Jan. 11, 2011 — Today I was reminded of the words to a song I considered my “theme” when I was younger. I have not thought about this song from the musical “South Pacific” in years.

The lyrics are: “Happy talk, keep talking happy talk; Talk about things you’d like to do; You gotta have a dream, if you don’t have a dream; How you gonna have a dream come true?”

My friend, Jacquie Cordova, rekindled this theme I used to frequently sing — (not out loud, but in my head) as she told me about a dream she fulfilled this past December when she traveled to Antarctica. It was a dream trip she shared with me in detail for a Westwood PinePress story that will appear in an upcoming issue.     This week I did submit the photo she took with the newspaper in Antarctica.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to think about dreams.     It always seems like an opportunity to get a new perspective on issues and make a fresh start.

However, it is important to remember there is a difference between being a dreamer and making dreams come true. A dreamer often lives in a fantasy world, while it takes a dose of reality to realize a dream. For example, a dream trip requires setting aside funds to cover travel expenses and doing a little research to find the one that works within your budget but still has all the amenities you want.

Becoming a published novelist means the book is written, edited and polished before it can be pitched to a publisher. To run a marathon, miles must be covered daily to build up stamina. To shed pounds, a person needs to burn more calories than are eaten. The people who audition for American Idol stand in the long lines prepared to perform in front of a panel of judges.

Those who run the Amazing Race download an entry form and apply.

So dreams can’t be all happy talk and no action, but in order to have a dream come true, you’ve got to have one.

I was trying to remember what dreams were inspired by the words to “Happy Talk.”  One was to freelance as a writer and I did that for a period of time. If there were other dreams they have now slipped away. That’s why the song encourages discussion of dreams — talking about them keeps them alive.

Of course, sometimes life circumstances puts an end to a dream, but another can replace it.

Webster’s Dictionary describes a dream as “something to consider as a possibility.” In 2011 I am going to reclaim my theme song and consider the possibilities. What’s your dream?