Dreams are not what people see while sleeping.

Dream—this word is like a strange emotion, an eternal desire. Many people think that dreams mean some colorful imagination, an unreal scene seen in a dream. But in reality, dreams never mean scenes seen in sleep; rather, dreams mean that deep desire, that desire that keeps people awake, that forces them to find a way out when they are not asleep. Dreams mean that desire that keeps people alive, teaches them to run, and teaches them to stand up again when they fall.

When a dream is born in the eyes, it is merely a fantasy. But when that fantasy gradually finds shelter in the heart, it becomes the purpose of life. The power of this dream is so strong that it awakens the sleeping being inside a person. Then a person no longer just lives, he fights, runs, and tries to make every moment meaningful. Dreams are no longer a matter of lying on a pillow at night and closing his eyes—then dreams are the bloody path under his feet, the sweat on his forehead, or the silent cries of the heart.

This dream does not let people sleep—not only externally, but also mentally. A real dream never keeps people in a comfortable state. Rather, it pushes people to think beyond their boundaries, to do something new, to step out of their daily comfort zone and into uncertainty. When a goal sits deep in the heart, its weight falls on the entire existence. Then people feel—not sleep, but the need to stay awake; not rest, but the need to fight; not stopping, but the need to move forward.

The desire to fulfill dreams changes people. People who once retreated out of fear now learn to bravely take the path alone. Those who once said, "I can't," now silently prepare to break their limits. Each dream creates a different meaning of life. For example, someone may dream of becoming a doctor because they want to alleviate human suffering. Someone may dream of becoming a writer because they want to touch the soul of people through words. Again, someone may dream of becoming a great industrialist because they want to light the light of hope in the lives of thousands of people. The purpose of dreams may be different, but their motivation is the same—to make life meaningful.

However, dreams are not just about optimism. They are also often a source of pain. Because the path to fulfilling dreams is never easy. There are stumbling blocks, sacrifices, and self-control. How many nights do people spend just thinking—"Can I do it?", "Is this the right path?", "Should I try a little harder, or should I give up?" But even then, dreams wake them up again, telling them to walk again. It is a kind of internal discipline that forces people to be responsible for themselves, for their future.

That is why it is said that dreams are the light that shines in a dark room and shows people the way. When a day laborer's son dreams that he will one day become an engineer, or when a little girl's eyes yearn to see the cities that have been crushed by buses—then we understand how dreams can turn reality upside down. And the surprising thing is that there is no specific age, profession, economic status, or identity to have these dreams. Any person, at any time, from any position, can stand up after a dream.

Dreams take people beyond their limitations. A true dreamer knows that today's pain will be tomorrow's strength. He knows that if today he doesn't sleep a little more, works a little more, tries a little more—then one day that dream will bring him peace. He will then be able to say, "I didn't sleep, but now I can sleep peacefully." This feeling, this satisfaction is the biggest reward.

As easy as it is to dream, it is as difficult to hold on to a dream. Because reality often eats away at our dreams. When people around say—"It won't happen because of you," then our own dreams seem like a lantern of imagination. But those who are true dreamers know—this imagination will one day become reality, if we don't give up.

This is why Abdul Kalam said:

"Dreams are not what people see in their sleep; dreams are the expectations of fulfillment that keep people awake."

This one sentence contains the complete philosophy of life. Dreams seen in sleep are a kind of hobby, but dreams seen in waking life are plans to change life. This is the fire, which when extinguished, a person only drags on with existence, but when it burns, that fire develops a person into his ultimate form.

So dream—but not only with your eyes closed, but with your eyes open. Keep your dream in your chest, and work silently to make it a reality. Because one day, that dream will pronounce your name in the voices of a thousand people, someone will listen to your story, and say—“This man had a dream, and with the power of that dream he changed his own life.”