My American Dream

It’s the American Dream

Or so we’ve been told

Or more like programmed

“What do you want to be

when you grow up?”

We’re expected to know

Before we even hit high school

Go to college.

Land a career.

Get married.

Raise a family.

Save for retirement.

It’s like a lifelong to-do list

…That ends in death?

We’re always taught to plan ahead

To look to the next step

Where will you be in 5 years? 10 years?

A hard question you’re always expected to know

“You’d better know your major coming in,

So you can graduate on time”

“Don’t you have an internship for the summer?”

“What are you doing after graduation?”

“What do you mean you don’t have a job lined up?”

“Aren’t you going to grad school? Your doctorate?”

Why does life have to be a race?

It seems like we’re always running…

Racing through college,

Climbing the ladder, working 9-5,

…For what? Money? Fame? Fortune?

None of that matters in the end

You can’t take it with you when you go

Why do we have to race through life?

We get so caught up in running

That we forget to live…

Life is not a race.

It is a journey.

We don’t need to run.

Photo credit: Helen Lacey

I’ve been in college 5 years now

And still don’t know what I want

to be “when I grow up”

As far as a career goes, that is.

I’m going back to my dream job this summer

Seasonal work, not a “real, big-kid job”

Back to the land and people that I love

And I have no idea where I’ll be come fall

And I’m totally okay with that

I won’t be trapped by society’s rules

That some rich folks made up

All for the sake of money

Because money can’t buy my happiness

I have my plans in place

But there are no deadlines

What is meant to be, will be

No sense in worrying myself about it

Because I trust God will take care of me

I will live each day

And follow my dreams

Take care of this land

And my friends and family

For this is my American Dream

I will not be run by society’s race

Photo credit: Helen Lacey