The American Dream and The Self-Made Man

I have been thinking a lot about what I want in my life. What can I do to make my life have meaning or to take care of myself and my family. I want my “American Dream”. I looked up The American Dream and this is what I found.

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States of America in which democratic ideals are perceived as a promise of prosperity for its people. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence which states that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream

For me to be happy I need to be stable. I don’t want to become stagnant though. I want to work. Through work I want to learn. And I never want to stop learning. I want to make something that will last, something that is mine, which I made with my own hands. I want this for my family. I want this for my family not only because they will be stable but because of what it teaches. I want my children to be hard working and productive. I want them to think and ponder and ever growing.

This takes me to The Self-Made Man.

The Self-Made Man is as old as the United States. Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is also sometimes said to have co-founded that very concept. In his Autobiography, he describes his way from a poor, unknown son of a candle-maker to a very successful business man and highly acknowledged member of the American society. Franklin creates the archetype of someone coming from low origins, who, against all odds, breaks out of his inherited social position, climbs up the social ladder and creates a new identity for himself. Key factors in this rise from rags to riches are hard work and a solid moral foundation. Franklin also stresses the significance of education for self-improvement.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Made_Men_(Frederick_Douglass)

In America we have wealth. We are the wealthiest country there is. But what do we really have? We have debt, and the idea of “what is the littlest I can do to get the most”. And above all we want it Right Now. I will not pass these ideas to my children. I will give them "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" through hard work and learning.I am married and have a 6 month old son. With in 2 years from now I want to be self sufficient. I want my own land. I want to grow crops. I want to build my own house. I want to learn. I want to be a Self-Made Man. Over the next few years I want to go through the process of how I try to make my Dream come true. I would like to encourage all that read this to do the same.