NOTHING BUT A DREAMER

Johnny Ireland

Be careful what you wish for…

It’s one of those comments which, as a young boy, I never really understood. It was like a challenge not to change what you already had. To stay safe, avoid risk, and not seek something that you might not be able to achieve.

My father was born in New York City. I never tire of writing or saying that. I’m proud to be half American.

I first visited America at the age of ten. I fell in love with the sunshine, the lifestyle, and the people. My aunts, uncles and cousins were all beautiful – inside and out. Their lives seemed so different to my own in England. They were living the dream – health, happiness, sunshine and opportunity. I dreamt I would one day do the same.

Returning to school after that holiday, my pals were in awe of my trip, and I remember my teacher asking if I would like to live there.

“I’d go tomorrow,” I replied. Even at the tender age of ten, I knew what I wanted in life.

“Be careful what you wish for!” came her reply.

I was confused by her negative response. Surely it was a good thing to have dreams.

Dreams, of course, come in different forms. There are those you can’t control, like the ones you have in your sleep. Some of them leave you confused and asking yourself, ‘what was that all about?’ while others may jolt you awake and leave you feeling scared or disorientated. And then there are the dreams within your control. The ones you can influence and aspire to.

But when does a dream become a wish or a desire? Because sometimes, a wish can feel like unfinished business. Regretful, even.
“I wish I’d…”

As a child, when you blow the candles out on your birthday cake, you’re asked to make a wish. Is this a wish or is it a dream. Are they the same thing?

My dream was always to live by the sea. I grew up in a hugely populated city. It made me the person I am and for that I will always be thankful. But it was a concrete jungle and so far away from the sea. And my dream.

When the opportunity arose for me to chase my dream, I didn’t hesitate. Thankfully, my family encouraged me every step of the way.

“Do it!” they said.

How different from my negative schoolteacher.

The dream didn’t take me to America, but it was equally life changing. A foreign country, a different culture, a new job… It was a massive decision, but one I fully embraced. And the main thing I learned was that once I had fulfilled my dream to live by the sea, multiple other opportunities presented themselves. Some had felt simply too big to be achievable, yet with resilience, perseverance and a desire to achieve success, those big dreams became a reality.

You can, if you’re lucky (and determined), achieve your dreams all by yourself, but having the support of family and friends makes it so much easier. Some people may discourage you from leaving your ‘comfort zone’ while others may be envious of your ambition or opportunities. The main thing is to be true to yourself and to give your dreams a chance.

Returning to those other, sleep induced dreams, I thought I’d leave you with some of my own. These definitely left me asking myself, ‘what was that all about?’

• Winning the New York marathon – on roller skates.
• I was an astronaut returning to earth in a sky-blue spaceship.
• As a milkman, I was delivering milk door to door – in a yellow suit and red shoes.

After chuckling about my own dreams, I asked Mrs Ireland about her most recent dream.

“Donald Trump bought me a pair of black stiletto shoes…”

My reply?
“Be careful what you wish for!”