Have you ever wondered if you really mattered in this world, what your purpose was, or what you lived for? As you lie down to sleep at night, do you ever wish you could erase the day and have a do-over or said something you deeply regretted, wishing you could delete the whole conversation like it never happened and begin again? Have you found a comfortable balance between giving and receiving, between guilt and genuine compassion? Have you been in a room full of surface-only conversations and just wanted to excuse yourself because that way of communicating doesn't work for you anymore? And have there been times when you felt a deep void and didn't know how to fill it or where it even was? If you have, welcome. You are not alone.

The answers to these questions and more are found in the book you now hold in your hand. I have always believed there are no coincidences, and our choices (as in picking up this book) could be calling us to open ourselves to new and positive ways of approaching challenges and lessons as we move forward in our lives. The Birth of a Jewel is a series of stories that have brought wisdom and inspiration front and center for me, from the life lessons I have gained through my experiences walking on this earth. Some of the stories may have you laughing; some may stop you in your tracks, and the tears will flow; and then others may leave you pondering about your own journey and the lessons you can share with others. We are a people of watchers, so therefore, we are teachers by the way we live our lives.

Thought to ponder: What do you live for, and what purpose do you carry that moves you to make a difference?