I just watched The Astronaut Farmer

@estherlou (5015)
United States
July 29, 2007 3:54pm CST
It's about Billy Bob Thornton, a former astronaut who had to leave the program for a death in the family, and then keeps his dream of going into space and over a couple of decades, builds a rocket in his barn intending to fly it. I loved it. It touched me in many ways. It is all about having a dream. It made me think about people who either don't care if your dream is impossible, don't know it's impossible, or knowing it might be impossible, decide to go after it anyway. So many of us either don't have dreams, or give up our dreams when it gets too hard. I guess I fall into both categories. I never allowed myself to dream. I didn't feel I was supposed to have one. It was okay for other people, but not for me. When I was older, and dared to recognize that I really did have one, I was really too old to realize it. For a couple of years, I got to experience a part of my dream and experience some things that affirmed me as a person of worth. Philosophy aside...did you have a dream? Did you go after it? Are you experiencing it? Or like many of us, did you settle for the everyday grind, putting one foot after the other, until time passed by.
5 people like this
11 responses
@gberlin (3836)
29 Jul 07
I have had several dreams or things that I wanted to do. I wanted to be a teacher. That one I completed. I have been a teacher for 25 years. I wanted to be a writer. I have had 3 short stories published for which I was paid. That has been fulfilling. Not a full time writer but at least I did get something published. I am married which was another dream. I have two adult children which was another dream. One daughter and one son. I do have a list of other things that I am working on completing. It is never too late to realize your dreams. Grandma Moses did not start painting until she was 65. Others have started new things later in life also. So, as long as I can breathe, I plan on working towards fulfilling my dreams.
1 person likes this
@gberlin (3836)
31 Jul 07
You are most welcome!
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
29 Jul 07
When I began college back in 1968, I wanted to minor in art and never could. I always wanted to learn to paint. About 5 years ago, I picked that up again, but did decorative painting. You can only paint so many tables or lamps before you run out of stuff to paint. And your family and friends don't want hand-painted stuff! LOL I did get to take a real art class and learned a little about oil painting. I loved it. Thanks for the reminder of how old Grandma Moses was! I still have time! LOL
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
29 Jul 07
Great. I am a Billy Bob fan and have wanted to see this movie. Now I know I will. I had dreams many decades ago that somehow got lost in the every day drudgery of life. But, in the last few years, I have created a whole new set of dreams for myself. This time, I know much more about how to make them come true. I have vowed to never give up this time. This is am excellent topic. And an inspiration to all of us dreamers.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
29 Jul 07
There was a movie years ago called Flashdance. I loved it. In the movie one of the main characters said if you give up your dream, you die. In the Astronaut farmer, Billy Bob says something quite similar. We have to have dreams to spur us on, or we just stagnate.
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
31 Jul 07
I really enjoyed that movie. We just watched it the other night. It does make you think about your dreams and what dream you would like to persue. Sometimes it is good to look outside the the routine....
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
29 Jul 07
I dreamt to get a Masters and finally got it in 1989 it sure was difficult but worth all the hard work to obtain it.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
29 Jul 07
Bravo! Congratulations! I went back to finish my bachelors when I was almost 40 and it took awhile, but it was a very rewarding experience. It was part of the dream/affirmation thing for me.
1 person likes this
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
2 Aug 07
I haevnt seen the movie but I am pretty sure its based off of a tv show back in the 70's. AS far as chasing after my dreams I haev done plenty of that lately and the road is hard but the rewards are great. I am sorry about the post above that she has given up. I think that most of the replies you haev gotten are pretty postive which is good to see we haev so many people with positive attitudes.
• United States
31 Jul 07
Yes I followed my dream, I have always wanted to become a nurse. I became a nurse and I worked 20 years in our local hospital helping our community. Eleven of thoes 20 years I worked as a floor nurse first as an LVN or LPN in other states and as an RN. IN 1997 I transfered down into our local sleep lab. I learned to do sleep studies. It is mostly self taught and co-worker taught. In 1999 I took the test to become a registered sleep technologiest. Most people have to take the test two or more times to pass it, I took it once and passed it. I think having taken my LVN borads and my RN boards helped me take the sleep test regeistery and pass it once. IN 2000 I was promoted to the sleep lab supervisor where I worked until I became to ill to work any longer. My continued goal was to get my bachelors degree in business management. I had to quit because of my health issues. I would be almost finished with school now if it was not for my illness, I would still be working also. Another one of my dreams was to be married and have children. I am still married to the same man I married September 17, 1977 and we have two children they are 29 and 26. Our children are great, hard working adults. I am very proud of both of them. The two things I told myself I would never do that I did do was 1) Get pregnant before marriage yes I got pregnant the night of my high school graduation. Our daughter is my husbands. and 2) I would not get fat like my mother. I did that also. I have not gotten as fat as her, I am obese I have been working on losing weight. I have lost 92lbs in the last two years. I have done it by dieting and it has been very hard. I am still smaller than my mom. hahaha.
@oriental (1050)
• Uruguay
30 Jul 07
I never had a "big dream". Perhaps inconsciously I didn't dare to have one. I just had many "little dreams". Some of them I fulfilled. Most I didn't. Perhaps I still can reach some of them. Your discussion may help me to do it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157674)
• United States
29 Jul 07
I think mostly I pushed down and denied my dream. It seems like the areas where I have the most skill and ability, the areas that could have made a professional career for me, were the areas that I claimed to dislike, that I said I would never do.I work in those areas now, but without the degree that would validate me. I made an attempt at a dream as an adult, but the time was not right. Right now I am running, putting one foot in front of the other, trying to catch up with my life, it has been getting away.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
29 Jul 07
I have always been open to the possibilities in my life. Right now I put one foot down after another since I am stuck in the city and must sell my property. I will forego my dream for now and get back to it whenever I can. Hopefully soon since the internet is becoming too big for me. I like it as a tool and not big part of my day. You still could do something along the lines of a dream you may have had. I wish you luck in making a short list and trying to accomplish what would make your heart sing. Keep me posted!!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
29 Jul 07
Gee, that sounds like the review I posted after I saw the movie months ago. http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/794695.aspx
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
29 Jul 07
I didn't see your discussion, but will go look now. We rent the movies when they come out on video and we finally found this one available. Our Blockbuster only has about 4 copies, and every time we looked, they were out. Glad I finally got to watch it!
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
19 Mar 08
I loved the astronaut farmer except for one little inuendo that was gratuitious it was a very good film. I think that I fall into the category like "many of us" going along with the every day grind, I guess I've never had any particularly nagging dream.