgiving, not even when you’re on your death bed. They’re not giving up on you for giving up on them. They’re getting their revenge.
To prevent yourself from becoming haunted by your unfulfilled dreams, you already know what to do. Turn dreams into goals. Don’t wait. Don’t contrive excuses for yourself. Use the words of naysayers against them to prove them wrong. Work hard. And don’t setting for anything less than your best.
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19 Responses to “The Vengeance of Unfulfilled Dreams”
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Thank you for writing this post. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I have many naysayers in my life, and they tend to get me down, but each post I read here always picks me back up and reminds me to keep going. It is better to have tried and failed than to have that wonder lingering in the back of your mind.
Hi Samantha,
It’s my pleasure to write this and all the other articles for you!
I used to have a lot of naysayers in my life (including myself) but as I’ve achieved different success, I’ve noticed that they’re starting to quiet down. I think naysayers are good to have once and while; not to push you down but to push you forward.
Thanks for writing in!
-Andrew
Omigod, who told you the story of my life so far? Seriously, even if you’ve already “settled down” and have the family and mortgage, it is definitely not too late to turn a new leaf and dust off some of those old dreams as well as create new ones. I’m fortunate to have my wife by my side working with me, it makes it all the more fun!
Hey Tyler,
I think this is the story of many people’s lives.
I’m glad you feel that even after you’ve “settled down” you can still go for it. Good for you! It’s great that you also have the support of your wife. A lot people aren’t as fortunate to have a team member to help them achieve dreams.
-Andrew
Man, this is epic. It in a sort of poetic way spells out the nature of unfulfilled dreams which makes it so irresistibly motivating.
I’m gonna link to this from my site.
Thank you
Hey Daniel,
Thanks so much for all the compliments! I’ve never had my writing mentioned as poetic.
I really appreciate the link too.
-Andrew
When I was in university and told “grown ups” about my dreams, I heard things like “dreams are nice but they don’t pay the bills.”
My mother’s friend’s made fun of me because I was working for next to free in my own start ups and perpetually poor. “I am so glad my daughter didn’t go to university, because she is making such good money now.”
I went through a pretty lean decade, I admit. However, success is the best revenge. The greatest motivation I have is proving all the naysayers wrong. The best part of it all is that I chose my own path in life.
There is no such thing as “reality.” Reality is whatever you decide you want it to be.
Hey John,
You might like this quote:
“Living well is the best revenge.” – George Herbert
-Andrew
I just hope as many children/adolescents/other-people-about-to-give-up-hope read this. If it saves one dream it’s worth it. I must disagree with George Herbet, the best revenge is showing a video of you living well to your enemies after they’ve been refused parole for the tenth time.
Hey Michael,
Thanks so much for such compliments! It put a smile on my face
-Andrew
Absolutely, Andrew. Thanks for the rockin, motivational post. It’s true…I could tell you stories about trying to bury the music bug…just do what you love and don’t let anyone tell you it’s impossible to do what you love AND make a great living at it.
Hey Christian,
You’re welcome!! It was my pleasure to write this post. It is one of my recent favorites.
You can definitely do what you love and make a living. It might take awhile to figure out how it’s possible, but you can discover it.
-Andrew
Hey Andrew!
This article is incredible!
Just wondering, did you wrote this?
Thanks again for your motivation!
Anonyn.
By the way it is 11:37 p.m. in here… not 3:36 a.m.
Hi,
Thank you very much. Yes, I did write this article. Whenever an article is written by a guest writer I will clearly state that and I never steal content.
The time is set to eastern standard time, so it was 3:36 am on the east coast when you posted the comment. Thanks for looking out for me though!
-Andrew
True to the core….. I must say, Mr.Andrew Galasetti, that your articulation of the plight of those who, for this or that reason, ditch the company of their darling dreams, is so vivid & vibrant that I am left speechless. This write-up has taken to back to the years when I witnessed, with distress and anguish, the collapse of all my dreams in my struggle for survival. I took consolation from the (now very hollow-looking) point that perhaps it was saint of me to have relegated my primary objectives to a secondary place just to ensure that I did what others wanted me to do. I must confess – aloud after reading this – that I have never been at ease all these years. Always felt something simmering within me….. something complaining. Oh! now I understand it’s what you term VENGEANCE OF UNFULFILLED DREAMS. You are right…..I may have numbed them… but kill them I could not. They are very much alive…..haunting me, asking questions to which I have no answers, and giving me excruciatingly unbearable pain.
It’s not too late I trust… and I can still try to revive a few of these. But, a great lesson I can impart to my children…. don’t ever do so. Your dreams love you as much as, if not more, you love them.
Thank you so, so much H.S.! Really. I’m so happy that this post struck a cord with you. I don’t think anyone has ever told me that they have been left speechless by one of my writings
The vengeance of unfulfilled dreams is somewhat bittersweet as you’re saying. The vengeance consist of both anger and happiness. Your dreams are angry with you for giving up on them. But they also still love you that they don’t want to give up on you either.
Thank you very much again!
-Andrew
P.S. I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your writing style as well! It’s very engaging and though-provoking.
Thank you for writing this. I’ve been in such despair. I’ve come within a whisper of achieving my dreams – several times – only to see the open door suddenly close. Then I lost my brother and my sister within months of each other. I’m in my fifties and wondering what the hell happened. I’m working at a job that I hate and that doesn’t offer any kind of satisfaction, including financial. I’m nearly at the end of my rope. Your column really gave me a lift. Keep me in your thoughts, please.
Hi Starling,
Thank you so much for reading and writing in your kind compliments. I’m so happy I could help uplift you a bit. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. That’s really tough. But don’t lose hope. I think it’s great that you’re asking yourself questions like wondering what the hell happened. Questions like that are difficult to answer and own up to but they’ll help you reset your priorities and move forward to better days.
I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts for sure!
Best wishes and lots of hope,
-Andrew