By: Terry Allen
Big Mama used to say, “A dream left sitting too long turns into regret.” She knew that dreams weren’t just fantasies; they were seeds that needed nurturing. In her day, she watched folks push through hardships, holding onto their hopes like lifelines. She saw dreams deferred but never abandoned. Whether it was Papa working late shifts to save up for land, or Auntie Mae learning to read in her 60s because she wasn’t about to let life tell her “too late,” Big Mama reminded us that no matter how long it takes, dreams are worth fighting for.
Today, the struggle remains the same, just in a different form. Recording artist Future, a pioneer of modern-day trap music, put it best when he said, “Getting caught up in the mundane is so easy. Sometimes, we need fresh air. To reach the pinnacle of success, you must act, live, and see life differently.” That’s the truth—too many of us get trapped in routine, letting dreams fade instead of fighting for the vision we once had.
Take the older generation—so many elders put their dreams on pause for survival, but that doesn’t mean they have to die there. We see people going back to school at 50, launching businesses after retirement, proving that delayed doesn’t mean denied. Then there’s the younger generation, pushing through student debt, limited job markets, and the mental health battle just to claim a future they were told was theirs. They have to fight harder, think smarter, and sometimes wait for a new climate to manifest what’s already in them.
Big Mama’s wisdom still stands: Don’t let your dreams go to waste. The world may try to put them on hold, but when the time is right, you have to be ready to make them happen. The dream is yours—don’t let it die where it stands.
Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org
