• Turning on the news and still seeing MESS in things we care about.

• Struggling to get taken seriously for our visions

• Being Seen as Naive for our belief

• Being Underfunded or Underpurchased

• Caring about those who don't seem to care about themselves...

Idealist n. a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.

Also defined as "a visionary or impractical person."

Visionary I can go with... it's when it gets to impractical that questions begin.

Impractical: not capable of dealing with practical matters; lacking sense, an idealist.

Ie. Many, if not most, entrepreneurs, writers, communicators, ministry leaders, missionaries, teachers, social workers, coaches, counselors, inventors, political leaders, parents.... (Sometimes especially parents! Single parents who care for their kids.... TOTALLY!)

There are times when being an idealist feels somewhat like the scene from Dumb and Dumber. Lloyd Christmas: What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together? Mary Swanson: Well, Lloyd, that's difficult to say. I mean, we don't really... Lloyd Christmas: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances? Mary Swanson: Not good. Lloyd Christmas: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred? Mary Swanson: I'd say more like one out of a million. [pause] Lloyd Christmas: So you're telling me there's a chance... YEAH!

Outrageous... and really funny!!

But I so resonate with what Theodore Roosevelt challenged more than a century ago.