Big Dreams

Last weekend my cousin’s daughter got married. I hadn’t been to a wedding in years. It was delightful, all the romance and excitement. The pictures, the flowers, the food, the dress! Wow. But the part I enjoyed the most was talking to all the young people.

This was a big wedding. There were eight attendants. They were all so happy and excited to be a part of the big day. It was my pleasure to visit with them at the reception. After we discussed all the thrills of the day and getting married it was interesting to ask questions about their own lives. The excitement of new beginnings was infectious.

I heard from one young woman about her desire to learn Mandarin and work for the state department. She’s going China this June for a year of study. Another young lady told me all about her love of music and helping musicians with their careers. She is starting a consulting business. And a third fresh face told me about her own wedding plans. In May she’ll be the bride walking down the aisle. Big plans and dreams all round.

I smiled, they all seemed to have the world by the tail. Rushing out to follow their dreams and conquer any obstacles in the way. I could see they had put much hope and thought into their plans. Some times as an older gal I dismiss youthful ideas as untested or foolish. But at this wedding I was reminded of the excitement of dreams and the potential for all things bright and beautiful to begin.

I was glad they had shared their excitement with me. It is a good idea to follow a dream while you are young after all you don’t know what you don’t know. If you are wise you forge ahead learning as you go. However the lesson I received from these lovely ladies was it’s not too late for me to follow dreams too.

Their enthusiasm was contagious. A fantastic journey starts at any age. Youth shows the way fearlessly. I could have said their dreams are so big or hard to accomplish instead I reveled in the lesson they were teaching me: Go for it! Take a chance! Follow your heart! See where it will all lead!

This old heart is thanking the wide-eyed thrill of youth for the reminder of new beginnings.