Just as how everything in the universe is a product of two opposing forces, one's life is a product of compromise between fantasy and reality.
As we continue to be held back by limitations of any kind, we soon learn that fantasies are nothing more than daydreams, something that we cannot reach on the current state we are in. We are bound to face the mundane reality of daily life, moving along with our repetitive routines and compulsions. Still, despite the powerful force of gravity holding us to the ground, humankind has always dreamed of flying beyond the stars. And this is not a futile dream.
The meeting point, the center of compromise between daydreams and reality is our dreams, which are both partially realistic and partially unrealistic. Because humankind has always dreamed of flying, they unconsciously work towards that goal even if they sometimes consciously sabotage themselves. Nowadays, we have an abundance of gliders, airplanes, jetpacks, and spaceships — everyone can now fly whenever they will. Yet our dream of flight didn't end there.
From one perspective, it appears that we have reached our dreams as anyone can now easily ride on airplanes to travel in different countries. However, from another perspective, it's not that we have achieved our dream, it's that our dreams simply got farther which is why the center of compromise was highly upgraded. We didn't forget about our dream of flight, we simply moved the goalpost towards a much farther place so we have more space to run.
Despite everyone being born from dirt, humans have always aspired for the stars. Even if they were to learn how to fly, most of them, will most likely spend their days on the ground for ages to come. Still, I am convinced that we are pulled by the gravity of our dreams just as how we are constantly being pulled by the gravity of death. We tend to strive for the stars just as much we are pulled under the ground. Those with bigger dreams tend to be pulled by the gravity of their dreams with an ever-increasing center of compromise.
Naturally, those who dream big tend to develop vast imaginations and those with vast imaginations tend to dream big. But whether one has the capacity to achieve their dreams is a matter of will. Will, or willpower as we know it, seems to be about the ability to do extremely difficult stuff for lengthy periods of time, just as how we were made to believe by the movies and animes we watched. While this can be true in some cases, one doesn't always grow from exerting themselves to the limit — most of the time, they just break apart.
Perhaps a strong will isn't just about shouting loud to get stronger and overcome challenges. (Ugh I forgot how to transition from here to definition without using the pronoun "I", nvm I remember now.)
Indeed, a strong will may take many forms but its most basic form can be seen in one's ability to hold onto their big dreams even when it seems that they're not getting closer to it at all. After all, life changes slowly at first, then all at once. Those who can hold their dreams to the very end will eventually be pulled by its gravity. Those who keep extending their hands to the stars every night will eventually reach it.
Then when one has reached their star, they naturally perish for they have accomplished their purpose, just as how anything in the world disappears when they have accomplished their purpose. There is no more meaningful life and death than to perish under the blazing fire of one's dreams.