We can’t give our dreams too much meaning. Dreams are just dreams. When I say it’s okay to not have a dream, it’s because you don’t really need one. You shouldn’t have to struggle so much in order to live your life. It’s heartbreaking to see people being pushed to pursue one path when there are 7.8 billion people in the world, living out 7.8 billion different lived. People in their 60s and 70s can dream too, of course, but I often think that the world is especially cruel to the young. It’s often suggested that they’ve failed if they don’t start out on a particular path or continue along as expected. But as you live, you realise life doesn’t work that way. It would be good if children and youth didn’t blame themselves too much, because it’s not their fault.

And don’t compare yourself to other people either. There is absolutely no need for you to compare the size of your dream to someone else’s dream. You’d think I live with super grandiose dreams, but I’m not like that at all. I don’t have a dream right now either. Does that make me miserable? No, it doesn’t. Rather, I’m at peace. I’m sure another dream will come to me. My dream could be to become better at writing, for example. I believe it’s a good, worthwhile life to achieve dreams like this, one by one.

I’m saying that a dream, whether big or small, is just a dream. That’s refreshing. I tried looking for reason to live each day, but it turns out what I like most is being at peace. It’s my dream to become someone who worries less and who had peace in their hearts. That is actually my dream, but I hesitate to say it out loud, because it can sound hypocritical. Some might say, “You’re only able to say that because you’re achieved it all.” But I really wish we all had dreams no matter how bug or small that could become a driving force in our lives. There’s no need for them to be grand, either.

So just breathe. Experience the freedom to not think or chase all the time.