An inspiring conversation ...

Last night in the midst of everything else I was feeling I had a conversation with a friend ... they shared with me their frustrations over their job ... they work in an office doing something that no longer offers the same appeal it once did ...

As we spoke I sensed that their heart just wasn't in thier work ... between the commute, time away from a young family, and a time and place at work that is simply NOT rewarding they are feeling the itch of wanting more ...

I know they are a gifted photographer ... and have been using computers since the days of Commodore Pets ... and enjoy being outside ...

We talked about taking a chance and trying something new as a hobby and maybe developing it into something MORE ... I suggested they take some of their pictures and make some note cards and framed prints that they could carry to some funky art and gift shoppes near them and see if they will take them on consignment ... or hang up their shingle and take photos ...

As we talked further he confessed that he likes taking photos for weddings of friends and family, but couldn't handle the pressure of doing it for strangers ... he then said what he would love to do is take people on photography expeditions - and show people how to see the landscape through the lens of a camera ...

"You leave near the Niagara Escarpment ..." I said, "start with afternoon trips through a local photography group ... get the word out and see what happens ..."

Then we talked about his enjoyment of putting together photo presentatiobs for birthdays, weddings and retirements ...

"Try doing it as a more than a hobby ..."

He then shared his enjoyment of taking old damaged photographs and pixel by pixel restoring them digitally for friends ...

"Hang your shingle ..." I suggested, "let people know you're interested in doing digital restoration and presentations and see what happens ..."

We then talked about being in a place where we enjoy ourselves and what we're doing ... he shared with me the hopes and dreams of his 8 year old daughter who recently told him she wanted to be a Doctor, an author, an artist, a mummy, and a couple of other professions ...

Father and daughter had talked about the mechanics of such a diverse and far-reaching dream ... she was undaunted by his adult cynicism ...

"Daddy," she thought, "I could be a Doctor on Mondays, an author on Tuesdays, an artist on Wednesday ..." and do on through the week, as she continued, "I could have time to be home on the weekend with my kids and you and mummy, and I could buy a house and ..." and on went the vision of what COULD be ...

"How do I tell her to be realistic without crushing her hopes?" he asked.

"WHY?" I countered, "WHY do you have to tell her to be realistic when she may be on to something that SHOWS the rest of US that we are being TOO staid and set in our ways ???"

Who says it isn't possible to live a life with a variety professions and careers ... particularly when we are following our heart and feeding our soul in the process ????

Maybe the key is to listen to the openness of a child and see the world without limits and boundaries that are formed by the cynicism of adulthood ...

Maybe we need to hear the voice of a child who can't see any good reason why she can't be five or six different things simultaneously ...

We tell our children to dream ... maybe we need to challenge ourselves to never lose sight of the "anything is possible" approach children bring to life ...

Like I've said - the world needs more dreamers ... thankfully, we have an unending store of them in our communities ... we just need to listen a little more !!!!