What Dreams We Leave Behind

Ramona here, and I've been thinking a lot of about Florence Case this month. Not because she passed away but because of what's been said about her in this and other places around the LI world. The tribute below especially moved me.

I've been struggling this quarter. Nothing seems to go right. Writing has become not just a chore but a battle. My daughter has been ill, and I've been consumed with one of the worst bouts of depression I've had in a long time. One of my weapons in such a time is to look at other people, their struggles and their successes, and what obstacles they've overcome, and their reliance on God's guidance and strength.

So, yeah, Flo's been on my mind.

As have a few other people, personal friends and national newsmakers. It seems to me that one of the most spoken remembrances of friends past has been the support, love, and influence they had on others. How they loved and encouraged folks. One line from Jessica's tribute struck home to me: "If writing is your dream, please do not give up on it."

Every Monday night, I teach an American Lit class at an art school. These students are all gifted and full of dreams, but they get a lot of discouragement from their family and friends, who see security in an 8-5 job with health insurance and a life of fear otherwise. I often preach at them the exact opposite. "Follow your dreams. Even failing after a dozen tries is still more fulfilling than a lifetime of 'what ifs'."

Flo followed her dreams, and we're blessed by what she left behind. Her words are a reminder that no matter how much I may struggle, I'm following my dreams. This is God's path, and in the long run, it'll be worth it.