Have you ever thought about why you’re doing what you’re doing in life? Seems like a very philosophical question, right? I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had this deep faith. I believe in God. I believe God has a plan for me. I also know that oftentimes I don’t understand the plan. We see so many go through painful and difficult hardships and wonder if that truly is the plan laid out for them. Hard or difficult is relative. I’ve heard so many times people will say that my troubles are nothing compared to so and so. Honestly, your hard is your hard. It shouldn’t be discounted because someone else’s hard seems bigger. We all have challenges in our lives…..they may come at very different times. How we face those challenges says a lot about who we are and the depths of our character. I can’t help but feel tremendous empathy for anyone struggling. Whether it’s about a decision that needs to be made, or an illness that is present, or financial struggles, or relationship struggles, I feel empathy. I think it to be a strength to have empathy and compassion. Yet, it may also be considered a weakness to some degree. Having empathy breaks down barriers that are constructed to protect someone from hurt and pain. When I open my heart and my world to shoulder your burden with you, I am opening the door to receive hurt and pain. It is something I’ve learned over the years, and experienced. Somehow, I keep showing up……..Trust me…..there are days when I question why I’m doing the things I’m doing. Why am I putting myself through two jobs and grad school all at the same time? One might assume insanity. One might not be wrong! Haha! What is my end game? What is the reason for all of it? Why do I keep putting myself out there? I guess it’s continued growth…..or so they say. On top of our many life struggles to just stay afloat, we then throw relationships into the mix. Kids, parents, friends, romantic partner…..they all require time and effort. How does everyone make time to stay connected while also working and maintaining their homes and families? I would love this secret…… Just know that if I’m investing time in you it’s because you matter to me. That includes the random text, the two-minute phone call, the happy hour, the dinner or lunch out…..and just because my schedule is insane, it means more to me than you’ll ever know when you send those random texts as well. I’ve learned this with dating. Some who know me might think I’m high maintenance, but truly I don’t require a ton. Effort wins me over every single time. It doesn’t take more than 10 seconds to show effort. Heck, you can text on your way to the toilet to take care of business! I think I’ve spent so many years with a former spouse being made to feel like I’m not worth 10 seconds of time so that small thing makes a huge difference. And I already hear those people saying that I should know my own worth and not base it on what another person does or doesn’t do. But let’s be honest, we all want to be validated. We all want to feel special. We all want that text and those flowers……