Meet Alex.

As I approached, I saw him talking with his friend Steve at the bus stop. Alex and Steve were an interesting pair, so even though the three of us were an unlikely match, I stopped to chat anyway. Because sometimes it’s good to learn from people most unlike you.

I’m not exactly sure why, but Alex and I engaged fairly easily and for some length. His story grabbed a piece of my heart. Perhaps he reminded me a bit of my sister’s days passed. Perhaps, I wondered, if I’m supposed to be chatting with more people like Alex?

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

This was his response.

Alex’s first reaction to my question was that he’d “do the same thing he’s doing now,” which he listed as the “music scene, going to shows, exploring, and art.”

But I probed further.

Alex gets general assistance from the state. Currently, he’s enrolled in a job program and has been looking for work. I asked him what kind of work he’s looking for. “Anything,” he said.

I probed further, and ultimately got to the good stuff of Alex’s dreams.

Ideally, if he didn’t have to worry about money at all, Alex would like to work 1-2 days a week, and then he’d really like to spend the rest of his time “doing shows,” selling art and clothing he’s designed.

Everything suddenly shifted.

I asked Alex if he’d designed his own vest. “Yes,” he said. I couldn’t help but reply, “That’s awesome! You have a gift, Alex.”

Alex designs clothes at home and in the coffee shop. He hasn’t tried to sell anything yet, but is “working on his designs.”

Alex shared that he attends an art program called Interact in downtown Minneapolis. He goes there several days a week to connect and “hang out” with people in the art community.

I encouraged Alex to get really connected at Interact, to find someone who could guide him and pour into his life. I reminded him that Interact might be the exact place he needs to be if he wants to do something with those designs. Now he just needs to figure out who has connections to the design industry, or who’s willing to take him under their wing and guide him.

So what can we learn from Alex?

A lot.

As I stood there talking with Alex, I wondered. Who has poured into this young man’s life? Who has been there for him along the way, encouraging him in the everyday? Who has been there to guide him, to love on him, to show him the way? Who has been there to foster his dreams, to tell him anything’s possible?

And I just had a hunch Alex really needed a lot more encouragement and guidance.

I also have to wonder. Do we disregard others’ dreams – as far fetched, totally impossible, not realistic – more than we realize?

If Alex was telling me the truth, that he really did design and make that vest by himself (which, by the way, is totally possible and probably likely), then clearly he has a gift for design and craftsmanship. Yet I know there’s someone out there who’d say he could’ve been lying to me about that vest. I get it. I suppose that’s possible. But he’s wearing his heart, dreams and desires loudly and boldly, right there on his chest.

So maybe I’m the one dreaming…

But if I’m not, let’s agree to this.

Let’s rally around people. Let’s encourage others on their journey. Let’s embrace others’ stories whether they’re like ours our not.

Does life seem impossible? Does a dream seem far fetched, like it’s never going to happen? Forget it. Let’s believe anything’s possible. For anyone.

I met Alex on a street corner at a bus stop. He’s on general assistance, but the guy has some dreams.

I wonder. I just wonder.

What would Alex’s life look like if one person really, truly poured into his life with love, encouragement, and ongoing one-on-one support. What would his life look life if two, three, four or five people poured into him on a regular basis?

If all things are possible, what could be possible for Alex? What could be possible for those designs he’s dreaming of?

I wonder. I just wonder.

So I ask…whose life can you pour into today?

 

 

 

*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.

Meet Kao Vang.

I’ll be honest. I needed a break from the street. So when I happened upon a clothing store, I went right in, willing to chat with anyone. It was then that I met Kao Vang.

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

This was her response.

Generally speaking, Kao Vang would “want a life that she’d enjoy and feel fulfilled.” She would do a lot of traveling. And she’d still work, but would primarily “invest in education” for herself and her daughter. She’d “get as much education as she could since she’d have all the money to do it.”

If Kao Vang didn’t have to worry about money at all, she’d get a degree in criminal psychology. Ultimately, she’d like to work for the United States government, do anti-terrorism work, or help soldiers with post traumatic stress disorder. Her daughter’s dad is in the military, so she’s “always been super supportive of anything military.”

Kao Vang realizes it would take a lot of schooling to make her dreams happen. Some years back, she was enrolled in school for nursing, but switched to psychology. She decided it was too difficult to go to college full-time, work full-time and care for her daughter, too, so she stopped going to school when her daughter was young.

Kao Vang is considering going back to school “in the next year or so.” Her daughter is becoming more independent. And Kao Vang has a good working relationship with her daughter’s dad, so she thinks they’d be able to divide care of their daughter in a way that would allow Kao Vang to re-enroll.

So what can we learn from Kao Vang?

If you need to go back to school in order to fulfill your dreams, just know it’s never too late.

Maybe you need to finish your high school degree, maybe you need to complete that GED. Maybe you started college, but never finished. Or maybe you always wanted your master’s degree, but never got it.

It is never too late. The opportunity has not passed.

If you want that degree, if you need that degree, if that degree is your dream? Then go for it.

Truly, I tell you. Go for it.

So tell me…is there anyone out there whose dream involves going back to school? I’d love to hear about it and encourage you on your journey.

 

 

 

*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.

Meet Steve.

We met at a bus stop. His bus was about to arrive, but we had a few minutes to chat in the in-between.

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

This was his response.

Steve said he’d “spend time out and about in Los Angeles or New York City.” He’d “hang out, meet new people, and enjoy the music scene.”

I asked Steve if he’d just want to hang out all day in LA or NYC, or was there something else he’d do to keep himself busy, like some sort of work or hobby.

Steve said he’d do “fire for a career.” He’d perform fire breathing and fire poi in Los Angeles or New York City.

Apparently, Steve’s already on his way to living his dream. Currently, he does fire breathing and manipulates fire staffs.

All I can say is go for it, dude. Make that move. Make that dream a reality. I would’ve never guessed this was your dream had we not spoken, but let me say, I can totally see you doing this. So believe in yourself, and know. This is possible.

So what can we learn from Steve?

Steve goes to show that you never know who you’ll meet on the street. And you’ll never know what dreams people have for their lives if you don’t ask.

Sometimes we stay in our little boxes. We don’t step out and meet people outside of our comfort zone.

What if you took a chance this week?

Be a little risky. Get a little uncomfortable. It was good for me, and it’ll be good for you, too.

Strike up conversation with someone who’s different than you. Find out who they are and what makes them tick. You might just discover someone like Steve, a fire breather disguised as a dude on the street. Who knew?

I’d love to know. What do you think about Steve’s dream? Have you ever met a fire breather? And oh yeah, I included a video demonstration of fire poi below in case you want to see what that’s all about.

 

 

 

*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.

Meet Jouaye.

I met him outside a McDonald’s in Uptown Minneapolis. He was hanging with a group of friends from the charter school he attends. It was a special field day for their visual arts and technology course. The students had just eaten and were gathering before their next event.

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

This was his response.

“I’d live happy with whoever I’m with.”

I was tempted to ask more, but didn’t. Jouaye had nothing further to add. His answer was more than acceptable. In fact, it was brilliant.

So what can we learn from Jouaye?

Jouaye’s response to my question was simple, yet profound.

Perhaps some of our greatest joys are found not in possessions, but in people. Perhaps our greatest fulfillment is found not in doing more or having more or being more, but just enjoying more of right where we are.

I’d love to know. What pieces can you take from Jouaye’s dream 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.

Meet Lisa.

She was volunteering at the Autism Speaks booth on the first floor of Mall of America when I passed. I have a special heart for all sorts of special needs, so the opportunity to connect with another individual from the autism spectrum disorder community was an honor.

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

This was her response.

Lisa was receptive, but wasn’t quick to answer. She was thoughtful, contemplative. This seemed to be a loaded question for her.

As I chatted with Lisa, I discovered she’s a lot like me. The way she responded was similar to the way I’d respond if a random stranger approached me with such a deep question. We spent 20-25 minutes together, which was the longest I’d spent interviewing anyone for the series at that point. I’m not a surface level person, nor is Lisa, so our time spent connecting was good. Every minute, a pleasure.

Lisa wanted to know more about me before we dove deeper into talk about her. I didn’t plan on diving deep or long with anyone when I conceived the series, but it’s in my nature, so how could I decline? I shared with Lisa, this “random stranger,” bits and pieces of my own dreams. Perhaps this helped her see me as a real person rather than some random blogger asking a random question? The truth is, if you’re willing to be completely authentic and go deep with me, I’ll go deep with you. Period. So, thank you Lisa, for your heart, for your contemplative nature, for your sincerity and sensitivity.

When Lisa and I got around to addressing the question “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?,” Lisa shared this.

Her son has autism. He’s 15 years old and was diagnosed when he was two years old. If she didn’t have to worry about money, she’d “get him all the therapies he needs,” and “everything he needs to support himself and be independent.” Lisa would “do what [she] could to make life easier for her family.”

I asked Lisa one of the most sensitive and difficult questions you could ever ask a parent of a child who has special needs. “Do you feel like you had to forgo or change the dreams you had for your life because of your son’s special needs?” Lisa responded simply. “It is what it is.” Sometimes, yes, you feel like a prisoner. It’s “just challenging and hard and different,” she said. She’s not looking for pity. She’s looking for “understanding and support.”

Lisa recognizes that she’s not alone in parenting a child with special needs. She’s aware of all the parents who face similar, even more challenging situations than her own. So she doesn’t feel sorry for herself. She loves her son and wouldn’t trade him for the world.

As Lisa said, it just “is what it is.”

Lisa’s husband is self-employed as a contractor, so fortunately, “they don’t have to rely on her income” for the family’s finances. Before her son’s diagnosis, Lisa was home, but she “never intended to be home so much.” Lisa works in direct sales as she’s able. Her hours are flexible. It’s been hard for her to commit to a regular full-time job because of their son’s special needs. If she had her choice, she’d rather do something “more consistent” that “pays every week,” but direct sales allow her the flexibility she needs to change her course at any minute to be with her son.

Lisa and her husband chose to have one child only. They’ve committed to their marriage and want to do everything to keep that strong.

Lisa would do “a ton more traveling if [she] could.” Recently, she had the amazing blessing of traveling to Africa for a month. This was something that had been on her bucket list, so her husband modified his work schedule for the month so he could care for their son after school and during evenings and weekends, and they committed to making this happen for Lisa.

I loved the way Lisa’s eyes lit up when she spoke of Africa. I knew it had moved her heart. I knew the trip had touched her in ways she’d always dreamed of. I knew that experience would stay with her for a lifetime.

My biggest prayer for Lisa is that she’ll find creative ways to check off more of those bucket list items in years to come.

So what can we learn from Lisa?

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. The hopes and dreams we have for our lives can change dramatically, in the blink of an eye. But we must persist. We must make the best. We must love, anyway. We must trust, anyway. That God works all things together for those who love Him. That He will bring bits of beauty up from the ashes, anyway. That He can make our littlest and biggest dreams come true, anyway. Even when life’s not easy. So get out that bucket list. And don’t forget it. Because God can make a way, even when the way seems impossible.

I’d love to know. Do you connect with Lisa’s story? Is there some nugget of wisdom 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.