Publisher's Synopsis
One Billion Seconds delivers a powerful tale of how true love transcends time, tragedy and a broken heart. Deeply in love, Poppy and Geoff still need help from Jesse, a "relational choreographer," to help them manage life's ups and downs and the communication skills needed to maintain a mature relationship. But sometimes real life and true love don't mix. Jesse's 'star couple' break up and move to separate parts of the country. For the next 32 years-or one billion seconds-Poppy and Geoff lead separate lives, which include marriages, children, deaths, divorces, 9/11, and losing their own identities. Real-life couple, Poppy and Geoff Spencer, are relationship consultants, speakers, radio show hosts, and the authors of One Billion Seconds-a keen look into many true events in the couple's lives-both separate and united. The beautiful story opens in happy times, featuring the two college sweethearts in sunny Florida over three decades ago. But their storybook romance comes to a screeching halt when Poppy graduates ahead of Geoff and returns home to Wisconsin. Initially, the young love was not enough for distance and naivete. "We were 21-years-old and naive," Poppy and Geoff quip of their real-life break-up more than thirty years ago. "Through the writing of One Billion Seconds, we uncovered the implicit understanding of what makes relationships work and what can lead to their downfall; and, the short answer is to embrace vulnerability. We wouldn't have turned tragedy into triumph, gotten back together, or written a book without being 100% vulnerable. This book not only entertains, it also inspires readers to truly understand the value of vulnerability." It's more than a novel and not exactly a memoir; instead, One Billion Seconds is an inspirational tale that weaves the Spencers' real-life professional experiences as relationship consultants with their own love story. Readers of One Billion Seconds are given hope, the courage to take risks that honor who they are, and a roadmap to eliminate negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that prevent true happiness in a relationship. One Billion Seconds provides a rich and textured love story against the backdrop of practical, useful relationship advice from real-life, professional relationship coaches. It also includes the following themes: - Hope and courage: which allow you to take risks to honor the core of who you are - Offers a positive mindset to help you get rid of any thoughts, feelings, and behaviors preventing you from being the best version of yourself - A Parenting style, including solidarity or one voice between parents - Strength to face, overcome divorce, and flourish - How to successfully integrate blended families - Challenges fear and social bias - The value of speaking the honest truth - A trademarked communication tool and effective communication solutions, even if no words are the best - Belief in a happy-ever-after.
