I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people that came to the Speakers Showcase last week.  Each one of you were so generous in your time and your evaluations - thank you all.

One of the things we need to be aware of is burning bridges.  Not only burning bridges in our professional life, but also in our personal life.  There are several individuals I have had to “divorce” myself from in my business life.  Some of them I have reconnected with on another level, others I have not.  But the choice I made to continue or discontinue the business relationship with them was made on a conscious level and no one has been hurt.

I did not have a relationship with my sister Elisa for many years.  I carried around a lot of anger towards her and would not speak to her or have her in my life or my children’s lives.  Last year Elisa and I became close friends again.  It reminded me of the importance of sisters and family and those bridges should never be broken.

We all know many people that do not talk to a sibling, child or former spouse due to many issues within us.  Last night I posed this question to someone very dear to me:  “What is the worse case scenario that can happen if you make the first move and contact them?”  Usually the worse case scenario doesn’t happen, but if it does, you made the first move and you can find some peace within your own heart.  It then becomes their issue, not yours.

I challenge each of you to look at your relationships and see if some bridge mending needs to happen.  Think about the worse case scenario and accept it as reality if it happens, but try to mend those bridges. 

My sister and I are great friends now and I am happy that I made the move to forgive - not only her, but myself.

  Thank you to Jonathan Roob for this wonderful picture of my sister and I at the Showcase.