Member-only story
One Man’s Dream, One Man’s Marathon
How a Disney vacation epiphany led to a life-changing goal
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Okay, I admit it, I’m a dreamer. That doesn’t mean that I don’t accomplish things. I’m nearing the end of a long and productive scientific career. I’ve accomplished many things I first “dreamed” of doing. But I am a dreamer, first and foremost.
As a dreamer, Walt Disney World holds a special place in my heart. Behind the rampant commercialism, ridiculous crowds, and insane prices, “One Man’s Dream” is still apparent. It is, by any measurement, one of the most inspiring places on earth. And for my wife and me, it is a happy place.
My workload had been particularly intense before my last WDW vacation. While it took a few days to let go of my stressors completely, I began dreaming again. I dreamt about being at WDW with my wife 5, 10 or even 20 years from now.
But after reaching the top of a short flight of stairs and finding myself winded, my dreams turned to concern. How could I be winded after a single flight of stairs? How could I hope to walk down the streets of Disney 20 years from now if I couldn’t even step onto a curbstone without being winded today?
