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PHOTO: JESSIE PARKER
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By Teresa McCarthy, AICI
Dare to Dream
Sometimes following our dreams means thinking outside the box
It’s time to change perspectives! As
children,our little minds were free,
our imaginations unlimited, our
hopes and dreams knew no borders,
but soon adult life and responsibilities
began to impose and many of those
dreams were beaten down by practi-
calities. Now, as we emerge into our
senior years, the opportunity arises
again to change our perspectives, to
loosen the bonds, to renew our hopes
and dreams or to adopt new ones
based on our life experiences.
It is important for our health and
well-being to get out of ruts that we
may have developed, to take on new
interests, develop latent skills and abil-
ities, and shine our lights where they
have never shone before.
Come away with me!
Visualize a visit to a market square
on a Caribbean island.The cruise ship
has come into port and most of the
passengers are making their way to
various adventures for the day. On our
bus ride to the market square we pass
some rather poor sections of town
and hope that life inside those walls is
not too difficult. The gentle, warm
ocean breeze and beautiful blue sky
are Nature’s wonderful gifts.The market
square is alive with anticipation,
the vendors have carefully set up their
May 2008 • 26 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
displays, and the entertainment section
is ready, as are the welcoming
dancers.
One might think at first glance
only about what a difficult way this is
for these people to make a living. It is,
but the enjoyment of being able to dis-
play and sell what they hand-carve,
paint,or otherwise create is rewarding
in itself.
We found a lot of family participation.
We did wonder at times why a
child was not in school.At one of the
tables there was a grandfather who
had painted beautiful island scenes on
brown paper bags. Purchases were
handed out in those bags, and I just
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