The Price Of Dreams
I am a dreamer. I try and stay grounded but at the end of the day I chase dreams (and sometimes waterfalls, but that is a story for another time). As the years have turned into decades I can say that I used to spend far too much time lost in my visions and far too little focused on the doing. If I could offer one piece of advice about making dreams come true it would be to just start doing. The sooner you start doing something to bring the dream to life the more likely it becomes. Like most things in life, there is also a dark side to chasing dreams. Every dream comes with a certain set of costs. Perhaps the even greater challenge is to know what price you are willing to pay on behalf of the dream. Once your dream becomes a reality will you be willing to do what it takes to keep it alive? Sometimes the cost of our dreams is time, sometimes it is money, sadly the price is often paid in relationships. Not By Luck Ranch was once but a dream. The costs to keep this dream alive are many and great. There is time, money, emotion, relationships and spiritual costs to maintaining the land and animals. The snowstorm in February was a huge price to pay. But I am finally able to accept that to walk goats and donkeys in a beautiful serene forest there is a cost to pay, and ultimately mother nature decides the price.
Today we hosted our first guests since the storm, among the damage and in the middle of our clean-up efforts, and it was clear that while the price we paid was high the dream remains alive and well. My spirit was lifted in the best ways because of the amazing visitors we had and the kindness we shared together with the animals. As you pursue your dreams, whatever they may be, just be very clear about what you are willing sacrifice, because every dream comes at a cost. In my experience the grander the vision the higher the price tag. When I was knee deep in snow watching trees destroy the Animal Village I felt the cost was too high, but today affirmed that this dream may be priceless.
I hope you join us this year for a Goat Walk, Donkey Walk, workshop or other special event because I know you will fall in love with Not By Luck Ranch.
