I went to a show last night... a dress rehearsal for a upcoming road show. The only info I had prior to was that it was 30 minutes outside of Nashville and show up at 6. Ok that was not quite all but I knew enough that this was an important event for a friend. My mantra of late has been to "keep showing up" to opportunities, to new things, to life. I'm working hard not to repeat the patterns of my past or those patterns that paralyze me. It's not easy but is getting easier. So I show up.

While I watched this production, I noticed a little girl sitting behind me wide eyed with wonder. She was maybe 5. We made friends at the intermission, over a game of peek-a-boo. As the second act started, I offered her my chair on the front row just by the stage. Her mom encouraged her and stayed right behind.  

I watched my new little friend watch big people sing and dance and live their dreams. The Sun Chips she clutched were her security blanket. They eventually just sat in her lap as she lost herself in the music. She tired in the second act and soon her brother started a meltdown so she was off to bed. With a pinky promise given and a high five. 

Today I ran and walked with friends who remembered their own dreams and some who need to be reminded of them. We talked of our 9 yr old selves or 19 yr old selves that still live in us and the little girls that need tending. 

Too often we think we "grow up" when instead I think we "grow away". Away from who we are or thought we were or even who we want to be. And it takes someone to invite us to the front row of our lives to help us see ourselves again. Older sure but still the little ones we were. 

I give thanks for those who are helping me put the pieces back. Some pull those pieces from a long long time ago. Some remind of my place here where I am. Some are reminding me of new ways to be. 

As we go along and re-member ourselves, I hope as we get tired, we continue to dream and hope and sit on the front row of life. All in the the thick of it. Together. We really can't do it any other way.