There is a new television show, called Blind Justice that will be replacing NYPD Blue. The show follows a Detective who, at the prime of his life and career, loses his vision in a heroic attempt to thwart a bank robbery and save other police lives. The shooting of this Detective results in his losing his eyesight/vision. He refuses the “disabled” label and sues to get his job back. What immediately struck me as I watched the promo for this new TV show was the idea of losing one’s vision. Not physically becoming blind, but losing the vision we once had for our lives.

In our childhood we all had visions of being “something”, a fireman, policeman, astronaut, president, etc. As we grew older those visions might have been replaced with others, but there was always a vision of who and what we would be. Do you remember yours? Do you remember graduating and starting your first job? Didn’t you have a vision of where your life would go? Do you still have it? Has it changed? Do you even look at it?

Often as we grow into adulthood and the day-to-day responsibilities take over our lives, we lose our vision. We get caught up in surviving, taking care of business, as it were. But, without a vision we will remain stuck in the daily grind, only to one day look back and think, “Why didn’t I…I wish I had…”

Creating a vision for our lives entails looking into the future and imagining a perfect life. If nothing stood in your way, what would you like your life to look like in 5 years, 10 years, etc? Would you live on an island in the Pacific, would you be president of your company, would you be home-schooling your three children? Would you be living in a big house, small house or log cabin? What is most appealing in the vision of your future? Money? Fame? Stability? Family? Locale? Why is that the most appealing?

Having a vision is different than daydreaming. We can all daydream about winning the lottery, marrying a prince/princess, etc. Having a vision is more reality based. It often requires a lot of work, hard work, to attain the vision of our perfect life. Often it means foregoing immediate gratification for long-term happiness. To reach our vision we need to make plans, set goals and enlist support. We need to fully occupy our vision. Can you feel yourself living that vision?

Don’t let go of the vision you once had. Pull it out, look at it, tweak it where it need tweaking, or start anew, but embrace a vision and start planning how to make it happen. It sure can’t hurt! If you don’t you just may be looking back one day saying, “Why didn’t I…I wish I had…”