This is my third attempt at completing the MKE.

The first time, my Dad died a month in.

The second time, I thought that I would have the discipline to audit the course, but I let football get in the way.

This week, I got a late start because I had free tickets to go to the Chiefs game.

But this time, I can feel the difference. I watched the replay on Monday night. I didn’t have to force myself to do it. I just felt deep in my gut that I needed to participate full out – be all in.

You see, when I got the email that class was starting again for this “school” year, I came to the realization that I am the golden statue covered in cement. Just receiving that email caused a piece to fall off, and the gold to shine through.

I had to admit to myself that my outer world is still covered in cement. And with that realization, I made the decision to take ownership of the sludge that is my inner world. That email was the wake-up call – as the wet cement that is my inner world was starting to harden.

The doctors have told us that we’ll be lucky if my Mom makes it to Thanksgiving. But this time, I just can’t quit. If I do, I will become the woman she became – a golden Buddha covered in cement who gave up on her dreams, her desires. A woman who quit.

So this week has been rough but amazing – so many lessons that I could no longer ignore because of that little piece of gold that I could finally see again. I have way too many years left – and a ton of cement to remove.

Off to grab a hammer and chisel…