Challenges Won't Stop Me

Paralympian, Gia Pergolini joins me for an interview. She is an 18-year-old world record holder and gold medalist. I'm a little star struck about interviewing an Olympian!! 

Gia may be a beast in the pool, but she was full of laughter during her interview.

 Check out these Olympic facts:

·         Since the first Olympic games in 1896, the summer Olympics have only been cancelled three times – all as a result of world wars.

·         Not until the 2020 Olympics have the games ever been postponed. They were postponed due to the global pandemic.

At the time the games were postponed, Gia was a 16-year-old high school who had been training for her favorite event: the 100-meter-backstroke. She was disappointed but determined to take advantage of the extra time to train. 

When the Paralympics were rescheduled for the summer of 2021 in Tokyo, Gia was ready!

Gia qualifies for the Paralympics due to her diagnosis of Stargardt’s disease. It’s a rare genetic disease that significantly impacts her vision. She is a fighter. Not only does she navigate life with 30% vision, but she is also a fierce competitor in the pool.

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In Tami O’Connor’s story interview – episode 58 – she shared how her daughter Jordyn’s cancer diagnosis and her passing away tested her ‘even if He does not faith.’ Facing those zigzags drew Tami closer to God. She learned that the faster she surrenders when facing life’s tough challenges, the sooner God will show up. She described surrender as running into the fire, believing He will reveal what she needs to learn. 

She explained, “I can honestly say that walking through what I’ve walked through has allowed me to find my even if He does not faith.”

In this episode, Tami shares a deeper understanding of the purpose of Jordyn’s passing: a seed that dies produces a plentiful harvest. It comes from John 12:24, which says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

With Jordyn’s passing only a year ago, God living and working in Tami can be the only explanation for her joy, contagious laughter, and quest to live fully. 

Tami discusses the growth she has experienced during the last year, crediting it to intentionally seeking God by studying His Word, journaling, and sharing her heart in prayer. She believes the seed, Jordyn, dying has already started producing a harvest and is expectant for the harvest that will continue to come in the years ahead.

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A short Bible story from Daniel 3 will help you understand the significance of my guest, Tami O’Connor, finding her ‘even if He does not’ faith. 

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia made a golden image of himself and then issued an edict that stated everyone within hearing distance of the music must fall down and worship the golden image or be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Three Jewish men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the golden image, so they were brought before King Nebuchadnezzar. When he asked why they refused, they replied, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Even if God did not save them from the fiery furnace, these men would not serve his gods or worship the golden image. Pretty bold faith, huh?

There are many takeaways from this well-known Bible story. Tami’s story focuses on the takeaway of praising and worshipping Him even if He does not heal a loved one in the way she prayed. 

Tami referred to it when her 15-year-old daughter Jordyn asked her if she would still praise God if one or more of their family had died in the tornado. Essentially, Tami affirmed that she would praise God even if He had not protected her family.

Her quick response stuck with her, causing her to question if she really did have ‘even if He does not’ faith. An intense period of Bible study, prayer, and journaling drew her close to God, developing the even if faith that she would need in the future.

Almost a decade later, her daughter Jordyn was diagnosed with a rare stage 4 Sarcoma cancer. Each time she prayed for Jordyn’s healing, she grappled with the question of whether or not she would have that ‘even if He does not’ faith. 

Jordyn passed away after a brave three-year fight on April 11, 2021. This episode is in remembrance of her.

Tami’s hard-earned wisdom after going through several significant zigzags is: “I have found that the faster I surrender and I just run into what I’m having to face, the sooner He will show up. Running into the fire always seems to present a deeper understanding of who He is and who I am in Him. I can honestly say that walking through what I’ve walked through has caused me to find my even if He does not faith.”

After listening to today’s episode, I challenge you to take some time to read through Daniel 3 and consider whether or not you have ‘even if He does not’ faith.

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HOPE – an intangible but very real mindset that God is for you and is working all things together for your good.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Do you have a hope-filled mindset? Do you lean hard on hope when life’s struggles overwhelm you? Do you believe God can bless our lives even through difficult times?

My guest, Eva Aigner, a precious and joy-filled woman, believes hope carried her through the many zigzags she’s faced in her 84 years. Ms. Eva shares in this mindset interview about how hope carried her:

·         through the horrors of the Holocaust

·         when her family escaped Communist oppression during the Hungarian revolution 

·         when her family boarded the last ship to the United States through President Eisenhower’s Hungarian-Refuge Relief program

·         through the years of raising her children in a safe and free country instead of a country with no freedoms and little to no safe places to live

·         and when per precious husband, Les, passed away unexpectedly

Ms. Eva’s mother, Giselle, modeled what hope looked like in those fear-filled months during the Holocaust before she was forced on a train, leaving Eva and her sister, Violet, alone. 

When each of the zigzags described above happened, Eva’s mindset of hope strengthened her and opened her eyes to the miracle God was working in her life.

She briefly discusses each of those zigzags and how she’s thankful for them. Thankful? Yes, thankful. 

I am honored to call Ms. Eva my friend. 

Want to hear Ms. Eva’s story interview? Listen to episode 22 titled, “In Honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day” here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zigzag-1/id1447918523?i=1000472233085

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Are you able to see beauty in your struggles? I don’t mean after the struggle has passed. We often can see the beautiful reasons why the struggle was necessary and for our good after the struggle has passed.

I mean are you able to see beauty at the onset of a struggle. A big, unexpected struggle. One you aren’t sure how to navigate. Can you see the beauty then?

My guest, Sharon Richardson, shared her story on last week’s episode of her daughter Paige being born with multiple health issues. That was a big, unexpected struggle. She wasn’t sure how to navigate it. Could she see Paige as a blessing? Check out episode 55 if you missed it.

In those first few weeks when the doctor’s prognosis for Paige was unsettling, Sharon received a poem titled “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley that encouraged her to consider this new place (having a daughter with multiple challenges) as a beautiful new place. When she looked at Paige, she could see beyond her struggles and see the beauty in her just the way God created her. 

Sharon shares how the mindset of “There’s something beautiful here” not only impacted the way she viewed her daughter but choosing that mindset again and again has carried her through other challenges she’s encountered in life. 

Choosing this mindset at the onset of a struggle is challenging. But as Sharon shared in her story interview, “the sooner you see the blessing, the sooner you receive it.” Blessings are beautiful!

Order Sharon’s book, How Deep Is Your Love? A Mom’s Shattered Dreams Are Transformed into Showers of Blessings, on Amazon!

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I LOVE the uniqueness of each of the overcomer interviews I’ve had the honor of sharing over the last ten years! While there may be similarities in their struggles, each overcomer shares unique insights, lessons learned, and ways God transformed her life.

My guest for today’s Zigzag & 1 podcast interview is my friend, Sharon Richardson. Having a child with special needs is a similarity Sharon shares with several other overcomers I’ve interviewed, but her insights about why God chose her to be Paige’s mom will remind you of the beauty of being chosen by God. The lessons she’s learned will remind you to look for the blessings instead of focusing on the struggles. The way God transformed her life by being Paige’s mom will remind you how God will transform your life no matter what zigzags intersect your path.

Check out Sharon’s book, How Deep Is Your Love: A Mom’s shattered Dreams Are Transformed into Showers of Blessings, and learn more about her at sharonmrichardson.com. 

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Christine Trimpe joins us again to discuss a powerful habit and mindset that fills her with joy at the start of every day.

For three decades, Christine struggled with her weight. Her food provided very little nourishment and left her feeling joyless. As we discussed in her story interview – episode 53 – her turning point was realizing she hadn’t considered inviting God into her weight loss journey. When Christine began studying her Bible a daily habit and feasting on God’s Word, she began losing the excess weight.

Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 15:16 came alive. He said, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”

A deep joy is the amazing outcome Christine’s experienced as a result of feasting daily on God’s Word. Completing this habit first thing in the morning while she enjoys her coffee is her way of starting the day with a positive and encouraging mindset.

Learn more about Christine at christinetrimpe.com.

Grab a copy of her book: Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown 

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My guest, Christine Trimpe, is a bacon-loving, joy-seeking author, speaker, and health & wellness coach. She wasn’t so joyful during her three-decade long struggle with her weight. Like most people who know they need to lose weight, Christine tried all the diets, exercised, etc. Her success should have been possible as she is a type A, rule follower. She did everything “they” told her to do, but the excess weight remained. 

Her turning point was realizing she was missing the most important piece of the puzzle. Focusing on her relationship with God and inviting Him to be part of her weight loss journey kept the pieces she had been putting in place from completing the picture. 

After accepting God’s invitation to sit at His table and meet with Him as she studied His Word, Christine found a deep joy that has wrecked her life (in a good way!) She began feasting on God’s smorgasbord of whole food! Slowly but surely, the weight she carried for decades fell off to the tune of 100+ pounds! Christine’s weight loss journey has been featured in Women’s World, Diet Doctor, Reader’s Digest, and First for Women. 

Christine even describes herself as a joy-seeker who is pursuing a joy-fueled life in body, mind, and spirit! Her book, Seeking Joy Through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown, is a must read during the advent season!  

Learn more about Christine at christinetrimpe.com

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My guest is Dr. Christi Bartolomucci of Atlanta Innovative Counseling Center. She’s been a licensed counselor, working with hundreds of clients for the last eighteen years.

Dr. Christi shared her wisdom about anxiety and strategies to help those struggling with anxiety during season 2. Check out episode 17 “Anxiety Is a Bully,” episode 18 “Our Kids & Anxiety: Q & A,” and episode 19 “Helping Our Kids Navigate Uncertain Times & Survive Online Learning.”

Because listeners loved those episodes, I knew I wanted her to join me again. In this episode, Dr. Christi shares her wisdom about thinking errors we experience that often lead to feeling stuck or trapped. What do we do about these thinking errors? She shares strategies to correct those errors, which really work as I used them to stop my thinking error during the show! 

And she shares what we all need most: strategies for getting unstuck. Dr. Christi mentioned these strategies are common and simple but effective IF we use them consistently. 

Dr. Christi shared, “Usually when we feel stuck, there is a reality that we are facing, and we don’t know what to do. We can’t figure out movement, and we feel trapped. We just don’t know the next steps. We start thinking is this just the way it’s always going to be.”

She referred to the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. She quoted this repetitive phrase from the book: “You can’t go under it. You can’t go over it. You’ve gotta go through it.”

Additional quotes from Dr. Christi:

“Our thoughts, in part, are what get us stuck.”

“When we make shifts in our thinking, we can get a very different outcome.”

Three common thinking errors:

1.      All or none (black and white thinking, using always and never)

2.      Catastrophizing (worst case scenario)

3.      We are not mind readers or fortune tellers.

Ways to correct thinking errors:

1.      Catch the thinking error and bring attention to the story we are telling ourselves.

2.      Take a pause and think about what is really true.

3.      Ask yourself, “What is a more realistic story?”

Three simple but effective strategies for getting unstuck:

1.      Practice gratitude. “When we practice gratitude, our lens changes. We begin to see things from a different perspective.”

2.      Focused attention mindfulness. “It means being present in the moment.”

3.      Remind yourself that you have a purpose. “It’s easy to forget our purpose when we feel disconnected. We each have a purse. Every one of us have worth.”

 To read or listen to stories of courageous women who've fought to overcome life's tough challenges, visit melonybrown.com.

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Ideally, a marriage lasts a lifetime. But as we know, many factors can derail or end a marriage. Unfaithfulness is the reason 20-40% of marriages get derailed and ultimately end.

According to a 2014 American Psychological Association study, 60-80% of those marriages impacted by infidelity are restored, often because both partners engaged in couples counseling.

I'm excited to have author, speaker, podcaster, and coach Jill Savage on the show to discuss how discovering her husband's unfaithfulness impacted her and how she and Mark worked to rebuild their marriage. A marriage that she now describes as healthier and stronger than ever.

Jill gained much wisdom during that difficult season in her life, which lead to her writing  "Your Next Steps: What to Do When Your Spouse Is Unfaithful." In this short but powerful book, Jill shares the ten steps she and Mark took to  rebuild their marriage. (Book is available on Amazon)

Step 1: Connect with the Friend [Jesus] Who Understands
Step 2: Drop Your Anchor in His Word
Step 3: Be Still
Step 4: Fight on Your Knees
Step 5: Take Care of You
Step 6: Accept Help
Step 7: Understand This Isn't About You
Step 8: Own What's Yours
Step 9: Set Boundaries
Step 10: Choose Love

In addition to this book on marriage, Jill has also  written "No More Perfect Marriages" and "Is There Really Sex After Kids?" Two online courses - Rebuilding Trust and The Wait Is Not Wasted - are available on her website, jillsavage.org.

If your marriage has been impacted by an unfaithful partner, Jill's books and resources were written by someone who truly understands and desires a restored marriage for you, too.

If your marriage is healthy and strong, you will learn much for this interview. And Jill's books and resources will benefit you, too! 

Here's to experiencing the many blessings God desired when He created marriage!

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