Hmm, tonight is Rei's last night as a DJ in UFM. He's going to Japan for further studies. I seldom listen to his programme since I came back from Shanghai. And I wasn't exactly his fan. But I think he tried to share very positive messages to listeners. And the past few times when I listened to him, he kept talking about 'following your dreams'. It could be because he's taking a giant leap to follow his dream. Are you a dreamer? Do you have dreams? I remember one April Sunday not too long ago. I was listening to my favourite radio programme on UFM, and the DJs Wanyi and Rei were on the topic of 'follow your dream'. That was the first time I gave my dreams a serious thought. A listener called in and commented that Singaporeans have no dreams. That gave me a lot to think about. No dreams. But we have goals. We have goals of getting a big car, private condo and alot of money. She and I agree that we'll rather be 'rich and lonely' than 'poor and lonely'. And we cannot afford to be poor in this society. Just imagine if, tomorrow you find out you have brain tumour, and all you have in your savings is 200 bucks. You might as well die huh? But why don't we have dreams? Say, dream of becoming a good magician so that I show little kids tricks and see them brighten up. Or dream of knowing astrology so well I can look up into the night sky and tell the time. Hmm... nowadays, I seldom even dream about how I want my life to be. That makes me sad, because I know I only live once. Just once. And I am slipping into the 'I'm interested only in things that can make me money' mode. This is a bad sign, a sign telling me I'm getting OLD! I remember on that radio programme, Wanyi said something about wet blankets dampening dreams. I totally understand, because I happened to know the wettest blanket who'd ever existed. He'll be ever-ready to be negative and pessimistic if you tell him your dreams and he'll say things to have you believe 'YOU CANNOT MAKE IT!' It helps you keep your feet on the ground, but it also promotes storms of self-doubt. And self-doubt often results in giving up even before you try. I guess it doesn't hurt to be a little more positive about things. I am guilty of wet-blanketing others' dreams too, although I try my best to watch that I don't. It is always too easy to be negative. People who go against all odds to pursue their dreams must be very lonely people. You don't conform, so you are the glaring black smudge on a white t-shirt. And it's hard to find support. Sigh! Next time I see a dreamer, I'll give him/ her a chance.