Today was one of those days. I had a lot that I wanted to accomplish and I was productive to a point, but then I got hung up and couldn’t work on the projects I wanted to work on, which resulted in frustration and wanting to chuck my sewing machine out the window and eat large amounts of dark chocolate. I didn’t do either, but I felt like it. I work well under pressure, but sometimes the busy-balance is just right and then something else is piled on top and I want to crawl into a hole. Today wasn’t a bad day, but it was just one of those days. I know tomorrow will be better.
Due to the frustrations experienced, I don’t have anything new and exciting to share. As I was sitting at my laptop, staring at the screen, writing something, deleting it and rewriting it, I remembered a post I started writing a couple of weeks ago, when I was so inspired that my fingers could hardly keep up with the words formed in my head. I don’t know why I abandoned it, but I think it was meant for today.
So, you may think that a lesson from Rockefeller would be about making and managing large amounts of money, but it’s not. It’s about dreaming big.
A couple of weeks ago, I was watching National Parks, a beautiful documentary by Ken Burns. It makes you want to pack up your family in a Ford Fairmont station wagon and set out to explore some of the most breathtaking places in our country. I love how Ken Burns tells larger stories of history by using smaller stories of individuals who somehow played a part. One of those small stories in National Parks was about a man named Horace Albright, who had a big dream. He wanted to make the Grand Tetons and surrounding valley a part of Yellow Stone National Park. He plugged away at making that dream happen, but kept hitting roadblocks and dead ends.
One day, he had an opportunity to share his dream with a private investor with enough money to make it happen – John D. Rockefeller Jr. He took Rockefeller and his wife through the valley and told them about his dream as they watched the sunset over a beautiful view.
Nothing happened during that meeting, but a few months later, Rockefeller asked Albright to visit him with details of making the Tetons a part of the park. At that meeting, Albright shared a modest proposal with cost estimates on purchasing only some of the land he had talked about when sharing his dream a few months earlier. Rockefeller stopped him. He was only interested in an “ideal project”, Albright’s entire dream.
Rockefeller bought over 30,000 acres of land based on Albright’s revised proposal and two years later, Congress created Grand Teton National Park.
(Albright at the dedication of Grand Teton National Park.)
I was so moved by this story and challenged as well. I think Albright thought the way a lot of us do. I have this huge dream, but I need to scale it back if I’m going to be realistic. Somewhere along the way,”realistic” and “big dreams” became opposites. I don’t know why or when that happened, but it’s a real bummer to big dreamers and I think it’s an unspoken rule that keeps us from reaching and working towards what we really want. We’ll settle for a shadow of our real dream, because that seems more realistic.
This story, to me, was an awesome reminder to not do that! I don’t know the exact words Rockefeller said to Albright, but in my imagination, I hear him saying, “Your dream was bigger than this. Why doesn’t your plan match your dream?”
I could really relate to this, because I’m someone who has huge dreams when I’m quietly sitting alone, but when I actually put pen to paper, I get “realistic” and start explaining to myself why my dreams are silly and out of reach. I’m not saying you’re not dreaming big enough or you’re not following your dream or you need to go steamroll everyone who isn’t 100% on board with your dreams.
All I’m saying is that this little piece of history challenged me. And I hope it challenges you as well.
If you like this post, you might enjoy A Lesson from the Dust Bowl.
All of the photos shared in this post are from pbs.org.
75 Responses
I don’t know why, but I just got really teary-eyed reading this post! No matter what Rockefeller actually said, your imagined line was just perfect: “Your dream was bigger than this”. A great reminder never to sell ourselves short of our dreams – I don’t ever want someone to be able to say that line to me. My plans will match my dreams! Very, very inspiring.
Enjoyed that. Love our National Park system. We are fortunate for those who preserved those areas. I am definitely a ‘scale back’ type – got to be conservative – wouldn’t want to not meet my goals- must be realistic – crazy talk! Nice point.
This post was perfect timing for me. This whole week I have been down playing my dreams and trying to be “more realistic” so thank you for bringing me back to reality and I am going to make my plans match my dreams. Thanks so much!
Even though I don’t know what your dreams are…the dreams that you have when you are quiet and alone – the ones that are not a part of this blog, but another part of your heart; I have long felt that you are destined for much more. I do. You are so lovable and so endearing to us, your fans; not just because of the genius of your talents, but your endearing genuineness as well. That is a powerful combination, my friend! Don’t think those “huge dreams” are impossible for you. They’re not impossible! If you take the word ‘impossible’, and look at it as two words, you get….I’m Possible. You are possible! And your huge dreams, well, they’re even more possible to happen than not!!
It is so easy to be “realistic” and lose sight of the dream. How many times have we shared our dreams and then have a spirit killer come and destroy the excitement of that dream? Thanks for reminding us that we need to truly reach for our dreams!
Beautiful post…thank you for sharing! I didn’t know the story of Mr. Albright and this is something I will definitely be sharing with my children when our family takes our big trip out West! 🙂
I think I’ve been scaling back for so long that I’m not even sure I really have any dreams anymore. I just want my family to get through life as unscathed as possible. Sounds wimpy, huh? I need to think about these challenging words for a bit.
Ken Burns is indeed a genius and National Parks is a beautiful documentary. Thank you for sharing and for the reminder that we all need dreams and that even if they are big ones we should still cultivate them.
Have a great day, Elizabeth
Thanks for sharing this story. Very timely for me too! As for issues with your new machine, anything an experienced upholster could help with? 🙂
It ended up being “operator error.” I was trying to sew a couple of pieces of thin linen on an upholstery machine and it could hardly tell a piece of fabric was even there. I need to pull out the lightweight machine for this job. Of course, I found that out AFTER about 2 hours of threading, rethreading the machine, calling the manufacturer, etc. Sigh. Thanks so much, though!
It’s funny how particular these machines can be. A walking foot machine will literally eat up thinner fabrics. One tip, that you may or may not know, hold the threads behind the machine as you start to sew. It makes a big difference with a walking foot machine! And be careful of your fingers! You will be an old pro at things before you know it! 🙂
Great story. It is so true. Most of have dreams with little or no way to make them real. We let it crush our spirit, our creativity, our drive. God has surely given us gifts to use, it’s ashame to let them go unfounded.
Dear MMS, Yes, great story. You continue to inspire all of us to be more. Live your dreams! Hugs, Anne Boykin
Most of have dreams with little or no way to make them real. We let it crush our spirit, our creativity, our drive. God has surely given us gifts to use, it’s ashame to let them go unfounded.
Sounds like someone understands – I loved your post reply
Thank you! x
Worthy of framing! Worthy of saving for your
own children to know what ideals their mom holds.
Worthy of a graduation speech.
I am so glad I heard about you – just prooved
it is about more than paint and decorating.
Hugs friend.
FABULOUS post — I’ve been lurking about your site for a while now but have never commented until now. THANK YOU for sharing this today.
I just read this, this morning and it goes along with your story so I thought I would share, “If you can accomplish your dreams in your own strength, your own talent, with your own resources, then your dreams are too small:, by Joel Osteen.
YEP,that’s me all day long. Dream big,then when I make something I find all the ways no one would buy it.Shoved in the corner it goes.Along with my dream. Over and over like a waterfall. Working at a job just for the paycheck.Telling my kids to go after their dream,don’t give up…blah blah blah.Mean time I’m still doing the same thing.
I think it’s those little negative voices that pop into our heads to discourage us! I don’t know why we do this- children don’t! They dream big and believe it, something we lose as adults. Love this post 🙂
There’s an old church song that I used to hear growing up that said, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.” I thought of it because your message was right on time. Thank you for this 🙂
Beautiful post, perfect for your day of frustrations, and perfect for anyone, anytime. Well done–again 🙂
I too got teary-eyed by this beautiful post, that story is just an amazing small part of history that still to this day encourages us all to not be afraid to dream. I am very grateful that you were not afraid to dream, because your blog always makes my day brighter and has gotten me through some ugly stuff. So Thank You!
Your post was a great nudge for me. I have a college-bound daughter and I DO want her to dream big, not dream “safe”. I will print it out as a reminder. Thank you.
Sometimes God whispers with a quiet voice, and then there are times He confirms His purposes and plans with a resounding shout. Thank you for being His mouthpiece today. I am a mother of three (soon to be four) boys, and I live in Alaska. And yet, I can’t get away from it this week, His purposes and plans through little me will be accomplished. Thank you for being real, and for doing what God as unashamedly called you to do, and for empowering other women to do the same along the way. Many blessings on you!
Thanks again for the great post – I’ve been spinning my wheels for days now, not feeling the best and whining because it 90 + degrees, laid off and too hot to paint. I know may have it much worse – but after reading your post, tomorrow is another day.
I love the National parks and have watched the above mentioned – I do want to get the station wagon and go–
Thanks Marion, you have inspired me.
Thank you for your encouraging words. You are truly a blessing to your fans. God has perfect timing and He has spoken to me through this post. It’s time for me to stop waiting for the “right time”, when my life is in order (husband has permanent job and I’m not the major “breadwinner”) to chase my BIG dreams. As always, you have inspired me today! God bless you <3
PS-On my summer reading list: "You're Made for a God-Sized Dream" by Holley Gerth
Loved that National Park series — every American should see it. It was very inspiring to hear of the Rockefeller’s generosity in so, so many ways – Tetons, Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia (their summer home in Maine) not to mention Fr. Tryon Park in northern Manhattan, an extraordinary pak overlooking the Hudson, right here in my own neighborhood. Maybe he was part of the 1% (more like .01 %!) but his family’s business acumen, work ethic and generosity have shaped our nation more than many people realize.
Hi Marian, I enjoy your blog. This is a particularly good post today…I think I love it…I think I needed to hear this…thank you.
Wow!! I haven’t really thought about it until reading this post, but I’ve been trying to talk myself out of a dream I’ve been thinking about for a while now. Thanks for the encouraging words!
Thanks for the post because it was right on time for me. I do have dreams and today I am finding that I need to tackle what prevents my dreams from being my reality. For one clutter! It overwhelms me. I got a burst of energy from God today to get my bedroom whipped into shape. Not to mention the technician from the gas company was coming and he needed to get in our room. 🙂 But hey, the energy sure did help and the thought of a visitor gave me an extra push. I have some projects I’m hoping to tackle this summer and they all seem to include paint which scares me to a point. I just have to keep going though because it’s the small things like cleaning out clutter and maintaining that prevent me from just crafting or letting inspiration take me away for these projects.
Guess I needed that today too! Just came home with another piece from Goodwill and the garage is now full of furniture to paint and sell and wondering if I spent it all for naught…..So now I’m ready to take the week off from the regular job and start painting in the fun job to see if I can really make a go of it!
Thanks for the inspiration!
I feel that this post was most definately inspired. I too have a big dream ans over the last few weeks I have been questioning wether or not I want to go that big. I started to woory over the steps I need to take and the possible obstacles I will need to overcome. I know now that I need to redirect my thoughts and fulfill that big dream of mine. Thank you for all your insiring words. I look forward to the day that I can fly across the country to meet you.
Great post, and lots of food for thought!
Growing up in a communist country, I have been thought from early childhood that “dreams” are not allowed – one has to be “realistic” in life. That was so ingrained into my way of thinking that, even after all of these years of living in the “land of dreamers,” I still have trouble dreaming big and following up on it.
Here is to all the dreamers of the world!
This story is a great example of why I love your site so much. Each day I can’t wait until the post appears thinking it will be a fun project or yummy photos. Then you throw in something so unexpected. It grabs my heart strings. Or makes the day brighter with a little chuckle. Thanks Marian, for inspiring, motivating and making me stop to “smell the roses.”
OUTSTANDING and THOUGHT-PROVOKING article!!!
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
Dream big! 😉
Thank you for sharing that story with us, Marian. I have been reading your blog for many years and have seen you really make it in the blogging world. I really appreciate that you are thinking of your readers and their dreams and reminding them to hold onto their dreams and to believe in themselves. Your success not only has come from your hard, hard work but from your ability to relate to your readers. You remember where you have been and you are reaching out, touching us and encouraging us to shoot high. You are such a generous person who knows how to share and to inspire. Thank you, again!
Well said!
Beautiful blog today and thank you for sharing. I still have dreams, past the age of 60 and whether they come into reality or not it’s important that we never stop – or give up – on our dreams.
Marian,
I feel if you are going to dream, DREAM BIG. Your story is the perfect example of a big dream coming true when the time was right. Too many times I feel I leave my “gifts from God” unopened.
I find that when I have a big goal and underestimate my abilities I just set still instead of even starting. Thanks for the push.
rick
Loved, loved, loved this post – not only am I a history geek, but I love what you shared about really believing in big dreams – not just the realistic ones. I love to dream, but my “practical” and “realistic” personality often put limits on them as well. I really resonated with Mr. Albright. I’m also a Young Adults pastor, and love teaching on vision and purpose, and I might just have to steal this post for a sermon! Great job!
How True! I think most of us tend to dream big in our heads, but are scared to share those big dreams with others. I know that I do…mostly because of money constraints. However, I have found that due to the money constraints…I get more creative and find a “work around” to the original idea. I think you are also a master at that. Love your blog. Thanks for the wonderful post.
Oh, Marian, you have my heart today. Thank you for this. It surely does make me want to cry because my dreams are WAY big, but so is my God. :0) Long ago He prepared me for this time in my life, even making me aware that my level of faith would make me look foolish to others. So glad that He is my provision.
Blessings to you!
Marian — thanks for your honesty! My blog has been silent for two months because I am adrift and was certain no one wanted to hear about it 🙂 I am working through my physical issues once again. Sometimes, in the scheme of life, dreams become overwhelming so I stopped. I am going to revisit my dreams.
Blessings,
Melodye
Marian, I really needed this today. THANK YOU. Of course, now I have to shut my office door because I’m all hormonal and weepy and crap…
Ha, I loved this comment. It made me laugh and want to give you a hug. 🙂
Wow, all so true. I love watching Ken Burns films. The Dust Bowl is so moving and is so inspirational. My heart aches for the struggles those people went through and they had no choice to persevere . I am so fortunate. Thanks for the reminder. We all need to dream big.
Thanks, very motivating!
Just this morning I dared to express my dream to God. Not my realistic dream or my ‘I’m willing to take only this’ dream but the one that would take me to the end of my life. God used you to tell me that’s what He wants too. Thank you for being willing to be used by God. We really can move mountains!
Thank you for sharing. I thought this was a wonderful story and loved it when I too watched the wonderful series. Thanks for sharing your viewpoint.
Ken Burns National Parks is a beautiful series. I remember this part of the story when I saw it the first time. Thanks for the reminder.
You always inspired me, thanks
I loved this story and it was just what I needed for today. Today felt like spinning my wheels and getting nowhere! Thanks for inspiration!
Thanks for sharing that story. Today was one of those days when I had decided to scale back on my dream. After reading this I realized that I need to keep my goal on the dream and not shrink back.
YUP………..got it. Must be something in the air…..good for everyone today. Heard a few people in the shop comment on it. thanks, as always, M
So beautiful…I’ve been an interior designer for over 20 years working for a firm where I was at the top. Replaced slowly by younger talent… My ambitions are bigger and I am more courageous with my dreams. The large challenges aren’t so big, and the risks are more manageable. As an over 50 woman, my dreams are now more realistic and I’m rarely intimidated. The obstacles I am faced with do not slow me down, just the amout of energy I want to put into a project. I believe that as a woman, after 50, we can do anything. Cheers ladies!
Marian, your blog and posts are becoming a regular part of my day. Enjoy so much the sharing of how-to, talent, growing as a person, and just so much common sense in today’s world. I work in Finance, so DIY projects are my creative outlet. Thank you! Sheila
What a beautiful story about a dream come true. Makes me think sometimes its better to let go and let God…. Usually works out just fine that way.
Very inspiring, thank you so much for sharing.
Marion, this post really touched me. I started a new blog three weeks ago and today I was looking at other blogs thinking that I dreamed too big. I’ve got so. much. to learn that I was getting overwhelmed and started thinking maybe I was wasting my time. But I love doing it and I’ve wanted to do it for a LONG time. Your words are definitely courage to keep going. Thank you!
I’m so glad this was an encouragement to you. It’s not just you…blogging feels like a waste of time for a while until you find your community and start seeing those numbers increase. just remember that everyone starts somewhere. It’s taken almost 4 years to grow my blog to where it is now and I still have so much to learn. 🙂
A BIT OF TRIVIA. Did you know that Grand Tetons National Park is one of only two national parks that has privately owned land inside the park boundries. The other is Yosemite National Park.
“Just because you don’t see the work completed, doesn’t mean you’re not free to take it up.”
Remember Moses.
you have no idea how badly i needed this today. im literally crying in my desk chair at my “real job”. thank you for the encouragement and for making me remember what my REAL dream was. im re-rockerfeller sizing it today.
You have inspired me with words today; not paint! You always inspire me to paint. But today I am at the beginning stages of planning a total hard scraping of my backyard and my “ideal” backyard and my “realistic” backyard seem to be so different! Why do we always seem to do that to ourselves? But now I will look at my project with different eyes! Thank you so much!
Marian, this same documentary (there’s like 7 episodes–all fabulous!) inspired my husband and I to dream of moving from Florida to Colorado three years ago. One year later we were living in Colorado Springs and exploring those beautiful mountains! You are right, dreaming big can actually enable those things to happen. If we hadn’t dreamed, we wouldn’t have been ready to go when the opportunity came! Dream on!
I grew up in the shadow of the Grand Tetons.. From the Idaho side they were literally in my back yard. I spent my growing up years hiking and camping on that land made possible by Mr. Albright. My friend held the world record for running the Grand Teton for 30 years. Everything about those mountains have taught me that ANYTHING is possible! This truely is an incredible place made possible by someone with a BIG beautiful dream. Thanks for sharing this post. and most of all.. Thank You for reminding us that we shouldn’t settle for anything less than a BIG Beautiful dream ourselves.
Really, tears in my eyes as I am reading this. And, yes, BTW that documentary inspires awe. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this encouraging post. Thanks!
the realist in me just got a swift kick in the butt! thanks!
Just what I need to read this morning. I am gong to keep dreaming big! I really need to see this documentary. Hope it is on Netflix.
Thank you! This was very timely for me. I find myself constantly scaling back my dreams–realistic is an oft used word when it comes to my home and the projects I want. And lately I’ve been struggling with repetitive stress injury and can’t paint, sand, even fold laundry–all I can think about is how everything keeps scaling back to very small and immediate tasks.
The blessing you have is to touch the heart and feelings of many people with your posts and your job!! some days you need a piece of History to keep dreaming and stand up and work….. Thanks Marian!