The other day I took my youngest son, Dean, to United Cycle (a local sports store in Edmonton) to purchase a new hockey helmet and stick for the upcoming season.
One of the things Dean likes to do when we're there is to look at the signed jerseys on display (his favourite has always been Sydney Crosby's).
So after paying for our purchase we walked over to the glass display case and inside we saw a signed #11 Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens jersey.
Dean and I had watched Brendan playing for the Canadiens last year during their run in the NHL playoffs, and during those games I had explained to him how I had gone to school and played football with Brendan's dad and later in life worked with Brendan's mom as a physio in Edmonton.
As we stood together looking at the jersey, I told Dean that when Brendan was a kid, (around the same age as Dean is now) Brendan likely would have come to this store with his dad to get his hockey supplies and likely would have stood right where we were now to look at the jerseys that would have been behind the glass back then....... Dreaming.
Watching Dean's face I could see he was connecting the dots.
Dreams can come true.
Now, I don't expect Dean to play in the NHL. That's not his gig. Dean plays hockey because it's fun and because he enjoys being part of a team, but I do believe standing in front of Brendan Gallagher's jersey that day had a profound impact on him. I believe he recognized what Brendan had done and Dean realized in that moment he too could go after his dreams, whatever they might be.
What's your dream?
Are you willing to chase it, nurture it, and to work for it to come true?
The great thing about a dream is that they can be anything you want because you're in charge of creating it.
Some people want to be rich and famous, others just happy and content. You get to decide.
For me my dream was always to have a family, to be a husband and a father and I'm living it! I'm married to a beautiful woman named Sandy. We have 2 boys who are amazing, funny and talented and who make us proud every day. We live in a country that provides us safety and freedom. For 18 years I was blessed to work as a Physical Therapist affording me the opportunity to help people recover from injury and live healthy and productive lives. That was a dream.
Now and for the past 5 years I've been a Professional Coach and I'm blessed again to be able help people. This time it's supporting them to go after their dreams, whatever they might be.
What's your dream?
And are you ready to live it?