The Dream...the hustle

I have seen this graphic art and heard this line so many times..."Dreams are free, but the hustle is sold separately". Theoretically, I have always kinda understood it; you can have big dreams and big plans and be enthusiastic about life and be such an optimist but there is work that needs to be put in, there is sweat and blood to get the dreams underway. 

But I had never exactly felt the weight of these words with such intensity as I have in the last few months. 

Chasing a dream can make you get disconnected from things and people you genuinely love and care about...it can bring you to the gates of the Lion's den and expose you to so many things that may hurt you if you let them. Dream chasing will put you at the mercy of people who will try to use you, manipulate you, take advantage of you and steal from you...some of them will not only try; they will succeed. Dream chasing will bring you...yes you! you strong, focused, organised, smart and hardworking individual...to your knees in tears. You will go nights and days, absolutely clueless and with a mind that is just failing to be inspired or to think.



You will consider vices to help you get back your spunk...sometimes, you will go past the consideration and actually indulge in these vices. Dream chasing will get you broke. It will get you so broke you would wonder where the next meal would come from...you will go to sleep with a wailing belly and patched throat and try you hardest best to at least be thankful for having a place to lay your head. You will watch the life you used to know, slowly change and become something different; the difference will shock you, hurt you, drive you mad and break you...at first.

But you see, when that dream is clear as crystal and you are on the right track, you will eventually win and catch up with your dreams (and hopefully, dream new dreams) and you will realise that all the blood and sweat were what you needed to make your dreams come to be.

There is no greater feeling of fulfilment than seeing the birth, growth and success of your labour...you just have to make sure the labour doesn't kill you first.