So after a decade of trying, failing, reading, learning, adjusting, asking, answering, thinking, exploring, playing, wishing, wondering, re-evaluating, contemplating and so forth, I think I've come up with a motto that encompasses everything I need to know moving forward.
"Kiss the dragon on the nose."
Sounds kind of silly, but it covers love, power, freedom, creativity, adventure, and playfulness. It does so in a way that those words can be remixed into other forms - compassion, courage, humor, joy, etc depending on circumstance. Easy to remember, requires a lot of internal fortitude but also a particularly intense sense of humor and imagination. Plus I stole the core idea from someone who inspires me.
I like it, it's mine. Now I'll have to see how well it applies.