That phrase “stop day dreaming hooker” still haunts me even to this very day. It doesn't haunt me in a negative or damaging way, more of a sad way for the damage that it has done to the many people that went through the education system when I did and had the same phrase repeated to them.
My school back in the sixties was a good school, ok teachers, boys only (damn shame about that) so not many of what you would call distractions. My favourite subject was English language and literature with all other subjects going to the wall - the only exception being athletics. I loved running and held the school record for the 100 yards sprint, mile and 3 mile as well as cross country. I loved the freedom it gave me and hearing the cheering ringing in my ears gave me the motivation to keep going. No-one cheered for you in maths, history, or woodworking classes so they bored me.
I loved looking out of the classroom windows wishing that I was somewhere else, running through the forests, beating other runners and was often reprimanded by my teacher who would shout at me "Hooker, stop daydreaming"
.My daydreaming got worse when a new music teacher came to our school, a Mr Bamber, who wanted to start a school band as well as a madrigal choir. And man did he capture my imagination. He was enthusiastic about music in such a way that there was no other alternative other than to go along with his dreams and perform.
And his arrival at the school lead to me daydreaming even more, looking out the window and imagining all sorts of things in my life where I would achieve everything and be at the top of everything. Unfortunately that bought even more attention on me from the teachers who continually shouted "Hooker Stop DayDreaming" - I can still hear it today ringing in my ears.
However I have come to learn over the years that daydreaming is an integral part of success for what your mind can perceive so it can achieve it. To have success you have to see success. And with the thought of nothing but success on your mind your brain will program your actions to take you in the direction of your dreams provided that you maintain focus on your dreams and never let them go no matter how many people tell you to stop daydreaming.
What did my continual daydreaming lead me to? Top brass player in the Royal Air Force. Leader of a 17 piece dance orchestra. Drummer in a 4 piece group. Vocalist and Trombone player in 7 piece show band. Leading role in many stage plays. Barber Shop Quartet. Singer. International Public speaker. Stand-up Comic......the list goes on and on, and still yet I am accomplishing more of my daydreams. And still some call me a day dreamer.
I am excited that I still have dreams, that I can still see a new and exciting future ahead of me, that I have no regrets, that I am continually dreaming and planning. And believe it or believe it not I never fail. You can't fail when your dreams allow you to feel success mentally. Reality is perception and what you perceive you will achieve.
Dream the way you want to be. Feel your dreams. Touch your dreams. Smell your dreams. Taste your dreams. The only mountain that you ever have to climb in life is overcoming people saying STOP DAY DREAMING! Follow and believe your dreams. Every time someone tells you to "stop daydreaming" just tell them that you are planning and living your success.
David is an international coach and mentor as well as an internationally recognised public speaker. To book him for your next conference or seminar contact him at – info@davidhooker.net
No comments:
Post a Comment