River of Dreams

Welcome. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m your tour guide, Morpheus. Be careful as you board the vessel. Although we’re still at the source and the river is barely a trickle, unseen currents and eddies can be treacherous.

I suggest you always look forward. Looking backwards risks you missing something of import or beauty. There isn’t much to see right now, as your young life at this point in the river hasn’t yet forged big dreams; however, your little dreams surround us on all sides. There are far too many to highlight them all, but if you glance over to the right, you’ll see that game console you wanted in that warm, subdued glow. And on your left, that BMX bike you craved so desperately. And here, jumping into your lap, that puppy you wanted for Christmas.

As you gaze in wonder at all your simple dreams, you’ll notice the river widening. The surface is still but, below the surface, the waters churn. If you look down, you’ll see the golden orbs of teenage dreams. There’s the boy you liked in high school. And the girl. And the better car you wished for your mother. Over there, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower; your dream of fleeing your trauma and starting life over somewhere new, somewhere epic, somewhere beautiful.

If you look off into the distance, you’ll see a bright glow filling the horizon. That’s your big dream, your bliss, right there in the estuary of your river. There lays your ultimate joy, your complete fulfilment. The river will be bumpy, with rapids and whirlpools to navigate, but know this; the reward will be worth the effort. All you need do is hold on to the vessel as we work our way through the rough patches, and don’t be tempted by a tributary.

And here are the tributaries, right on cue. As the waters ripple and speed up, you’ll see offshoots joining the river to the right and left. Look, over there, that one has a decent glow at the end. That’s a minor goal. It leads to a good life, a happy life. If you want to avoid all the rapids and whirlpools that lead to your big dream, that minor goal would be an adequate alternative. There’s another tributary with a minor goal. And another! You’re blessed with several alternatives that would make you happy. The tributaries leading to these lives are calm and effortless.

But, as you may have noticed, some tributaries are dark and gloomy. The flora overhangs the water, choking the path and making progress difficult. These offshoots lead to your dark desires. That one on the right leads to revenge on your high school bully. And this one leads to a life of giving in to road rage and anger. That one on the left leads to retribution against that property manager who deprived you of safety and liberty. Even the dark, ugly desires are beautiful and appealing in their own way.

So here we are, at the diversion point in your river of dreams. Which way would you like to go?