Today is an important milestone in my life.

I’m sure you would agree that writing your 200th blog is an occasion to be remembered?

That however, is not the milestone I am referring to.

Yes, it is true that 200 Saturdays ago I wrote my first blog and have continued since then to subject you, my dear readers, to my weekly ramblings, all without missing one single week. Many of you have freely given your time to read these blogs and, for this, I am truly grateful.

 I view your support as consent for me to continue to visit your Inbox every week.

However the milestone to which I am referring to is far more significant than the writing of a few blogs.

On this date 10 years ago my beautiful wife Gimalle, no doubt against the advice of many, consented to marry me. Today is our 10th anniversary.

And so I would like to not only dedicate this blog to the love of my life, but also to use this space to say to her those things that I don’t say to her often enough.

My Beautiful Gimalle,

My limited vocabulary does not enable me to express how deeply my love for you has grown over each of the past 18 years since our lives together began that day in January 1996 when, on our first date, you dragged me to see Mr. Holland’s Opus.

I remember it well: you cried, I slept.

In the years since then, and even more so in the 10 years since we became married, you have been the truest, most loving, most supportive friend, companion, confidante and source of inspiration any person could ever wish for.

Today, even though many years have passed since our afternoon at the movies, my heart still beats a little faster each time I see you and I still rush home from work at the end of each day excited at the thought of being with you.

I know that sounds corny but it is truer than you will ever know.

I owe you a debt of gratitude just for being you. That debt is so large that I have no hope of possibly ever repaying you. At my best, I can only hope to be half as good a husband as you have been a wife.

Ours truly is an unequal marriage and is one in which I clearly won the greater prize.

You are the rock upon which I have leaned so many times when otherwise I would have fallen over, and on those many occasions when I have, indeed, fallen down you have always been there to gently pick me up and encourage me to try again; each time with the gentle admonishment that this time, perhaps I should not necessarily try harder, but smarter.

You patiently listen to all of my harebrained schemes and have gently nudged me back into reality each and every time.

They say that each of us will be blessed, at some point in our lives, by the presence of a great teacher. I have been blessed by your wisdom.

You have taught me patience, empathy, understanding, and, above all, you have taught me the meaning of love.

Through your patience and guidance you have taught me the importance of perseverance and no great accomplishment has ever come about without this.

There have been many times over the past years when I wanted to quit in a fit of despair and anguish and frustration and each time you were there, right by my side, to remind me again of the power of persistence.

Gimalle, to say I love you more today than I ever have, is not only an understatement but a proclamation for all to hear how much you mean to me.

These past 10 years have been, by far, the best 10 years of my life despite my own many attempts at self-sabotage along the way.

A few months we sat together and watched Mr. Holland’s Opus on TV. My, how times have changed: I cried, you slept.

I have one small favour to ask. It will mean a lot to me. Certainly there have been times when we have disagreed. Just once, can I be right?

Thank you Gimalle for 10 wonderful years.

I’d like to order 50 more please.

LUTM.

Rael

Till we read again.

P.S. I am very excited to share with you that my book Life Sinks or Soars – the Choice is Yours now has its very own website. Please visit us at  www.lifesinksorsoars.com  and let me know what you think.

P.P.S. I had the privilege of doing my first ever radio interview last week. The topic of the interview was my book, Life Sinks or Soars – the Choice is Yours. Here is a link to my interview. I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas or suggestions once you have listened to it. Please contact me at rael@raelkalley.com and share your thoughts

P.P.S.S. If you haven’t yet subscribed to, or even just checked out, my new blog called Habits Cause Have Its please click here.