Stacey Broadbent's Blog

It's been a minute since I last did a blog post, but I feel like this is worth blogging about!
On Friday of last week, I held my first official book launch in years, and I had an absolute blast! The Ashburton Library approached me about hosting it, and I jumped at the chance. They put on snacks and drinks, and even rolled out a red carpet. It was all very exciting.
Around 25 people attended, and I sold out of the stock I had on hand, which I was stoked about. And now, there are more people who know about me and my books, and I couldn't be more chuffed.

Now I'm back in the writing cave, working on my second book in the Sweetwater Close series (Cyan Tayse) and the follow up to Cut Loose, called Break Loose - which should be releasing in November.
I've given the okay on a hardcover edition of my dystopian zombie book based here in Ashburton called Fever, and that will be releasing next month, so it's all go over here!

I now have two writing buddies, both part of the Ashburton Writers' Group, and both published authors. You can check their books out here: Deborah Carter and Indiana Rose 
With these two working beside me, I've been able to knuckle down and focus, while also having a great time. 

And on that note, it's back to the cave I go to get these two books ready for release!

​Happy reading!

The last three years, I have hosted a charity book signing event in Christchurch called Wham Bam Author Jam. I kept seeing authors around the world going off to these amazing signings and having a fantastic time meeting readers and fellow writers, and I'm not gonna lie, I was jealous. I had serious FOMO.
So, I decided it was time to organise an event in New Zealand to bring readers and authors together at a more affordable rate than having to fly across the world. Donating proceeds to charity was an added bonus - I'm a firm believer in supporting others and doing what you can to help. This is also part of the reason I wanted to create the Author Jam. When I first started writing, I had absolutely no idea just how many indie authors we have here. I was blown away when I started looking into it and found so many other amazing writers.
And thus, the Author Jam was born. 
This year, lockdown and Covid meant that everything was up in the air, and it made me sit down and evaluate how things were going. As much as I love hosting WBAJ, I knew it was time for a change. I made the announcement that this would be my last year hosting the event. The many comments I received after that announcement warmed my heart. 
Last weekend was the final WBAJ, and a great day was had by all. I had donations of books from all over NZ for a gift basket to giveaway, plus loads of raffle prizes.
I am extremely humbled by the amount of people who have supported me and WBAJ over the last few years. It has been such a great experience, and I've learned a lot. I've made lifelong friends with both readers and authors, and I'm so grateful I had the chance to meet them all.
Now, it's time for me to hang up my event organiser hat and focus on my writing (or maybe my singing career lol) Thank you to everyone who has attended as either a reader or an author. Your presence meant the world to me, as you most likely know from all the tears! I love you guys, and I'll see you again soon!

Look at me writing three blog posts in a year, and we're not even finished yet!

It's been a crazy year, hasn't it? One full of reflection and angst, which is probably why I've managed to write more than one post! It's been a year where I've felt great joy one minute and almost hit a pit of despair the next (and that's when I've felt like Andy Samberg in the GIF lol). It has been challenging for me and many others, but it's also let other people flourish and shine. If you're one of those people, I commend you. Either way, we're all doing what we can to make it through, and we're doing a bloody fantastic job of it!

I wanted to share with you, a piece I wrote recently. I'm the VP of the local writers' group here, and each month we have assignments to do. Last month was "... and then my car broke down." I've struggled to write a lot this year, but this assignment was a form of therapy I guess. I wrote about the events of this year and how I'm not going to let it get me down, so I thought I'd share it with you guys. Everything in this story has happened to me this year, and then some. I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to at least some of it. 
Here goes...

The year that tried to break me.

2000 was meant to be my year. It was the year I was going to accomplish great things and reach the goals I’d been striving so long to achieve. Apparently, 2020 didn’t get the memo.

It started off as I intended; weight loss, fitness improving, crossing things off my ever-growing to-do list… and then my account got hacked. Minor issue. Inconsequential even. But that was merely the tip of the iceberg in the year that was trying to crush my soul.

I’ve always thought of myself as a positive person. Someone who can find the light in the darkness and move forward. So, I did what needed to be done then carried on with my plans of world domination.
2020 had other ideas in store for me.

We had a death in the family right as the world was thrown into a global crisis, and something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime happened. We went into a full lockdown. Isolated. No socialising. Each of us pacing the house like caged lions as we watched the newsreels in horror. Wages were cut and job security was up in the air. It was a testing time for many, myself included, but I tried to remain positive and took the time to find myself again and enjoy my family.

When we were finally allowed out again, I was all set to go forth with my new goals and decisions, and then I lost the diamond to my engagement ring. A few days later, our shower began to leak. Then our family holiday to Australia was cancelled. No big deal. That’s what insurance is for, right?

2020 laughed in my face.

I turned my attention to my work, trying to forge forward and get noticed, only to be met with rejection. I’m ashamed to say 2020 almost won. I may have taken a moment or two to wallow in self-pity and question my goals in life at this point. But after a kind word from my husband and some friends, I pulled up my big girl panties and pushed on through.

We booked a family trip to Christchurch to give the children a semblance of a holiday. We woke the first morning to find ants had ransacked the kitchen and taken up residence in our muffins for the next day. The breakers went out and the heater in the bathroom began to smoke. And all the attractions we went to see were not as we had hoped. Such is life.

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, on our way home, the car broke down. Well, that’s not entirely accurate; my seatbelt broke halfway between Ashburton and Christchurch, and all I could do was hope we didn’t crash.

2020 has tried its damndest to break me, but it won’t succeed, because I refuse to let it dim my sparkle.


And I hope you don't let it dim yours either. Love to you all!

Stay safe xxx

If you're anything like me , you will have used the lockdown period as a time for reflection. I came to several realisations over the last few months, which have resulted in me making some changes. I feel all the better for it, I can tell you. Lockdown was a scary, uncertain time, but it was also cathartic; a time to do a bit of soul searching and find out what I really want to focus on, and that, my friends, is my writing.

I know you're probably not surprised there; an author wanting to focus on her writing? What kind of madness is this? But in my bid to help promote other authors and share my love of the written word with others, my writing started taking a backseat, and I became a ball of stress. This does not a happy author make.

So, I made some tough decisions. My side business, A Novel Idea NZ , needed to be scaled back. Instead of the book club subscription I envisioned turning into an indie bookstore, I've pulled it right back to only book box subscriptions. I still get to promote my fellow authors, but in a different way.
I've also decided that this will be my last year hosting Wham Bam Author Jam . This one was tough to settle on because I've had an absolute blast getting to know the authors and readers while organising it, but it is just not something I can continue and keep my sanity intact. 

Those two decisions alone lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, and over the last week or so, I've rediscovered my mojo. I'm working on a new romantic comedy that's a lot of fun to write, and I decided it was time for a revamp of my logo and tagline. My original tagline (bringing an end to boredom one book at a time) was far too long, and Escaping Reality seems a much better fit. Plus, I just love how the colours pop! 

So, 2020, you've certainly challenged me, but I'm not giving in. I'm taking life back and making things happen!

Well, here we are . It's April, 2020, and the whole world is experiencing something we never thought we'd have to deal with. A global pandemic is sweeping through our countries at a rate that , quite frankly, is scary. Three weeks ago, NZ had only three confirmed cases. Now, we're just over 1000, and it continues to rise every day. We've been in lockdown for twelve days now, with a minimum of sixteen more to go. It's enough to make anyone go a little stir crazy, and that's why I thought I would write this. I want to share my thoughts and feelings on this experience, both for my own record, and in the hopes that maybe I can reach someone else who is feeling the same and needs reassurance.

The first week, I set up a routine with the kids to keep them focused and still learning to a degree. The second week that started to waiver and the "lessons" didn't last as long. I found myself wandering aimlessly around the house in search of something to do, something to motivate me, inspire me. Nothing could hold my attention though, and I went back to floundering. I started berating myself for not being able to write, and for being lazy. You see, when we were told to prepare for lockdown, I said to myself, "This is it. This is the time you've been waiting for. Use this time without outside distractions to get those words down. Finish those books and get them out there." I thought it would be easy to just focus on words, but the reality is, deep down, I'm too worried. I didn't even realise how worried I was until this weekend when I was hit with a sore stomach that had me doubled over, unsure if I was going to vomit or pass out. It lasted maybe ten minutes, but the nausea has stayed with me the last few days, and there's no other reason for it other than I'm worried.

I worry that my friends or family may get sick. I worry that my children's education will suffer. I worry that this has the potential to last much longer than people are anticipating, and with that, I worry about the financial side of things. Already some of our largest companies have shut their doors and made their employees redundant. Which brings me back to - I need to use this time wisely to get ALL the words down so I can still bring in money for our family. What I didn't factor in though, is that so much of my creativity comes from being social, seeing friends and having conversations. It comes from seeing scenery from the car window on a trip, or walking through the native bush.

What I've come to realise though, is that it was too much pressure to put on myself. It's okay to not feel creative when we're going through a pandemic. It's okay to spend that time playing with your kids or laughing with your husband. I feel like we have become closer as a family again, both in our little bubble, and in the wider scheme of things. We set up a family check in on messenger, and now we speak to each other daily instead of just when someone is passing through. We've had family challenges to keep us entertained and occupied. We've shared pictures of what we're up to. It's like we've hit reset and gone back to basics, and I love it.

I have good days and bad days, as I'm sure many of you do too. I have days where I just want to wear my favourite trackies and lounge about doing nothing, and that's okay. But the key is to not let yourself wallow too much in the what ifs. We're all in this together, and no one knows how long it's going to be or what it will be like when we come out of it, so for now, I'm taking it day by day. I try to do something that makes me feel good each day, whether it's going for a walk around the block, or playing a game with my kids, watching a trashy show on Netflix (I'm on a Love is Blind spiral at the moment!), or even just putting on a pair of jeans and doing my hair. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as you find that time each day to do something that makes you feel like you.

I don't know where I'll be when we come out on the other side of this, but I'd like to think I'll be stronger, and my family unit will be the most secure it's ever been.

Stay safe out there, guys. Look after one another, and reach out to those around you (in a social distancing kinda way). And remember, we can get through this, we just have to find the happy moments and treasure them.

Love you xxx

Originally, this blog was meant to be about me and my journey as a writer, but it seems to have morphed into somewhat of a therapeutic venture for me instead. A place I can come and reflect, or perhaps discuss something that's been weighing on my mind. Today, I want to have a chat about mental health and anxiety. You see, this year has been a struggle for me. I know from the outside looking in, it probably looks like I have a pretty good life - and I do - but having a good life doesn't mean that you're not struggling.

I was in denial for a long time; too long really. In fact, it wasn't until we came back from our trip overseas that everything came to a head, and I realised that actually, I'm not okay right now. I was looking at the world under a fog of grey, and I was struggling to see a way out. It was almost as if I was numb to everyone and everything. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced before, and I'll be honest here, it scared me.

Now, I'm a pretty positive person who believes in the power of positive thinking. I believe that if you truly want something and you believe you can do/get it, then it will happen. You may think that's a bunch of baloney, but this is how I work. As you can imagine, wading through that fog felt almost suffocating for me, and it was hard to find the positive.

But, I believe everything happens for a reason, and I think I needed to reach that place of desolation to be able to find myself again. Slowly but surely, I began to claw my way out with the help of a few good friends, and my family. I'm fortunate to have such a supportive family who quickly rally around when someone is in need. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was in need.
My sister suggested I try yoga and meditation, which I have found to be a great tool for being mindful and quieting the voices inside my head - and as an author, I can assure you, there are many!
I've also made time to do the things I enjoy again. I've started listening to a podcast - one I've been wanting to listen to for a few years now but never found the time - and I'm so glad I did. It's almost as if she (Alison) is reaching into my soul and speaking right to my heart. Everything she says seems to be exactly what I need to hear. I'm feeling more motivated, inspired, and determined to set goals and reach them. If you're into podcasts and you need a boost, I highly recommend Awesome with Alison - check out www.thealisonshow.com for more info.

After putting up a post on my Facebook page about how I'd been struggling and the things I was doing to overcome it, my mum messaged me, asking if I wanted to train for a 12km uphill walk with her, (We also signed up for a 10km wine run!), and that gave me a goal to work towards - an achievable goal. I've started walking the kids to school every morning, and we're going for family walks in the weekends. It was just the push I needed to get me out and about in the fresh air and exercising - two things I think are a necessity for our mental health.

I've prioritised family time instead of working through weekends, and we're making a conscious effort to be present. That in itself has made a huge difference to our family dynamic. I'm ashamed to say that was one of the things I'd let slip. In an attempt to have the life we wanted, I'd prioritised work and let my family life fall aside. I'm not proud of that fact, but I'm working to fix it.
One of my biggest things is that I find it hard to say no to people. This is somewhat of a double edged sword. By saying yes, I can wind up in situations I would never usually put myself in, and even though that makes me uncomfortable, it's also a great way to grow as a person. But at the same time, I've learned that it's okay to say no. That my life and needs are just as important as everyone else's, and for my sanity, I can't take on everything, no matter how much I'd like to. As Alison quoted, "If you don't prioritise your life, others will prioritise it for you."

I'm taking each day as it comes, and I'm trying not to stress. I still have days where things get me down, and sometimes I can't even explain why I feel that way, I just do. What I do know is that it will get better.
​
Now that I've got that off my chest, I want to take a moment to reach out to anyone who is struggling - whether it's a bad day, month, or year - if you're finding yourself swimming through a fog with no light peeking through, please, please reach out to someone. It doesn't have to be a medical professional, it can simply be someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Reach out and let them know that you need a little help to get yourself out. That small step of making a connection and talking to someone can be one of the most freeing things. A problem shared is a problem halved and all that jazz - talk it out and feel that weight lift off your shoulders. Take that step. Allow yourself the time to heal. Make yourself a priority in your own life. Do it. I implore you.

Love you xxx

2018 has been a year of ups and downs and everything in between . I've taken on some pretty big challenges and I'm proud of myself for stepping outside my comfort zone and making things happen. I may not have had as many book releases this year, but I feel as though I've still accomplished a lot in the book community, and to be honest, in life in general.

It hasn't been an easy year, but the ups far out weigh the downs, and that's what's important. I can look back now and see that perhaps I took on too much, or expected too much of myself, but you know what? I pushed through and things turned out better than I could've thought.

I organised and hosted a book event. That's a pretty big accomplishment if I do say so myself. WBAJ was so much more than I could've imagined. I was blown away by the support I received from this awesome community. Those of you who were there know just how many tears were shed that day! Tears of joy, tears of acceptance, tears of understanding. In fact, I can feel tears brewing as I type.

On top of that, I attended a signing in Melbourne, taught a class about writing, spoke to several groups about my journey as an author, and signed up for my big adventure in 2019 - a trip around the UK for a signing in Blackpool. 
​
If you'd told me this would be my life back when I started writing, I don't think I'd have believed you! I'm literally living the dream - minus the big money that goes with it lol. I still have to pinch myself when I realise there are people all over the world who read my books. MY books. It's something I always dreamed of, but never pursued because I thought it was a pipe dream, and now look at me! I may not be raking in the big bucks, but I'm having a blast! I'm doing what I love and making friends doing it. I'm so lucky to have such a fantastic support crew both at home, and in the book community. It means so much to me that you've all got my back, and for that, I am truly thankful.

2018 has been an epic year, and I can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for me.

I know what you're thinking, two blog posts in 24 hours? Is this some alternate universe? But no, it's not. I just happened to be scrolling through Facebook this morning, as you do, and stumbled across a post that made me want to open up a bit with you guys.

As you know, I'm hosting Wham Bam Author Jam in Christchurch this year, and we're raising money for Mental Health. My reasons for choosing the Mental Health Foundation of NZ are because I want to give back to those who helped us in our time of need a few years ago. It's also because depression and anxiety are two things that I've seen in my friends and family over the years, and I know how hard that struggle is.

I'm going to tell you a bit about me. Before I met my husband, I was a single mum for several years. My son was my world, and I felt like I had to be strong all the time for him. In fact, I've always prided myself on being 'emotionally strong'. But sometimes, I fall apart. I get so overwhelmed with everything I have to do, and I just shut down. Sometimes I just sit and cry for no real reason other than feeling overwhelmed. My chest feels tight and I can't think straight. I'm so thankful to have a hubby who just wraps me in his arms and holds me until I calm down, or friends who remind me that I don't have to be super woman, and it's okay to have a break.

For me, hosting this event has been a huge step out of my comfort zone. People often look at me and think I'm this super confident person, but really, I'm shitting myself. I'm not good at small talk, and I get flustered in groups of strangers. I tend to be that person who hovers by the food table in social situations because food equals comfort. I tend to watch people until I've figured out who I can talk to without feeling like an idiot, because let me tell you, being an author, people expect you to be eloquent with words. This is far from the case. In person, I freeze up and words leave my brain.
For example, last year I went to Brisbane for my first overseas signing. I was meant to be meeting a friend there, but she was unable to make it, so I was there on my own. I walked into the cocktail party the night before and was filled with unease as I looked around the sea of faces I didn't know. All I wanted was to turn around and walk out, but I made myself go in and grab a drink. I sort of stood there awkwardly for a few minutes, before I decided to just go for it. I turned to the first group of ladies I saw and said, "Hi, I'm Stacey, and I don't know anyone here." And you know what? I had the best night! Those ladies were so welcoming and friendly, and one even knew who I was - which absolutely boosted my mood. I often remind myself of that when I feel uncomfortable, because if I had just walked out, I never would've met these amazing women.

I know that stepping out of my comfort zone is good for me because amazing things happen, but it's still hard to take that first step. So, as you can imagine, reaching out to people to promote this event has been far from easy for me. As I said before, I like to think of myself as emotionally strong, and asking for help is something I don't like doing. And even though I've learned over the years that it's okay to not always be the strong one, and there's no shame in asking for help, I still find it hard to reach out. Most of the time I would rather suffer in silence than reach out, so you know if I'm asking, it's because I don't feel like I can do it on my own anymore.

So, on that note, I would like to say a huge thanks to the people who have helped me with this event without me even having to ask. They saw a need, and offered, and to you, I'm so thankful. This event has been my dream for several years, and I'm so excited to see it actually come to fruition.
Kathryn Dee was one of the first to jump on board and offer to donate swag for the VIP bags, and even created Facebook frames for the event (if you need swag, she's amazing at it! You can check her out here).
Jasmina Siderovski has a heart of gold, and she promoted me and the event in her magazine eYs. She works tirelessly to help spread joy to others, and I love her for it.
Nicole Goodin is one of those friends I can always count on when I need to vent. Running this event on my own hasn't been easy, and she's always a message away to offer me support and suggestions.
Clare Erasmus, Alisha Hodges and Gillian St Kevern have all helped with putting posters up, and Jenner Lichtwark has given me several leads of people to reach out to.
My friends, Monique, Ange, Kylie, Dena, Debbie, Julie - you've all given me suggestions of people to contact, shared my posts everywhere, and even offered to help at the event.
You guys have no idea how much you have helped me, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

So, I'm going to leave you with this thought, You don't always have to be strong, and it's okay if you're not okay. Reach out, take that step, and let people in xxx

It's been a while since my last post, but I can assure you, we didn't end up homeless. Hurrah! We found the home we'd been looking for, and it was a frantic few weeks of packing and unpacking, sorting and purging. But we got there in the end!

Amidst all that, I even managed to release a book - albeit a small one. Yes, that's right, I finally finished Fight the Fever (the sequel to Fear the Fever). I even had my release the week of our move - I see your shock, and I'm right there with you. I don't quite know what I was thinking, but it was probably along the lines of "I'm Super Mum, I can do anything!" Yes, I do refer to myself as Super Mum on occasion. I mean, I did write the books about my life as a mother, with maybe a few embellishments thrown in.

"Ah, the good ol’ days, back when my stomach was flat, and my skin was tight. If I squint,
I can still see that girl in the mirror sometimes. So what if I have to have a few wines first?"
~Super Mum, Fighting Fit (but still frazzled)~ 


And on that note, Super Mum number three is almost ready for release! In this episode of Super Mum, we're struggling with fitness and bladder weakness. As you can imagine, some rather embarrassing moments occur, but as per usual, Super Mum pulls through with the help of her crazy family and friends. Aww, you can feel the love, right?
All going to plan, I'll have this baby finished within the week, and it will be released at Books in Sight, Melbourne! I know, right? Pretty damn awesome way to release a book - at a signing!

Books in Sight will be my first ever trip to Melbourne, and I'm really looking forward to it. I hear it's similar to Christchurch, so I should feel right at home. And I'll have plenty of guides to show me around, because many of the wonderful authors I met in Brisbane last year will be attending.  

The other exciting news is that we've booked our flights to the UK for next year! Books by the Beach, Blackpool is going to be an amazing event, and I'm so thankful to be included in the line-up. It's given hubby and I a much-needed excuse to get away for a bit and enjoy each other's company. We've had a lot of fun going through travel brochures, finding all the attractions we want to see and things we want to do. I even managed to fit in another trip to Melbourne to start the trip off, only this time, instead of me being an attending author at an event, I'll be a reader. Fictionally Yours is having their last shindig next year, and I'm so excited to be going along. I'm going to get to meet two of my fave authors - Celia Aaron and RC Boldt. If you haven't read any of these authors, you need to stop what you're doing and go buy their books, now! Celia Aaron has a dark and twisted mind. She weaves tales that make you question your morals as you fall in love with the 'bad guys'. Whereas RC Boldt writes amazing contemporary romances with a bit of comedy thrown in. What I love about her books is that she finds a way to incorporate characters from her previous books into each one, linking them. Her men are swoonworthy, and the women are strong.
They're definitely worth a read!

Now, it would be wrong of me to mention all these amazing signings I'm going to, and not mention Wham Bam Author Jam. This event is one I created so we kiwis can join in on the signing fun! We've got some amazingly talented authors around this country of ours *coughs and raises hand*, and now you can meet them too!
It's in November (24th) in Christchurch, and we're raising money for Mental Health NZ through ticket sales and raffle proceeds. The lovely Celia Aaron has even donated some signed books and swag for the raffles and VIP bags! Believe me, you don't want to miss out on these goodie bags - which are only available to VIP ticket purchasers (must be purchased before the event).
If it wasn't for this amazing community, this event would never have come to fruition, and for that, I thank you. I feel absolutely blessed to have made so many amazing friends in this crazy book world - both authors and readers alike. Love you guys!

Right, this book isn't going to write itself! Off to the writing cave I go!

Do you ever feel like you're juggling a million balls in the air, trying to decide which one to grab and focus on? That's kind of how this year has been so far for me. I had all these plans, but it seems to be a case of not enough hours in the day. If only I could cope with less sleep!

I had intentions of releasing another picture book, two novels and a novella under my pen name, Cyan Tayse. So far, I've only managed one of those. It's not for lack of trying though. I'm currently focusing on the sequel to Fear the Fever, which I'm determined to have out in the next month or so (all going to plan). I've also been inspired by a song and a photoshoot I attended, so I now have even more stories swirling around in my head - I know, right? Just what I need! "I'll add it to the never-ending list of things to do" seems to be my mantra this year.

On top of trying to get through my stories, and proofing for my fellow authors, I also decided to re-release my dancing series with new covers and teasers, as well as my standalone novella, Never Judge a Book.  I've spent the afternoon updating my website, and I've still got another to go - there's always more admin to do (did I mention the never-ending list already?).

But wait, that's not all! I also took it upon myself to organise and host a reader/author event this year! Yes, Wham Bam Author Jam is a go! I'm bringing 32 authors from around New Zealand and Australia to the beautiful city of Christchurch for an epic event where I hope to introduce the readers of NZ to the many talented authors we have in our own backyard. I'm beyond excited for this event, and even more excited that we are raising money for the Mental Health Foundation of NZ at the same time. I have had so many wonderful authors from around the world, offer to donate books to the raffles, swag for the goodie bags, and we're even getting a write up in the next eYs magazine! Exciting times, my friends.

Meanwhile, my house is under offer, and we're frantically trying to find a new forever home. The countdown is on!

All that being said, I wouldn't change it for the world. Yes, sometimes it feels as though I'm drowning in admin and lists, but it certainly keeps life interesting. I'm slowly learning to let go of things so I can stop and smell the roses, so to speak. We've taken to having what we call "mind, body and soul time" where I have one on one time with each of the kids, and sometimes that's all it takes to make me stop and take a breath. I think we sometimes get buried in the "I should be doing something" mindset, that we forget how to relax and have fun. 
This weekend is "date night" with the hubby. We're going to a comedy show with some of the best comedians in NZ, and I can't wait! Bring on the laughter and frivolity!
With houses not panning out, and only a week left to find the perfect house (if not, we'll rent - we won't be homeless, don't worry), I feel like it's something we both need to remind us that life is a journey with ups an downs, but as long as we have each other, everything will work out (queue the soppy "aww"s).
Remember, without the downs, we can't truly appreciate the ups.