Morning Quickie: A Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
 like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

- Langston Hughes, “Harlem”

I am just under a month and a half away from being 27 25 3.0. Even though this isn’t one of those “big” birthdays, I feel pressured to come to terms with some things, mainly the growing likelihood of not realizing some of my dreams and goals. Some of them I have already put to rest, like the desire to become an author. I still want to publish the book of poetry just because it’s on my bucket list. But the next Zora or Toni I am not.  Other goals are in their death throes, like the probability of me moving out of state within the next few years or buying a house before May 15 (unless I can find a good paying part-time job and save up some big money between now and then).

The funny thing is that I’m not that upset about letting go of some of the goals I had. With some I realized the timing wasn’t right, others I simply outgrew. Yet, in the place of old dreams, new ones have blossomed. New goals, this time with definite dates, are in my sights. I’m learning that although not all dreams come true, I don’t have to give up on all of them because a few fell through.

So what happened to my dreams deferred? Some have indeed dried up like a raisin in the sun; yet others have given way to bigger and better ambitions.

No matter what setbacks you have encountered, remember that some of your goals are still attainable. Keep going!