This is one of the most exciting days for our family! At about 11:00 a.m. PT our younger son, Pete, is flying from San Francisco to Japan - his dream destination since he was in grammar school! He's going to a video gaming exhibit with his colleagues from work and will be there for about a week in his role as a technical journalist. In fact, he is in his dream job and going to his dream destination!
None of this seemed possible in the past few years or even the past week. But, the lesson here is that if you don't give up on your dreams, your possibilities turn into probabilities and then they turn into realities.
Pete always had an interest in Japanese anime, which is a style of animation originally invented in Japan and used in TV, films, video games, and commercials. He used to spend many hours in junior high school and high school perfecting his anime drawing skills.
After receiving his college degree in computer animation from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, he found himself in a weak job market. After taking whatever job he could find to support himself, he finally landed a job in his field at a video gaming publication in San Francisco. Six months later, he and his entire unit were let go due to a company buyout. So he was back to taking hourly wage jobs, with no idea of what was next for him in his chosen career field.
Four years later, thanks to a tip from his older brother, Rich, who also works in the technology journalism field in NYC, Pete flew to San Francisco from Texas with everything he owned in his backpack to apply for a job opening at another video gaming publication. Speaking with him before he boarded his flight that day, I had the feeling that he had already claimed that job no matter what. When we arrived in San Francisco, he crashed with a friend, and walked to the building where he would have the interview the next day. He paced back and forth and rehearsed how the interview would result in his getting the job. He would not be denied!
Yes, he was hired and we were all ecstatic for him to be back in his field in a salaried position with benefits! His managers quickly learned that Pete had an immense knowledge base in his field, is good with people, and also good on camera. Before long he was making editorial videos for the company's Web site.
A few months ago, he called to let us know that he was tapped to attend a gaming conference in Germany in August, with the slight possibility that he might also be chosen to go to a gaming exhibit in Japan in September. (We were now holding our collective breaths as we realized his lifelong dream was quickly moving from a possibility to a strong probability.)
Two weeks ago, he called to let us know that yes, indeed, he was chosen for the Japan trip, and we could not have been happier for him!
With two weeks to go to takeoff, we thought Pete's obstacles had all been removed for him to fully realize his dream. How wrong we were!
Last week he called from the emergency room to tell us that he had severe abdominal pains during the night and had walked five blocks to the emergency room by himself at 5:00 a.m. for medical help. This is a parents' worst nightmare, even without a lifelong dream trip around the corner.
Luckily he was in good medical hands and was diagnosed with kidney stones. Within a few days of treatment, he was feeling a lot better and was packing for his trip with all his medications. Again, not to be denied his dream, Pete surmounted his latest obstacle and proved his determination.
We could not be more proud of our younger son or more excited for him as his plane lifts off right about as I write this paragraph. I have tears in my eyes, knowing that no matter what obstacles he faces, Pete kept going and is about to have the experience of his dreams.
Never, never, never, never, never give up on your dreams. You can do whatever you dream you can do! Just ask Pete!
