00:00Hey.
00:02Hey.
00:03Christina, is it just me or are you smiling?
00:06It does happen.
00:08Oh, it's great to see the proof right in front of me.
00:10Well, that's why I asked you here.
00:12I want to talk to you about my new direction.
00:16Well.
00:17It's very liberating letting go of all your preconceived notions about yourself and your relationships
00:24and just letting your guard down and trying to be aware of what's happening in the present moment.
00:31I mean, that may sound like a cliche to you, but it's true.
00:35No, cliche or not, whatever you're doing is definitely working for you.
00:38Thank you for saying that and for not forcing me to defend my choices.
00:43Wow.
00:44Let me guess, your mom, Sam, or both?
00:47It's just sometimes they make me feel like I should be looking over my shoulder, but you don't.
00:53Well, I'm also a very gullible man.
00:56Only in your personal life, right?
00:57Not when it comes to business.
01:00That's fair.
01:02Um, why?
01:04Because that is why I came to you for help.
01:08Over the past few years, I've been more than a little frustrated and confused.
01:14I've realized this role that I've been playing of the family screw-up is just...
01:17Oh, hey, come on.
01:18Hey, hear me out.
01:19It's this role that I've created for myself.
01:22Always setting myself up to be a disappointment.
01:26Well, you know what?
01:26Just for the record, I have never been disappointed in you.
01:29That's because you've taken on the role of my protector.
01:34Well, I was trying to be supportive and sincere, but...
01:36No, don't get me wrong.
01:37I love you for that, and I always will.
01:40But I'm hoping instead of protecting me, you can invest in my future.
01:44I have a business proposal.
01:46Oh, well, I thought you might.
01:49Unfortunately, I don't have access to my trust fund until I'm 30, which is why I'd like to borrow some
01:55money.
02:00If you lend me the $1,500 I need and I make payments with interest, as I've written out right
02:06there...
02:07I see it.
02:08If all goes according to plan, which it will, I should be able to pay you back in a matter
02:12of months.
02:15Well, I, uh, I appreciate how well thought out your proposal is.
02:21But you won't lend me the money.
02:23I mean, come on, Christina.
02:24A loan with interest?
02:25You know you can go to Dad and ask him for money for schooling, and he'd give it to you.
02:30Exactly, but that would be a gift or a handout, and that's the last thing that I want.
02:34Well, you're gonna say no to free money?
02:35But it wouldn't be free.
02:36It would come at a cost.
02:38Namely, my guilt and the feeling of failure for sponging off my parents again.
02:43I need to pay my own way.
02:48You know, something I, uh, I learned from my bereavement group is how important it is to feel responsible for
02:54your own healing.
02:56And so, with that being said, yes, I will lend you the money, and I will let you pay me
03:05back with interest.
03:06Oh, my God, Michael. Thank you so much.
03:08I have one condition, though.
03:10You and I, we have to get together for lunch a lot more often.
03:13It's a deal.
03:14All right.
