Wishes versus dreams.

There is a difference, you know. To illustrate:

I wish the residents of The Woodlands would clean up after their dogs on the pathways.

I dream of the day when all pathways in The Woodlands are clean of dog litter (that would be a euphemism, yes).

What's the difference between those two statements? Well, the wish is a passive expression. It's something I would like, but I'm content to let someone else make it happen. The dream has a bit more conviction behind it. I might engage in some sort of activity to raise awareness on the subject and work to make it happen. (Is this likely? Not really. Shame on me.)

Wishes are made. Dreams are lived.

Wishes are fulfilled. Dreams are realized.

Is this really about dog poop? Of course it isn't. That would be silly.

But the wish versus dream notion is interesting to me. I had never separated the two concepts before, and it was really fun to ponder the distinctions on my bike ride today.

Even the words themselves convey the difference. Wish has a short sound; you say it quickly and then it's gone. It sounds a bit like "squish" -- the very noise my bicycle tires make when they encounter...well, you know.

But dream has a long sound. And you can even sort of smile when you say it. It rhymes with stream. I like that.

Now that this is settled, I can focus on dreams versus wishes. And I think I'll point out the difference to my kids, as well. Might as well give them a head start on the whole thing.