I Want To Talk To You

My writing has been a way for me to share myself with you and to connect in a more authentic way. I have had to push past the fear of “what will they think” to a place where I know what I am doing is hitting a nerve because we ALL feel shame and pain and embarrassment and every other human emotion.

Even as a child, I have always been someone who shied away from small talk. I have always liked the BIG questions, the deeper stuff.

In my work, I am finally able to write the truth; to share the BIG stuff, and I feel such a release in being able to do it and it has started conversations with people I never would have started, otherwise.

It has connected me to YOU, and I am so deeply grateful to you that it’s hard to put my feelings into words.

So I will simply say, thank you.

Thank you for allowing me to share myself and start conversations with you. I am blown away by the number of people who have reached out and shared their shameful, embarrassing, painful, joyful, beautiful stories with me.

I treat them like gifts, and I receive them as such.

Thank you for trusting me with them. I am blessed.

Starting Conversations

Over the weekend, we celebrated Roger’s and my brother’s birthdays. They are 6 days apart (and a few years!) but we have made this a tradition for the 7 years Roger and I have been together, and so we always plan a fun outing and a meal together. I also always combine it with a back-to-school gift for the kids.

This year, we celebrated at Boldt castle in the 1000 islands.  If you are ever in the area, it is a MUST!! What a spectacular castle and the boat ride over is incredible. Some of the wealthiest US and Canadian residents live on the 1800 pretty islands, and so every unique property is a feast for the eyes.

But nothing, nothing can compare to Heart Island with the incredible Boldt castle standing tall and magnificent. It is breathtaking!

The story of the castle is heartbreakingly beautiful and The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority has done amazing work to restore and improve upon the property over the 40 years they have owned it. We enjoyed our time very much and spent hours wandering the halls, enjoying the rooms and meandering through the immaculate grounds.

Afterwards, we sat on the patio of one of the restaurants on the mainland and enjoyed a meal together. It was time to gift the kids with something I have been excited to share with them since I learned about it.

The Key Jar.

Glennon Doyle Melton, one of my sheroes, got the idea from one of her child's teachers to have a jar filled with questions. This jar is "magical" because instead of hearing "fine" when we ask our kids "how was your day?", we hear things like "I am afraid of being alone..." when we ask "what are you most afraid of?..."

These questions spur conversations that help unlock the hearts of our children, and I wanted to gift this magical jar to my niece and nephew for their Back-to-School gift. They loved it! Right away, they started thinking and answering and I believe it will become a lovely way for the family to connect and communicate over meals and in the car and anywhere else they choose to use it.

I wanted to share the Key Jar with you, so here is Glennon's post with everything you need to make your very own! The design is done by Glennon's cousin Erin, and so it is very cute and the questions will help you connect in such a deep and meaningful way to your children. I thought you might like to give it to the children in your life as a back-to-school gift.

Thank you, Glennon, for helping countless families connect to one another in a deeper, more meaningful way. You are an amazing mother and communicator and you are a gift to all of us. I feel so lucky to be living in a world with you in it. 

And I feel so blessed to be connecting to you, my beloved readers, through my writing and through my work.

I am humbled that you are here, with me.

I am grateful every day for you.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Keep asking questions. Keep finding meaning. Keep loving fiercely.

Because I want you to love your life one bite at a time.

P.S. Glennon's highly anticipated new book, Love Warrior, is available TODAY!!!! I am so excited and can't wait to dive in. If you are not familiar with her work, please, please trust me...she is an incredibly talented writer, truth teller...and love warrior. http://lovewarriorbook.com/

P.P.S To learn more about my story while also kicking a sugar habit, check out my new book, The 28 Day Kick The Sugar Challenge, where I share more of myself and how I used health and fitness to overcome my addictions to alcohol and sugar, while also developing a greater sense of self-trust, self-respect and self-love. I would be honoured to help you do the same.