Ideas on pursuing our individual dreams, not the dreams of others. Learning to hear our inner voice to guide us toward them while filtering out the noise of modern society’s dream pushers.

Hi,

Actually, The Dream IS global. That’s what I’m reminded of each time I travel. The most recent reminder came during the vacation I returned from yesterday.

The Dream Pushers fill the airport with blatant ads pushing The Dream. They hit you as soon as you leave the plane and are funneled through the duty free shop.

They’re pushing all The Dream’s success symbols in the form of expensive perfumes, watches and clothes. The imagery features images of people reaping The Dream’s rewards.

The people are beautiful, perfectly groomed, serious, yet barely human. They stare into space with an “I’ve made it, have all my sh*t together and now deserve this good life I’m enjoying with an expensive cognac.” 🙄

The Pushers hit you again when they funnel you through the duty free shop on the way to your departure. They scream, without making a sound, “Here’s your last chance to take a piece of the good life home with you, before you go back to Dream chasing.”

That’s not all though.

Travel reminds me The Dream pushers are multi-cultural. Their messages are borderless. They’re distributed in every country imaginable. The symbols of “making it” are the same.

• Buy a home.

• Drive this car.

• Dress like this.

• Wear this watch.

• Use this phone on this unlimited wireless plan.

• Eat this.

• Give your kids these.

• Listen to these news programs.

• Watch these television shows.

• Read these newspapers and magazines.

Don’t worry, just keep chasing and we’ll tell you what you need to know and what to buy.

Do these things and you’ll be happy. If you’re not happy at the end of the day, go have a few drinks, eat some (probably unhealthy) food, find your way home and crash into bed.

Do this again. And again. And again.

Do it until you stop noticing you’re doing it.

This time my family and me were fortunate to travel to Portugal, Italy and Spain. I saw this pattern repeated in each country. I can’t recall a country I’ve visited where this pattern wasn’t repeated.

That feels pretty frightening to me.

I guess I’m writing this to share the awareness that permeated my consciousness on this most recent trip. I’ve felt it before. This is the first time it’s become clear enough to put into words.

The observation tells me how diligent we must be, if we don’t want the Dream Pushers message to infect us. Even on vacation.

How about you? Where have you noticed the Dream Pushers at work?

Let me know by replying directly to this email.

Chris

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