Today is Blog Action Day and we’re all doing what we can to stop poverty. But unlike others might see poverty I have a different take on the subject. I know it can be very heartbreaking to know that there are millions of people out in the world who can’t afford to have shelter, food, clothing, etc. I’m all for making the world a better place and getting help to those people who need it. I do my share when I pass by a homeless man asking for change, or a woman begging for food. I offer what I have or sometimes already have a bag of food handy to give. But I’m not going to discuss that kind of poverty in my blog post since there’s plenty of other blogs posting about that today.

No, today I’m going to focus on the poverty that strikes each and every one of us no matter the size of our wallet or the bling of our cars. I’m talking about the poverty of being dreamless.

We grow up so fast, we see friends and family fade in and out of our lives, financial heartaches come and go, and other troubled situations strike us without notice. There are plenty of good times too, and all the while we forget something important. We forget the “idea” we had when we were a kid. We forget what we set out to do in the first place. Soon, sometimes without even knowing it, we drift farther away from the idea that its possible and accept our daily routine without ever taking a second glance at whats really happening.

Perhaps you had an idea to open your own bake shop. You could have always wanted to circle the world. The prospect of going after a type of job you thought you might not be able to get. Starting a small business that deals with your expertise. All these things, if you are not actively pursuing at this very moment – are slipping away from you – this very moment.

Sure you can argue that the bad times got you down, or perhaps you have no money, even try to argue that you simply are too busy to start taking on that dream you had. Well let me tell you something, no amount of money, time or lack of hardships will ever stop you if you have the will power to go for it. It starts SOMEWHERE. The idea or dream you had when you were a kid is still inside you but you need understand it will never see the light of day unless you actively DO something about it.

Have you really sat down and taken the time to figure out exactly what it would take to get started? Perhaps you think it would take too long or you wouldn’t know where to start. Again, more excuses. There are plenty of resources out there ready to be tapped into and all it takes is for someone like you to use them. Time is ticking and you have less time than you think to do the job. The worst thing you can do when it comes to your dream is to give up.

Think about it, where does your time really go? Where does your money get spent? There is no book, movie or blogpost out there capable of giving you any sort of power you didn’t already have. You are your own engine. Look deep within yourself and understand that nothing will ever be done for you unless you take initiative. When people say “Well, when things get better later on in my life I’ll pursue it..” is just a cop out for not having enough will power.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

I’ve been pursuing my dream and doing my best to get my ideas out in the world and my time is soon. I might not have all the money I need, might not have the resources to pull it off the way I want, nor even the full knowledge of every little detail but I know what the end game looks like and I plan on seeing it happen one way or another.

I know a few might be thinking “well, it may be easy for YOU but I have problems” or some other negative thought. If you are, stop right there. Your already going down the wrong path. Make a U-turn, and try again. I’ll leave you with this quote that I based this blog post on, said by Harry Kemp.

“The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.”
-Harry Kemp