It Was a Dream, Not a Plan
“Dr. King gave the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, not the ‘I Have a Plan’ speech. It’s dreams that change the course of history.”
— Simon Sinek
That quote lands differently when you’ve spent much of your life being told to be realistic.
Not because plans don’t matter.
They absolutely do.
But because dreams are what give plans their power.
Too often, especially in disability spaces, education systems, nonprofits, and caregiving environments, people are handed plans before they are ever invited to dream.
And when that happens, something essential is lost.
Dreams Are the Starting Line
History wasn’t moved forward by spreadsheets or timelines alone.
It was moved by:
A vision people could feel
A future people could believe in
A hope strong enough to outlast uncertainty
Plans answer the question How will we do this?
Dreams answer the deeper question Why should we try at all?
Without a dream, plans feel heavy.
With a dream, plans feel purposeful.
When “Be Realistic” Becomes a Barrier
In my work with youth, families, and organizations impacted by disability, I see a pattern that’s both subtle and heartbreaking.
People are often encouraged to:
Lower expectations
Focus on limitations
Be grateful instead of hopeful
Accept what is, rather than imagine what could be
I’ve lived this myself.
Growing up with cerebral palsy, I was often given plans about my life before anyone asked about my dreams for my life.
Plans without dreams feel like cages.
Dreams without permission feel dangerous.
But when a dream is finally spoken, it becomes an anchor.
Dreams Don’t Ignore Reality — They Reframe It
Dreaming isn’t denial.
It’s not pretending obstacles don’t exist.
A dream says:
“Even with this body, this grief, this diagnosis, this setback—there is still more possible.”
Dreams don’t erase constraints.
They clarify what matters enough to work through them.
Only after belief is restored does planning truly begin.
A Gentle Reflection
What dream have you quietly edited down because it felt too big, too risky, or too unrealistic to say out loud?
And what might shift—personally or organizationally—if you named it anyway?
You don’t need the full plan yet.
You need permission to speak the dream.
Because history—and healing—has never been changed by plans alone.
Ready to Go Deeper?
I work with individuals and organizations to reclaim dreams buried under grief, limitation, or burnout—and help translate them into meaningful, human-centered action.
If you’re ready to explore what’s still possible, I’d love to connect.