Meet Jenny. 

She stood at the back of the store behind the candy display. Her back was facing me and she appeared to be working on something at the counter. I’m not really sure why I was drawn to her, particularly since all I could see was the back of her head, but where God leads, God leads.

I asked Jenny one question. “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

This was her response.

“I think I have a few things,” she said.

And as Jenny proceeded to tell me her dreams, she wasn’t just sharing a “few things” off the top of her head. These were the “few things” she’d dreamed about with all her heart for a long, long time.

Jenny would like to open her own coffee and confection shop.

But the dream doesn’t stop there.

She’d set up her coffee and confection shop so “everyone gets fair pay and benefits.” She’d do a lot of donating to people in need and those less fortunate. She’d just give “fully, as much as needed.”

But her dream doesn’t stop there.

She’d also like to open her own shelter. She’d want to open a shelter that’s “pretty big so there’s enough room for everyone.” And she’d want to serve “better quality food” that’s not just cafeteria food, but “more nourishing.”

Jenny went to LeCordon Bleu culinary school for a while, but couldn’t get enough money to finish. She also has her eyes on a barista school in Portland, Oregon, but if that’s going to happen, she’ll need money to pay for it up front. Because of these experiences, another part of her dream is to “give grants or loans to people who can’t seem to make it through school.”

Jenny knows she’s moving in the right direction to achieve her dreams. Working in the candy and coffee shop has been a good experience, and has helped refine her vision.

“Hopefully one day I’ll be able to make those dreams come true,” she said.

I assured her three or four times YES.

So what can we learn from Jenny?

Dream big. Really big.

Plan a little. Or a lot.

Make wise decisions and take small steps towards your dreams.

Keep pursuing and keep persisting. Obstacles will be overcome and roadblocks will be moved if that dream’s meant to be.

Always believe your dreams can come true.

For all things are possible.

So tell me…is there something from Jenny’s story that you can take and apply to your own life? 

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.