In our lives, we’ve had periods of striving, outward reaching, as we’ve worked and interacted out in the world. Following those often hectic activities, we sometimes encounter quiet periods of more soulful reflection—reaching-in. Breathing in. Breathing out.  Each cycle brings perspective—experience informs the possibility of personal insight. Change. Gradually and subtly, we integrate the two aspects of reaching out and reaching in. We hope the constantly repeating cycle will produce increased awareness, higher consciousness or even wisdom. 

Sometimes in the process, we discover previously unknown truths about ourselves or perhaps gain more clarity about our deepest desires. Through chance encounters with others and key relationships we further integrate our personal experiences. We acknowledge that close collaboration with others provides powerful lessons. We face shared challenges and successes within deeply personal and committed partnerships. There are also unavoidable devastating losses. We live in a dynamic mix of “reaching out, integrating and releasing,” over and over again. 

In the following song, we pause to reflect on some of those precious earlier years in our own lives together—reaching for the stars with perhaps a heavy dose of naïveté. As reality sets in, we may settle for something less than the stars. Youthful dreams give way to more tangible ideas. We wonder if unspoken disappointments linger, silently creating space which becomes an uncomfortable void. What were once key relationships begin to falter. Perhaps our reaching only gave us the illusion of a temporary sense of balance.

In building meaningful collaborations, perhaps we’ve unintentionally neglected the primary partnership—focused on our personal dreams and aspirations. We find ourselves reaching once again, but this time, we can barely extend our arms. Without dreams to buoy us we are limited and less effective. Entanglements may cause us to forge an interim compromise. But the disappointment lingers. That truce merely marks the beginning of an ending. Our collaboration stalls. Our partnership slowly slips away. Exhaling those last gasps of precious dreamy breath, we release and retreat, exhausted and empty.

But this is a story of cycles. As difficult as it seems, we trust that there will be yet another time of confident reaching. We’re simply taking a “breather,” and will ascend triumphant once again. We draw in fresh clean air as our chests rise with fullness in our lungs. Ahh! We are gifted with unlimited possibilities and re-imagine our life in a bold new form. Rather than completely starting over, we sense a much deserved head start. New found wisdom. Fresh perspectives. Refreshing clarity. A lightness of heart and soul. The answers that we seek have been within us all along rather than somewhere “out there.” We just use the outside world to remind us of who we have always been.

As Joni Mitchell wrote, “We are star dust . . . ” Perhaps the distant twinkling night sky holds reflections of our ever-present potential—always within reach.