“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” John Lennon’s iconic lyric written in 1971. Interpreted a few different ways: envision a world without conflict, peace and unity. However, I remember many years ago a dear friend used to call me a dreamer. Sometimes I felt it was an indictment, a judgement, but I couldn’t deny it. I felt a little embarrassed by it and often kept some of my thoughts to myself when I was with her. But now I ask, what is life without a dream? Shouldn’t we all be dreamers? Visioning peace, justice, a world where loving kindness is the norm? Or, dreaming of a life path that would leave us feeling purposeful and satisfied, a path that not only served us but others? Dreams can lead to belief, which often leads to action. That action can birth so much beauty and fantastic results!
Having the courage to follow their dreams, these women have made an enormous difference in our world, each in her own way. I find them all inspiring.
Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a physicist and chemist who dreamed of scientific discovery, becoming the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different fields, physics and chemistry, and pioneering research on radioactivity.
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) is considered the first computer programmer. She envisioned the vast potential of machines that could compute beyond mere calculation, blending science and poetry.
Amelia Earhart (1897-1937 was a pioneer in aviation. She had a dream of flying across the Atlantic. She broke many records.
Malala Yousafzai (1997-) is an activist who dreamed of education for girls in her country of Pakistan. She survived an attack by the Taliban and blame the youngest Nobel Prize laureate and the age of seventeen.
Hedy Lamar (1914-2000) was an actress who earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. However, she was so much more! Her influence extended beyond the silver screen. She invented technology that laid the groundwork for modern Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.
Mae Carol Jemison (1956-) is an engineer and physician, and a former NASA astronaut. Mae was the first African-American woman to travel into space. She served as a mission specialist award the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.
Ann Lowe (1898-1981) is the first African-American fashion designer of note. She designed the ivory silk taffeta wedding dress worn by Jacqueline Bouvier when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. Ann is one of America’s most significant designers.
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter known for her self-portraits, symbolic themes, and vibrant canvases. Her art was deeply personal and inspired by her life and struggles. She turned personal trauma into visionary art, pioneering a new form of self-expression.
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (1913-2005) was an American Civil rights activist best known for her refusal to move from her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. She defied the Jim Crow segregation laws, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott. She is called the “mother of the civil rights movement.”
Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid (1950-2016) born in Baghdad, was an Iraqi and British architect, artist, and designer. She redesigned urban landscapes with futuristic, sweeping designs while overcoming both structural and gender barriers. Zaha is recognized as a key figure in the architecture of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) was the Kenyan social, environments and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, which is a non-governmental organization focusing on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. In 2004, she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari fought tirelessly, even against oppressive regimes, to ensure a sustainable environment and a better quality of life for women and the citizens of Kenya.
These women all shared a common trait: they were brave enough to dream big and then overcome societal barriers to achieve remarkable things. They are all visionaries and trailblazers. Some pursued audacious dreams that altered science. Some believed in social justice and civil rights. Others imagined new possibilities in science and technology. Still others reshaped culture through art and design.
I found the words of Solomon D. Stevens, PH.D in his article Of Dreamers and Dreams: The Virtues of Passion, Heart & Hope especially meaningful.
“THERE IS REASON, AND THERE ARE DREAMS…BUT WHAT IS ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER? HOW LIMITED AND COLORLESS IS A LIFE GUIDED BY REASON ALONE?
I don’t reject reason, but I believe there is more to life than reason can give us. Dreamers see with their hearts as well as their minds. They hear things that others don’t hear, even in silence. They notice things that others fail to see, whether something is visible to others or not. They feel the joy and pain of others. Dreamers experience the world differently than others. Does this describe you? Do you long for something better, more beautiful? Do you feel that more is possible?”
So, I say, dream on!
