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Breathing Life Into Dreams

Many years ago, I enrolled in a wilderness survival training program. It was a fascinating experience in which I learned the fundamentals of taking care of myself in the great outdoors. Thankfully, I have never had to use them in an emergency situation, and I hope I never will, but the lessons I learned continue to impact me in both expected and unexpected ways. 

The Fire Starter

Though the years have passed, and I have forgotten many of the lessons, there is one that continues to stick with me. A major portion of our training time was focused on what is deemed the most essential survival skill; fire starting. We were taught over 20 different ways, that made it possible for us to start a fire without matches. We learned friction based, lens based, and flint and steel based methods. We even learned how to do it with a battery and steel wool. 

Each method had several sub-methods and we literally learned how to start a fire using so many different things that are always so readily available in the wilderness. Some of them were more difficult to learn than others, but with some practice, I was able to master them all.

Nearly every method relied on the fire starter building a tinder nest. This was composed of a very small collection of very dry and tiny fragments of wood, leaves, bark and pine needles. It really didn’t matter what we used, it just needed to be dry and flammable. The sparks generated were directed to this nest, and it easily produced the potential for creating a blazing fire.

Caring For The Flame

If I was not careful, the tinder nest would quickly flame out. It needed to be transferred to a suitable pile of kindling to sustain its life saving potential. I remember blowing on the sparks and bringing the fire to life. It seemed that my own breath was enough to create the fire. If I blew too hard or too soft, the tiny flame would expire and I would have to go back to the beginning.

I think of this process often when I reach for a new dream. Dreams always begin with a tiny, delicate spark. That spark must be nurtured and fanned. If they do not get enough life breathed into them, they die.

The negative influences we all face can choke the the life out of our dreams. I often held my tinder nest behind a barrier I created so I could shelter it from nature’s breeze. Sometimes, I only needed to cup my hands, other times I needed a much bigger shield.

I do the same thing with my dreams and the dreams of others. I know how important to keep that tiny spark lit so I protect them in the early stages. Over time, I have learned just how much attention I need to give in the early stages to make sure those dreams can become reality. It doesn’t take very long, it just takes precaution. I can’t give them too much or too little. I have to give just enough to create the space for the spark to ignite a burning desire for fulfillment.

Once I feel the shift of momentum, I can sit back and enjoy the light and warmth of a dream come true. 

Breathing Life Into Your Dreams

Are you breathing life into your dreams? Are you nurturing them and living to fulfill them?

How about the dreams of others? Are you willing to provide the breath of life so that they can succeed, or do they need to build a barrier around their dreams so that you don’t blow them out? 

I believe in you. I know you can be the one who gives life to your dreams and the dreams of others. By doing so, you will feel engaged and energized. Sometimes, the results will surprise you. Your life giving efforts will be rewarded in ways you will not expect.

If you need some encouragement, I am here. I love to dream and I love to breathe life into the dreams of others. You know how to get a hold of me.

Live Today! Love Today!

Andrew Thorn

760-559-3548

 

 

 

Tags: Andrew Thorn, Authenticity, Carpe Articulum, Dr. Andrew Thorn, Dreaming, Followership, Game of Life, Goal Setting, Heart Might Mind & Strength, Leader Behaviors, Life is Good, Life Leadership Harmony, Love Today, Personal Best Leadership, Powerful Questions, Second Half of Life, Spiritual Intelligence, The Authentic Me, The Game of Life, The Telios Experience

This entry was posted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 9:03 pm and is filed under Authentic Behavior, Dreaming Big, Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.