Much of our understanding of love does come from our upbringing and family relationships. These early ideas about love take shape in our subconscious minds and influence every future relationship in our lives. I was lucky to be born into a large and loving family, but that doesn't mean things were always easy and smooth, or that my relationships have always been perfect or healthy. I had learn as I went, as well as unlearning unhealthy patterns. My parents were married for over 40 years and set some very good examples of how to make a relationship last, but ultimately, there were underlying problems that drove them apart. watching them go through a divorce when I was 40 turned my world upside down, and lead me to question my own rocky partnership. Although my parents were better off apart, and I have had my share of relationships that ended badly, most of my former loves remain good friends to this day. In fact my friends marvel at how many friendships that I have maintained for 20-30+ years. My current beau and I have been together for 4 years and falling more deeply in love all the time. We have both experienced partners that didn't work, and are committed to each other and to finding ways to make it work for both of us this time. In fact we are happily engaged to be married. In the course of this saga of love, I have sought out tools that help navigate these waters, and now I am happy to share these tools with others in my workshops.
