What happens on retreat, stays on retreat!

What happens on retreat – stays on retreat!  

Absolutely, but here are some trends you might be interested in, especially if you are thinking it might be for you.  Plus, I know you people and you are super curious 

So, who attended?

I reckon this will be the most asked question of all.  I will not tell you, as this is definitely one of the things that stays on retreat.

The design your life on purpose method attracts 2 types of people:

1.     Know Exactly - Peeps who know exactly what they want to do, but are unsure how or have some blocks to overcome

2.     No Idea - Peeps who are unsure what they want to design their life around, or know what they do not want

Interestingly, this retreat had exactly 50/50 split of the two camps.

The Experience….

Everything was designed to create light filled calmness and a dream like atmosphere to allow people to go deep, and we did go deep.  Yes, tears were shed, and not just by the participants.  When you are working through creating the life that suits you perfectly, and not everyone else in your circle, it can be liberating and your eyes tend to leak a little.

The room was set up, with Covid Safe spacing and to allow everyone to spread right out.  No boring board room set up here. 

The Hive

Orange, NSW

Throughout the 2 days the participants were supported with template and reminders to help them anchor and support the new strategic life plan they were creating. 

As early adopters also received some one-off items to remind them of the experience. 

It’s all about the Merch

How was it for the participants?

Even if you knew exactly what you wanted to design your life around, the day 1 activities dislodged some other thoughts, which morphed their approach.

When you give yourself permission and are supported, you find that things emerge you were not expecting.  You have the space and permission (which you gave yourself by investing the time) to play around with them and explore them from all angles, without having to make a decision by 5pm.

THEMES….

 Banned words

 Because there was a little bit of leakage in the eye area (tears) there started to emerge a theme of apologising for emotions.  So as a group we decided to ban the words:

 Sorry and Just

 We wanted people to be able to feel what they felt and say what they needed to say, without any qualifications.  

 The right path

All of the participants reflected on the need to have some time to “Invest in something that will get me on the right path”.

2020 was tough right

The participants also needed the time and space to process everything that 2020 uncovered, they needed time to “reflect on the chaos” and it was what their “soul needs”.

Choosing

There was a lot of feedback about choosing to do something, or not do something.  Life is series of choices, are you choosing you and your future?

Yes, health was there

Every new year’s resolution ever includes something about health.  In the design your life context it is more about being healthy to give you the energy to achieve all the wonderful dreams on your strategic life map, and not about losing weight.

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So, what next?

Convinced you need to design your life on purpose.  The following are four options to get you on the path, at whatever stage you are at.

 Option 1: DREAM QUEST 

Dream Quest is designed to kick start the critical super habit of dreaming.  Without this super habit of dreaming it is hard to know what you are designing your life towards.  

Perfect for:

This will be perfect for someone who is unsure whether they have any dreams at all or who is keen to start designing their life.

As dreaming is a perpetual habit, something you can contribute to every day, Dream Quest can be accessed at any time.  Dream Questers will receive drip fed templates in the post, to allow them to think, percolate and document their dreams, with the full Incahoots experience.

More information and sign up for Dream Quest are here at a cost of $75

Option 2: REFLECTION REVOLUTION

Reflection Revolution is about developing the other super habit of reflection.  

Perfect for:

This will be perfect for someone who wants to check-in on where they are now.  This can sometimes mean they are not 100% happy with today, but unsure about what aspects are not working.

This is also helpful for someone who is keen to understand more about the designing your life process before committing to a retreat or a workshop.

Reflection is something that you do generally do periodically, rather than an everyday habit, therefore, Reflection Revolution will be offered as preparation for Design Your Life on Purpose workshops or retreats.

Reflection revolution will be supported with live webinars to explain the process, set people up, and answer the ‘what now?” question, as well as receive templates via the post.

More information and sign up for Reflection Revolution are here at a cost of $100, starting in the first week in February 2021.

 Option 3: 1 DAY DESIGN YOUR LIFE WORKSHOP

 Sydney based 1-day workshop with optional one on one coaching session.  

This workshop is a mini version of the retreat.  It will include all the elements of the 4-step methodology, reflect, dream, design and act in enough detail to get you underway with your Strategic Life Map, including support mechanisms.

Perfect for:

This workshop is ideal for people who are ready to Design their Life on Purpose.  It will help people who either:

1. Know exactly what they want to do, but are unsure how or have some blocks to overcome

2. Unsure what they want to design their life around, or know what they do not want

The workshop includes an optional one on one session, to help address any blocks or provide customised direction.

A pre-requisite for this workshop is to have completed reflection revolution.

The one-day workshop would be held late March, in a Sydney location at a cost of $750.  

 Expressions of interest can be made here.

Option 4: FULLY IMMERSIVE RETREAT PACKAGE

 The retreat package will include all costs associated with the retreat weekend (including accommodation and meals), as well as all pre and post work.  This is a full year of guidance and support post the retreat, with preparation prior to the retreat.  This package also includes the opportunity to step away from the day to day and go deep, really take the time to set yourself up for the year ahead.  Set in country NSW, it additionally supports local communities.

Perfect for:

This immersive retreat is for people who want to be removed from the day to day and really have the opportunity to reflect, ponder and go deep.  It will help people who either:

1. Know exactly what they want to do, but are unsure how or have some blocks to overcome

2. Unsure what they want to design their life around, or know what they do not want

If you are after one package, to rule them all, with one all-inclusive cost, this is it.  

Pre-work activities will ensure the right participants to enable open, transparent and vulnerable conversations throughout.  

Expressions of interest can be made here.

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 Incahoots exists

To guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities to design a strategic life map that answers the question - now what?

About CMM

Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is a coach, facilitator, author, change professional and creative. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly (a Strategic Lifemap).

Cultivating the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos. This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management.

Filling her time on various side hustles, blogging, creating and learning the piano. If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi, exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.

Design your Life on Purpose – what happens exactly?

Squeal!

Only 4 days until we touring the town of Orange, before creating a Strategic Life Map, as part of the Design Your Life on Purpose retreat.

There are still a couple of places remaining, so if you have been thinking maybe this is for me, let me break it down for you.

What happens exactly?

Optional Town Tour:

If you are going to travel to Orange in regional NSW, you may as well experience some of what the location offers.  For those that can get away from early we have a half day town tour and winery visit.  A lovely way to orient you around the region and start the retreat on a relaxing note.

Day 1

Day 1 is about making sure you have a big long juicy list of items to work on for your Strategic Life Map, for 2021 and subsequent years.  To achieve this, we do 2 things:

Reflect: 

There is a need to review the last 12 months and determine what you want to change.  This is like a having a vent session with yourself, where you will purge the things you do not like about the last 12 months.  

I find that if people do not complete this, then it is harder for them to imagine a future life that they do desire.  It becomes a release.  

It is also important to acknowledge that the year wasn’t completely rubbish and reflect on the things that were great in 2020.  This creates a kind of “As Is” view of your life right now.

Dream:

Now we have released 2020, and reflected on what was good and not so good, we need to unearth possibilities.  Unearthing possibilities is around dreaming, capturing every dream you could possible think of.  We use a number of strategies to free your inner dreamer, including getting some hands-on creativity.  

Hands on creativity we deploy is watercolour painting.  Watercolour is interesting in that you cannot always predict what will happen, water being water.  It allows you to free yourself from expectations.  This session is delivered by an amazing local artist, Helen Chegwidden. 

The dream portion, starts to build that “To Be” version of your life.

 Day 1 is completed by having dinner at one of the many very excellent local dining establishments.

 Day 2

 Day 2 we put all the hard work, from day 1 into an actual plan, a Strategic Life Map for 2021, again in 2 stages.

Design

This is where we take the dreams for 2021 and work out how we are going to achieve it, mapped against the year.  We need to take into considerations the BIG’s that are also happening in people’s lives, milestone events, finishing a course, big or little birthdays (all birthdays are important, the number that makes them big or little, but always significant).

This is where the bulk of the Strategic Life Map takes shape.

 Act

There are a number of anchoring activities and strategies that will increase the chances you are successful in achieve your dreams, via your strategic life map.  This part of the two days, is about making sure you have the tools and techniques to support you going forward.  It includes anchoring to your values, your why and setting a one-word contextual beacon for 2021.

We visit a local café for a lovely lunch, to celebrate all the good work completed over the 2 days.

So that is an outline of the 2 days to guide you to complete your very own Strategic Life Map for 2021.

Ready to come along

You can register directly here for November 21st and 22nd, this Saturday and Sunday.

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Incahoots exists 

To guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities to design a strategic life map that answers the question - now what?

About CMM

Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is a coach, facilitator, author, change professional and creative. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly (aka Strategic Life map).

 She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos.  This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management.

Christina fills her time on various side hustles, blogging, creating and learning the piano.  If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi, exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.

But, I don’t have any dreams?

This is one I hear a lot when I talk to people about deferring their dreams. They have nothing they want to Design a Life around, the list is empty.

That happens, as children we are encouraged to dream, dream a lot and dream big.  Progressively overtime, with pressures from society and “the system” we slowly stop dreaming, slowly stop looking at possibilities and options and start to “stick in our lane”.

This gets addressed in 3 ways in the Design your Life on Purpose. 

But before I go there, let me talk about what a dream could be.  Often, we think it is this crystal-clear goal all framed around SMART (Specific Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Timebound), become a World Champion Surfer, put a human on Mars.  These are compelling and fascinating to us, by comparison, our dreams seem lame, un-shaped and difficult to quantify.  The thing is, the above examples are rare, that is why we find them super inspirational.  Let me explain what we do to address this in the 3rd point.

Reflecting:

The first way to unearth more possibilities in your dream is Reflection.  The main outcome of the reflection piece is two fold:

1.  Recognising the good that has happened, that you want to include more of in the future.  It could be as simple and elegant as being more creative, as you had some time to explore that this year.

2. Defining the not.  Reflection is perfect for reflecting on what you want less of in the year to come.  I find that the anti is often more helpful for designing your life, as you are crystal on what you no longer want or need.

 Dreaming:

This is a little obvious that it will unearth possibilities and increase dreams.  It is not just a blank piece of paper, saying go document your dreams.  Guides and templates help draw out the dreams that you had previously or new dreams that you have not thought of before. Before you know if you have so many dreams you will be deciding which ones to focus on first

Curiosity:

Even though the first two phases on Designing your Life on Purpose will give you real clarity around some areas of your life, there might be massive dreams that you are still unsure about, but are curious about. We use that curiosity to go and explore it a bit more, talk to people we are doing what you would like to do, investigate, enrol in an introductory course, produce a sample of product and see if it sells.

Three ways to unearth possibilities and start dreaming again.

If that has peaked your interest, then you are in luck!  November 21st and 22nd November, we are running an immersive Design your Life, on Purpose retreat to really get your 2021 sorted with a Strategic Life Map.  There are still some places left, so all the details including registration are here.

This post was inspired by a question I got yesterday   If you have any questions or thoughts, please let me know.

Yours collaboratively

Christina MM

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Incahoots exists 

To guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities to design a strategic life map that answers the question - now what?

About CMM

 Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is a coach, facilitator, author, change professional and creative. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly (a Strategic Life map).

She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos.  This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management.

Christina fills her time on various side hustles, blogging, creating and learning the piano.  If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi, exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.

Who says? (My Favourite Things) Lanolips

As part of the series of My Favourite Things (homage to The Sound of Music)/ Who says?

Next we have Lanolips

Who says you cannot take a super boring product like Lanolin and not only turn it to a desirable product, but the one rated “world’s best lip balm”.  I use it religiously, especially the tinted lip balms and the 101 ointment.

Who says you cannot make an obscure by product of wool and make it into a cult beauty product?

If you have a dream that you have deferred, 2021 might the year to un-lease your brilliance to the world, by unearthing possibilities and designing your strategic life map at the Design your Life, On Purpose retreat.  Held on the 21st and 22nd November, details are here, including registration.

LanoLips video here

 Yours collaboratively

Christina

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Incahoots exists 

To guide professionals who have deferred their dreams, to unearth possibilities to design a strategic life map that answers the question - now what?

About CMM

Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is a coach, facilitator, author, change professional and creative. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly (a Strategic Lifemap).

She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos.  This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management.

Christina fills her time on various side hustles, blogging, creating and learning the piano.  If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi, exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.

The Huddle - Review + Feedback

I had the pleasure to attend a business conference for women in Orange NSW, called The Huddle (how cute! ) 

Let me tell you what I learnt, which shows MASSIVE kudos to the organisers. 

Flicked from my friend Helen, the invite in my in box was; 

1. Compressive 

2. Colourful

3. Had options

4. Celebrated Orange

5. Enticing

6. Uplifting

The branding that you sometimes see reflected in the brochure translated well into their brand on display at the various event activities. "More is more and less is boring" is the motto of the organisers and sponsors - a great little store in Orange called Jumbled (which includes another fab store called Iglou). The branding or more is more was evident at all aspects of the event. 

I attended the cocktail party the evening before and the day conference. I did not attend the yoga portion, as I am not very bendy. 

Cocktail Party debrief:

I was nervous wearing my very sparkly green dress to the cocktail party. I grew up in Bathurst (adjacent town) and was not very “normal”, small country towns don’t cope with that well with odd or different, hence the nervousness. I should not have been fearful as I was very welcomed, with Jess squealing as I entered “I love it” with a big juicy hug, Pip telling me to "never take it off" and random strangers telling me how much they loved my dress.  The guests were welcoming and we had some fabulous chats, in cocktail lines, with some lovely ladies from Narromine and a lovely family lawyer called (Alison). 

Plenty of snacks to partake, but as I travelled from Sydney and had no ‘real’ lunch, decided to get dinner at the Canobolas Hotel. Random strangers behaved the way I was used to when growing up.  I could feel myself trying to get smaller, shoulders hunching over, head bowed, feeling that old horrible feeling. With the support from my fabulous friends, I tapped deep into my personal strength and rationalised that it was their problem not mine and not to let it ruin my night.

The Main Game:

Translating the vibe of the marketing and also the cocktail party the day before was achieved seamlessly. Huddle up bags* on each seat loaded up with goodies. Free barista coffee, great lunch and decorated wonderfully thanks to “banging hangings". The positive and welcoming vibe continued throughout the event, with people helping others to get food/coffee or join the line with their friends.

The main event was fabulously hosted by Edwina Bartholomew, who was fun, engaging and super quick witted, such an exemplary host.  The panels were informative, with real practical tips, rather than trite comments.  I had many take aways and felt informed and entertained at the same time, tricky combination to achieve, but worked seamlessly.  

I was surprised by how humble the speakers were, including Jane Cay founder of Birdsnest.  I did not expect them to be boastful, but was pleased the conference created, a 'you can achieve anything' vibe, with practicality and without platitudes.  Maybe it was the contrast of having 450+ women in the room and only 2 men on video and mic patrol, rather than starkly seeing the other option, with tons of men and only a handful of women (my usual day gig).

Great day was had by all. When the Jumbled team decide to do another one, I will be there, with a posse of peeps in my car. I might go even crazier with my outfits, or be more environmentally responsible and repeat the sparkly green dress.

Ok my take aways:

1. Give it ALL away

2. Social = value + connection

3. “If the label fell off, would they know if was you"

4. Define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) both professionally and personally

5. Define exactly who you are talking to - create an avatar

6. What does your brand represent - make it visual?

Fabulous job, Jumbled team! Thanks Helen for the forward and for being my conference buddy!

*The bags were way bigger than this, but I washed it, as I got tea on it.

Incahoots exists to

Unearth possibilities to design a future that suits you perfectly

About CMM

Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is an author, speaker, curator, change professional and podcaster. She particularly loves helping people and organisations unearth what’s possible to design a future that suits you perfectly  (Organisations call it a Strategic Roadmap).

She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos.  This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management (before it was even a thing).

Christina fills her time on various side hustles, blogging, podcasting - Quirky & Chenille (Christina is Quirky), and learning the piano.  If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi or exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.

Dreams Ideation - what is it exactly?

If life is just happening to you, each day blending into the last, with the weeks, months just flying by. 

If you are living a default life, Or If you want to have a different life.  Even if you don’t know what you want your life to look like. Dreams ideation will open your mind to possibilities. 

Dreaming is the gateway to innovation and creativity

All the deets around dreams ideation, is included below, we would love to have you on the journey.  If you are ready to go, signup here

What is a dreams ideation? 

It is a focused period for you to build a habit of dreaming. The process will give you tips, tricks and guides to get your mind in the wonderful state of dreaming. The process will help you capture all the big dreams eg living in the south of France for 6 months every year, to the small ones eg watch a modern ballet. If you haven’t worked out what you want that wonderful life to contain, it is hard to get the life that suits you perfectly, . 

Why do a dreams ideation? 

Life can disappear very quickly while we go through the very important day to day activities for work and family.  You can end up living a life by default, without stopping to decide, is this life really for me? 

Once you have decided what that new life is, then you can plan a strategy to get to the new desired life. I don’t advocate jumping immediately, unless you have at least 2 years of income or your current life is making you mentally or physically ill. Even then a little emergency planning doesn’t go astray. 

What happens if you don’t know what you want in your new desired life? This is where the dreams ideation helps. It helps you dream again. Those dreams will reveal one or many paths open to you. 

What commitment is required? 

1 hour a week for 4 weeks is all that is required to get a juicy list of dreams. 

How does it happen? 

You get prompts on a weekly basis on what actions to undertake, delivered to your email box on a Friday.  They include any templates, tools and links. At then end of week 4 we get together and talk about the immediate next steps - via webinar.

When does it kick off? 

With the end of the year just around the corner. Argh! I want to make sure 2 things happen.  

1. You get time to create a wonderfully inspiring list of dreams, so you can design your life, on purpose

2. You have time to design your life for 2019, on purpose

Therefore, it will start, with the first email arriving in your email box on the Friday the 5th October.

Dreams ideation can be a great prerequisite, but not essential, to designing your life on purpose, as you might already have an inkling. 

How do I sign up? 

The link is here , just fill in the deets and you are away 

How much does it cost? 

The ideation series is free, gratis, nada. Although your feedback would be excellent

Who is it suited for? 

Anyone that wants to ensure they are living a full life, not a default life. People who are unsure what to design a life around. 

When is the next one? 

This is likely to happen only twice a year. 

Why miss out when you can designing a life that suits you perfectly right now (well in a week or so’s time) 

So, sign up now!

What happens after the dreams ideation? 

Once you have a fabulous list of dreams your next steps could be one of three;

1. One on one coaching. You can start with a free 30 min discovery session. 

2. Sign up for the Design your Life, on Purpose ideation. This series will set you up for 2019, with the beginning of a life that suits you perfectly

3. Register your interest for a 2 day intensive Design your Life, on Purpose workshop (retreat), likely to be held early November 2018

If you are not sure the free discovery session is a great place to start. (Just so you know, a discovery session can happen at anytime.)

Dream on!

Christina

About me!

Christina Morgan-Meldrum (CMM) is an author, speaker, curator, change professional and podcaster. She particularly loves helping people start and scale side hustles, especially creatives and musicians by unearthing what’s possible to design a life that suits you perfectly.

She has cultivated the ability to walk into any industry; see what is not seen, distil what is complicated, and simplify the chaos.  This skill has been forged in a deliberate and concentrated way for over 20 years, through Personal Coaching and working in Organisational Change Management (before it was even a thing).  She is currently working at Blackwoods on an Enterprise Change Roadmap as well as exploring many, many side hustles of her own.

Christina fills her time, coaching people on their side hustles, blogging, podcasting - Quirky & Chenille (Christina is Quirky), learning the piano, while working on Change Management gigs.  If you are looking for her, she is likely at her spiritual home JB Hi-Fi or exploring stationery stores or artisan markets.

Helen Cheg - Top 5

My dear friend Helen is having a BIG birthday today (10th Sept 2018).  I love being reminded to reflect on the important people in your life and what they mean to you. 

So I decided to celebrate all the Heleny things, that I admire in this awesome human. 

Welcome to the top 5 things I admire about my dear friend Helen (hat tip to High Fidelity)

5. Fabulous sense of style

The first thing you will notice about Helen is her perfect sense of style. She has an amazing ability to wear an outfit that is just perfect for her and always looks amazing, even in her ‘daggies’ 

This personal style extends from her wardrobe to her house and the amazing cabin, her and Andrew built - called Dragonfly Cottages. 

As a bonus, we have the same shoe size, so if she lucks on a fabulous pair of shoes, I know they can be my next purchase.

4. Dance and Sing 

There is music, this is a perfect moment to dance and sing. The key is to dance and sing, whenever and wherever you want. 

When growing up as teenagers we had similar taste in music, which means her taste is awesome. We still listen to music together, but it’s more likely to be at a location than our bedrooms. 

We have a disagreement on The Smiths. Elizabeth and I will convince her of their incredible merits, with a two fronted attack. 

I will write less on this and instead leave this playlist that reminds me of my special friend. 

Spotify List - including the following:

• Happy Birthday Helen - Things of stone and wood
• Love shack - The B52's 
• Blister in the Sun - Violent femmes
• Don’t you forget about me - Simple Minds
• I Hear Motion - Models
• Trip through your wires - U2
• Can't Buy me Love - The Beatles
• Poison Pen - Hoodoo Gurus
• (Just like) Starting Over - John Lennon 
• Everybody's Talking - Eric Bogle (I could not find this version, so the Four Tops will have to do)

3. Feel all the Feels

There is no denying Helen has one of the best senses of humour. The fold over at the waist, tears streaming down your face, slapping your leg, and possibly snorting type of humour. With a side order of sarcasm, to really get the belly aching laughs underway. 

She also, let’s all the emotions have their place. She encourages it in her kids and never judges how you might be feeling. She gives you the sense that it is ok, giving you space to feel every aspect of it. Even when we us going through a tough time, she lets it be. 

2. Encourages your creativity

Helen is an artist and incredibly creative. She shares her art, in many ways. The best way is to encourage your own creativity with no judgement and no pressure. She just encourages you to start, to give it a go! 

There is no right or wrong way, just subtle suggestions and support. Under her tutilage I have done watercolours, not realising I would enjoy it so much. 

1. Loves you for you

My favourite thing about Helen is she loves you for you. She has been my friend through the super awkward teenage years, to growing into an adult and now as a professional women with my own consulting company and many side hustles. 

Throughout it all she has been there, through the easy, crazy and really tough times. Not expecting me to be anything than who I am. It is an amazing gift and I feel blessed. In her company I am always enough, just as I am.

I could tell from the party speeches a number of people would agree. 

Do I regret not covering this at the party on Saturday?

Yep, I do. I probably should have just winged it.  Anyway, spilt milk and all that. 

At least this way she has a permanent reminder of how special she is to me. It’s out there on the intranet now, FOREVER! 

Love you chickadee