Are dreams pointless things to have?

[frosty]

They are only pointless if you never act on them. If you just dream, and don't do anything to achieve your dream, they are pointless. But if you act on them, and achieve some (or all) of what you wanted to achieve, they are worth something, at least to you. That is my answer.

[Moralnihilist]

Dreams are fun to have. When growing up(I grew up broke) I dreamed of being a millionaire. Now at the age of 35 I am one. I got there through hard work and a fair amount of luck. Now that I am older I want to be a billionaire(as when I was young I had no idea of the neat shit that costs millions of dollars), will I ever get there? Who knows, but I will work towards it for as long as I have this dream. Maybe some day I'll get there.

[Brian37]

Before I begin, I want to make it clear I'm not referring to dreams as in the subconscious state we fall into while we sleep. I'm referring to dreams as in hopes and longings people think up and imagine for themselves over time.

Having been though events in my life where outcomes having almost always changed from the hopes I held them to, I have over time become a very clinical person when it comes to the phrase follow your dreams. I have instead began to wake up to a completely different look at life, as just being us riding down an unpredictable river that we do not know the course.

Although there have been thing I've dreamed about having, a nice house, a good job, living with close friends and making something of myself, the reality often is just going day by day just surviving it.

And in that clinical note, what are your thoughts on pursuing a dream, and do they even last?

Yes and no. Yes in that if you want something that can make you happier, dreams are fine.

NO, even if you plan the likelihood of you becoming rich and famous doing it is slim. In reality most people at best end up in the middle class working for someone else.

Someone told me yesterday that my poetry is becoming more widely known in atheist circles. Scary to me because the thought of living in a fishbowl doesn't sound fun and certainly because my poems are blasphemous the thought of death threats or physical violence isn't appealing to me.

But just like pro sports, actors, famous music artists and even rich business owners, those are the 1%, and most poets will never get noticed.

So it is not an either or proposition. Try something if you want, don't delude yourself be practical, but also know that if it does not work out, you can still do it on the side to fill your off work time to bring you balance.

[Nam]

I got into a car accident in 1997 that ended my dreams then. It took me almost 10 years to figure out what I not only was skilled at but I actually wanted to do.

-Nam