I wanted to cry. To curl up into a tiny ball and simply let it all out.

But I couldn’t. There were people to talk to. Hands to shake. Congratulations to give, and to receive. I couldn’t just disappear and crash into myself.

So I didn’t. I smiled and shook hands and said things like, “Thank you.” “I’m so glad you were touched.” “How nice of you to say so.”

And while I meant every word, I wasn’t really all there.

Ask C.C. We went out for dinner afterwards and I wasn’t really listening to him as he talked about a Social Enterprise idea he is ruminating over. Fortunately, he knows me well enough to know my zoned out state and glassy eyes were not a reflection of him or his idea and simply a statement of how I get in the let down after an event.

I was tired.

More so probably because I had left the Choices seminar room later than anticipated. The final process which I needed to be there for began a half hour later than expected. It is a pivotal process, the turning point of moving from the surface ideas being explored to enter that fragile and delicate landscape of the heart of why everyone is in the room — to find their path to living a better than just ‘good enough’ life. I couldn’t leave early so, by the time I drove across the city, I was already late for my presentation slot at DesigNite.

The organizers were fabulous. I’d emailed Sarah Block, the coordinator of the event, to let her know that I was running late but wasn’t sure by the time I’d got it sent off if she would receive it. My wonderful and amazing beloved, C.C., had ensured me via text that he would connect with her when he got to the University. When I arrived, they were warm and welcoming and informed me they’d put me at the end of the evening to give me a chance to collect myself and as Gloria, the facilitator said, “Breathe.”

I was grateful for the advice.

Because I did. Breathe.

And in each breath I asked my heart to open itself up to expansion. To widen its capacity to hear and receive and be present.

And in each breath I settled into the space, the room, the people, the event and the purpose of my presentation — to show by my example that life is about living it wholly, completely, unconditionally in love with ourselves, Beauty and the Beast. Darkness and light.

By the time my allocated slot arrived, I was wholly present and ready.

And the words came out and the slides advanced themselves just as they were scheduled to do and the stars aligned and the moon hung suspended, a slim sliver of light carved into the sky guiding me to that special place where I untethered myself from gravity and slipped through the crack of possibility to live my dream of  “touching hearts and opening minds to set spirits free.”

I am so blessed.

I got to live on purpose yesterday. Completely, truly, on purpose. All day.

From the morning coach’s circle to each encounter with the trainees to standing in front of an audience of a couple of hundred people and proclaiming, “I believe in Love.”

And I do.

Believe.

In Love

All is

Possible.

Love makes the difference.

Love is the difference between you and me. It is the difference and the connector. It is the same. For all of us. It is all we need to know that no matter what we do, no matter where we are, no matter what we design, create, accomplish, build, when we do it standing In Love, we do it from that place where we are at and in and of our best, sharing our talents and gifts to create  a world where hearts break free to shine and expand into being their most magnificent selves.

I got to shine my light last night and inspire others to shine theirs. Because I believe that when we all shine together, we have the capacity to create a world of beauty, love, peace and joy for everyone.

I am blessed.

And I don’t want to cry anymore. I want to sing and laugh and dance and spin all about and yell at the top of my lungs for the whole wide world to hear, “Let’s SHINE Together!”