This is your life

I have been privileged to serve on a staff for a training for 20 teens over the past three days.  It was an amazing, uplifting and inspiring experience.  I find, at times, that I fall into the trap of invalidating the opinions, concerns, insights and voices of children, especially teenage children.   I am so clear, in this moment, that I am totally ripping myself off when I do.

These teens came from all different walks of life, and yet they had one thing in common - a desire to be accepted.  Sadly, many of them also shared in common a belief that they would never be accepted for who they are.  They walked in Thursday afternoon as strangers -fairly closed, mostly untrusting, a little frightened and somewhat resistant.  They walked out on Saturday night as a group of friends, trusting themselves and each other, knowing who they are, and having an idea of their worth.

Over the three days, these kids dug deep and showed up huge, for each other, and more importantly, for themselves.  They stepped through fear and found their demons.  Watching them conquer the things that hold them back in life was an incredible inspiration to me.  I walked away a better person for having witnessed their transformation.

There was a song played during the training, the lyrics of which were very significant: "This is your life, are you who you want to be?"  We have one life, one shot to be who we want to be.  In the end, they were each seeking to be loved, respected and accepted for who they are.  Isn't that what we all want?  This is YOUR life . . .