Under Your Feet – What Next?

“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.” – John Barrymore

How do you define dream?  How about accomplished?  Last one, how do you define successful?  Today’s post is not merely a vocabulary test, but in order to truly appreciate what I’m about to say, you need to understand what the words mean to you.  I’ve spent a significant amount of my free time thinking about how I might use these terms to measure myself and the road behind me.  In sharing my thoughts today, my goal is not recognition but to help others begin to measure and weigh their own opinions and successes.

Bootblack Bella is International Ms. Bootblack 2013. She enjoys serving as a mentor and educator. She lives in Louisville, Ky., and her column runs monthly.

Bootblack Bella is International Ms. Bootblack 2013. She enjoys serving as a mentor and educator. She lives in Louisville, Ky., and her column runs monthly.

What’s a dream?  According to Webster, it’s the processes of your mind during a time of rest, a wild fancy or hope, or a condition that is longed for .  According to Walt Disney, it’s a wish your heart makes while you’re fast asleep.  In my world, dreams are something that belong to the daylight, not the night.  I do not dream in slumber where I am powerless to act or even control my own memory.  I dream with my eyes wide open.  In my world, a dream is merely my life’s work.  It’s the achievements, goals, and aspirations that I will work toward for all of my days.  Without them, I’d have no purpose in this world.

Accomplishment is slightly more difficult to define with a larg