Last week, thanks to John Callaghan's efforts we all got around the table and had "the talk" - not the birds and the bees - but Northern Ireland; past, present and future.
At first it was a nerve-wracking experience as one misplaced word could have meant becoming the Enemy of the Program.
But I was pleasantly surprised, astounded in fact, by how the session was as peaceful as it was honest.
Whilst there were differing opinions on the current political situation there was general agreement on the need for an alternative approach to politics in order address the immediate concerns over Health, Education, Housing and so on.
I expressed my desire to see our society moving on from viewing the issues through the prism of green and orange politics. Only a conservative/liberal agenda can begin to deliver real results - perhaps one day we may even have an approach to politics that transcends both.
But in order to reach such a position, there must be a realisation of the status quo: Northern Ireland is in Union with the United Kingdom until the people decide otherwise. We can't keep going back to the same old arguments about a United Ireland when there are so many young people tragically ending their own lives within our broken society - for which, in turn, Government must accept some responsibility.
We must get over (but not forget) the past, find common ground and get on with the job!
