When the snow melted in the spring, I’d sit in school and look out the window daydreaming about hiking, camping, riding my horse through the mountains, and being anywhere but a classroom. My dream was to own a small ranch and be a professional bull rider. I swore I’d never go to college.

A friend persuaded me to go to junior college in a small town promising I could continue to do the stupid things I’d done in high school. Fortunately, despite my intentions, I ran into some good influences. College changed me.

After two years as a Christian missionary in England, I returned to college but in a larger town. I was walking across campus with a friend one day, when I asked him, “What are you going to do when you grow up?”

“I’m going to be a doctor,” he said, matter-of-factly, like I should know. His dad was a doctor. He’d always planned on doing the same.

At the time, I had no idea what I would do after university. I thought for a few moments. I looked at him and said, “That sounds interesting. Maybe I’ll try that.” That was my momentous decision. Five years later, I graduated medical school. Three years after that, I finished my residency.

Sometimes, in the ER, I’d daydream about hiking, camping, and riding my horse through the mountains. Sometimes, today, I still daydream about the same things.

I’ve been married for 35 years. I have five kids and six grandkids. I’ve done a lot of hiking, camping and horseback riding in between all the other aspects of my life.

Daydreaming is good. Living is better. Doing both is magical. Do both.