Today's episode is the first in a new series called Shorts. These episode will feature a short story written and shared by Jacob that speak about the same themes that are explored on the show - Mental Health, Happiness, Growth, Healing from Trauma, Relationships, Spirituality, and Making Sense of Our Lives.

These Shorts will be interspersed throughout our regular episodes as a break from long and complex talks to allow room for a slightly different way of exploring these topics. Telling stories is something uniquely human, and we all do it in our own lives to one extent or another. Stories help us make sense of and attribute meaning to the events in our lives in a coherent way so that we can draw connections and live as fully integrated humans. Just as in real life, the meaning that each person finds in a story is unique to them and their own perspective. In this way, hopefully the short stories shared here will provide another lens for you the listener to continue making sense of and drawing meaning from your own experiences and navigating the story of your own life.

Whether you can relate to the experiences described in the story yourself, or you know someone in your life who can, my hope is that these stories will spark insights and conversations amongst you and those closest to you. No one should suffer alone, no one needs to hide their struggles. Our struggles are what draw us together and allow us to connect, but only when we are able to accept them as our teachers and create space to hear their message and to share that with others. In sharing, our load becomes lighter and our happiness becomes brighter. Namaste