When I was a kid, I had a lot of dreams. And everyone encouraged me to DREAM BIG. So I did. Then I became an adult and the encouragement from the wider world for dreaming seemed to end. It was time to be 'realistic.' It was time to realize that the things I loved, like music and language, were meant to be hobbies now, while I spent the majority of my time engaged in the 'real' world. I still had the ability to conceive of a fantastic dream, but when I did I kept it to myself. Sadly, there were even some dreams that I scrupulously hid from myself (a strategy that rarely works).  One of my most cherished dreams was to make my living as a singer. I had no training in singing, nor any musical education that would place me in a school teaching.   So I listened to career counselors who told me that music would be a great avocation and continued to sing into my hairbrush in my bedroom at night imagining the crowd in front of me. Things might have continued this way but for a few people in my life who still seemed not only interested in my dreams, but thought they might be possible. My parents and my husband, Neal, not only believed I could have a career in music, they offered their help and encouragement at every turn. Now I've earned my living as a full time singer for over 20 years. After concerts, people come up and say "I wish I could do what you do" and they don't mean play the guitar and sing. They usually mean, "I wish I could pursue one of my dreams and see what would happen." So now I have another dream. I want to help other people with their dreams! I want to be one of the people in their lives who doesn't scoff or laugh when they hear their ideas, be someone who helps them recognize the choices that will face them if they pursue what they want, and one to congratulate them when they see their dreams become reality. Because I've done it, I've been there, and I know that sometimes the only difference between seeing your dreams come true and shunting them off to the crazy idea scrap heap, is one person. One person who is willing to listen, offer feedback, and encourage you.In pursuit of my new dream, I've gone back to school. I'll be finishing my M.A. in Human Development with a concentration in coaching and creativity in the summer of 2008. I would love to talk with you about the dreams that you'd like to see come true in your life. Some people call what I'm doing coaching, others consulting, or even mentoring. It really doesn't matter what you call it - what it means is that I'll work with you to discover, encourage and celebrate your own unique dreams.  I am open to all and any questions about how this works, so to contact me, please call 612-929-0572 or email music@nealandleandra.com. I'll look forward to it!