When I think of what I have to say about this month’s topic, Breakthrough in Loving Relationships, I of course immediately think about my own relationship.

Though Michal and I are in our fourth year, last year marks the first year that we were actually together from January thru December. We joke that our relationship’s shelf life was always measured by American Idol—we’d start out together with the auditions, but never made it far beyond any given year’s finale.

Each year we’d start off hoping that somehow things would be different. And, they were…

to say our relationship has been a series of fits and starts would be an understatement;
to say that our relationship has been a battle of wills would be an understatement;
to say that our relationship has been an endless series of misunderstandings and misgivings would also be an understatement;

…and given all of that, I’ve often wondered how come we kept “coming back for more?”

The answer, I think, can be found in our deep desire to break through…or our stubbornness. Or, maybe, the desire for breakthrough and stubbornness are one-and-the-same.

When someone has a deep desire to break through, they keep coming back to the same issue—again and again. They continue to wrestle with the same subject—over and over, and mostly without achieving the desired results.

Hi, it’s Mariane.

The Enlightened Plumber

Once upon a time, there was a girl
Who loved her life..
She had everything she had asked for..
She had married, had two children,
Three grand children,
And created a New Life
That included joyful, meaningful work.
It appeared she had everything.

But inside, a tender spot,
Called out for Love..
She was really good at giving Love.
She knew how to be warm, open, and kind..
People love her, because she gives everything
To them..
She is loving, kind, fun, and excited about life.

Long ago, it wasn’t so easy..
Long ago, there was much suffering and stress,
Long ago, she felt alone and overwhelmed with life.
And those experiences had propelled her
Into action..
Why did this same old pattern keep showing up?
Why when the rest of her life was so happy,
Why was she blocked with men?
Why was she safe and happy without them?
Why did her life feel more sacred and still
Without the disruption

Consider this:

This morning I woke up stuffy with a sinus headache, and still a cough from the cold that I have had for the past two weeks, and the first thing that came to mind was, “Is this ever going to leave me?”

Haven’t you noticed it? Are you paying attention to time and how it works?

Our experience of time seems to accelerate at an ever increasing rate! I mean, it seems like just yesterday we were ringing in the new year, and now some of us are preparing for that magic of all holidays, Valentine’s Day or Super Bowl depending on who you ask; but my point is: time continues to prove itself as an illusion—in fact, the grand illusion. But don’t take my word for it, consider Einstein’s realization that, “… the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one.” Very convincing indeed.

This month, our blogcast conversation has been focused on seeing through the illusion of time by generating breakthroughs in letting go of old patterns. And, if you’ve been listening, you can clearly hear in the distance a refrain, in both the blogs and the blogcasts, that in order to move forward it is imperative to “let go!”

The theme of letting go is clearly present in BreakThrough Blogcast – episode 1 where Laura begins to let go of old beliefs about herself, and her children. It is present again in BreakThrough Blogcast – episode 2 where Teri begins to let go of old beliefs about herself as a woman, a mother, and an entrepreneur. And, it is even present in BreakThrough Blogcast – episode 3 where both featured guest Kelly Hampton and I mention letting go of old beliefs about ourselves in order to take full ownership of our intuitive gifts. So, the question remains…are you ready to let go?

Have you noticed it?

Me

Hi, it’s Mariane.

Ok, stop me if you’ve heard this one, How do you know a teenager is lying? You know a teenager is lying when you see their lips move. (Insert laugh here!)

Chances are, if this joke were told in the midst of a group, many (if not all) in the group could’ve said (or might’ve thought) the punch line in unison. The reason? The joke’s a classic.

Hi, it’s Mariane, with more revelations regarding the dangers of repressed emotions.