Sometimes in life the stars align, an energy emerges, paths cross and we make a connection with the ‘one’ with whom we are meant to be. This happened to Elsa and Nick in the Summer of 1995 at the wedding of mutual friends in Lyon, France. The moment they met, they felt an energy in the connection, they celebrated and danced together and ended the evening with a kiss, just one kiss.
A few years later, their paths crossed for a second time. It was November 1998, and Nick was visiting the same mutual friends for a weekend in Paris. He was on his way from the UK to a new life, working in Michigan, USA. Elsa was back home in Paris after a trip to the Netherlands, where she had just agreed to take a post-doctoral position at the University of Utrecht. From the moment Elsa entered the room in Paris, they felt once again the energy in their connection.
It seems that life is about finding energy, whether that is the energy between the stars as they align or between people as they connect…
When we truly connect we are willing to be vulnerable. A month later, on their second date, Nick asked Elsa to marry him… she said ‘No, are you crazy?’… and still, they let the connection grow.
When we truly connect we are able to have the freedom of living an ocean apart (for 3 years)… and still, the connection grows.
When we truly connect we are able to dive into new adventures, discover new places, taste and savour global cultures…. and the connection grows.
When we truly connect we are able to be patient,,,,, 4 years later Nick asked Elsa to marry him for the 2nd time…. she said YES… phew!….And the connection grows.
When we truly connect we make decisions about where to be…. The Netherlands, it’s somehow midway between England and France…. And the connection grows.
When we truly connect we create life (our 3 boys,) we hold them close, we give them space, we support and guide them, and we learn everyday as life mirrors back how we are and how we can grow,,, and the connection grows,
When we truly connect we can be so very different and embrace the differences….. English / French, Jewish / Catholic, Factories / Research labs, Lecturing / Engineering, Emotional / Cognitive, Introvert / Extravert, Focussed / Ecclectic, Observant / Flamboyant etc etc etc…. and the connection grows.
When we truly connect we can lean on each other if our energy is low and glow with each other when it’s high…. and the connection grows.
When we truly connect we can shine together in good good times, making beautiful memories and we somehow find a way through tunnels of darkness, persisting our way back to the light…. and the connection grows.
When we truly connect we encourage each other to take risks and create opportunities together… YES, it’s possible for a couple to grow a business together,,, and the connection grows.
When we truly connect, we have the freedom to travel across continents and meet with world cultures and we work in the home office and jump on the dutch bike (oma fiets) for school pick ups…. and the connections grows.
When we truly connect we work, we play, we laugh, we cry and we learn … and the connection grows.
When we truly connect so deeply and over time, we find that we belong. We no longer see or feel the difference between connecting together, being together and doing together….. and the connection grows.
When we truly connect we grow. We learn. We love… our energy expands…. We live and the connection grows…. and grows… and grows.
This is our story….. the story of Elsa and Nick and the story of ici2learn.
When we truly connect, we learn, and we love and we live ,,,, we hope you see the ‘energy’ of these values in our story.
To leaders and teams…. An invitation!
Let’s connect.
Let’s learn.
Let’s love.
Let’s live!
Let’s discover together what you truly love to do!