Don’t Let Your Dreams Melt (Seriously, Grab a Spoon Already)

Full transparency—when I first read the quote “Having a dream you don’t pursue is like buying an ice-cream cone and watching it melt all over your hand” (thanks, Frank Papasso, for the messy visual), I immediately flashed back to one very traumatizing July afternoon when I bought a double-scoop mint chip cone and tried to “walk and eat” while wearing white shorts. Spoiler: the mint chip won. And it definitely melted all over my hand. And knee. And…ugh, let’s not relive that any further.

But honestly, it’s the perfect metaphor. We all do this. We get excited about something—we read an inspiring book, get hit with a genius idea in the shower, or watch a movie and think, “Yep, I’m gonna do that”—and then? Nothing. The dream sits there. Melting. Slowly turning into sticky regret syrup.

Dreams Aren’t Decorative

Dreams aren’t meant to be displayed on a shelf like those dusty Funko Pops we bought during lockdown. They’re meant to be used. Eaten. Savored. (Ideally before they drip down your arm and you end up crying in public.)

I have a friend who’s been talking about starting a podcast for, no joke, six years. SIX. He even bought a mic. He bought two mics just to be extra serious. He has episode outlines. He has a name. He even designed a logo—which honestly looks pretty legit. But the podcast? Still a dream. Still sitting in the “someday” drawer. And every time we talk about it, I can practically hear the theme music of lost opportunities playing in the background.

That’s a melted ice-cream cone moment.

You Gotta Eat It Before It Gets Ugly

You know that feeling when you first get a brilliant idea? It’s like opening the freezer and seeing your favorite ice-cream flavor waiting for you. You’re excited. You’re pumped. But if you just stare at it and never actually… grab a spoon… you’re basically just torturing yourself.

Want to write a novel but “don’t have time”? Same thing. You’ve bought the cone, you’re holding it, and then you keep scrolling TikTok while it drips onto your shoes. Yikes.

Want to travel the world “someday”? Travel doesn’t magically happen. You don’t wake up on an alpaca farm in Peru by accident (although wow, what a plot twist that would be). You plan it. You save. You book the ticket. You EAT THE CONE.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy

Here’s the thing—I used to think that pursuing dreams meant you had to go big. “If I can’t write the perfect novel draft in one sitting, why bother?” That mentality made me stall for months. Meanwhile, other people were posting messy drafts and celebrating tiny milestones like, “Wrote 300 words today!” And I’d be like… “300 words? Psh.”

But guess who finished a book? THEM. Because they took little bites of their ice-cream every day while I was waiting for the “perfect moment” to enjoy mine (which never came, by the way—because life doesn’t come with perfect moments, it comes with sticky, half-melted ones).

A Little Melting is Okay (Just Don’t Let It Go to Waste)

Look—sometimes life gets messy. Sometimes the sun is beating down and the dream gets a little soft around the edges. That’s okay. Honestly, melted ice-cream is still ice-cream. It still tastes good. You just have to act before it disappears completely.

Start the business even if you’re not 100% ready. Write the first chapter even if it’s kind of bad. Sign up for the dance class even if you’re “not in shape yet.” You will literally never be fully ready. You just have to take the scoop and go.

Quick Reality Check Examples (a.k.a Little Bite-Sized Scoops)

• Want to learn French? Ten minutes a day on Duolingo is better than waiting for “when I have time for formal classes.” (though there are much better options out there than Duolingo)
• Want to start a blog? Write one post. Just one. Post it. Stare at it proudly.
• Want to run a marathon? Walk around the block today. Seriously. That counts.
• Want to start a YouTube channel? Record a goofy 30-second intro video. It doesn’t have to be Spielberg-level.
• Want to open a bakery someday? Start by baking muffins for your neighbors this weekend. Boom. First customer feedback.

Final Scoop

If Frank Papasso taught me anything (other than to carry napkins), it’s that dreams are fragile. They don’t wait around forever. And watching them melt without ever taking a bite? That’s not just sad—it’s kind of tragic. Don’t do that to yourself.

Go grab a spoon. Take one messy, imperfect, glorious bite right now.

Thanks for coming to my sticky TED Talk.