Your Dreams are Valid.
They are valid because there’s a possibility for them to become real if you do something.
On international women’s Day 2021, I spent my day playing with my son. I also had time to watch a movie that captures a moment in history. This movie moved me to study this remarkable lady known as Florence Foster Jenkins. Ms. Jenkins was born in 1868 she was a wealthy American socialite who gained fame for her notoriously off-pitch voice.
Not every story has to be ending well to be educative. Some stories are neutral, some sad, and yet they teach a generation.
Florence Foster Jenkins was a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice. She wanted it so bad, despite her old age. She was sick sometimes, but that did not stop her from practicing. However, her practice didn’t make a difference, probably because of her age. She made a terrific move, she went and record the album. Later, She invited more than 2000 people in a Grand ballroom to watch her performance. The closest people to her tried to stop her, worried about the disgrace she might face and also her health because of her old age. She died five days after this big performance, she got a heart attack after reading the newspaper commenting on her performance. This is what she said before her last breath;
“People will say I can’t sing but no one will say I didn’t sing.”
Show up, and do your work. The audience will always be there. Some will applaud you, some will boo you. And that’s okay. But you have room to improve your skills, your ability, and your whole self. Not because of people. But because you want to experience your full potential. We all have days to remember when we used to be so bad at something, but because of unending patience, a cup of passion every day, a burning desire at night somehow we didn’t stop when people told us we can’t.
You deserve what you imagine if you’re ready to work on it. No one has the power to discredit your dreams or imagination. It is only you who can discredit it. My former boss, Abella Bateyunga award-winning social entrepreneur used to say “your dreams are valid”.
Dreams need work otherwise they will always remain a dream. They are valid because there’s a possibility for them to become real if you do something. Not magic or mere talking. My take from the life of Florence is that; Sometimes what we do is first for us, and then for people. Whatever you do, it has to make sense with you, satisfy you, fulfill you, build you, and you must enjoy it. Most of the time, people respond to authentic expression than a mere sugar-coated expression. Every talent must be first enjoyed by the one who gives it. When people become your primary target, you will be disappointed, or lose yourself and think that you’re not enough, or not worthy. Your primary target should be you. Yes, remember in order to give something, you must first possess that thing.
The question is do you possess the skills, the ability, the knowledge?
If yes, go and give.
One of the modern artists Lady Gaga in her documentary, said most of the things she used to do as a young artist, were because she was in pain, and she no longer wish to continue with her former self appearance or attitude. However the audience loved that crazy version, but Gaga admitted that version was toxic to her, she needed mental health attention. This is cementing the idea of presenting your authentic self, sometimes your authentic self is not about who you used to be, it’s about being ready to accept changes as you improve yourself.
Celebrating you always.
Najma Juma.