Jules Sebastian - Tea & Honesty: Heartfelt conversations. Lessons learned. Stories shared.

Well, here we are. Weve reached an ending, or a beginning, depending on which way you look at it. I hope that youll carry our conversations in this book with you. I hope that you felt the exchange from my heart to yours throughout these pages. I hope that you pull out the moments that resonate with you and apply them to whatever season you find yourself in right now.

I wonder if you might pick up this book time and time again and tap into the wisdom shared through the personal stories of so many? I truly, deeply hope you do. I hope that these pages will bring you comfort through different life stages and make you feel that you are not alone in your struggles and challenges; you are celebrated and seen on your mountain top. I hope this book will come to your mind in the times you doubt yourself. I hope that you will also either continue to share your journey with others or bravely begin to do so in your own time and in your own way. I hope you feel like youve gotten to know me better.

I believe in the power of sharing stories. I guess you could say my job is to listen and learn from the stories of others. I am forever grateful that people have given me the honour of sharing their time, emotions and experiences. The guests you have read about in these pages are special, unique and extraordinarybut then again, so are you.

Whether you have an epic tale of overcoming adversity or have a seemingly ordinary life, your story is special because its yours.

We are the writers of our own stories. We get one amazing life to live and we get to choose how and why we do it. These decisions we make along the way are what make it unique to us. Its pretty amazing when you think about it.

As I sit and reflect on these pages I have written, I find myself looking towards the future with expectation. My life so far has been a measured, steady path with some sideswiping moments thrown in. Its been wild on some occasions and completely calm on others. But I think I am learning that this is what makes a beautiful lifethe heartbreak, the wins, the challenges, the triumphs, the brokenness and the putting back together. This undulation is what makes us human and alive. The undoing and redoing; the consistent inconsistencies of each new day.

Life is not meant to be perfect; its meant to be lived. I am now a 41-year-old woman, wife and mother who looks forward with hope to the next stages and years. I am aware that before too long Guy and I will be raising teenage boys, then empty-nesting and retiring. Its all ahead, but its also impossible to know the adventures (and potholes) we will encounter along the way.

I dont ever want to miss out on the good that life has to offer, and I also never want to miss the fullness it brings. The hard stuff is inevitableit will come and keep on coming, but so will the beauty. Hold onto that.

When we can be honest with ourselves, we are able to stare our fears right in the eyeballs. When we walk in our truest purpose and lock in with our identity, we are free. When we stop living in comparison and according to the standards of others, we move forward with an ease we may have never experienced. It is brave to face yourself and sit in your own mess long enough to get through it, and it is brave of others to sit with us while we do.

Finding my passion, and running full speed towards it, is a lifelong process for me. But I havent once given up in the pursuit and I encourage you to do the same. It is so well worth it, and you really never know what is around the corner. Nothing has ever been or ever will be for waste.

My life right now looks very different to what it looked like ten years ago. Ten years from now it will look different again. I wonder if I will pick up this book later in life and see how much Ive grown, learned and changed over time? I wonder what lessons I will bring with me right to the end. I wonder who I will have tea withmaybe it could be you? I hope I will always listen to my knowing, follow the nudges of my heart and leave room for curiosity. I hope you will also.

I really hope you know that you are the reason for this book. You are the reason I continue to invite guests to share their lives over a cup of teain the hope that we can all learn from what others have already discovered and equip our own lives for the better.

Ive only ever got better because of the people around methe faithful friends and family who have allowed me the space and dignity to grow and change, to live and learn, in a safe community. When we live boldly in our hurts and our losses, we make it OK for others to do the same. Thats the power of sharing.

Thank you for letting me bare my soul in these pages. I appreciate you reading my stories. They are not just words to me; they are my heart, my life and some of my most cherished moments and life lessons.

And here is the best partwe get to be a part of each others stories. Our lives have now collided; we are officially friends. I hope you join me for the next chapter, too.

With all the love and gratitude I have,

Now, go put the kettle on

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Candau, Brittany, Have Courage, Be Kind: The Tale of Cinderella, Disney Press, USA, 2015

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Goff, Bob, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People, Thomas Nelson, USA, 2018

Graham, Ruth, How We All Became Pollyannas and Why We Should Be Glad About It, The Atlantic, 2013, theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/02/how-we-all-became-pollyannas-and-why-we-shouldbe-glad-about-it/273323/

oprahmag.com/life/food/a23784014/oprah-tea-recipe/

marieforleo.com

To the wonderful Murdoch Books team, with special thanks to Kelly Doust, Ally McManus, Tam Zimet, Virginia Birch, Megan Pigott and Sue Bobbermein. You have made this process less scary and the very best learning curve. Thanks for your patience and guidance and getting this book finished!

Karalee Fieldinghands down, this book would not exist without you. Thank you for every email, phone call, text message, kitchen table and caf session. You are an absolute saint for getting me through this. All the love my heart has is YOURS.

To my husband, Guy, for writing the foreword of this book. Your words mean the world. I love you and I am beyond proud to stand by your side and live this wonderful life with you. Hudson and Archieyou guys are the very, very best. I am the luckiest mama to call you mine. Can we hold hands forever, please?

Ronnie, my fur babyyou are the sweetest doggie there ever was.

Mum and Dad Eganfor your endless love. You are both my biggest cheerleaders and I feel your support every single day. Words are most definitely not enough to express my thanks for the energy, time and love you put into raising me.

Mum and Dad Sebastian, Mim, Ollie, Tash, Chris, Emma, Jeremy, India, Audrey, Ava and our newest addition FergusI won the in-laws jackpot with you guys! Thanks for being the best family a gal could marry into. I promise to never make a red velvet cake ever again.

Trudy, Imogen and Anikafor your bravery.

Jen Fontaine, Rebecca Oxenbould, Lozzie Stamper, Lisa Johnston and Mandy Perryfor always fighting the good fight, being superwomen and for having my back. I couldnt think of a better, smarter, more fun group of girls to lead and be led by. What a girl gang.

To my lifers-besties-day-to-days you know you get me through. Thank you for showing me relentless support and encouragement in all my endeavours and projects. You are imperative to my life and I could not survive the years, months and days without each and every one of you. I love you ALL!