" I Deserve It … "

Many miles many roads I have traveled

Fallen down on the way

Many hearts many years have unraveled

Leading up to today ...

I have no regrets

There's nothing to forget

All the pain

Was worth it

Not running from the past

I tried to do what's best

I know that I deserve it

***

~ Madonna ~ I Deserve It ~

***

Have you ever thought about what you deserve in your life?  

And do you believe you deserve it?  

I love the saying, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” by Wayne Dyer, because we tend to get caught up in others opinions.  And this leads to making excuses as to why we don’t deserve the very best.  Think about it ... we don’t try to improve our relationship with our spouse rather we compare to much worse relationships and therefore we figure it is good enough.  Or we don’t reach for our dreams because we feel it may project selfishness.  

Realize that the only thing holding YOU back is YOU .... 

Personally, I started to make a list ... a list as to what I think I deserve, in hopes to live this code, and focus on what & whom I accept in my life.  This provides clarity, alignment and a release of what is blocking and propels me forward.  This, I believe, is in full support of the Universe.

The following is my list which I continue to add to … I Deserve ...

• GOOD HEALTH ~ my journey for the last 3 years has allowed me to take care of my body from the inside out.  I have learned a wealth of information regarding wellness, continue to do so and hope to continue to pay it forward

• LOVE ~ I am blessed to have meaningful friendships dating back to over 30 years, while others are still budding.  I am excited to meet more beautiful souls.

• PEACE ~ I support my mental health with meditation & yoga, as I am committed to keeping my practice going on my personal growth journey.

• HAPPINESS  ~ the key is to learn to live you dream ... love what you do and do what you love

• RESPECT ~ there is no room for relationships in my life that are not respectful as the serve you no purpose

• ABUNDANCE ~ I’ve developed the self-worth to know in my heart that I deserve success and abundance as equally as others

Knowing what you deserve and practicing what you deserve are two totally different things.  The bridge is ... commitment.  A commitment to yourself.  This involves times when you have to have the ability to speak up and stand your ground, say your truth because YOU now know what YOU deserve … 

" Thank-You … "

And so today, my world it smiles

Your hand in mine, we walk the miles

Thanks to you it will be done

For you to me are the only one

... Inspiration's what you are to me

Inspiration, look and see ...

Happiness, no more be sad

Happiness.... I’m glad

If the sun refused to shine

I would still be loving you

Mountains crumble to the sea

There will still be you and me

~ Led Zeppelin ~ Thank-You ~

***

This time of year we tend to look back at what we have endured.  2013 ... what a year, filled with highs and lows, joy and sorrow ... and made it through.  And, this year, I wanted to give thanks for all that I appreciate.

I am thankful for ... 

God
family’s love and support

the generosity and kindness of friends

my husband’s compassion

humility

forgiveness

second chances

my sense of humour

the lessons

a warm bed

roof over my head

meditation

yoga
writing

working from home

music

our band

my MacBookPro

Skype

good healthy food

LIFE ...

... Really the list goes on.  I genuinely believe that the happiest people are those who are grateful.  So this year, that meant an adjustment.  This year, I learned to be more grateful.  And I am, I am grateful to be alive, because things don’t work out they way you expect them to.  

Instead, I wanted to stop taking things for granted and see them as blessings.  I wanted to foster an attitude of gratitude in whatever circumstances.  I wanted to be grateful for each breath, each day.  And although, I still have many slip-ups, I can honestly say I’m a much more grateful person at the end of 2013 than at the beginning.

I plan to continue the gratitude attitude into 2014.  Having a blog platform, I hope to express it more often because there is always room to appreciate.

☯ May the new year bring peace, joy and health to you and your loved ones ☯

" Willing ... "

I wake with the wings of morning

To the light of a new day

Now my eyes are open

Through the darkest times

I find you

I find you always ...

I could break

Fall back into sorrow

Give me life

Make my faith much stronger ... 

Though I stumble ...

Though I fall

I'm willing

~ Times of Grace ~ Willing ~ 

***

Recently I heard a definition of the word Will and it resonated with me.  Understanding your personal will or willingness was defined as “the moment you realize that nothing outside of you can make you small”.  How powerful that statement really is ...

You hear about people losing their will to live, when they couldn’t hang on anymore, when there had no “reason” to go on, or when they lost their appetite for life.  I think if we are really honest with ourselves, we have all experienced times of despair, doubt and desperation.

So how do you get the space described above ... how do you regain the will to live?

By starting with acceptance.  Resistance to what is IS the source of suffering, therefore allow the natural flow of life to occur.  The reality is that it will occur with or without your participation.  And trust that there is nothing “wrong” with you.  The Divine did not place us here to suffer ... consider every experience a lesson, where victims are replaced with students.

The past is just a memory, a thought in the present.  The future is just anticipation, a thought in the present.  The only moment we have is this one, and this, and this and ...

Those who survive the most threatening situations find a reason to live ... they dig deep and have the will to carry on.  They realize the reason is not external and not temporary.  They understand unattached, unconditional joy.  And, they make a choice because in essence, life is a choice.  A choice to participate or sit this one out ... similar to walking in an amusement park without entering any of the attractions.  

Living day by day allows you to become less concerned about why you are here and what to do next ... and more appreciative about the NOW experience.  

There are two ways to live ... 

you can life as if nothing is a miracle; 

you can life as if everything is a miracle 

~ Albert Einstein 

" Great Expectations ... "

You've got great expectations 

You've got great expectations ... 

You've got great expectations, do you want to play the role 

You've got great expectations, you'd even sell me your soul ... 

You've got great expectations 

You've got great expectations 

~ KISS ~ Great Expectations ~ 

***

Expectations usually cause more stress than joy because we’ve attached ourselves to an outcome which is uncontrollable.  The disappointment happens when the kindness isn’t returned because what we imagined to be didn’t happen.   

Yet, when we release the need to control what we get, we also release suffering.  You see, tempering expectations of other people will reduce unnecessary frustrations and help you focus on the things that truly matter.

So how do we begin to do so ....

By realizing that we are not in the world to live up to the expectations of others, nor should others live up to ours.  The more you approve of your own decisions in life, the less approval you need from others.  Others progress or success has no connection to your life, because it is about spending your life happily in your own way.

By understanding that it is important to respect yourself more than anyone’s respect of you.  Have faith and trust in who you are and then the willingness to act upon it.  Your path, your purpose, your life.

By knowing your worth and spend time with those who value you because no matter how good you are to people, there will always be negative people who criticize.  Know that the toughest battle you’ll ever have to fight is the battle to be yourself.

By not expecting others to fit into your ideas of who they are.  Allowing others to be themselves is real love an respect ... start appreciating them for who they are instead of who you want them to be.

People rarely behave exactly the way you want them to.  The magnitude of your happiness will be directly proportional to your thoughts.  Remember that everyone deserves to be happy and live their live, not the life you want them to ... don’t let the opinions of others make you forget that.  

Releasing expectations doesn’t mean you give others the option to treat you thoughtlessly, it just means your motivations are aligned with giving with no strings attached.  And in the end, the people who care about you will naturally be there for you in return ... without any expectations for them to do so.

" Intentions ... "

The intent. I intend. The intentions of one will guide.

I strive to speak what I have learned 

and learn from those I see.

To step out of this life is my ambition.

To speak out and show you what I have seen ...

Stand with me and see what my eyes have seen.

Take my hand and let me show you what it is to love.

The intent. I intend. The intentions of one will guide ...

For you cannot love one until you have learned to love all.

~ We Came As Romans ~ Intentions ~

***

We get a vibe or a feeling ... we question if it is curiosity or care ... we don’t know if we should have faith or if we are being played.  True colours always prevail in the end.  As the best of intentions can just get in the way.

How so?   Just take a look at self-proclaimed motivational speakers, fitness “professionals” and religious leaders who strive to “inspire” you.  Yet their behaviour dictates otherwise and they don't practice what they preach.  Thankfully you can choose to release and move on into a more authentic environment.

So it begs to differ ... do you know what YOUR intentions are?  You see there are personal intentions and also intentions with regards to others.  I think it is best to consider your own intentions because the rest will fall into place.  Clear intentions have a way of assisting you to take greater control of your life ... and all the forces of the universe can align to have a miracle happen ... IF your intentions are pure.

Hope >>>> Possibility >>>> Actions >>>> Results

Some feel that intentions are too dream like and it is important to be realistic.  Because dreaming clouds our present reality, where we are at this moment, Here & Now.  But if you combine them ~ where we are (reality) and where we want to be (dreams and intentions) ~ we can make it happen.  And the beauty is, you don’t have to get anyone’s permission, you just have to allow yourself to receive.

Setting intentions every day is a great exercise ... as when you focus less on the unknowns and more on what you want to manifest.  An example for me is last year when I was faced with my disability claim ending, a job I didn’t want to go back to and the financial impact ... with clear and pure intentions, I put forth what I wanted, I set my intentions and made it happen.  

Freedom >>>> Flexibility >>>> Happiness

You see we are never too old to make a dream come true because when you set an intention and then act on it to demonstrate your commitment, AMAZING things occur ... Personally intention has helped me maintain composure & sanity, provided me fortitude ... and most importantly, a sense of humour.  Because sometimes you just got to have a good belly laugh and know all is well & life has, does and will go on.

You don’t need a major life goal to set intentions.  Intentions can be set on a daily basis.  I set mine in the morning when I wake up ... like to have a fun day, spend quality time with my loved ones, have a safe journey, learn something new, excel at a new song with the band, make a great presentation, be grounded .... it really can be as monumental or as simple as you want.

And I follow up with action ... demonstrating my commitment to my intention.  I acknowledge I did what I said I would ... making it clear to me and others just what I plan to do.  That not only can they can count on me but I can count on me.  So next time you set an intention, redefine what it means to be serious about your dreams ... don’t just act the part, be it.

"mean what you do, do what you say"

" Our Thoughts Align ... "

With our thoughts align

We could be anything we want

Don’t lose hope don’t lose your patience 

Keep me close and I’ll be content ... 

Just to keep moving on 

But you gave me the strength 

Just enough to get to you

~ Radio Racer ~ Our Thoughts Align ~

***

Practicing the alignment of your higher Self through the wisdom of your body and recognizing this connection when achieved is forever empowering.  Your purpose becomes clear, you are on track and your life begins to embrace a flow of grace and ease. 

Yet, most of us are running blindly, seeking instead our elusive higher Self and purpose, resulting in frustration levels that border on insanity.  We become so disconnected from life, people, and our callings that we change directions over and over without thought or pondering possible repercussions.  We become fearful and anxious about life without knowing why. 

I now understand that my higher Self wants me to be happy, even during inconsequential events that monopolize my daily life.  And my higher Self enjoys every experience that I have.  It understands my preferences and behavioral patterns that require more attention at the lower-frequency levels.  Additionally, it is intimately aware of the lessons I am incarnated to learn and gently pushes me toward those goals ... holding all my secrets and strengths, waiting for me to claim, but it is in no hurry.  It is always aware of my eternal and multidimensional nature, though I may not be aware of it ... the power within.

So how do I align to my higher Self ... I start by recognizing how my body feels when I am in alignment, as I work toward maintaining it by controlling the direction of my thoughts.  All positive or negative bodily feelings are rooted in my thoughts, so when your my feels as good as it can be, my thoughts are in alignment with my higher Self; when my body feels “off” in any way, my thoughts are misaligned.  

Extreme emotions such as joy, harmony, happiness, passion, peace, and exuberance result in full alignment.  Yet, the difficulty is that we rarely think in terms of alignment when things are going our way because we are too busy enjoying life, which is, after all, the purpose of living.  Usually we think in terms of alignment when we need it most ... when it is most elusive.

Regardless of conditioning, however, your higher Self knows what needs accomplishing in your earthly realm, and it will not guide to that which is not possible within the confines of your current existence.  Your higher Self teaches wonderful lessons and provides clarity constantly through the wisdom of your body ~ your heart feels open and your body feels as good as it gets ... you are in alignment with your higher Self because your body mirrors this.  Everything feels on course and you feel on purpose.  

" From This Moment ... "

From this moment as long as I live

I will love you, I promise you this

There is nothing I wouldn't give

From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love

And you're the answer to my prayers from up above

All we need is just the two of us

My dreams came true because of you

~ Shaina Twain ~ From This Moment ~

***

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity." 

~ Henry Van

Great quote and I only realized how each moment takes on a different dimension after being confronted with something like cancer.  When you are diagnosed with the disease and embark on a roller coaster of emotions, from anger to disbelief, you have the almost-stopped and dream like quality of time.

Living in the here and now ... the present.  Shifts you to live in the minute, moment by moment.  Since too much of our effort goes into wishing what was, or what is to be, we don't take the opportunity to live in the moment, whether it is good or bad. After all, time will never go faster or slower. It's only our perception of time that changes.

My current journey with breast cancer is primarily managed with a positive outlook on life.  Deep in my core, I always believed I would beat it ... with the odd doubt creeping in, I knew that this would not be the end of me.  And although not all my moments are nice ones, I realize that in those dark times and sad episodes, there has been opportunities.  There's the opportunity to really search inside my heart, mind and soul and sort through why this has happened ... leading to quite a personal transformation.  There's also the opportunity to make room for my loved ones and real friends ... enabling us to deepen our bond, cherish what we have, laugh, and rejoice.  

And then there's the most important opportunity of all. The realization that I can choose to appreciate every moment I have.  In between all that time I once wished away can be found so many small joys. There are little packages of happiness tucked away in all those little places that I wouldn’t have noticed if I was too intent on making my hurried way. And the realization of this is the gift that I, along with many other cancer survivors, share with you.  

There is a cliche saying “live life to the fullest.”  I’ve probably referred to this many times on this blog.  And although this saying is nice to state, it actually implies a deficiency in your life in the here and now.  How so?  Well we get caught up in what our lives could be or how much better our lives could be if only ... but my truth is living and knowing that my life is interesting just as it is right now.  

I often think If I were to view my life as a movie, I would be amazed of my internal struggles, my daily routines, my powerful potential, my interactions with others, my surroundings and my amazing growth.  My life is richer, I am stronger & I LOVE my life.

So celebrate these wonderful moments because every one of them is LIFE.  And as challenging as it may be, consciously choose to slow down, take in and appreciate them ... as we never know when it will be our last.

" Sweet Inspirations ... "

I need your sweet, sweet inspiration

I need you here on my mind every hour of the day
Without your sweet, sweet inspiration
The lonely hours of the day just don’t go my way
Inspiration, yeah, oh what a power
And I got the power every hour of the day
I need your sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet inspiration, yeah
To go on living, to keep on giving this way

~ The Temptations ~ Sweet Inspirations ~ 

***

I am humbled when I hear that I inspire others.  Being able to positively affect just one person is such a rewarding experience.  I truly desire to inspire the people around me by focusing on some fundamental principles of character and make them a part of my daily life.  

The beauty is that we all have the ability to positively impact the lives of others.  We can start by the way we carry ourselves and interact with others.  This directly impacts how much inspiration is drawn from being around us and is irrelevant to your place of employment, your salary or the way you look.

You see, it is a mistake to try and change others; real change can only come from within.  When we seek to ‘change’ others we are only met with frustration. However, we can inspire others if we lead by example ... 

Practice Sincerity ~ Sincerity means we act with honesty and integrity.  We can unmistakeably notice the difference between a sincere person and an insincere person.  An insincere person is driven by the winds of social attitudes.  A sincere person has faith in their actions  

Practice Encouragement ~ Encouragement is the best way to inspire others to do the right thing and become the right person.  Encouragement is infinitely more powerful than denigration.

Practice Humility ~ To act without expectation of reward.  To speak without trying to impress others. To be humble and able to follow our self.

Practice Happiness ~ Happiness is infectious because it is something we all aspire for.  We are inspired by those who brush aside difficulties and retain a cheerful attitude to the world.

Practice Detachment ~  Detachment means we are concerned and thoughtful, but not demanding.  We do not expect other people to behave in a certain way, instead we give others freedom to make their own choices.  All we can do is support and inspire others to do the right thing without being attached to the result. 

Practice Kindness ~ Acting with kindness is the easiest and smallest of acts ... it makes a world of difference, and people are inclined to follow our lead.

Practice Selflessness ~  To be selfless means putting other people first.  When we give of our self, we encourage others to do the same. We don’t want to emulate selfish people, but people with selfless motives.

Most of us will rise to the expectations of the people who believe in us.  And one of the best ways to help each other live meaningful, significant lives, is to set an example by living that kind of a life yourself. 

" I Hold No Grudge ... "

Yes I’m the kind of people

You can step on for a little while

But when I call it quits

Baby that’s it

I’m the kind of people

You can hurt once in a while

But crawling just ain’t my style

I hold no grudge

Deep inside me there’s no regrets

But a gal who’s been forgotten may forgive

But never once forget

~ Nina Simone ~ I Hold No Grudge ~

***

Grudges ... defined as “resentment strong enough to justify retailiation”.  Personal injustice ignites resentment in our hearts, which in turns into a grudge.  And everyone has, at some time or other, been hurt deeply by someone, so this is a natural human reaction  Yet when we want revenge instead of focusing on what we need to solve the problem, we  halt our healing.  And why do we want revenge?  Because we have developed bitterness about that person or situation.

You see when someone hurts you, your instant reaction is to hurt them back.  Our very nature spurs us to settle the score, to get even.  And the person who hurts us might not even know how angry and bitter we feel ... these emotions continue to aggravate at their supposed indifference.  Yet at all health levels the only one we hurt is ourselves.

Holding a grudge will only devour you from the inside out because YOU refuse to forgive the one who hurt you.  The price to pay is too high because life keeps running on rewind.  We allow ourselves to be handcuffed to the negative past, causing us to irrationally dwell, and allowing us to find blame for our present failures.

So how do you even begin to let go?  Start by altering how you view the situation.  You can’t change what happened, but you can change our attitude about it and reduce the power it has over you.  Of course you cannot fully erase the memory banks of your mind but you do have the power to refuse to think on past injustices, once forgiven. 

Ask yourself : At present, what purpose is holding onto that grudge serving you? 

It has probably poked holes in your energy bucket as fatigue is the faithful companion of a grudge.  You see we waste so much unconscious energy maintaining our grudge.  Instead we can choose to release it and welcome a new surge of  positive emotional and physical energy.  

Grudges are the domain of petty people, not YOU.  Why spend another moment being hung up on hate while present on earth.  Make the decision to kick it out of your life  ... the most it will cost you is happiness in the long run.

" Newborn ... "

Newborn ...

I've got someone seeing grace in me

Someone respecting me

I've got someone who's there for me

Someone saying prayers for me

For all the right reasons

~ Depeche Mode ~ Newborn ~

***

This weekend, I had an opportunity to celebrate the upcoming birth of a newborn.  My girlfriend Jasmeen and her husband are expecting their first baby this spring.  So exciting ... bringing so much joy in their lives and for those of us touched by them.  Thanks to my gorgeous girl, Rupi who hosted a wonderful afternoon, we showered Jasmeen with happiness and love ... keeping her body, mind and spirit in a blissful state.  Precious ♥

In the spirit of babies, recently I read that the expectant mother needs to sacrifice many things during her pregnancy, as she is being a given a gift of a lifetime, her precious newborn.  I read she should hear melodious songs, read revered books or beautiful literature, wear comfortable clothing, adorn herself with fragrant flowers and always be in a happy and serene atmosphere.  This increases her chances of giving birth to children who have better cognition, spatial and depth perception.  As well as avoiding packaged foods, restrict animal products and alcohol ensures a healthy baby.  And lowering stress and anxiety is crucial as this can lead to subtle changes in an unborn child’s development ... high signs of stress such as high blood pressure increase heart rates of their babies.

All this literature made me think ... why does this have to apply to only expectant mothers?  Just think ... apply the above to yourself as often as possible ... *sigh ... pure bliss!  We are just as important as our newborns.  We too are a gift and it is never to late to treat ourselves with a mother’s kindness and love ... loving kindness, the feeling of love, warmth and caring as the object.  You see, a mother’s love is unconditional - there are truly no strings attached.  So why do we attach strings?  Why do we beat ourselves up, tell ourselves it is too late or we are not good enough?

When we truly take care of ourselves and our bodies at all times, not just times when we are “suppose to”, we will have the same effect on ourselves as we would on a newborn ... for example, you wouldn’t feed your baby junk food, so why do you feed this to yourself?

So start off by imagining yourself as a kid ... wouldn’t you want the best for that kid?  Imagine showering that child with comfort, security, safety.  Continue to positively nourish that child's internal and external environment.  Now use that image as a way to cultivate a sincere wish for happiness for yourself ... a wish held within every one of your cells ....a wish to be truly happy ... a wish to embrace yourself with feelings of peace, bliss and joy ... unconditionally.  Precious ♥

"Two Kinds of People ..."

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919)

THERE are two kinds of people on the earth to-day;

Just two kinds of people, no more, I say

Not the sinner and the saint, for it's well understood,

The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,

You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,

Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years

Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,

Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go,you will find the earth's masses, 

Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,

There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you?  Are you easing the load,

Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share

Your portion of labor, and worry and care?

"Make That Connection ... "

"Oh what would I do...
I have this feeling...
It's never ever ever explained...
Yeah I'm afraid a part of my heart...
You know there's nothing I would not do...

I want to make that connection, that connection to you

I want to make that connection, that connection to you"

~ Tom Petty ~ Make That Connection ~

***

Relationships, friendships and other "connections" are dynamic.  Constantly changing.  Sometimes we handle the change, other times we welcome them, but most of the time it hits us up side the head and we are like ... what the heck was that?  Scratching your head you ask what do you do now, how do you handle it now and where do we go from here ... basically what does it "look" like ...

For me, my old patterns and habits were not very ahem ... mature.  In the past, when my relationships would change, I would immediately retreat back into my shell, and feel victimized.  And once I came out of my shell, watchout!  I was angry and wanted to hurt back to those who hurt first.  And I never gave it a thought that maybe they didn't hurt first?  Maybe they didn't really mean to make me feel left out, bad, sad, lonely, neglected and just not needed anymore?  Maybe, just maybe, it's not all about me ... LOL!  What? Really?  okay, okay just being a bit silly ... but seriously, we, and I mean the collective "we" usually think "we" have done something wrong.  And in some instances maybe we did.  

Now, with a different mindset, change is more satisfying.  And I use the changes I have endured in the this year as a template for change in other aspects of my life.  First, I take some time to myself, wrap my head around the situation and decide if, in a recent example, I still want this relationship in my life.  How important is it to me ... and when I listen to my heart, really listen, I KNOW my truth.  It is not a dependency, it is a true desire to have the person in my life.  That it is so worth the effort ~ I decide to reach out, reconnect and in some cases extend the olive branch ... making sure the olives are still on it!  I take responsibility of my own actions, not theirs.  Now, I express myself authentically.  I tell them I miss them.  I tell them I appreciate them.  I let them know I truly care and that I am okay with change.  Their change.  I accept them for who they are now and who they were.  I am there for them ...

So how does this all come about ... well here are a few mental notes help me to navigate gracefully ...

Relationships change happens to all of us ~ change happens every day, to everyone; it's the one constant in life, the thing that connects us all.  And when a relationship changes, it's natural to find it difficult. 

Something good will come ~ people who are good at relationship change always focus on the positive that will inevitably come from any transition.  Change may lead you to new people, help you develop a stronger faith and belief in yourself, give you new opportunities, or inspire you to live a healthier life. 

Turn to your change support team ~ One of the quickest ways to embrace change and move through it is to surround yourself with a team of supportive people.  These people are there to listen, support, and encourage you. They will keep you on a path of hope and optimism as you move through the transition.

Use your Spiritual strength ~ When everything is changing, it's important to find the part of yourself that doesn't change--your calm, centered, spiritual side, your higher self. It's the part that's connected to something greater and uses your intuition as a guide.

Accept change and take action ~ Go in the direction life is taking you and focus on re-aligning yourself with a plan of optimism on the future and not the past, with or without that relationship.  Make a plan that feels right, realistic and hopeful ~ something that resonates with YOU.

There is an opportunity to have some clearing, a new perspective ... for some to start over, others a "re-do".  A new friendship, a new relationship ... that has evolved to meet you both where you are today that is newly defined, mutually serving and with a fulfilling purpose.