Hello, Rise Together listeners, Dave here, sitting over looking the back patio.

Here for a solo episode, it's been a while since I have done a solo podcast.

And I'll tell you, it's in part because I'm still so much in the work of trying to dig into and

understand why I do what I do, trying to keep the learning that started almost a year ago,

continuing. And in some ways, it's me trying to find a little deeper sense of peace with myself.

In some ways, it's my attempts to build a bit more confidence in myself, to be totally honest.

As much as I really do love doing this podcast and the people I get to talk to, the last year

has done a bit of a job on my willingness to share anything that might position me as a teacher

since I feel in so many ways that I am a student now more than ever, more than maybe any of the time in my life.

So think of this episode, think of me as your old pal Dave, not so much trying to teach anything,

but more that maybe by sharing a little bit of my journey of this last year that maybe something

will spark in you to do a little digging of your own and the hopes that that didn't work.

Oh, be the teacher in your own life.

Welcome to Rise Together. My name is Dave Hollis. I'm the host of this show where we're

going to hopefully have you feeling a little more normal in this, the human experience.

Maybe see yourself even in some of the stories that are told or have your appreciation of what

it means to be human expanded by someone who's come on as a guest who's had a different life

experience. In all of it, we are trying our best in community to learn from each other,

to grow, and maybe even have a little bit more compassion for what it's like to walk in each

other's shoes. When we do, we all rise together.

So a year ago, it's the anniversary of the beginning of a lot of tumultuousness, a lot of

learning, a lot of growth, a lot of beauty, a lot of darkness, like so many things in my life

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