People don’t ask older people what their dreams are because they assume life is a step-by-step process. They believe that at a certain age, adults should not dream anymore of big things because that is the age they should be wallowing in the dreams they have built for themselves. The truth, however, is that not everyone gets the privilege to be a youth and dream-like youth are supposed to. Some people sacrifice their youth for things/causes bigger than them. Some people sacrifice their youth for people dear to them, and some people get lost in their youth, and all these are probable reasons.
I know people say it is never too late to do things, but I wished people acted upon that saying more. If that saying were to be recognized, we would do better as humans, and older people would be allowed to dream. Dream, in the aspect of doing things human, like starting a family at 45, learning how to ride a bike at 30, or asking a 50-year-old, “What are your dreams?”
This question might seem minute, but it goes a long way in acknowledging to adults that they are not a failure for not accomplishing some specific things at a certain age. Societal standards are sickening and unfortunately, prevent people from achieving their true purposes in life, as this is what happens when we do not expect adults to dream anymore after they clock certain ages. What also happens is that people rush to their demise. I do not mean their literal death but to the end of their true purposes. They are alive, but not full of life. Why? because they are living under the shadow of societal consent and standards- a disease that continues to eat them alive and ward them off from being truly happy.
In conclusion, there is no manual to life. Another popular saying, but really, there isn’t a handbook to what you should be accomplishing at certain ages. Also, if people are not asking you what your dreams are, ask yourself every morning.