NorthsideLou | Blog

Dreams are Scary

Man… I saw Jad Abumrad, creator and co-host of the public radio show “Radio Lab,” give a speech at the Third Coast Audio Festival in 2012. In that speech he talked about some of his ‘favorite things’

He talked about putting all of yourself into a project, taking risks and putting yourself in a position that scares you. A state of uncertainty. He even talked about the infamous “Truth” (Fact of the Matter) episode which had been aired recently. I thought I understood what he meant about risk taking, but the truth is I didn’t understand what he meant until this moment.

It’s not just jumping out of your comfort zone. It’s about going out on a limb that might not hold your weight sending you tumbling down on a fall you might not survive. I’ve always been ambitious but the other day I started thinking about my dreams as a kid, and even my dreams as an adult. I was stuck for a moment. What got me was when I started thinking about the dreams I didn’t have. The dreams that weren’t dreamed because they were impossible. Even as an ambitious person there were some things I would never be able to do and I was reserved to that reality. 

Then suddenly a voice said to me, “Lou, those dreams aren’t impossible. Actually, if you work hard, they’re probable.” It scared the shit out of me. When I’m thinking about how I can change the lives of others I’m poised and ready to take on the challenge. When I think about how I can change my own life, I’m completely at a loss for words and feelings. To think about what I think about my own potential makes me uncomfortable, partly because I think I’m capable of achieving great things and concurrently capable of helping others create great things. I don’t wanna disappoint myself.

I haven’t felt like this for a very long time. I feel like a 14th century explorer or an astronaut in the 1960’s. It’s kinda crazy. I can do anything. I’m about to freak out. I hope I can build up some poise and handle the possibility of achieving excellence with humble grace. I can do it. I feel like I’m ready. I hope I am. It’s time to make it happen. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Holy Fucking Shit.