The Constraints of Greatness

I had lunch with a girl the other day (shocking I know) who kept rattling off these grand ideas and adventures she had planned (buying a short bus, installing bunk beds and then traveling around South America for 2 years).  I sat back and thought how unrealistic it would be for her to pull it all off, but then I realized that she had a better outlook than I did.  You can’t achieve big things without dreaming it first (terrible cliché).  Her unbridled zeal and enthusiasm for life was inspiring and something we can all learn from.

I was reminded about a scene from Dead Poets Society where one of the old codger teachers was questioning Robin Williams’s character about his teaching methods that taught kids to think for themselves.  The old codger talking about the students said, “When they realize they're not Rembrandts, Shakespeares or Mozarts, they'll hate you for it.”  Robin Williams replied, “But only in their dreams can man be truly free. 'Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”  That encapsulates the point.  You don’t have to be Shakespeare for your life to be important.  There is only one Shakespeare and there is only one you.  Don’t let the constraints of greatness handcuff you. 

Everyone has greatness inside of them, but may be unwilling to let it out for fear of not being perfect or disrupting their ”normal” life.  Be your own Shakespeare and dream big.  No one is the best at something right away; it takes many failures and much practice to achieve grand things.  I want to become a published writer, but I’m not going to be accepted with my first article at a big magazine right off the bat.  I have to work my way up through local and regional publications, learning along the way, what works and what doesn’t.  It’s a growing process.  This blog is part of that.  Some posts are a success while others are grasping for something that may not be there (like this one?).

I’m no Shakespeare, Rembrandt or Mozart (although I do have a taste for a little night music from time to time), but that doesn’t mean I should limit my dreams.  Perhaps it’s good for us to tilt at windmills.  Why can’t I go in on a short bus and spend 2 years in South America?  Spanish or Portuguese are not in my dossier but who cares.  They say immersion is the best way to learn.  Greatness is out there for all of us to attain.  How big will you dream?