Chasing Clouds, Crashing into Walls

When I was a child, whether at school, in the garden, or from my windowsill, I would look up to the clouds and try to form shapes. Granted, I’m pretty sure every child went through that. Some adults still do. Personally, I don’t think there’s anything whimsical about clouds. They’re picturesque. They’re plain. They’re just there. I’ve never thought of them as magical, even though Disney films and novels would have you believe otherwise.

For me, cloud watching was more of a realist’s game. Yes, it was fun to figure out what shapes could be formed, and even more interesting to notice how my shapes differed from those my sister or little brother saw. But why am I talking about clouds? You’ve likely heard the expressions “chasing clouds,” “the sky is the limit,” or “get your head out of the clouds.” These are old idioms, meant to capture a sense of ambition, but also caution. “Chasing clouds” refers to pursuing unattainable or unrealistic goals, while “the sky is the limit” encourages us to aim high, suggesting endless possibilities. “Get your head out of the clouds” warns us to ground ourselves, to not lose touch with reality.

It’s ironic, though, because clouds don’t actually run. They drift, often slowly. And yet, we use this imagery to describe ambition, sometimes mindless ambition. People I’ve met who chase clouds—characters that have crossed my path in life—are often so busy running after their illusions that they don’t see the walls they’re about to crash into. They sprint toward dreams without considering the obstacles that lie ahead. And the walls they hit often reflect the very thing they’re running from. History repeats itself—not because we don’t learn, but because we’re too focused on the chase to recognize the pattern.

To be clear, I’m not saying don’t chase dreams. Dreams are essential, and chasing them is what drives us forward. But the problem isn’t in the chase; it’s in how we chase. We sometimes run so hard and so fast that we lose sight of what we’re running into. Obstacles are inevitable, but if we don’t see them coming, they hit harder. It’s not about dissuading you from your dreams—far from it. It’s about being aware of the journey ahead. Running blindly toward goals without a plan, without recognizing the challenges that will come your way, can lead to unnecessary setbacks.

Think of it this way: Clouds, unlike us, don’t have a destination. They float along, pushed by the wind. But we, as people, have purpose. We stand to lose something if we move through life aimlessly. The older we get, the more responsibilities we accumulate, and those responsibilities call us to be conscious of the decisions we make. The dreams we chase don’t just affect us—they ripple out to the people around us, the ones we care about most. So, while chasing clouds might seem whimsical, even magical, in reality, it requires careful thought, planning, and awareness of what lies ahead.

It’s not about avoiding obstacles. It’s about being prepared for them, about navigating the journey with intention and purpose. If you run with your head in the clouds, you might miss the walls. But if you run with awareness, you might just avoid crashing into them altogether.