What Do You Do With a Dream?
(Source: Unsplash/Sigmund.)
While out shopping the other day, I grabbed a new jigsaw puzzle on impulse. Its illustrated image was a charming scene: an autumn market, with various stalls and vendors selling jams, herbs, baked goods, flowers, produce, etc., nestled among trees with orange leaves, and buzzing with shoppers wearing cozy scarves and carrying adorable tote bags. Totally idyllic. Basically, the puzzle equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte.
We didn’t need another puzzle on our already overflowing games shelf, but just looking at it made me feel relaxed and happy, especially as I anticipated a quiet evening working on it with my daughter while her siblings were at their piano lessons.
As we were puzzling that evening, we chatted about this fantasy fall market: which booths we liked best (her vote: jam and baked goods, mine: cheese and flowers), and wouldn’t it be amazing if we had something like this in our neighborhood? It could be a great place to meet up with a friend, or a place my kids could venture on their own, a starting place for new businesses to test out their offerings… My thoughts turned to imagining the perfect spot for it, which vendors I’d want there to be, what décor would look just right. I could almost smell the apple cider.
Most of us have probably found ourselves with one of these dreams, yearning for something special in our neighborhood or town, and envisioning all the details. (I have also had a long-standing dream of opening a coffee shop. Or bakery. Or children’s bookstore. You get the idea.) But often dreams like these stop here, at the imagination stage, never to come to fruition.
Is there anything wrong with a dream you don’t take action on? Of course not, but it can sure be discouraging to feel like you have a great idea, but for whatever reason, you have no practical way to make it happen.
I think that looking at your “better place” dream in a different way may change how you see it and whether you do anything with it.
Start With the Seed
It’s easy to forget: the next smallest step really can be pretty small. You can take some element of your dream and do something special with it. In thinking about my fall market daydream, what appeals to me as much as the concept itself is the chance to indulge in that cozy fall feeling and share that enjoyment with my neighbors. What’s a small way that I could make that happen? Now that lemonade season is over, how about a hot apple cider stand?
Take Stock
It's helpful to assess what is actually happening in your neighborhood or town. For instance, our neighborhood association holds a spring market, and another community organization nearby puts on a wildly successful night market during the summer. Maybe a fall or winter market is actually on the horizon already! Taking stock can remind you of what good things are already happening and that you can feel encouraged by.
Build on Something That Already Exists
Just as productive places are the result of many small steps building on each other, this is often the case for successful projects and events. Our neighborhood spring market started as a plant and seed swap. The next year, we added a bake sale. The following year, we added some live music for ambience. Next, we invited some vendors. This evolution took several years. Rather than starting from scratch, ask yourself whether there’s already something out there that could be built on.
Just Be Inspired
Your dream can simply serve as a reminder to explore often. In checking out other parts of town or attending events that pique your interest, you might discover a new cafe, make a new acquaintance, or stumble upon a wonderful park. Seeking out interesting and enjoyable places, and maybe finding a new or hidden gem along the way, is a great balm when I get stuck in a bit of a negative civic rut.
I think it’s also worth remembering that what you do with your dream doesn’t need to be limited to the specific thing it’s about. Spending time envisioning a better place can help you recognize when someone else is doing something great in your neighborhood or town, and supporting them—or at least not getting in the way.
Or, a dream can simply be symbolic of big-picture attributes or amenities you’d like to see. In the case of the fall market, I think at its root, the dream is also about longing for beautiful and comfortable public spaces, walkable shopping, and more access to local food.
Most of us have dreams of something. Whatever yours is, if you feel compelled to take action, remember that you don’t need to start at the final product. You can start with the end in mind, and let it serve as a guide or inspiration for that first step. That step may be the first in achieving your dream—or evolving into something completely different. Maybe someone will be inspired by your action and run with an idea. The possibilities are endless, and one thing is for sure: every little bit helps.
A city is never finished, and it’s built on the dreams and small actions of everyday people, just like us.
RELATED STORIES
You can make your town a Strong Town. Learn how to host a Community Action Lab in 2024.
Emma Durand-Wood likes walkable cities, front porches, street trees, bumping into neighbors, riding her bike, downtowns, and any excuse to check out a new coffee shop, bakery, or shop. A Winnipegger by choice, she lives in Elmwood with her husband and three children. You can connect with her on Twitter @emmaewood.