Welcome to Season 4 of the Choose Happiness podcast! I am thrilled to kick off this new season with an interview with a truly remarkable individual. Jud Turner is a gifted artist whose work speaks magnificently not just to the eye, but to the soul. Known for his breathtaking sculptures and beautifully unique creative vision, he has carved a space for himself in the art world that offers not only exquisite works made from found materials but also provides a significant service to his community through his distinctive and meaningful public art installations. 

But beyond the gallery walls and recycled motorcycle parts lies a story even more compelling.

In this warm, engaging, and inspiring conversation, we’ll explore not only his journey as an artist, but also his deeply personal and courageous path to sobriety. With honesty, grace, and unwavering strength, he shares how recovery is possible by choosing to build a life that we want to be fully present for.

I encourage you to watch the video of this interview, as we will be examining some of Jud’s awe-inspiring art in real time. If you are listening only, please go to his website to see the pieces we are talking about as well as all of Jud’s truly spectacular sculptures.

www.judturner.com

To see Jud’s amazing art in person, visit:

The Oblivion Gallery

3923 Cross Street

Eugene, OR 97405

Check out his phenomenal parking meter community art project here:

https://www.instagram.com/eugeneparkingmeterart

I have long espoused the importance of trying new things when choosing happiness. But a lot of us have found that when we try something new we're faced with self-judgement, self-criticism, and a lot of self-doubt. In this podcast I share my own experience with trying a new activity (that I have always wanted to try), and how I came up against not only my own insecurities, but also a cranky sewing machine that had me consulting the owner's manual far more times than I had expected. Thankfully I did triumph in the end, and I hope my story of perseverance helps to encourage you to try your own new pursuit of what could bring you joy, with absolutely no judgement to be found. 

Join me for a fascinating conversation in my Powerful Women series with CEO and all-around extraordinary person Erin Guard. She shares how in her role as decades-long business owner she has built her extremely successful company on the bedrock of staying true to herself and her own core values and integrity. She embraces an "abundance over scarcity" mindset, which encourages her employees and clients to stop worrying about what might NOT be there, and instead to make what is supposed to be there, be there. Erin also offers stellar advice for anyone who wants to start their own business or make their current business more effective. I learned so much from this dynamic business leader and humanity-focused woman and I know you will too. Enjoy! 

We're so into checking our phones all the time now that we rarely have the inclination to look up and smile at one another. I recently had an experience of sharing a smile that was very profound and meaningful and it made me realize just how easy it is to turn a bad day around with something as simple as a smile. A smile makes us all feel accepted and seen, and it releases chemicals in the brain that reduce stress and instantly make us feel happier. So I encourage you to share a smile today, as it will improve your own day, as well as the day of the person who is lucky enough to receive a bright and happy smile from you. 

Get ready to find your calm. Join me for an enlightening and beautifully informative interview with the amazing yoga and mindfulness instructor Amy Rollins. She shares some truly life-changing tips for relaxation, how to mindfully begin each day, how to easily fall asleep, and how to go about our life with less self-judgment and more serenity overall. She explains how important our breath can be to quell anxiety and reduce stress, and shows us simple breathing practices that we can use in difficult or overwhelming situations. Amy is a gift to the world and I am so excited for you to learn from her knowledge, wisdom, and tried-and-true mindfulness techniques. 

Find Amy and her wonderful content here:

https://yogamymind.com/

https://www.instagram.com/yogamymind.coach/

We tend to put a lot of value on things like awards and accolades in our society. But while it's wonderful to be acknowledged for our work, prizes and trophies are fleeting, and we can sometimes feel like if we are not highly recognized for what we do that it's not worthwhile. I believe that what is most important in life is who we are and not simply what we do, and always seeking outside approval is no way to live a happy life. Join me for this podcast episode, For When You Think You're Not Doing Enough. 

I have been learning a lot as I've been traveling around recently, and I've found that the more places I go and the more people I meet, the more of what I thought were my core beliefs have been turned on their heads and I've realized they aren't actually true. I encourage you to open yourself up to new perspectives and different points of view to recognize what old ideals may no longer align with your own belief system now. 

Our comfort zones are comfy, and can bring us a certain amount of joy, but I believe that staying for too long in one's comfort zone is not a good practice for choosing happiness. Trying new things and having new and different experiences are what bring color and sparkle and excitement to our lives. And if that seems scary, it's important to remember that every single thing that we are comfortable doing now was once new to us (think: driving, riding a bike, typing) so there's no excuse for putting ourselves out there to see what new things there are to try and get excited about. Remember the old saying, "Everything you've always wanted is just outside of your comfort zone."