The American Dream alive, dead or just misunderstood?

 Good day to all!

It was a difficult decision on whether to write this week’s blog topic or not. I debated it for a while, wondering if it might stir up controversy or spark debate. But after some thought, I decided that’s exactly why it should be written. Sometimes the topics that are a little uncomfortable are the ones worth exploring. This week, I want to dive into a concept that’s been discussed, debated, and even criticized lately, “The American Dream.”

Before we can unpack why “The American Dream” has become such a hot topic, we have to understand where the term originated and what it really meant at the start. The phrase didn’t just appear in modern times; it was popularized in 1931 by historian and writer James Truslow Adams. In his book The Epic of America, Adams described the dream not in terms of wealth or status, but in terms of opportunity and potential.

Here is an excerpt from his definition: Adams called it “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

This definition is powerful. It paints a vision that goes far beyond material things. Adams wasn’t talking about luxury homes, big bank accounts, or a shiny new car in every driveway. He was talking about a society built on possibility—a place where people could pursue their potential, be recognized for their talents, and create a better life through hard work and determination.

And here’s where I think the confusion starts. Over time, the meaning of “The American Dream” seems to have shifted. Somewhere along the way, it became equated with wealth, possessions, and the idea that everyone should be prosperous simply because they live in America. But that’s not what Adams meant. The American Dream was never a guarantee of success—it was a promise of opportunity.

That’s an important distinction. Opportunity means you have the chance, the open door, the freedom to try. But what you do with that opportunity—that’s where effort, perseverance, and resilience come in. The dream doesn’t mean we all start from the same place or that life will always be fair. It means we live in a society where the possibility of upward mobility exists if we’re willing to work for it.

Now, I won’t ignore that this ideal isn’t always perfectly achieved. There are barriers. There are injustices. There are circumstances that make the dream harder for some to reach than others. That’s reality. But the heart of the American Dream isn’t about perfection—it’s about possibility. It’s about believing that through effort and determination, you can create a better life for yourself and your family.

For some, that “better life” might look like financial success. For others, it might mean owning a home, starting a business, getting an education, or simply creating stability for the next generation. The dream is deeply personal—and that’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all definition, and it shouldn’t.

Unfortunately, in today’s culture, it’s easy to become disillusioned. When we see skyrocketing home prices, crushing student debt, and economic challenges, some people feel like the American Dream is slipping away. But I’d argue that the dream isn’t gone—it’s just evolving. The foundation is still there: opportunity. It may require more grit, more creativity, and more persistence than before, but the chance to build and achieve remains.

I also believe we have to stop measuring the American Dream by comparison. It’s not about having what your neighbor has or keeping up with Instagram highlight reels. The dream is about your journey—what you’re working toward, what you’re striving to become, and how you define success for yourself.

And perhaps most importantly, we need to remember that the American Dream doesn’t hand anything to us. It doesn’t promise that life will be easy or that success will come quickly. What it does promise is that if you work hard, learn from failure, and keep pushing forward, many things are achievable.

So, as I wrap this up, I’ll leave you with this thought: The American Dream is not dead, but it’s also not automatic. It lives in our willingness to work, to dream, to build, and to overcome. It lives in the belief that what we do today can create a better tomorrow—not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us.

May God Bless you all and May God Bless the USA! I love you all and thank you again for joining me on this journey,