Buried Dreams

I met with a wonderful young couple from Belmont University last night. I had met this young man two years ago and loved he and his family. Now he has a charming girlfriend to add to the mix.
It was so refreshing to listen to young people who are not tainted by life; who want to live out their hearts desires.
As we talked they told about their journeys to stay true to self; how as adults we try to tell them what is right for them. It was apparent that they were fighting against the voices of well-meaning adults who may have missed out on their dreams and were putting their hopes and dreams on the young.
The honesty that came from the hearts at Starbucks last night: they don't have all of the answers, they don't NEED all of the answers yet; they want to be happy in their lives and if that is working and making less than their parents did - that is okay; they want to follow their life's path.
I saw the innocence in their faces, I saw hope, I saw honesty.
For a moment I felt a twinge of regret. For the dreams that I allowed to be buried for so many years, for the times that I sold out for things that made sense to others, for 'lost' years.
Then I looked up and was reminded of the good that came from every one of those decisions, the people that I met along the way, and the lessons that I learned.
I dropped to my knees and said a prayer of thanks!