“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.”

– Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888 – 1935)

British author, archaeologist, military officer, and diplomat

Dream Makers are amazing. They have vision, drive, passion, hope, courage, determination, conviction, commitment, pluck, and they lack any fear of making their dreams come true. They are strong in adversity and resilient in failure. They face rough times head on, and they are quick to bounce back even more determined to succeed.

Who are those Dream Makers? At 63 years old, I am very blessed to have a full circle of mentors who guide me, correct me, lead me and sustain me through their constant love and caring. It is said that we become like those who we surround us. As I look at this amazing group of leaders who surround me, I see that they are reliable, they are innovative, they have knowledge and wisdom and they are good teachers. They are the starters and the finishers. They are the leaders and the guides. This golden circle has taken me a lifetime to find, and they will always be there for me.

“My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is within you. Success is being praised by others. That is nice but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.”

– Helen Hayes (1900 – 1993)

American Stage/Film Actress

What can kill a dream. Who are the dream killers? I finally must confess, I am sometimes a dream killer, I cannot blame others. All my life I have wanted success and the praise of others. It was never enough for me. I could never achieve enough or receive enough praise. What did I do? I decided to live a life of service and offer praise to others and help others get into the winner’s circle of life. There are so many who are just waiting for that spark to ignite them and lead them to live their full potential.

“The future of our civilization is based on prudence, critical self-reflection, belief in higher values, and wisdom in matters of ordinary, everyday life. It is not about grabbing as much as possible, as quickly as possible.”

– Tyler Cowen (B – 1962)

American economist and writer

There was a time in my life when “I had it all”. Money, recognition, success, lots and lots of things, and I thought that I was at the top. Then, I lost those dearest to me and I found out that “things” will not save a life and that we are not remembered for how much we acquired, but how much we gave in life. Now, I am actively giving away “stuff” all the time and trying to de-clutter my life. I’m also trying to give some of the knowledge that I have learned over the years to help and motivate others.

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.”

– Helen Keller (1880 – 1968)

American Writer

My eyes always fill with tears when I see Helen Keller’s name followed by American Writer. She was amazing. She was blind and deaf, but I heard her speak on a video saying as best she could that her biggest regret in life was not mastering fluent speech. She did not complain about being deaf and blind, but not having fluent speech. She is one of my heroes in life.

“We are fallible. We certainly haven’t attained perfection. But we can strive for it, and the virtue is in the striving.”

– Carlos P. Romulo (1899 – 1985)

Phillipine Diplomat, Aide-de-camp to Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Do I know my faults, yes! If I forget, there are many around me who will quickly tell me where I fail. I welcome the criticism, for I am truly striving to become a greater man, and to realize my potential as a fund-raiser and being a strong voice for those who cannot be heard.

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you’ll never walk alone.”

– Audrey Hepburn (1929 – 1993)

British Actress

As my father always said to my mother, “Be sweet Mrs. W”. I hear daddy in my heart all the time and because I am married to one of the kindest people I have ever met, I will strive to chose kindness knowing that I will never walk alone.

Thank you for reading,

Keep on Dancing!

David Earl Woodbury

davidearlwoodbury@gmail.com