I believe the greatest gift we can give the world is our presence. Presence becomes stronger the more we embody ourselves as we process, accept and integrate the truth of who we are. As we embody the wisdom of our pain, we heal ourselves and reflect this healing to those around us. If hurt people can hurt people, then let us remember that healed people also heal people.

I believe we need to question, and stay curious of the origin of our stories and where they lead us.  
I believe in the resiliency of the heart. 
I believe in the hope of change. 
I believe humans are innately good and I believe the collective is deeply suffering.
I believe we are alone more than we are meant to be. 

I believe it’s time to feel all that we’ve been stuffing between us and the pain that life gifted us because I believe it’s an invitation to crack us open so that we might let the light in and stand a little closer to what’s familiar. Our humanity.

I believe we all need healing but sometimes we opt for a black out curtain and press snooze and we’re wondering why we can’t smile at our reflection because our eyes have been vacant for some time.
The hollow of so many that haven’t been participating, they’ve just been taking a seat.

I believe we all need something to believe in but we built silos where we ought to have built bridges.
I believe we have been at war when we ought to have been at the mercy of something much larger than us. 

I believe so many stay on the periphery because sometimes life feels careless with our sensitivities and we feel so much before we stop the feelings and ask where the thoughts come from.

I believe in resurrection.
I believe in a rising that is above any falling. 
I believe in restoration.
I believe in restructuring and rebuilding, replenishing and remodeling. 

I believe in reminiscing and unlearning.
I believe we are so enamored when someone speaks their truth because of the power behind someone willing to take responsibility for their heart. 

I believe the world feels a little less vast when we’re brave enough to share our stories, so I share mine because they say your story can be someone else’s survival guide so why wouldn’t we give them away? But we’ve condensed everything to sound bites and forgotten the gift of listening to the wisdom of lived experience so I believe in creating a space that does just that.

And, above all, if the odds of us being here, at this time, are 1: 400,000,000,000 (that’s trillion) then I believe you’re here for a reason too.

So, welcome. Thank you for being here.