there comes a time in a man’s life when he must set out on his own and embark upon finding himself amongst the chaos of normality. a time when he must cast aside the life he has known and begin anew with nothing but experience to aid his quest. what the road will bring, he knows not. yet he sets out, never looking back, hoping to somehow change the world.

his quest begins after years of schooling, where he will gain the wisdom to decide exactly how he desires to achieve the goals he has set. perhaps his destiny is the corporate path. climbing the ladder one rung at a time until he reaches a level in which his ideas of world changing can be realized. or perhaps he becomes ambitious and seeks a more immediate completion of his goal. so he looks into programs like the peace corps, with its promises of changing the world on a fast track. whatever his course, the man begins his trek with nothing but his dreams in front of him.

ultimately, he will fail. the road will become too rough. the pull of normality will become too strong. the comfort of complacency will begin to take roots and his objective will begin to slip further and further from his grasp. new responsibilities in his life help him rationalize letting his dreams slide a bit from him. how can he change the world, afterall, when he must provide for his wife? his kids? still, he assures himself that his dreams are not forgotten. they are merely on hold.

years pass on. more responsibilities pile on. normality and complacency have evolved from the presence of a sapling to mirroring the strength of a mighty oak. the path the man initially set out upon has strayed from view. what was once “on hold” has now become mere memory. pipe dreams of youth. yet all is not lost.

the ‘world’ has just become smaller. priorities have been arranged. the world is no longer the great unknown. no longer is it faraway places. it is his family. his community. he no longer desires a global impact for himself. rather, he is satisfied in knowing that he has at least made an impact upon his children. making sure they grow up rightly. have a comfortable life. impressing upon them that they can one day set out to change the world. as he once did.

and so he sets them off. stars in their eyes. dreams in their heads. knowing that their paths will end as his has. and hoping that they get there safely.