I have an uncanny memory of a lot of childhood detail. I can actually recall an event, possibly as young as 3 or 4, a birthday party, the dress I had on, it’s color, how it felt on my body, and most of all (for you to remain at all interested) I have the lovely and blessed recall of my feelings and observations at the time.

Tasked with writing blog posts for the new website, I have been more in tune with stories and small lessons throughout my days and how I might find some writing in them that would be useful to my readers.

Wendy, my 25-year associate and I were chatting about a client who had shown such a different side of himself after introducing my beautiful goldendoodle pup, Livvy to him. While our conversation at the time was about business and timing and agreements and all the business at hand, the moment he set eyes on Livvy and cooed, and fawned and changed his voice to reflect his strong love of dogs, I started seeing him through different eyes. I truly had never seen this side of him.

I have a beautiful lifetime friend who is fighting cancer with all her might. We text and message often and I make it a point to fill her with love, courage and hope. Today in our text exchange, she told me that her 2nd favorite movie is Dances with Wolves. The lead female character is named Stands With A Fist. She painted my heart with love today to tell me that I also, stand with a fist and I remind her of that special character.

I am still taken aback by this right now as I write.

In the early 90’s, (probably the 70’s and 80’s as well, truth be known), I hurt. My gut hurt, my shoulders and shoulder blades ached, most likely from an old auto injury I was in while pregnant with my 2nd son…and while I probably wasn’t aware of it, there were pieces of my soul that hurt too. Despite weekly massages and acupuncture and the beginning inklings of a deep knowing that part of this was emotional pain, I continued to carry around the yoke of all the ghostly injuries from my past and past mistakes that had literally constructed who I had become.