childhood dreams

I've been thinking a lot about my dream job the past couple of weeks.  Even if I don't have the background in it, I jotted it down on a list - a list of things I think I'd like to do.  This got me thinking about my childhood dream job.  I feel like every kid gets asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  I only remember a few things, but jotted them down on this same list.  Here's all that I have so far (in no particular order):

          -First female race car driver

          -Field reporter

          -High school guidance counselor

          -Work with children with special needs (like at Jill's House)

          -Interior designer

          -Missionary in Africa

          -Dancer

          -Work with at-risk youth

          -Greeting card writer

          -Baker (owner of a baked goods shop; cupcakes are all the rage right now)

          -Head of women's ministry

          -Photographer

          -Grocery store clerk

          -Philanthropist, serving those in need

          -Stewardess

          -TV production manager of a talk show

          -Talk show host (my big mouth does get me in trouble at work)

          -Self-esteem booster

          -Advertising executive

          -Pharmaceutical sales rep

          -Actress

          -World changer

So I know a lot of these are silly, others far-fetched, and some could really just be hobbies.  I don't want my current job to define who I am as a person.  I want to do something that makes an impact - something fulfilling.  Why am I in my current job right now?  I know that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be right now, but am ready for new opportunities.  My good friend Brian pointed out that I lack direction, which is absolutely true.  As you can tell from my dream list, I'm all over the map - I don't even know what area of work I want to go in.  I feel like some kids grow up knowing they want to be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher - whereas I've never known what I wanted to be.

There was a point in my life when I wanted to be a singer, but it turns out I don't have a good voice.

Some of my childhood dreams are so silly, they're just straight up embarrassing.  Grocery store clerk?  Really??  That's right, folks.  When my Mom brought home the groceries, I would take them out of the bags and scan them ("beep" them) over the scanner (aka the kitchen counter).  Of course this would make her upset because I never helped her put the groceries away.  Or the time when I wanted to own a lemonade stand.  My childhood friend Sara and I set up camp in the backyard selling ice tea to golfers.  

Childhood dream - entrepreneur?

Later on, I found out that my Dad would add water to the ice tea to dilute it in effort to improve my profit margin, without ruining the flavor of course.  Thanks Mom and Dad, for supporting me through all of my dreams, regardless of how silly they were (and are!).  I'm trying to find a good balance of what I'm good at, what I like to do, and what pays the bills.  Is this realistic?  Are childhood dreams simply dreams, or can they become a reality?

What was your childhood dream?

xo-A