We are always talking about dreaming here at the Torch and 180. Sarah and I are big, huge dreamer and often find ourselves contemplating chasing the impossible. Our faith has grown a lot since 2012, when all this started. Some of the most encouraging messages we ever receive are from people who have been inspired and encouraged to step out and try something that they dreamed of doing, but never had before.
But, what happens when the dream doesn't work out? What happens when it all falls apart, and we know we did everything in our power to move it forward? What happens then? Somebody told me one time he admired the things Sarah and I have been doing. He said that he once had an opportunity to follow a dream, but it didn't work out - and so he had missed his chance. I understand he must have felt very discouraged when things fell apart. Things seems to fall apart at Torch and 180 on a pretty regular basis.
But, the beauty of dreaming is it isn't a one-shot deal, and dreams can take whatever shape we want them to. The Torch dream did not begin as a food truck, and 180 was not a mobile training program. Neither has been easy to achieve - and they wouldn't be where they are if Sarah and I rigidly stuck to what looked like very possible and successful ideas. We try a lot of things, pursue a lot of leads, talk about a TON of opportunities - and probably 90% of it does not ever pan out into anything successful.
When that happens, it isn't easy, let me promise you that. We both hate to fail, and we both have a hard time letting go when things don't work out. But we also don't give up on dreaming. If something doesn't work one way, maybe it will work another way. Or maybe, we have to let it go and search for a whole new idea or plan. We find ourselves doing that all the time.
The thing is, without the ability to dream more dreams and dream different dreams - ideas just remain ideas, and hope grows stagnant. I can't survive in a world where I can't dream and try and fail and try again. Every time I fall down, I get discouraged and often want to quit, but after that passes, I start to wonder what will happen when I get back up again. And again. And again. And the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. They always have. They always will. Nothing can stop dreamers from dreaming. Don't let anything stop YOU.
Get out there and exercise your ability to dream.
But, what happens when the dream doesn't work out? What happens when it all falls apart, and we know we did everything in our power to move it forward? What happens then? Somebody told me one time he admired the things Sarah and I have been doing. He said that he once had an opportunity to follow a dream, but it didn't work out - and so he had missed his chance. I understand he must have felt very discouraged when things fell apart. Things seems to fall apart at Torch and 180 on a pretty regular basis.
But, the beauty of dreaming is it isn't a one-shot deal, and dreams can take whatever shape we want them to. The Torch dream did not begin as a food truck, and 180 was not a mobile training program. Neither has been easy to achieve - and they wouldn't be where they are if Sarah and I rigidly stuck to what looked like very possible and successful ideas. We try a lot of things, pursue a lot of leads, talk about a TON of opportunities - and probably 90% of it does not ever pan out into anything successful.
When that happens, it isn't easy, let me promise you that. We both hate to fail, and we both have a hard time letting go when things don't work out. But we also don't give up on dreaming. If something doesn't work one way, maybe it will work another way. Or maybe, we have to let it go and search for a whole new idea or plan. We find ourselves doing that all the time.
The thing is, without the ability to dream more dreams and dream different dreams - ideas just remain ideas, and hope grows stagnant. I can't survive in a world where I can't dream and try and fail and try again. Every time I fall down, I get discouraged and often want to quit, but after that passes, I start to wonder what will happen when I get back up again. And again. And again. And the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected times. They always have. They always will. Nothing can stop dreamers from dreaming. Don't let anything stop YOU.
Get out there and exercise your ability to dream.
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