"A good job with benefits"

“Get a good job with benefits,” are the words of wisdom often shared with me while growing up. So! After college, I got a good job with benefits. Within a year of graduating from college with a degree in Computer Science and starting my new career as a Programmer Analyst making a relatively lucrative salary – with benefits, I found myself leaving work early on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “This can’t be it,” I thought frantically to myself. Before that day, life had happened just as I planned – graduate from high school, go to college, graduate from college, get a good job – with benefits. What next? I had absolutely no idea. I knew that I was very unhappy in my career and I had the urge to make a difference in the world not really knowing how.

Though my BFF, Daphne and I were 500 miles apart with her in Mobile, AL and I in Knoxville, TN, she and I made sure that we’d call each other every Saturday which became known as our “Saturday Talks”. We would spend hours on the phone sharing our thoughts, dreams, and aspirations of wanting to do more than what we were currently doing. We knew life had to offer more than the typical 8-5 job and neither of us could imagine living the rest of our lives in this manner. we would always leave the call inspired and ready to do something. Daphne is by far one of the most musically talented people on the face of this earth so likely she would do something in music. Me, well, I was a good listener or at least that’s all I could think of as my talent. Oh yes, I like to motivate people, too.

Ten years after graduating from college, I am now living in Dallas, TX working in a good job with benefits….still miserable. However, the difference today is I now know where my passion lies. I am aspiring to be a motivational speaker and author focused on empowering women to lead more fulfilling lives. Unfortunately, like Daphne, I have sat on my dream and opted to continue on the wrong path. Well, I tell you, “NO MORE”! I can no longer deny myself the opportunity that I am wanting other women to achieve. As a result, Daphne and I came up with the idea of the BFF Dream Catcher blog. The goal is to inspire others on similar paths while holding us accountable not only to each other but to those of you who will follow us on this journey.

- Tonya