Are you living the dream?

I’m not living out some grand dream. Honestly, I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself if I actually reached it. What happens when there’s nothing left to strive for? When everything is supposedly "ideal," perfectly aligned, and exactly how I imagined it in my head...

The smaller the dreams, the happier the life...
Lowering your expectations just means fewer disappointments.

What kind of existence would I even lead if I possessed everything my heart desired and found myself with nothing left to strive for?

Keith Phillips3 said:What kind of life would it even be if I had everything I ever wanted and nothing left to aim for?

Pretty incredible... 😁

Keith Phillips3: What kind of life would it even be if I had everything I wanted and nothing left to wish for?
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Jack Harris3: It would be beautiful.

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I have to agree with Jack Harris3 on this one...

Because even if you had everything you ever wanted—couldn't you still end up wishing for the things you definitely DON'T want? 😉

hiddenviper9, this is just how I feel right now... 🙂
I want to live my life in America again, but at the same time, I never want to set foot back here. 😁
It's a total mess, isn't it? 😁
Go ahead and ask your old man what he thinks about all this... 🙂

Jack Harris3: Tell your dad he needs to find out what the actual plan is here.

hiddenviper9:
He asked, and this was the response:
In two years, there might be a chance to come back—but you won't want to.

But in four full years? Everyone agrees you'll be coming back for good.
(Basically, they're saying you won't have "burned any bridges" on your way back—meaning you'd still have options). 👋

(So, we'll just see where things stand in five years).

Oleander Somniferum said:I get it. But that’s just not enough.
Desire and capability aren't the same thing, are they? And sometimes, the gap between them feels absolutely massive.

hiddenviper9 is out here playing prophet again!🙂

Look, Pesica, you can't just go asking hiddenviper9 anything without some hesitation.
Don't you remember when he told me once that there would come a day when I'd embark on a journey where my sole purpose wouldn't be exclusively—and I mean *exclusively*—cooking dinner?😁

Well, I haven't forgotten that.
So now the real question is, did hiddenviper9 actually hit a nerve, or is he just pulling at a loose thread to make things look more organized than they really are?🙂

Oleander & company,

That supposed crossroads where our little desires meet our actual capabilities—that’s where it hurts the most, if it hurts at all.

And honestly, the word "crossroads" itself carries weight, doesn't it? It implies that a choice has to be made about which direction to take.

It might feel like the decision we make in our minds isn't even a real decision.
Because it lives in the mind, right? It isn't something you can grab with your hands, smash with a sledgehammer, or prove with a formal confession...

But for me, it is a vital decision.
It’s the decision to acknowledge that I already am the very thing I believe I am searching for within myself.

Everything starts there. From that single point, everything else begins to unravel—everything you were meant to untangle—simply because a person finally opens themselves up to taking action, and only then do they truly grasp what they needed to understand.

And regardless of what the final result ends up being, one thing is certain.
You’ve created space for the dilemma (and everything that comes with it) to finally set itself free.
Either you become who you envisioned, or you finally liberate yourself from everyone else's opinions...

And no matter what Keith Phillips3 says...

Once you finally break free from one devil (or one god), you'll at least be able to start thinking about dealing with the next devil or god that comes your way.

And honestly, that’s progress in itself.😉

John Walker74:
Once you finally manage to shake off one demon—or perhaps one god—you might at least find the mental clarity to contemplate whatever other devil or deity is waiting in the wings.

What happens when you finally rid yourself of all those demons and gods? What is left to contemplate once there is nothing left to break free from? 😉

Jack Harris3:
If you actually managed to get everything you ever wanted, you’d eventually find yourself wishing for the one thing you specifically tried to avoid.

Would I want exactly what I don't desire? It's a question worth dissecting.

I would liken this to that old, tired cliché of "there is always room for improvement." For instance, what happens if we actually reach that specific "tipping point"—that threshold beyond which we can no longer...
So, here’s the thing: suppose we actually reach that point where everything is perfect. We arrive at the absolute peak—the "best" possible scenario. At that moment, can we even attempt to aim higher? If perfection is truly achieved, what exactly is left to strive for? What becomes our objective once there is no longer any room for improvement?

John Walker74:
It is at the intersection of our supposed desires and our actual capabilities where the most profound pain resides—provided, of course, that one even feels anything at all.
Even the word "crossroads" carries its own weight. It implies that a decision is unavoidable—that you’ve reached a point where you can no longer simply drift, but must actually choose a direction.

There is an apple hanging four meters high. I can stare at it with pure longing—or I can simply turn around and walk away. It’s a total dead end; there is no way for me to reach it. Alternatively, I could spend my life exhausting every possible method to climb toward it, only to end up collapsing beneath its branches, defeated by the realization that success might be impossible. Meanwhile, just around the corner, there is an apple sitting only two meters up that I could grab without any struggle at all. And who knows what else might be waiting for me around the third corner?
While I’m busy jumping through hoops to reach this unattainable goal, someone else is bound to swoop in and scoop up all the opportunities I’ve missed right around the corner.
And even if I could actually reach it—it might just turn out to be rotten to the core anyway. 😉

Jack Harris3:
I want to live in America again, yet I have absolutely no intention of ever moving back. It’s a complete contradiction, isn't it?

It isn’t just a mess—it’s a complete cloning of the situation. It looks like Jack Harris3 finally ended up exactly where he always intended to be, and he has no intention of ever looking back. That is how you cut ties for good. 😉
What was that one group talking about cloning again? I can't quite wrap my head around it right now.

Raelijans. 😁

John Walker74 said:...
So, are you just dreaming through life, or are you actually living it?
...
Do you even have a clue what it is you actually want from yourself?
...
Right now, all I want is a cup of coffee.

If that's the case, why all this endless rambling?
Just brew a pot.
Drink it.

There you have it. 😁
That’s pretty much how the whole thing works. 😁
I mean, sure, sometimes before you can even sit down for a cup of coffee, you’ve got to go out and earn the money, buy the beans, wait for the water to boil... 😁
But at the end of the day, that's really it.

Jason Morgan2 said:So why all this whining then?
Just cook them.
Drink them.

?
Is it because I’m a woman?
Because you’re a man?
Is it because I’m a woman and he’s a man?🙂!
Or is it just because we are...?

Well, I cooked them.
And I drank them.
In a way, I’m still drinking them.
Occasionally, in my thoughts.
Not too often, though.
I want to make sure the flavor stays exactly the same.

And all that nagging of yours actually bore fruit.
I clicked on your profile and stumbled upon something incredibly interesting to me. I hope you won't be offended that I'm pasting it here.

Jason Morgan2:

2044

"First, you check the eyes, the smile, the voice, and the hands.
Then you question the brain. It always has plenty to say.
Next, you ask the heart. It isn't chatty, and it gets straight to the point.
Then you check the body (though by then, it might already be too late).
The body doesn't understand nuances, but when it speaks, its decision will certainly be the right one.

Or, you start from the end. You listen to the rushing of your own blood.
You trust your gut.
That’s the quick way to check.
Actually, you're gambling; you're playing a shortcut system like a lottery ticket,
just hoping you'll get lucky.
You become a master of the reverse.
That’s how you want it:
You work backward because you’ve mastered the art of doing things in reverse. "

JMM

Look, Keith Phillips3, you know how this whole thing plays out...
First, you convince yourself you’ve broken free, and then suddenly you feel this overwhelming urge to go around liberating everyone else, too.
Then you turn into a prophet.
And before you know it, you’ve started a cult.

Man, I guess I forgot to mention that trying to liberate yourself is a pretty damn dangerous hobby to pick up.

Since I find your intentions to be highly questionable—honestly, they look completely unchecked to me—I’d suggest you just stick to the self-sufficiency of your own liberation.
😉

And who on earth tries to eat the whole apple in two bites only to come charging at the one that takes four?
Where have you ever seen someone try to do that on an empty stomach?
Besides, you can't just spend your whole life jumping around; you need to sit down and catch your breath once in a while.

😉

👏

Well, Keith Phillips3, you know how this dance usually goes...

I honestly haven't a clue. Though, I can always check in with I.L. to get some clarity.
As for me, I'm still right where I started—at the beginning. But I take comfort in the idea that sometimes an end is just a new beginning, or perhaps a beginning is an end. Or is it the other way around? 👋
Regardless, I always enjoy reading those who have managed to liberate themselves.

Suspicious motives, even if they are somewhat controlled... quite combustible, actually. 🙂

And who on earth wouldn't bite into an apple once and then, with a full stomach, go jumping after another one four steps away? Where have you ever seen someone acting on an empty stomach?
Besides, one shouldn't be constantly jumping about. A little rest is necessary.

Yes, one really ought to stand up and flesh out a proper strategy.
That said, you hit the nail on the head regarding the metaphor of chasing apples. 👍
By reaching for the smaller ones—the things that are actually within reach—we might eventually get to the big prize at the top, though maybe we won't. But in the meantime, we'll have all those smaller successes we've gathered along the way to enjoy. It wouldn't be a waste of effort if we were busy chasing them.

And of course, finally,

😉

John Walker74 said:So, are you dreaming through life, or are you actually living it?
What do you do when you aren't busy doing what you do?

Am I dreaming or am I living?

It's pretty simple: I'm living. In fact, I'm living out the dreams I used to have, and I'm dreaming up the ones I'm about to go out and grab.

I find inspiration in just about everything.

🙂 😉

John Walker74 said:1. Are you actually living, or just dreaming through life?

2. Are you chasing what you want—or just drifting along while that "I'll do it tomorrow" loop plays on repeat in your head?

3. Do you even have a clue what you want for yourself?

I'm pulling these three questions out because the rest of it reads like a dictionary 😁 .

1. Most of the time I dream like everyone else—waking up occasionally—but at least I’m aware when it's happening 😉 .

2. I do what I want; I don't compromise on that.

3. I have a hunch...
...so I swim, I sink, and I try to climb back up 😎

Alex Thompson5 said:I’m pulling out these three specific points because everything else just feels like a dictionary 😁.

1. For the most part, I dream just like everyone else, waking up here and there, but unlike the rest of you, I actually have some awareness that I'm dreaming 😉.

2. I do exactly what I want to do; I refuse to compromise on that.

3. I have a feeling
...so I just swim, fall, and rise 😎

Kamea, beautifully put🙂
If only you'd share even a tiny hint about where you find all that inspiration..

And look at this guy,

he thinks he can just pick and choose😁, but who exactly gave him permission to do that?

I don't see any real difference between being aware of your dreams and the opposite, unless you're actually doing something to make it happen..
What's the point of any of that?
It’s even worse when you’re staring down the street from inside your own house..

Well, bravo on number two, I guess!

There’s this one crazy person obsessed with making compromises.
Deciding when to bend and when to hold firm.

Compromising often ends up just compromising a man's integrity.

John Walker74 said:I’m not living my dream. Honestly, I don't even know who I’d be if I actually achieved it—once there was nothing left to strive for, once everything was perfect and exactly how I had pictured it in my head.

The smaller the dreams, the happier the life, right?
Lower expectations mean fewer disappointments.

Look, you’re probably still incredibly young, aren't you?

Those of us who have been around the block a bit would much rather just have things work the way they’re supposed to.😁

But really, lowering your expectations does lead to those tiny, almost imperceptible little "disappointments."👍

When life finally hits you hard enough, you realize you only want a little bit.
And that "little bit" feels like everything to a person.
Just being able to move around, enjoying a morning walk, watching someone pass by secretly...
The general buzz on the street.
Whatever it is.

But once that initial rush wears off and the intoxication of that heavy burden passes,
you start wanting a little more.
It isn't enough to just sit on the curb and watch life go by,
even when you look at what you have compared to others and realize you actually have plenty.
Instead of just watching the movement, you start craving it.
Instead of observing the hustle and bustle, you ache to be a part of it.

It’s everything!

And honestly, a person would likely be happy and content with themselves if they weren't constantly being distracted by all these other little people running around with their own chaotic nonsense swirling in their heads...🙂

And what do we do? We let it happen. Because we convince ourselves that a bunch of different minds will somehow know more than just one single mind could.
It's like letting two grandmothers decide the fate of a helpless child.

And that’s how the masses end up constantly confusing and confusing one another.

Everyone's desires get so tangled up together that, in the end, a person can barely tell which desire is actually theirs and which one belongs to someone else.

If they even have the guts to try and figure it out.

is this even real life?
I'M DREAMING! 😁

,,,it’s practically right there.
Because... let me tell you, I once had this friend—well, an acquaintance, really, whatever
they were at some party.
And they asked me... imagine if someone asks you whether you want to take a left turn or a right turn... but there's nothing but dense woods on the left and more woods on the right...
My response? I told them, yeah, absolutely.
Straight ahead.