There are so many people in my life who are facing big challenges head on. They are learning and growing through the difficult process of looking inward with honesty and a healthy perspective. It seems that every day I have a conversation or read a blog where one of my friends has had a major breakthrough in their lives. Either that or they have had a recent experience that is so wonderful that they feel compelled to share it with others. These stories are beautiful and inspiring.

It makes me wonder if there is something bigger going on now than at any time I can remember. Are we collectively starting to realize as a community or on an individual scale that we are responsible for our own happiness? Are we finally learning to love ourselves in order to love the rest of the world? What is driving so many of us to be working so hard on getting to the next levels in our lives?

Not that it matters really. As the old commercial said "why ask why?". I am so happy for all my friends and their successes and moments of joy that they are experiencing. I wish this same happiness and joy to everyone.

I too am in love. I have found a way to open my heart to myself and let go of the guilt and shame of my past. I have a long way to go but I can see a ray of light shining through the cracks in the shield that surrounds my ego. I hope to break the shield completely and for all time but I know this is a tall order.

Luckily I have found support at every turn. I have a wonderful, strong, and supportive life partner, a very wise and compassionate girlfriend, and a counselor who can zero in on those little cracks like a laser beam. I also have a very large community of good friends who listen and reach out to me with compassion and understanding.

Love. It doesn't get any better than this.