By Heather Davis (I used to dream)
“I used to dream.”
I used to dream, too.
“But now you don’t?”
Not like I used to.
“Me, neither.”
But you’re still young, child.
“I’m not as young as I used to be.”
Who is?
“Well, you’ve been the same age as long as I’ve been alive.”
It seems that way, but it’s not true. I grow older every day. We all do.
“We all do?”
From the time we’re born, we grow older.
“I suppose you’re right.”
I am right.
“I used to dream.”
And now you don’t?
“Not like I used to. I used to dream of fantastical adventures and wonderful escapes and freedom and exploring and a better life.”
And now you don’t dream of those things?
“No. Now I don’t have dreams.”
Then that’s it.
“What’s it?”
That’s it – the end of your life. If you don’t have dreams, you’ve stopped living.
“I have?”
If you’ve stopped dreaming, you sure have.
“I don’t want to stop dreaming.”
Then you need to figure out how to dream again.
“Maybe I could close my eyes.”
That’s a good start.
“And clear my mind.”
That’s always helpful.
“And picture something…”
Picture what?
“Something bright.”
Good.
“And something bold.”
Good.
“And something… better. Yes. Something better.”
Better is the stuff dreams are made of.
“I think I’m getting my dreams back.”
Good. I don’t think they ever left you.
“Where were they?”
Hidden by the darkness of our world.
“How do I keep them from being hidden?
Hold tight to them, keep your dreams at the front of your thoughts, never do anything that casts a shadow on those thoughts.
“I will do those things. I will always do those things. Even when it’s hard, I will do those things.”
Especially when it’s hard, you should do those things. And can you remember one more thing?
“I can remember one more thing, Grandmother.”
Remember this, little Susan, we Anthonys are strong people. We always make our dreams come true.
“I used to dream.”
I used to dream, too.
“But now you don’t?”
Not like I used to.
“Me, neither.”
But you’re still young, child.
“I’m not as young as I used to be.”
Who is?
“Well, you’ve been the same age as long as I’ve been alive.”
It seems that way, but it’s not true. I grow older every day. We all do.
“We all do?”
From the time we’re born, we grow older.
“I suppose you’re right.”
I am right.
“I used to dream.”
And now you don’t?
“Not like I used to. I used to dream of fantastical adventures and wonderful escapes and freedom and exploring and a better life.”
And now you don’t dream of those things?
“No. Now I don’t have dreams.”
Then that’s it.
“What’s it?”
That’s it – the end of your life. If you don’t have dreams, you’ve stopped living.
“I have?”
If you’ve stopped dreaming, you sure have.
“I don’t want to stop dreaming.”
Then you need to figure out how to dream again.
“Maybe I could close my eyes.”
That’s a good start.
“And clear my mind.”
That’s always helpful.
“And picture something…”
Picture what?
“Something bright.”
Good.
“And something bold.”
Good.
“And something… better. Yes. Something better.”
Better is the stuff dreams are made of.
“I think I’m getting my dreams back.”
Good. I don’t think they ever left you.
“Where were they?”
Hidden by the darkness of our world.
“How do I keep them from being hidden?
Hold tight to them, keep your dreams at the front of your thoughts, never do anything that casts a shadow on those thoughts.
“I will do those things. I will always do those things. Even when it’s hard, I will do those things.”
Especially when it’s hard, you should do those things. And can you remember one more thing?
“I can remember one more thing, Grandmother.”
Remember this, little Susan, we Anthonys are strong people. We always make our dreams come true.