In the midst of the over optimism that I can often live with...I have had to deal with the hard reality that life hurts.

The distinct challenge of living love and embracing love is a clear commitment to endure. Love endures through every circumstance. 

I remember it like it was yesterday. The sun was out and the Attaway brothers had a sweet game of hoops going in the driveway. On this particular day, like so many, we were on the same team playing out the final seconds of the championship game. The entire season was on the line.

It's the quintessential movie moment in love stories [and let's be clear I am the all in romantic pulling for the happily ever after ending]...that moment when the guy reaches our his hand to his lovely lady and poses the question, "Do you trust me?"

Just imagine...you walk into a room and immediately someone is yelling at you. Their tone, their face, their volume says it all, "I hate you!" You immediately feel despair, destroyed and distant. It feels undeserved and it feels contrary to everything you hope to experience...

Love is a way of living. We associate love with feelings. Feelings that are ethereal, captivating and compelling. When we experience love from another person in its purity and passion these feelings emerge, yet love is what we give, it's how we live...