<P>Star light, Star bright.........</P>

<P>First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.........</P>

Do you remember those words from when you were small? Looking up into the sky, ready to conquer the world you saw thru those young innocent starry-eyes - full of hope and dreams. Possibly thinking that there isn't anything you couldn't do - after all, who was going to stop you? Maybe having some "adults" around you telling you that everything is there in front of you, yours for the taking?

We're all older now, most of us have kids of our own, some young, some all grown up with families of their own. In the process, were you one of those "adults" I just mentioned when your kids were growing up? Did you mean what you said back then? Would you say it again to another child?

Well, "we're" supposed to be "all grown up" now. On January 1, 2001, we will start a day that won't occur again for a 1000 years. It will be the start of a New Year, New Decade, New Century and New Millenium all happening at the very same split second in time.

As we grow up we become somewhat "battle-scarred". We are told that we should be practical, realistic, "dreams are for kids", that we should learn the limitations of what society says is "acceptable". We build walls around us to supposedly "protect" ourselves against more hurt and pain. Would we ever tell our kids or grand kids not to go out and try because they may stumble and get hurt along the way?

If you wouldn't, then why in the world would you impose all of that baggage on yourself? Seriously, think about it!

Well, I suppose a few of the standard "excuses" would be among the following:

I'm too old! .... Well if your dream was to be an Olympic gymnist and your past your teens - yes you could be right but could a modified variation of that dream be something you could do? Is it so radical a thought that you got involved to the point that you're capable and maybe help someone else reach that dream, thereby fulfilling something in your own heart? And I don't mean forcing someone to live the life you wished for yourself - just be there to help them fulfill their dreams whether or not it is more or less then you envisioned for yourself.

I don't have the money .. am just trying to survive and stay alive!!!. For some this is unfortunately a very real truism but many of the greatest things in this world were created by people who were at their lowest ebb. Why? Because they didn't give up their faith or their belief. Through all the trials and tribulations they kept trying and believing no matter how many stumbling blocks were thrown their way.

I'm not smart enough - don't have the education or intelligence!!!! Funny, some of the brightest people in this world were the biggest failures we've ever heard about. All the so-called "intelligence", upscale "education", "wealth" didn't teach them one basic thing in life - "survival" and being able to draw on oneself when necessary. I think in my younger years it was called "street smarts" - these types were shielded, to the point of detriment, of the real world aspects of life.

It's too late ....... my life is basically over! Why? Who told you that? What are you so afraid of - is it trying? Failing? Fear that you just might succeed - and yes people are afraid of success, for too many it can become a paralysis on the road to achieving.

It's unrealistic, just too foolish to even think about? Based on whose version of reality? Those who never had the strength to try at all or those who tried and failed and if circumstances allowed would try again (the latter are the same people who wouldn't tolerate defeat regardless of whether they succeeded or failed - it's about trying, continuous effort against all odds, and they wouldn't ever let you forget that). Failing is nothing more then "losing a battle" on the way to "winning a war" unless you decide to surrender. Is that what you would tell your kids, grand kids, or anyone else to do? Is it really?

Would you ever, ever, want to cripple your child with those kinds of limitations during their virgin growth period? For those of us in the winter climes who ski - would you not help someone traverse a challenging hill of "moguls" so that they can manouever thru the "bumps and grinds". For those in the western coastal hemisphere and into "surfing" - isn't the challenge "the bigger the waves the better it is" but realistically, don't you start with the smallest of waves first to get your balance and confidence? Even then don't you go head first into the water sometimes? Does that stop you from getting up and trying again?
If you were to build "the house of your dreams" - would you not first envision what it looks like? Then have it drawn? Then fill in the blanks of the interior - the layout, the designated rooms? Would you not then take this "vision" and have it articulated to the point that detailed plans can be drawn to build this "dream house" one brick, 2x4, at a time? The speed in which it gets built depends on your current resources but whether you have someone build it for you or you do it yourself - it ultimately gets built. The difference is time and money not whether or not it gets built.

In this regard, is there anything special about January 1, 2001? Absolutely not, for those that read this in time - it's just a day/date. For those who read it afterwards, pick any day. The important thing is just to pick and stick with a starting point and proceed one day at a time to that ultimate vision realizing that it is ever changing as we as individuals evolve.

Consider the following:

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end."

       Written by: Carl Bard

And in conclusion, let me offer my own "adult" variation to this age old ryhme as you take a few private minutes for "just yourself" gazing at the stars just like you did when you were once small, young, innocent, unjaded, and ready to conquer life itself:

Star Light, Star Bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have all the strength, courage, determination, fortitude, will-power
   confidence and perserverance to achieve and accomplish all my
   wishes I have this night

God Bless ALL OF YOU.

Written by: Karl Timmermans
Email: Karl@Ktimmermans.com
All rights reserved - Copyright: Dec'2000