The topic of emotional agility is personal for me because it is the foundation of my daily practice and the theme of my new children’s book. This week, I experienced a devastating loss with the death of my friend’s 13 year-old daughter. It was a harsh reminder that life is unpredictable, incredibly hard and constantly changing. Somehow, we need to be emotionally "prepared" for the unexpected. By prepared I mean, we need to be able to flow with the flow of life while maintaining a strong sense of self.

I have discovered that creativity is not what you think, it's how you express your feelings. As a child, I told myself that "I am not creative". My parents discouraged me from taking art and music classes because, in their opinion, "art didn't amount to anything" like a real job or a proper income. Their opinion sadly became my frame of reference and I grew up believing that creativity didn't have any value. 

True connection happens when we stop comparing our lives and start sharing our stories. It is in sharing our stories and experiences, within a safe and supportive environment, that we learn to value and care for one another.