#empathyforgrief - Break the Silent Struggle With Grief Podcast

In this hearfelt final episode connected to Chapter 1, "A Change of Planes" from My Backyard Garden: A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. Debra Hester reflects on the meaning of "Just Fly" through memory, mentorship, love and lived experience. What began as a planned interview became a memorial reflection honoring a mentor whose lessons reached far beyond business consulting.

This episode reminds us that "Just Fly" does not mean moving on too quickly. Sometimes, it means carrying the love and lessons of those who helped lift us.

What if the moments that shake us… are the very moments meant to redirect us?

In Episode 20 of Break the Silent Struggle With Grief in My Backyard Garden, Debra Hester reflects on the meaning of turbulence—not just as disruption, but as a gentle realignment back to purpose and awareness.

As we near the close of Chapter 1: Change of Planes, this episode explores how grief, loss, healing and life transitions often arrive unexpectedly: 🌿 A memory 🌿 A date 🌿 A scent 🌿 A moment that suddenly shifts everything inside of us

But what if turbulence is not only an upset…

✨ What if it is also direction?

Through heartfelt reflection, storytelling, and a guided reading of her poem "Air," Debra invites listeners to pause, breathe, and consider:

🌿 What has your turbulence revealed to you? 🌿 What did it interrupt that needed to be interrupted? 🌿 What has it brought back into focus?

This episode is a reminder that:

"This is not just disruption… this is direction."

🎧 If you are navigating grief, uncertainty, emotional transition, or simply searching for a moment of stillness, healing and encouragement… this space is for you.

📖 My Backyard Garden Reflection Journal Available at: mothersbackyard.org

📚 Explore the books of Debra Hester, including: My Backyard Garden, A Memior and My Backyard Gardent, Sage Can Never Age Poetry Book

If this episode speaks to you, follow Break the Silent Struggle With Grief and share this episode with someone who may need encouragement today.

✨ Move forward with more empathy… less sympathy.

🌿 Tend your garden… with grace.

Music: Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com License code: EKP5H9QKM0WGZEIR Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

🌿 Episode 19: Open Again (After 5 Years) From My Backyard Garden | #EmpathyForGrief

After a five-year hiatus, Debra Hester returns with the Season 2 relaunch of Break the Silent Struggle with Grief in My Backyard Garden podcast. This podcast is rooted in #EmpathyForGrief— a space where we move beyond sympathy into reflection, understanding, and healing.

In Episode 19, "Open Again," Debra reflects on her personal grief journey and the path toward healing, empathy, and emotional renewal.

This episode invites listeners to move beyond silent struggle and begin a reflective journey through grief using compassion, self-awareness, and intentional healing practices.

✨ Reflection Prompt: Where are you in your journey today?

This episode is part of an ongoing series inspired by the book My Backyard Garden: A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief and introduces the MOVE Mapping Reflection approach.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NtIy7kjiKMU?si=r3riY1towJTjCIVX 🌿 Visit: https://mothersbackyard.org

📓 Download the Reflection Journal: https://mothersbackyard.org/my-backyard-garden-reflection-journal/

#EmpathyForGrief #HealingJourney #GriefSupport #EmotionalHealing #GriefPodcast

Listen and follow Break the Silent Struggle With Grief on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or at mothersbackyard.org/backyard-buzz 🌿

Music: Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com License code: EKP5H9QKM0WGZEIR Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

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Debra Hester: Now, tell me a little bit about your time at Michigan. I said you got your Michigan stuff on and, you know, I asked you for your playlist and I am going to add your playlist and I am going to take the liberty of, uh, adding the Michigan fight song to your playlist.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Sure. Yeah.

Debra Hester: I'm sure that got you riled up a many days, right? Oh

Dr. Billy Taylor: Yeah. Yeah. I had a great career at Michigan. I, played under the great hall of fame, Coach Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler. And at the time I didn't like Coach Schembechler. He recruited me along with a lot of Ohio athletes. We're both from Barberton, Ohio, by the way. On a recruiting trip, you know, he squeezed your arms or asked if "your're soft, "how did you run all those touchdowns?" Made us lift weights and do pushups and other calisthenics. Under the clock, we have to run the 40 and the hundred-yard dash and all of that. And I had, I was a recruit with 57 offers. I had been traveling around the country. I'd never been treated like that. You know, all the coaches bring you in and wine and dine you. Assign a couple of players to you to show you around and you hang out and you have fun.

Dr. Billy Taylor: And then you, you know, you close it out with a meeting with the coach and that sort of thing. But with Coach Schembechler, it was work, work, work. Myself and one of my teammates, Tom Darden, uh, he's out of Sandusky, Ohio. We became roommates at Michigan, but we met on a recruiting trip and we talked about this Bo Schembechler. We said, we're never going to go to school there and play for this man. We said, he's crazy. He's out of his mind and all of that. But you know, destiny hit, we signed our letter of intent for the University of Michigan. We decided not to go to Miami of Ohio, where Bo was the head coach. After our freshman year at the university, Head Coach Bump Elliot resigned took another job actually at Iowa, Bo Schembechler was named head coach at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Billy Taylor: That's how he became our coach. And it was, I never would have went anywhere that he was the head coach to play for him. But, you know, God has a plan. You know, it was destiny, it turned out to be one of the best things to ever happen because, he became more than a coach, a father image, a mentor. He told us that those who stay will be champions, but it took a lot to stay because he pushed us so hard.

Dr. Billy Taylor: We lost maybe 15, 20 guys off the varsity. [Wow]. Because it was just too tough for them. You know, being a bright-eyed Sophomore we thought that's what it took to play ball at Michigan. And he always said those who stay will be champions. And it was true. We won two Big 10 championships. And we were undefeated. Our senior year, I was blessed to score the winning touchdown against Ohio State. I was an All-American, three years in a row and first-team all-Big 10, three years in a row. So I had a great career at Michigan and I have to contribute a lot of that to Bo Schembechler. I mean, I have to get out there and play and do these things, but I probably wouldn't have played as hard. I probably would not have been as successful if I wasn't coached by Bo. He pushed us physically, mentally.

Debra Hester: That's sort of how you got the title of your book, right?

Dr. Billy Taylor: Well, you know, he was my biggest cheerleader. I'm running the ball, you know, I get tackled, get up, Taylor, get up, get through the hole, get back up, you know.

Dr, Billy Taylor: So, uh, fast-forwarding after the Michigan career, I got knocked down in many ways. And most people do in life, you know, there's, you don't have to be playing sports to get knocked down. So you can, you can get knocked down financially, physically of course, mentally, emotionally, socially, all of those things. And I experienced all of it, you know, and I had to get back up, get my life in order and to go on and be successful in life. You know, I don't wish the extremes that I went through on anybody, but like I say, who knows life's itinerary, but the almighty and so in my mom always told me there was a reason, a purpose for everything.

Dr. Billy Taylor: And I still struggle with that, but I accept it, you know. I questioned God, why take my mom my one and only mother, you know, at, uh, and she was only 60 years old. That's not old, you know? Yeah. And I'm like 19, 20 and I needed her, you know. And I'm sure my life would have turned out different had she lived, from a standpoint of a lot of the negative things that I went through. But once again, mom said everything happens for a reason and a purpose, you know? And I still wrestle with that today, you know?

Debra Hester: Okay. All right. But you still get back up. You still believe in God, you know, that God always had his hand with you, on you, taking care of you, and you always look towards God.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Absolutely, absolutely. You know,

Debra Hester: Wasn't, that, wasn't that sort of what you had told me a little about, but you can share with my audience about, you heard a voice one day.

Dr. Billy Taylor: I did. Yeah. I was going through this up and down with,

Debra Hester: And it wasn't Shanae-nae or Bubba.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Not at all. Uh, my addiction got so bad. I lost my marriage, the house, the car, the home, children. And I was living on the streets of Detroit for two and a half years as a homeless person. Panhandling and in vacant houses, abandoned cars, et cetera, and just hustling to get, you know, alcohol or some drugs.

Dr. Billy Taylor: August 17th of 1997. I heard a voice, that changed my life. And just as clear as we're talking Debra, uh, four words, William Taylor come forth and I was turning up a bottle of vodka and it scared me so, it just went through my body. I dropped it [the vodka] on the cement, it burst and I immediately started cursing. I had nothing else to drink. And I ran around, circled, this vacant building that I was sitting on the steps of to catch whoever it was because we were going to fight. I was going to take care of them.

Dr. Billy Taylor: And I circled a building and realized there was no one. And I started looking to the sky. My God is that you and I got so afraid I was sweating and shaking. And I just started running. When I crossed, um, on to, uh, Jefferson, I was almost was nearly hit by four or five different cars that ran into one another. And, um, I almost slammed into a building on the other side of the street. I was running so fast when I got a foot or two away, I just turned my back and slammed into the building. And I slid down and I was just shaking. And I just remember, being, uh, so afraid actually that street was Woodward, which runs downtown into, into Jefferson and Detroit. People yelled and cursed at me. And I got up and I started running again, but that was August 17th of 1997. And I haven't had a drink drug or cigarette, uh, since that.

Debra Hester: Okay. So God answered your prayer.

Dr. Billy Taylor: He did. But not when I wanted him to.

Debra Hester: I know, I know sometimes that time and we all have to work on that and be patient. I think one of the things I realized, every, almost every story in the Bible, there is some form of patience that is a part of those Bible stories. So that's something that I have to work on myself and I continue to work on being patient because, our time is not God's time, but He is always on time,

Dr. Billy Taylor: I've never been a patient person. I have learned to be patient at times. And I still struggle with that. But when I changed my life when I stopped the madness with the drinking and the, you know, the other drugs and the cigarettes and everything and everything changed, I found some peace. You know, I still missed my mom, but I began to become the person that I think God intended for me to be. But you know, being hard-headed as the old folks used to say, I had to go through something to learn something, you know, still to this day. I don't know why God has blessed me so much.

Debra Hester: Have a program now. You help other people. I know you mentioned it. It's Get Back Up Inc., Right? You have a website and your book and your documentary. You have to share with us how we can all those things.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Okay. Well, Get Back Up is a 501C3, non-profit residential substance abuse facility. We're on McDougall in Detroit. I started off on Dexter on the West side and three years ago, I moved to McDougall on the East side. I just want to give back and help people learn the lessons that I've learned. And hopefully, before they go through all the things that I went through to learn those lessons. And it's challenging work because most people have to, you know, I guess they have to go through something to really get to a point where they realize that, you know, that's a losing game. And unfortunately, many people die in their addiction. However, the Get Back Up website is my initials for Bill Taylor, BTgetbackup.com altogether. Just like it sounds BTgetbackup.com

Debra Hester: And your book is available on Amazon?

Dr. Billy Taylor: I don't know if it's still on Amazon or not. But I know people can go to YouTube and, and the movie, my documentary film is Perseverance, The Story of Dr. Billy Taylor. I know on YouTube, you can see about 20 minutes of that film. And I have to look at, uh, look into where the book is available. Now I have some copies for friends and relatives, so I know it had been on Amazon, but I'm not sure if it's there anymore.

Debra Hester: Okay. I'll check and I'll put it in the notes and everything. And in the commentary where we can reach you and where we can hear more about your story. One of the things is that is so inspiring. I mean, it is the right word to "get back up." I asked you to be a part of the, "I Am Close" because it's such a prevalent condition now for a lot of people. But what you inspire us all to do, Dr. Taylor is even if we become closed, that we know that we can get back up and we should move forward. And I really appreciate you sharing all this with my listeners because we need to hear more inspirational stories. We all, like you say, fall down in different situations, whether it's a big fall or a low fall, and we've been falling ever since we've been trying to walk, but you get back up. Right?

Dr. Billy Taylor: Yeah. Oh, I think, I don't know if I meant I completed the information people need to see at least 20 minutes of the documentary. Plugin perseverance the story of Dr. Billy Taylor on YouTube. And you can see at least 20 minutes of the documentary film. And I think a friend told me recently, they got some copies of my book on eBay or Amazon. I'm not sure. I always say to people when I'm speaking as a keynote or on my radio show that bad times don't last always. And this too shall change, but when life knocks you down, get back up,

Debra Hester: That's it. I'll probably try to play some of your theme songs. And that's another way for people to listen to you on a regular basis is through your radio program every Saturday morning. And if you could give us the call number, cause it's on the internet. Right!

Dr. Billy Taylor: Yes. It's 910 AM Radio. 910 AM the superstation. And the call-in number, if, for comment or question is (313) 778-7600. That's (313) 778-7600. And now it's an early show, Debra, every Saturday morning from 6:00 to 8:00 AM Eastern standard time.

Debra Hester: But it's a wake-up show though. It'll wake you up. That topic, the topics, and your call-in people, your audience. I mean, it is very, very, you know, it gets you going,

Dr. Billy Taylor: You gotta be ready for the truth, you know, and I always say, let's get to the meat on the show. And, my partner's Bishop Gerald Roberts, a cohost, we only talk about things that matter. And you know, that's, that's where I'm at and it's all about trying to help people. And, and that's just what I do.

Debra Hester: Okay. Okay. Well, I guess in the closing remarks, I want to really thank you. I appreciate you spending the time. I'm glad you dressed up in your blue and gold. I tried to be accordingly attired with the right colors and everything. Not quite as many "Ms," but of course I like "M"s, with Mother's Backyard and Mary and all those things. But I really appreciate this. I think it is going to inspire people, help people, you know, that's your mission in life. And you've done so much all ready to give back and to show people that they can be better. That despite where we are, whether we're closed, whether we're down, or whether we're depressed, even through grief, that eventually there will come a time. That's the hope that we all live for is there will come a time where we will get back up. This is a great example. So I hope people will buy your book and that they will be inspired. And I would like to ask you to close the program with one thought that you would like to leave our listeners with around I am closed, but get back up.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Yeah. As I said earlier in the show, whatever your age or gender is, we all are going to go through something. We all suffer losses and disappointments and tragedies. Don't try to deal with it entirely on your own, reach out to someone, make sure it's a reliable source. You know, don't just go to anybody. Uh, somebody that you know, cares about you and will give you some valid information and, you know, talk about it. Don't be closed and don't keep it to yourself. You can get through it. You know, it may not be easy and it may take a while. Well, you just have to, to stay the course, you know, and, and try to remain positive, but reach out for help.

Debra Hester: Yes. Okay. Cool. Well, thank you that we did this thing.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Thanks for having me on your show.

Debra Hester: I love it. I, you know, it's a return favor. I enjoyed being on yours too. God bless you. And you have a blessed day.

I want to thank you loved ones for listening to #empathyforgrief episode #18, I Am Closed. I also want to thank my guest, Dr. Billy Talyor for sharing his insights into "I Am Closed" after his traumatic loss. I started asking my guest to share a couple of songs from their inspirational playlist. So I could share on MOVE Music and Talk. Remeber our tagline, move your mind, don't get left behind. Music helps that too. So here is Dr. Taylor's inspirational playlist suggestions. "Better" by Hezekiah Walker and "Stomp" by Kirk Franklin. Check them out on my MOVE Music playlist on Mother's Backyard Enterprises Channel on YouTube

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I am Closed. Not really, but this is Debra Hester. Welcome to Mother's Backyard Buzz and #empathyforgrief and loss episode, 18 entitled, "I Am Closed." How many times have we seen closed in 2020? Who thought these ones would be a phrase of global importance due to small and large business closures? Because of COVID-19. I did a Google search on the term. I am closed and got 5.81 billion results in 59 seconds through Google search engine, based on the search results.

I can not say it's a unique phrase, but here we are talking about being closed due to COVID-19 for the second time in 2020, I'm here to talk about what happens when we close off from each other emotionally and physically when we are grieving. Do you believe I am closed, works to our advantage. When we struggle in silence from grief and loss? As with all my episodes, I'll focus on breaking the silence, struggle around grief and loss.

My podcasts are based on my personal grief and loss journey and reflections from my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. I'm reflecting on Chapter One of my book entitled, "A Change of Planes." I have about three more podcasts that I'll produce from this chapter and I'll move on to Chapter Two intensive care.

My book is a quick read and is designed for continued reflection. For those of us who are on this life, changing grief and loss journey, or know someone who is. We want to show people who grieve more empathy than sympathy, or as I like to say, show yourself and others, #empathyforgrief and loss.

Loved ones, I love my new interview podcast format. I had planned to add interviews periodically, but the universe started sending me such great and inspiring people. They are people who are like you and me who have gone through challenges and made it to the other side with some insights to share.

I met my guest that we're going to hear from today through a virtual meeting. Actually, I have to thank a mutual friend of ours for the introduction. She lives in Atlanta. My guest lives in Detroit and I live in Memphis, Tennessee, Metro area. She didn't let distance stop her. That alone is a topic for another podcast. But back to my guest, his name is Dr. Billy Taylor. He has a very inspiring story that will highlight this episode's issue, I am closed.

Based on Billy Taylor's story and documentary, he was closed. He was closed for good reason though, in his senior year at the University of Michigan, as he began his transition to pro football, he lost his mother, uncle, and girlfriend. All four of his loved ones were lost suddenly and tragically over his senior year in college. Do you think he was closed? You'd better believe he was so stay tuned for this interview with Dr. Billy Taylor.

Yes. Touchdown Billy Taylor, as he is called by the University of Michigan fans. He was a former pro football running back and currently a successful businessman, motivational speaker, and the author of Get Back Up, The Billy Taylor Story, Dr. Billy Taylor was born in Hoxie, Arkansas. And I love that because that is my home state too. Dr. Taylor is going to share his life story so much better than I can. So as always loved ones, I hope you find this interview with Dr. Billy Taylor as part of episode number 18, "I Am Closed, "helpful and inspirational.

Debra Hester: Basically welcome! The podcast is all about breaking the silence, struggle with grief and loss now with COVID-19. And one of the things with this particular episode is about "I am closed." I know you wrote your book, Get Back Up, and what we'd like to hear is why were you closed? What happened? Why did you close yourself off from your family, your coaches, your friends, you had such a great career.

Dr. Billy Taylor: A lot of people handle grief differently. That as well as the fact that was, you know, 19 years old when my mom passed being the youngest of seven, and I lost my dad when I was five years old. And so I really didn't get to know him, but my mom was my everything, all through my K through 12 years and into college. And I had set these goals that when I was in middle school, I wanted to get a doctorate degree one day like that of Dr. Martin Luther King, which of course meant attending college. And then I wanted to play college and professional football. With that, with the money I earned, I was going to purchase a new home from my mom and just take care of her. Cause I'm the youngest of seven. And I know how hard she worked, you know, raising seven kids on her own.

Dr. Billy Taylor: That dream could not come true because she passed on January 4th, four days after my second Rose bowl. And my whole world came crashing in on me. Life's rug had been snatched out from under me and I went into this deep depression. I was just lost. My older brothers and sisters were old enough to be my parents biologically, you know. They were gone and on their own and had marriages and children and relationships, occupations. And I, I think in retrospect, you know, that had a lot to do with how poorly I handled it. Although losing the person you love the most in the world is devastating. I think for anybody, but a lot, I think in retrospect, thinking back because my other brothers and sisters didn't go off the cliff, so to speak. I mean, we all love mom and we all missed her, but for me, it was just totally devastating.

And my dreams and goals were out the window. You know, I didn't care about anything or anybody or even myself. That's how, I felt, I was not suicidal from a standpoint that I'm going to take something or do something to end my life, but my behavior changed and I could have easily lost my life. And I began to drink, drink and use drugs. And, and I, I didn't go to people that I should have gone to, you know, for help for guidance or direction. I held it in, you know, that was my way of dealing with it. And, you know, being brought up in a Christian home and as an athlete, a strong survive, you know, you don't give in, you don't quit. You can handle whatever comes at you. All of that sort of stuff played into it. And it led me down a very negative path to alcohol and other drugs. And just through the grace of God that I was able to come out of that. But it took 20 years.

Debra Hester: Now, what happened? What was the incident that happened that made you realize that you were closed off and you needed to get help? You need to change that.

Dr. Billy Taylor: When my addiction got so bad, I couldn't keep a job and I was wound up living on the streets and I will mention that I was praying every day for God to help me. Cause I had, I was brought up in church, but my depression was so bad that I also felt I had to drink. You know? And when I did drink, when I was high, I didn't hurt so much. I didn't cry so much. And yet I prayed, you know, for God to help me, but that went on for years and years. And I just say hey, the Lord is not listening to me. So yeah, it was really, really bad. I became someone that I really wasn't. I deal with addiction with rehab professionally today. And, and I see the same behaviors in other men and women. Addiction is a form of, it's a mental illness. It's a form of insanity. You keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, you know? And that doesn't happen.

Debra Hester: Yeah, that's a very good point. Right? One of the things that I really want you to focus on was that, you know, so many people now are closed off, right? Not only because of grief and loss, we talk about the loss of a loved one, but also the loss of a lifestyle. And you are a person that really sort of lost both, right? And I know I didn't ask you that initial question, but you had been exposed to quite a bit. I mean, a lot of those goals were almost there for you. So sort of, can you tell me what your background and your history is and, and how you, you sorta got to that pinnacle and then what happened at that pinnacle? And then you dropped and we talked a lot about that, but then what made you get back up? When was that moment?

Dr. Billy Taylor: Huh. Wow. Let me go back to the beginning. I was born by midwife on my grandmother's sofa in a little small town called Hoxie, Arkansas. And then we moved to Memphis. Dad worked on the railroad, that's why mama went to my grandmother's house, to her mom's house, to have me. So she'd have some help. And from what I understand, my dad blessed me because he'd always prayed for a son. And he said that at age five, he would put him back in the hands of the Lord. My mother never knew what that meant until I was five years old and my father passed. So, wow, I've been blessed from the beginning and not even really realizing it, you know, growing up, we were poor. We didn't have much, we had a lot of love. So mom always pushed education.

Dr. Billy Taylor: I have developed these goals about getting a doctorate degree, really respected and looked up to Dr. Martin Luther King. And I still do, but I was developing into a pretty good athlete. So being a good student and a good athlete that earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where I was very successful. A three-time, all-American running back. And, I remember a friend and alumni said, "B.T., You've got the world by the tail. Just hang on." You know, and right after the Rose bowl, four days later on January 4th, my mom passed and my whole world ended in my eyes, my dreams, my goals, or doctorate degree, the NFL taking care of my mom, everything was out the window. I was just so depressed that I just cried. And I hurt all the time. I had moments where I tried to get back up, if I may, and just rely on my background, as a young Christian man, but the pain was too great. I self-medicated,

Debra Hester: You experienced multiple tragedies that year too, right? That's another thing.

Dr. Billy Taylor: Yeah. In January, January 4th, my mom passed suddenly. And then in June some for four and a half months later, my uncle, my mom's brother who was like a father figure shot and killed my aunt and killed himself. And this knocked me down again and more drinking and substance abuse. And I tried to get back up. And in September, the girl that I was dating was brutally stabbed to death. And I just totally lost it at nine months and 20 years old, you know, my mom, my uncle and aunt, my girlfriend, it was just more than I can handle. Like I said, my dreams and goals were out the window. And when I drank and got high, I didn't hurt so much cause I cried and hurt inside, you know, every day. But of course, that lifestyle is a very negative lifestyle. And it sent me on a 20, 25-year downward spiral.

Dr. Billy Taylor: There were times when I would stop and get a job. But then I couldn't keep a job. The depression comes back. So I battled depression for years. There were people that I could have turned to and I recommend and suggest that to anybody that's dealing with depression. Find someone to talk to, you have to open up, don't try to deal with it yourself because it will overcome you. But sometimes that's difficult to do, you know, and part of my upbringing as an athlete and we, men, we have this testosterone thing going on at the same time. And I, I just felt that it would be weak to cry or to go to somebody else or with your problem, you handle it yourself.

Debra Hester: That's one of the reasons why we talk about break the silence, struggle, with grief and loss because it's very human. And sometimes we talk about being strong, but being strong, but still being human and having emotions and feelings are all apart of what we're trying to get people to understand. And then another thing is that we grew up in a time where people didn't understand depression, depression was a bad thing. It had a stigma attached to it and mental illness had a stigma attached to it and people didn't know what to do with it.

Dr. Billy Taylor: You didn't want to appear weak, you know, immature or whatever. And that's really nonsense. But at the time that's exactly how I was feeling. I was fighting a losing battle, you know, with addiction and trying to handle it on my own. That's what I would say to anyone dealing with depression in difficult times, you know, whether it's the loss of a loved one or divorce or whatever, talk to somebody. Talk to somebody about it. That's, that's wisdom. That's really a strength. It's not a weakness. And you know, get the help that you need because most people have someone in their life that they can count on, rely on that cares enough about them to give them valid information. So yeah, go to the right source. You know, not necessarily Shanae and Mooky. You want to talk to someone, a family member that cares about you. A pastor, counselor, a teacher, a coach, not just one of your street buddies. No telling what they might say.

Debra Hester: This is Debra Hester, and we are covering podcast number 18, "I Am Closed" with Dr. Billy Taylor. He is a successful businessman, a motivational speaker, a former pro football player, and the author of the book, Get Back Up, the Billy Taylor Story.

Stay tuned to our next podcast, I'm Closed, an interview with Touchdown Billy Taylor. Continued in Part 2.

MC Medina: So, ladies and gentlemen, we are good to go! Celebration! Oh man, I wish I had some more noise-making material over here!

MC Medina: Yes, the age of Aquarius, the Age of Enlightenment, that's exactly what the organic program of the universe has called for planet earth today.

Debra: Yes, and how does it help that oneness become more real? Because it's not like the oneness went away, right? Oneness was always here.

MC Medina: Oneness was always here. What happened in the world that we get born into is constantly feeding us media, images, and music. Let's say, we've been so entangled with our five senses that there's a sense of forgetting. You know how people say sometimes mention reincarnation? Reincarnation is a thing where you have had a life before you may have a life after this life. Right? So why don't we remember the things that we discovered in the previous life? And a lot of that has to do with [pause] wouldn't that be awesome if we could just continue to add on the knowledge lifetime after lifetime?

Debra: I think so; I have had moments of déjà vu. So yeah, I sort of have moments when I realized that I had another life before this. And a lot of times, it's when I go to certain places for the first time. It's like déjà vu, I've been here before. And in this life, I know I haven't been here before. But it's just like okay, and it's just a flash, and then I just let it go.

MC Medina: So, from the information that I've uncovered, because of our rebirth process and being reincarnated like being brought back into a physical vessel.

In order for us to survive, we have been programmed to believe and conditioned to believe that we have to maintain a certain level of self-identity—this self-identity. Also known as the ego-mind as opposed to the spirit-mind. And the ego-mind is a universal ego-mind, and the spirit-mind is a universal spirit-mind. So, we can all tap into depending on whatever frequencies we choose to be resonating at in any given moment. What dictates what frequency you're resonating at dictates your brain and your mind's ability to stay in gratitude, in harmony and peace and bliss.

There's a whole list of negative emotions, like jealousy, envy, anger, frustration. Then you got positive emotions like happiness, gratitude, blissful feelings, and contentment, satisfaction. So, we want to be able to stay in those positive emotions. Because by staying in those positive emotions, we're able to maintain a certain frequency that allows us to, what I say, what I call... It allows us to open and maintain the gates of abundance.

When we talk about the Law of Attraction and the Universal Law of Oneness and the ego-mind and all of these things, they are simply reminders. And we start to resonate with that. The reason why I say that is because even though we were born and think that we forgot everything, we stumble across this information again in this lifetime. That's why we have a sense of remembering because we did and do already know this.

Debra: It's a part of us.

MC Medina: It's in our DNA as Star Beings. As star beings, the thing is that we're we are made of stardust. If you haven't already heard that, then now you know. We're made of the same elements that the whole universe Is made out of. According to quantum physics and scientists and big group studies, we are the embodiment of the universe. So, when we think about that and we know that God Is love. God is in everything. That means the universe Is In everything. Love is in everything. And so, anything other than unconditional love is just an illusory construct of the universal ego-mind.

Debra: Right.

Debra: MC Medina is going to enlighten us with, maybe, it might be the answer why there is no oneness among us. Is it love? Is it a lack of love?

MC Medina: You know I was just going to say one last thing. Universal love is all that exists. Everything else Is part of the grand Illusion of separation, and the first universal law clearly addresses this. I heavily recommend, highly recommend everybody check It out after we get done here.

Debra: That's perfect. I mean, love was what helped me get over grief. You know, and that's why I called my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. And sometimes the separation in the physical world throws you sort of a loop. You have these moments from the Grand Illusion that come into you, and then you have to use that positive love to say, okay, I don't want to be angry that she's gone. You know she loved me. I loved her.

We had a loving relationship. If you did not have one, you know, I mean, you can still love the time that was there. You know, because everybody's relationship with someone may not be the same. But it is the love in you and your understanding of, like you said, a universal love. This is what's going to help you bring yourself back to the positive side and experience more positive emotions. Instead of those negatives ones that Ruben talked about. And that's the whole thing about love conquer grief. And I really believe that a lot of people feel like they have to either feel really, really bad or when they feel bad, they can't reach out. Right? But you must reach out because we're one. Right! You remember you told me that:

MC Medina: Yeah, that's what we're going to do. Yeah, we're going from illness, which is an "I," and we're moving into wellness, which is "we." It's destroying the Grand Illusion of Separation. We're all in this thing together. And I'm not talking about just our brothers and sisters—the children of tomorrow, our elders. I'm talking about all that plus nature, the animal and plant kingdom, the insects, the fungus we're all in this thing together. Like there's no grass, there're no trees, there's no green, nothing without the gigantic, mycelium body that's around the whole planet.

Debra: Right, and I really believe that's why we feel good when we look at nature when we see nature. I really feel like that's why we connect so well with it, right? Because we are one with it.

MC Medina: We must be able to recognize the harmonic nature of the natural world and how everything just works in sync and in symbiosis. There's zero waste in nature. So, in our natural state, we've discovered what? Unconditional love. Everything else is an Illusion. Yes, our natural state is abundance and bliss. Our natural state is zero waste. There is no waste in nature. I'm becoming a minimalist and learning about recycling. And taking recycling to the next level, which is zero waste. I highly recommend people get into that as well.

I have a whole team that's dedicated to zero waste and zero waste avocation. Educating people on the benefits of zero waste. How to turn your business and home into zero waste. How and why it is beneficial to be zero waste. Well, for one, you're taking the trash out of the waste stream. Which if y'all don't know, trash is a big deal on planet earth. There are places on planet earth where there are just piles of trash and so becoming zero waste, and it will also help you make money because you can monetize waste. Yes, that's the hack, so when we look at nature, we see this harmony, and that's what brings the feelings of harmony within us just like what you said.

Debra: You know we can go on and on. We're gonna have to wrap it up. We probably have about 15 minutes to our hour. We thought we could do this in 30 minutes, but we could go on for hours. I really appreciate having the chance to talk to you and on your Facebook Live, Ruben. Nice meeting all y'all, and I am from here in Arkansas, Mississippi, so I can say y'all.

MC Medina: Arkansas, Mississippi, baby!

Debra: Tennessee, all through that tri-state area right along the Mississippi (River). I've lived everywhere else, but I'm back here, and this is home, and I'm loving it. I really am. I also want you guys to tune in. In the information, you're going to show them how to get to both of our websites. I'm at www.mothersbackyard.org. And my podcast is #empathyforgrief. You can get it through most podcast providers, but you can get it on my website too. I'd love you guys to leave a comment with Ruben or with myself and tell us what you think about this. This is going to also be out on YouTube.

My YouTube is Mother's Backyard Enterprise, and I am going to let Ruben give you all his data. And like I said, if you are grieving the loss of a loved one or you know someone who is my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief by Debra Hester. It's a brief read; I call it the little golden book. It lets a person see what it's like to go through grieving. And come out loving more than when you started the grieving process. It gives you a way to talk about grief. Some people don't want to talk about this, and I'm breaking the silence.

So, if you see somebody who's struggling, and they don't want to talk about it. Both of you guys can read the book, then you can say, well, you know when Debra was going through this, she felt bad, blah...blah. What do you think about this? It gives you a way to begin the conversation with somebody who might not want to start the conversation. You might not know how to start the conversation, but it gives you this other thing to sort of talk about until they say, "oh yeah, I can relate to that. I felt that way." I encourage you to purchase my book. I'm working on a lot of things; The podcasts are free. I just want to get it out there. I want people to feel that they can get better. It's a journey that comes and goes. There are lows, and there are highs, but I want you to just keep moving.

Debra: You're going to hear a little bit more about Move Music and Talk Radio because that is the next thing we're going to be doing and putting some of MC Medina's music and words into Move Music and Talk Radio right here on force3radio.com. Got my little ad back here. That's where we're streaming live online. You can get that on the internet. So, Ruben, I'm going to let you wrap this up. That's sort of my spiel, and I'll turn It over to you to share all the good things that you are contributing to our world that we all need to know about.

MC Medina: Thank you so much, Debra. Once again, thanks, everybody, for watching and listening. This is Mother's Backyard, I'm just a guest here in Ms. Hester's world right now. And yes, make sure y'all check out that book. It's available on her website, so y'all can order that. Another thing, I always like my listeners to know, our listeners to know. We're really, really dedicating a huge part of our human existence, Debra and I. We're actively striving to make this world a better place. If you feel like your back is against the wall, call my phone. It's 214, I'm serious 214, right grab a pen, grab something 214-815-8555. Now check it out, that's my real phone number, seriously. If somebody calls that number right now. it's going to cut off the Facebook live. Because I don't even have one call right now, okay. Don't do that. That's my real phone number. If I don't answer, leave a message or send me a text or whatever I'm about this life, and I promise you, it's not the end of the world.

Once you read once you get to these points and get the downloads that Debra and I have to share with you, heartache and pain are a thing of the past. And we're creating new moments and new experiences at this moment for you now. So, you're not alone. We're here to help. We are all spirit guides. We're all here to guide others and also be guided by elders. Yes, and others too. Sometimes I find myself being led by younger people.

Debra: Absolutely. My dad told me the story. I got to share with you really quickly because he said: "many are called, and some are chosen." And I was like, "many are calling some are chosen? I don't get it, Dad. " He said, "Okay, when there's an opening for a job, they send out the opening and all people come and interview; but only a few get the jobs." That's where there are some people, and that may not be an age, right. You just never know. But when you experience it, you know that that person's been chosen to do what they're supposed to do. Everybody out here has been chosen to do something they're supposed to be doing in this world. So, we want you to find out what you are supposed to be doing. Yes, as part of this solution and this new Age of Aquarius. So yeah, that's what we do, just motivate each other.

MC Medina: Yeah, well, that's a lot of the work that I've been doing for close to the last two decades. And a lot of work I do with the Native American church nonprofit. We, I've been dedicating my life, and we've helped several people. I was about to lie and say hundreds because it sounded good. But I probably have helped hundreds, because of the videos and everything else. But I've helped, so we've helped so many people just one on one that I'm a professional at helping people discover what their purpose is. Then, helping to generate passion behind that purpose so we can continue to drive you forward onto your personal path of enlightenment, self-mastery, self-awareness. And unlocking the you that your future self will truly be grateful for. So reach out to us. We've got big websites. Again, my phone number is 214-815-8555. Call me too okay and mothersbackyard.org, #empathyforgrief. We also have lovemedina.com, that's lovemedina.com, and that is where you're gonna find music. And I am going to be uploading this podcast transmission right here, this transmission right here, yo! It's going to be on lovemedina.com on the home page, homegirl and homeboys, home people.

Debra: Okay, all right, well, with that, I guess we need to sign out and just thank you, everyone.

MC Medina: Oh, sorry, there's one more, consciousminds.org.

Debra: Oh, that's right

Consciousminds.com. I know it's a lot, consciousminds.org. But yo, I gave you my phone number. And just be like, yo, what was the name of that long one that you said that ended in dot org? And then I'll be like, yeah, this is it right here.

Debra: And we're going to put it in the notes and everything, so you'll have links and the whole thing. All you gotta do is reach out.

Welcome to Mother's Backyard Buzz and #empathyforgriefandloss episode #16 - Part 1 where I want to focus on a "Portal to Another World". Each episode is all about "breaking the silent struggle" around grief and loss. My podcasts are based on my personal grief and loss journey and reflections from my book: My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. I'm reflecting on Chapter 1 of my book entitled "A Change of Planes". From my book, I share current insights into this life-changing journey called grief and loss. Thanks for joining me, Debra Hester, as the author and your host of #empathyforgriefandloss podcast.

A Couple of Firsts

This is an exceptional podcast for me. As always, there are no chance meetings. In Episode #16, you will be hearing a new format. This topic will also have two episodes dedicated to it. This format is transitioning #empathyforgrief podcast to a video series on the Mother's Backyard Enterprises Channel on YouTube.

You will be listening to a pre-recorded conversation with my very first guest. His name is Ruben Medina. We met virtually, and I recorded his interview via Zoom as he shared it "live" on Facebook. The discussion includes fun and earnest insights on how to create a Portal to Another World when you're suffering from grief and loss. Ruben not only shares some of his wisdom, but also some of his inspirational music. My favorite song by MC Medina is "Wake Up." As always, loved ones, I hope you find this episode helpful and inspirational.

[Recorded Conversation]

Medina: So ladies and gentlemen, we are good to go…celebration! Oh man, I wish I had some more noise making material over here!

Debra: All right, well for me, it's welcome, especially all your guests! You know this is my first time and I really look at you as a God-sent because I don't think I would have done this alone. So I really needed a partner to get me to this Facebook live experience. And here he is Mr. Ruben Medina M.C Medina and you know, as I said, no chance meetings, right? This was just amazing how we met online and just sort of have a very similar vision. and when I talked to him and understood sort of where his head was I knew that he needed to be a guest on #empathyforgrief Break the Silent Struggle with Grief and Loss. And I can only say that I hope this isn't the last time.

Medina: Good afternoon, thank y'all for checking in I got a homie with me. We haven't even met, but I'm calling her my homie because we did on such a deep spiritual level.

Her name is Miss Debra Hester and she's got books and she's got all types of stuff. Y'all can't see her right now but we're doing this on Zoom video for the first, I mean this is my first timeYeah this is both of our first time doing the podcast video style, big quarantine style. No masks today I thought about wearing one just for aesthetic purposes but then I thought I should probably have gloves too. And I don't have gloves so we just threw out the whole idea.

But we're definitely more than six feet apart right now, so we're good.

Debra: I'll go through the front end about the podcast a little bit. It's all about breaking the silence struggle with grief. This is my 16th podcast of #empathyforgrief. You can get podcasts anywhere you download podcasts. It is available through most podcast providers. What I do is, every podcast I talk about a subject from my book.

I wrote this book, "My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief." And it chronicles the last days of my mother's life. and she was like my everything and I lost her. I had a long time, don't get me wrong and she was ready to leave this world. She had lived a long, healthy life and she was only ill near the end. So that's a blessing in itself.

But she told us all these different things. She had a chance to tell all the grandkids, the kids, and her great-grandchildren. What she told me is this is your book. So I actually wrote this book, "My Backyard Gardening, A Memoir of How Love Conquerors Grief.

I named it "My Backyard Garden" because my mother said that you know God had prepared her and that she wasn't afraid to die. And that he had told her to help the children because the children go out into the world for the things that they should get in their own backyard, so "My Backyard Garden, is the name of the book. "My Backyard" because she left us with a lot of love.

And I struggled so until I realized other people were struggling and I just started creating a podcast because it's a journey. You know grief isa journey we all will take. And this particular episode is about "Portal to Another World." Yes, right?

Medina: Yes, and you heard that here first, okay! I said they heard it here first, the MC Medina experience is "Portal To Another World" and that's where we're gonna take you guys right now. Thank y'all for tuning in!

Debra: Exactly! Exactly, and you know as you can tell Ruben is so charismatic, right! He has all these different talents, music! I love his music! If you see the video of this we're going to make sure that his music is in here! Right? Because he has one song, we wanted to play right here that's called "Wake Up" because that's what we're talking about, you know, wake up. We gotta, sometimes.

You need a portal to another world. You need to get away from where you are. And that's where I found myself,I found myself on my way to my mother's bedside before she passed. On the plane, in the public, you know, breaking down wanting to cry, wanting to throw up, wanting to faint. Everything, but I couldn't right?

And that's sort of like how we are today. You know, every time you go out in public, you got to be wrapped up and wrapped your head and hands covered So if there are times when you just have had enough, you know what I mean, out in public and you just need this time to get away.

Our minds are wonderful! That's one of the things I want to talk about. You know, if you have been stuck in a public place and grief or loss strikes you. What do you do? You create that "portal to another world." The way I do it is just imagining that I'm somewhere else.I will close my eyes or keep my eyes open so I won't be really strange looking to folks. But in my mind, I am somewhere else. In that portal.It is under construction and in a few minutes I'm gonna be through that portal and with the people in the place that brings peace and stability to me.

So I know you know so much, Ruben, about how to bring peace and how to find yourself and things like that. Tell us how you would do that. Tell us your perspective on that "Portal to Another World" and how to manifest that in the real world.

Medina: Oh man, I know I'm gonna get deep with you now. I like how we're starting off in the deep end already.

Debra: I mean #empathyforgrief gets deep now. You know we don't make any excuses for taking people where they are or meeting them where they are, how high, low, medium or deep they want to go.

Medina: Yeah I like it and you know Hispanic and Black folks, we're not used to the deep end either. We stay in shallow water so this is kind of out of the ordinary for us in that regard, metaphorically speaking.

But thank you so much, first of all, everybody being here. Thank you, Debra, for having me on. I'm so excited about this! Hope y'all can see it in my face it should be glowing! It's glowing. It's glowing hard because you mentioned the "Wake Up."I gotta do this if we can. We could even do this a cappella. So check it out,

"It's Wake up, wake up, wake up for you forgotten who you are. Travel far from home we come from the stars. Not just above you the one in your third eye. Your golden self, the you who sees through the lies came here to learn to see beyond the illusion, truth about this hyper-dimensional transfusion. Each day a new experience unlocks an old memory. This body is extension of source, accessory, we're all light vibrating to create this form. So do your spark I mean do your part to be a spark in the storm. I'm looking, I'm looking for a lighter. That's all right, do your part to be a spark in the storm Ripples create waves so be the change you wish to see. Act from the heart, love is the only key. Don't stop there because it's just so much you can learn. This world and those beyond keys waiting to be turned. Take a look around what's hidden in plain sight. Sacred "G" and Fibonacci all the way into infinity."

Medina: That's it we got a lot going on there.

Debra: That's word.

Medina: Best word right, bars, bars!

Debra: Right, right, right, right and you're so right. You know as brown and black people I mean we just know how to have a good time. But we've endured so much, until we just know how to cover up stuff. Don't we? But you know then on the other side is that I think we are connected to source.

Medina: Right, we are connected to source. Yeah we're one race on the planet according to all the greats and uh what they call ascended masters or even people like Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle. People who have claimed a certain level of self mastery.

Debra: Right, right, we're all connected to source. And sometimes our brothers and sisters who are farther from source we need to help them. I was listening to a lady the other day and she said "I don't want to call people out." "I want to call people in." I thought that was wonderful, right! We want to call people in; so they can be closer to the source.

Medina: Yes! what I say, "we're calling you, from the north to the south side, calling you, y'all gotta come on and take a ride! Calling you!

Debra: Exactly, we calling you in!And that's what #empathyforgrief is, you know because I found out that so many people are suffering from some traumatic event in their life. It can be a loss of a loved one. And all of a sudden grief and loss came up after COVID-19. But there have been people who are grieving from loss way before Covid-19. You know with all of the deaths and all of the wars and you know just not having what they feel like they need. All of that's a loss. And now the whole world knows that what it's like to lose your lifestyle, right?

People are struggling over losing that lifestyle; but, some of us been losing our lives, and our families and having to deal with it. So, that's what this is all about #empathyforgrief for yourself. Show yourself some empathy! Yeah, show yourself some love, some understanding. That's what empathy is, treat yourself with care and treat others with care and love. Right? And we gotta break the silence. Don't keep this quiet. I mean look at those beautiful verses.

Oh, say it again, it's just wonderful! We all need emotional lifesavers.

Song: "Wake Up" playing...not just above you the one in your third eye. Your golden self the you who sees through the lies. Came here to learn to see beyond the illusion. Truth about this hyperdimensional transfusion. Each day a new experience unlocking old memory this body is extension of source accessory. We're all right vibrating to create this form.So do your part to be a spark in the storm. Ripples create waves to be the change you wish to be. Act from the heart, love is the only key. Don't stop there cause there's just so much you can learn. This world and those beyond keys waiting to be turned. Open up what's around hidden in plain sight. Take a "G" and Fibonacci all the way into infinity. Wakeup love, for you've forgotten who you are! Wake up wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up for you've forgotten who you are. Travel far from home we come from the stars.Manifest your intention with the power of your mind. Meditative freedom and freedom you will find. This isn't new age jargon this is something that is real. It's something that is lived something you can feel.It's just my art don't believe it for me. Go and journey on your own and share what you see. As collective consciousness together we will grow. Create your own reality as above so below. Source is the course that we're all headed on. Don't be spiritually broke cause there's nothing to pawn. Dive into yourself and hear the beautiful song of the universe singing like it has all along. Get your strengths from the foods that you're eating. Must have strengths for the words that you're speakin To reach and teach the weary and the weak in, the energy to practice the words you're preaching. Put their words into action like a digital priest. I'm peace it's peace. I'm like a digital priest. Put them words into action like the digital priest. M.C. Medina never gonna stop, never gonna cease. Put them words into action like a digital priest. This peace is peace, I'm like a digital priest. Never gone stop never gonna cease. M.C Medina putting it down like a digital priest. Peace. Wake up, wake up, for you've forgotten who you are. Travel far from home, we come from the stars. Wake up, Love. You've forgotten who you are. Travel far from home, we come from the stars.

Debra: So what are some other ways that we can create these emotional lifesavers, through this portal to another world? You know we were talking a little bit about creating at least, that's how I do it. Create it. And I know that you probably do it by creating songs and verses. Right? Is that your way?

Medina: I do, I enjoy like you, I enjoy writing. Recently, more of the writing has been going on in my head and I haven't been, like there would be times where I would wake up in the middle of the night and I'm fully prepared. Things start just coming, downloads from source or the great creator spirit as we call it in the Native American organization that I'm a part of. The great creator spirit will inspire us and I'd be popping up in the middle of the night and just start writing stuff down.

I want to go ahead and dive straight into it because you've been able to really hack life. I want to do a video series called MC Medina's 50 Life Hacks. Little tidbits. And you've been able just after having several conversations with you I have seen you have been able to utilize a lot of these life hacks.

Now a lot of these life hacks, I'm gonna just bestow the knowledge on to everybody right now. If you want to have a head start in being the best you, you can be or being a "G." And when I say being a "G," I don't mean a gangster or gangsters I mean a god or a goddess. Yes. And for the gender non-specific gender folks, it can be a combination of whatever you want.Okay, so there's no right and wrong here. And be very prideful of whatever it is that you are, please, everybody.

So the 12 Universal Laws is ancient knowledge from ancient civilizations starting with the Sumerians, the Native Americans going into Africa, the Ancient Egyptians and then all of that culture infiltrated into what we know as the Ancient Mayans, Incas and the different indigenous all over the world. This is something that I've studied.

And after speaking with people at the School of Metaphysics in Dallas, I got a chance to speak with faculty and students there.The 12 Universal Laws aka God's Law.

Debra: Can you tell everybody metaphysics.. you know a lot of people you know don't understand metaphysics. I mean they may have tried to avoid taking physics in school. LOL! So the metaphysics is a little different than physics so you know we might want to clarify that for people.

Medina: Okay, so good that's a good point. We have our physical world which is this vessel that we're currently utilizing to engage in the five senses and it can do fun spiral things like that. I was in ceremony one time doing Ayahuasca and I did that and it was just one of the most mind-blowing experiences that I had and I was just looking and moving my hands. It was like remembering how important just our breath is. Yes. Type of moment where you're just enchanted by the simplest thing of the mechanics of your hands. Anyways, the 12 Universal Laws, Is that where we were?

Debra: Yes, you were about to tell us, I wanted you to tell them about metaphysics and you did that.

Medina: So the physical world this is this. and then metaphysics is another way of saying spiritual, esoteric there's more words for this.

Debra: Like energy? Okay. I hear energy, waves, things that you can't see. But you can feel.

Medina: Yes, there's that. Yeah, for all my empaths out there. Thank you for being empathic. Trust in that characteristic and that gift that you have because being an empath definitely helps us move love into the world. And so yeah so what we're using then is whenever people say catch the vibe or you know can you catch my vibe it's sort of saying are you able to see me with your with your mind's eye with your third eye. And your mind's eye is what we use when we want to visualize a desired outcome. And in visualizing a desired outcome that's essentially like prayer. Because when we're praying we find ourselves being in gratitude like we're saying thank you God. So we're being in gratitude and then once we express our gratitude now we feel comfortable asking for things, right?

So normally we're like thank you God uh for everything that I got now check this out Man, I need help paying the rent this month. Exactly. Right? And so what we're essentially doing is we're visualizing in our mind's eye different either money being deposited into your bank account. Or if you're a freelance worker it's a check that's given to you somehow. Maybe even electronically, but we're able to visualize with our mind's eye our desired outcome.

Debra: Or health, let me put that out there. Some you know because all of it doesn't have to be...we can heal ourselves to some degree.You know what I mean? You can bring healing to yourself, to your mind and your spirit because a lot of people, especially with my podcast. Ruben, I know you're my first guest. People feel stuck. They feel like they can't get over the loss of a loved one or something that they've lost. And that's what you're talking about, right? That's a way to envision how you want to feel.

Medina: Yeah. Right? Exactly, exactly envisioning how you want to feel or whatever desired outcome. It doesn't need to be material. It could definitely be even health-related. Mental health, physical health, spiritual health, and emotional health and financial health. So those are the five things that I normally like to cover because I'm into holistic healing and being a holistic advisor and an Ambassador of holistic alternative methods to finding peace.

Debra: Love it, love it!

Medina: Yeah so and I want to go back to the 12 Universal Laws because whenever we're visualizing things with what we call our mind's eye or our third eye or it's technically in scientific terms known to be the pineal gland. And the pineal gland according to not only ancient civilizations, mystics, doctors and science, it is also doctors and scientists is known to be the seat of the soul. So the pineal gland or your mind's eye or your third eye is like the cockpit of a spacecraft. It's like it's the pilot seat of our space suit that we know to be our physical human bodies, our vessels.

And these 12 Universal Laws when we're using our minds eye, pineal gland, third eye, we're utilizing these 12 Universal Laws. And if anybody has seen, there's a documentary that really put things in perspective for me at the time there's a it's a book and it's also a video documentary. It's called "The Secret" the secret law of attraction. And the secret law of attraction explains it. It's pretty much like an hour and a half to two hours.

I highly recommend the audio book too ladies and gentlemen. It dives deep into the 7th Universal Law which is the Law of Attraction. And the Law of Attraction, now all twelve universal laws are laws that are constantly at play. They're always at work. They're immutable, there's no way to stop these laws. They're like the laws of our whole universe and multiverse and all of creation so that's why they're called the 12 Universal Laws.

Debra: And we're going to have you back to talk about all of them. I know we were focusing on two that you always mentioned to me. The Law of Attraction and then the one?

Medina: Yeah and then the very first one is one that i like to touch on and that's the Law of Oneness. Now when we watch and when we listen to "The Secret Law of Attraction, it's like I said an hour and a half to two hours of simply focusing on number seven. They don't even really mention anything about the other 11 Universal Laws. And that's why I want to take a moment to heavily stress to our listeners right now. Not right now, after we get done because we're still dropping a lot of jewels. After we get done, lookup the 12 Universal Laws. Please make yourself familiar. This is ancient knowledge that secret societies and the elite have purposely kept away from the masses. And with great knowledge comes great responsibility. If you find yourself here in this now moment hanging out and chilling with Debra and I, you've called this into your experience. You've asked for this. That's why we are here in the now moment. Specifically telling you to take a note lookup the 12 Universal Laws.

1. The Law of Divine Oneness.
2. The Law of Vibration.
3. The Law of Action.
4. The Law of Correspondence.
5. The Law of Cause and Effect.
6. The Law of Compensation.
7. The Law of Attraction.
8. The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy.
9. The Law of Relativity.
10. The Law of Polarity.
11. The Law of Energy
12. The Law of Gender

Medina: The first one I'm going to tell you about is the Law of Oneness and the Law of Oneness specifically reminds us, now don't, I want to express I want to clearly express myself to our brothers and sisters that these 12 Universal Laws are not new to you. It might seem new to you right now. And it may be a little bit foreign, but once you read these 12 Universal Laws you will resonate with them to such a high level in such a heavy degree and high frequency that you will have a sense that you are being reminded of something that you've you already knew.

Debra: Yeah, exactly, exactly and that's what's beautiful about it too.

Medina: It is,now my experiences have been brought upon through traditional Native American ceremonial settings with Ayahuasca and different plants that have led me into these places in our mind of great peace of great harmony and understanding and compassion and acceptance and bonding and bliss and the list goes on. You, Debra, have you had a very life-altering experience with the death of your mother.

Debra: Yes, my mother was an empath too.

Medina: So what I feel like happened there is because in the Ayahuasca ceremonies it's a rebirth experience. In a rebirth experience there is a certain degree of quote-unquote death that one would experience and what I experienced is something known as ego death. And so how our stories are so awesome and unique and compatible is that you experienced your mother which was a piece of you that you self-identified with and she passed away. That's like a piece of you dying.

Debra: Absolutely.

Medina: And that's exactly what happened to me in the Ayahuasca ceremony. So this led us to a place in our mind where we had to put our emotions to the side. We had to recognize that we are way more powerful than this self-identification that we have created. And a lot of people say the ego mind creates this illusion of separation and that's going back to the law of oneness. Which is the number one out of the 12 Universal Laws.

The Law of Oneness explains that everything is connected in the organic living world. What does that mean to us here on earth? What that means to us is the animal kingdom, the plant kingdom and I like to say the insect and fungus kingdom because those play very intricate roles in our human experience today. Our ability to breathe clean carbon dioxide, oh wait, we breathe in oxygen we exhale carbon dioxide. LOL!

Debra: Breathe.

Medina: See that is what happens when you get sucked into the oneness you forget about all the details, now.

Debra: Right, right, all the terms that have been attached to things. So they're terms that someone has identified as what already existed.

Medina: Exactly.

Debra: Yeah, it was already here. Air didn't get a name it was, you know, somebody gave it that.

Medina: Yeah.

Debra: But I want to go back to the Oneness because a lot of my listeners have lost someone. When I first lost my mother I did feel like I had lost part of myself and I did go through a lot of emotions.I think emotions are healthy. I think they are human. Do they help us get to where we need to go if we just keep with them? Or did I have to go through emotions to come to the realization that my mother is still with me?

Medina: Well, that's different for everybody because people like you you had a very blessed shout out to your pops because from what I've heard he has a phenomenal, astronomically good job thorough job with raising his children and that's what we we like to hear that about fathers today that's very important.

Debra: And I want to bring him on, too because he's a student of Ancient Civilizations. That's his whole perspective is that we all need to go back to our ancient African ancestry because it's there they formulated everything and it just it's based on a lot of goodness but they, it got used for bad. It got secluded you know exclusive and then exclusive sort of let evil into it and then it manifested itself in a not so positive way.

But that's another thing, I know we jumping all over the place. But that's another thing I wanted to talk about is that. Because my Dad explained that we're moving from the Age of Pisces which is suffering. Two thousand five hundred years. We're not talking about the zodiac signs now we talk about the planetary movement. Not the stuff you say what do you do as a Pisces or whatever you do as an Aquarius, but this is an Age. You know, like the Dinosaur Age.

[End of "Portal to Another World - Part 1" Interview with Host Debra Hester and Ruben MC Medina..To Be Continued in Part 2]

I want to thank you loved ones for listening to #empathyforgrief podcast episode #16, "A Portal to Another World Grief." I also want to thank my guest, Ruben Medina, and our sponsor, BetterHelp, that's Betterh-e-l-p. Betterhelp offers online, private, professional counseling at a very affordable rate. All you have to do is go to www.betterh-e-l-p.com/move to get our discount and get matched with a professional who can talk with you by phone, text, or video chat at a time that is convenient for you. You don't have to travel to an appointment. You can also enroll in live emotional and mental health webinars that can help the entire family.

This is Debra Hester, your host, where I pledge to continue to break the silent struggle with grief and loss. Remember: move forward with more empathy, less sympathy. If you found the podcast helpful, it's available FREE on Mother's Backyard Buzz blog at www.mothersbackyard.org. Podcasts are available on most podcast providers. And remember our new, engaging video versions of #empathyforgrief are available on YouTube at Mother's Backyard Enterprise Channel. #empathyforgrief podcasts are on Force 3 Radio Network. Force 3 Radio streams online at www.force3radio.com airing the podcast now at 3pm CST during their all inspirational music Sundays.

Peace & Blessings

Grief Gets Physical

Welcome to Mother's Backyard Buzz and #empathyforgrief episode #15, where I want to focus on how grief can get physical. Each episode is all about "breaking the silent struggle" around grief and loss. My podcasts are based on my personal grief journey and reflections from my book: My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. I share current insights into this life-changing journey called grief and loss. Thanks for joining me, Debra Hester, as the author and your host of #empathyforgrief podcast.

The First Physical Signs

In Chapter 1 - A Change of Planes in my book, my first sizeable emotional response to my mother being in ICU was delayed until I reached the airport. Once it hit me emotionally, my next reaction was a physical sign. I felt light-headed and weak in the knees after I got through security on my way to the gate. Now, who wants to faint? I don't. And who wants to faint in public when you're alone. So I found the nearest seat. Then I became nauseated. And that's another thing I absolutely hate is vomiting.

So all I could think of was I need something to drink. No, it was not a glass of wine, it was mint tea from Starbucks. I knew that mint tea would calm my stomach and help me keep from vomiting in public. Question: Do you know what type of healthy foods help your body to stabilize and recover? If you don't, I encourage you as a grief and loss survivor to thriver, learn, and use these healthy foods and beverages in your time of need.

Food Does a Body Good

Speaking of food, I enjoy cooking healthy meals and snacks. One of the reasons I enjoy cooking and entertaining is that I get lots of satisfaction from seeing how people enjoy not only the food but the experience. When tasty food is in the room, we talk about how great the food looks, smells, tastes, and makes us feel.

I believe food is the body's medicine and is essential to our well being. Plus, food is social too. It can bring people together. Food is something we all share as humans. Even if we may have different appetites and may not like the same type of food, we all have to eat. Food is essential to our physical and mental health.

I consider myself a creative cook and love to experiment with different mixtures and recipes. When I was a child, I ate a variety of foods. I appreciate variety still. Recently, I've been obsessed with vegetables, especially roasted veggies. That's funny because I can remember when comfort food was potatoes, pasta, and bread. Then it changed to blue corn tortilla chips and fresh salsa. But now my once comfort foods, makes me uncomfortable.

Some are born with food aversions, well I grew into mine. It's not just the discomfort particular food causes me. I just can't and have little genuine desire to eat how I once ate. So I ask you, do you have foods that make you feel good while others make you feel bad? Can you tell when that happens? I've learned to be aware of what I eat and drink over time and see the patterns of my reactions to those food choices.

Why do I share this awareness of food and how you react to it? Because this awareness applies to your appetite when you experience grief and loss. I've experienced this change in how I felt about food after a loss. Not just how I felt about food but food actually tasted different. I've found with grief in addition to emotions changing, you have physical signs from your body that respond to grief and loss. Loss or gain of appetite is one of the signs that grief gets physical.

After you've lost a loved one, you might reach for a cookie instead of an apple and wonder why. You may think I don't care and then feel guilty that you don't care. You might even eat your favorite chocolate chip cookie as I have and not get the same joy or taste from it. And like, I wondered, what has happened?

Vital Physical Changes

Grief and loss can extend beyond appetite and food too. Some days my body would actually feel heavier. I'm not talking about bloating or water weight gain. I would wake up from a full night's sleep, and my body would feel tired. I would do some stretches and feel some relief, but then I would find myself clenching my jaw or biting my bottom lip. I would feel as if my whole body was heavier.

In my book, I mentioned it felt like my soul had sat down and it did. It felt like my body was now dragging around a soul that didn't want to move, so there was a constant battle between the two. The struggle would result in aches and pains in new and unusual places.

I don't have underlying health issues, but there were times when I would feel tingling sensations running down my arms, my face, and legs as if I could feel the nerves under my skin. I found that all these physical reactions were grief and loss related. Upset stomach, nausea, headaches, migraines, yes, all from grief and loss.

I tell you because it is easy to think you have some type of undetectable physical illness. I did, and I started searching online for reasons based on my symptoms and believe me all kinds of diseases come up based on these symptoms. Not once did grief and loss come us as a possible cause.

I was reading a story about a young lady who lost her father while in college and then got ill with the flu. I wasn't surprised. I have found that grief and loss can wear on our immune system. Our ability to fight off infections that we usually would are now reduced. So equipped with this awareness, I encourage you to take extra physical care of yourself when you're experiencing grief and loss.

Here you are grieving the loss of a loved one, and now you feel like you have some unknown disease. It's a huge load to carry all at once. As always, I encourage you to see your doctor if you don't feel well physically. Loved ones, I'm here to remind you that you may not think about telling your doctor that you just lost a loved one, a job, or some other significant change in your life.

May is mental and behavioral health awareness month. This year's campaign is #breakthestigma. Of course, I agree. As a society, we are beginning to realize the impact of grief and loss as a possible underlying condition for depression, so I'll add #empathyforgrief and loss for yourself and others. Still, I haven't had many medical doctors in my past that asked me about lifestyle changes. I hope doctors will start asking that in the future. However, now that I know the impact of lifestyle changes on my physical health, I have started to share my lifestyle changes with my doctors.

You Can Get Physical Too

I know you know I have to mention how exercise helps. And it really does help, but I had to find something physical that worked for me. I encourage you to do the same. Often when we say exercise, most of us, including myself, think of vigorous exercise like running or going to the gym. That's all good, but it's not the vigor as much as it is the rigor. OK, that rhymed, but what I mean by rigor is being strict about doing it regularly. Building a routine around the consistency of doing some exercise versus how much you do.

You know as you start to enjoy doing your favorite stretch, or movement, time passes by and you spend more time doing it. OK, all I'm trying to say is …it's a Nike moment…so "Just Do It" on the regular.

The Final Physical

I hope you continue to remember that grief gets physical as well as emotional. The physical signs might throw you at first because our emotional responses are on overdrive and sporadic. So watch for these physical signs as our emotions go up and down. Our bodies, as well as our minds, react to grief and loss. Grief Gets Physical is all about the changes we are going through as we adjust to a different life and lifestyle. Now, when sorrow or anxiety from loss strikes, I'll take a B-complex supplement or a warm shower or the combination of the two. My grief relief favorites are lavender-scented oil, warmed turkey, or Sleepy-time tea. I'm sure you have some favorite grief and loss relief remedies for our body when grief and loss gets physical. So feel free to share your remedies with all of us on my social media sites.

As always, I want to thank you loved ones for listening to #empathyforgrief podcast episode #15, "Grief Gets Physical." My podcasts are based on my book, My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. My book is a quick read. It's meant to capture and share the reality of life after loss and inspire reflection and conversation for those of us who are on this grief journey or know of someone who is.

This is Debra Hester, your host, where I pledge to continue to break the silent struggle with grief and loss. Remember: move forward with more empathy, less sympathy. If you found the podcast helpful, it's available free on Mother's Backyard Buzz blog at www.mothersbackyard.org.

Video versions of #empathyforgrief are available on YouTube at Mother's Backyard Enterprise Channel. Please subscribe. The podcasts are available on some new podcast providers like TuneIn, Stitcher, and Himalaya, in addition to Spotify, Apple, Google, and iHeart.

#empathyforgrief podcasts are on FM radio with Force 3 Radio Network. Force 3 Radio streams online at www.force3radio.com airing the podcast now at 3pm CST during their all inspirational music Sundays. I invite you to find out more about my mission at www.mothersbackyard.org/about-us/. Join me next week when we continue with Chapter 1 - "A Change of Planes" in my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. And the buzz will be about a "Portal to Another World"

Peace & Blessings

The Unspeakable

Welcome to Mother's Backyard Buzz and #empathyforgrief episode #14, where I want to focus on "The Unspeakable." Each topic is all about "breaking the silent struggle" around grief.

My podcasts are based on my personal grief journey and reflections from my book: My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. I share current insights into this life-changing journey called grief and loss. Thanks for joining me, Debra Hester, as the author and your host of #empathyforgrief podcast.

The Mystery of the Unspoken Word

Do words evoke a feeling inside of you, especially when they are spoken? They do for me. They have a rhythm like music. There is something mysterious around the word "Unspeakable." Maybe because we so quickly speak and talk about many topics. Do you feel we have the right to say whatever we feel and think? You know, freedom of speech is drilled into our culture and is the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution.

We look at freedom of speech as a human right by law and practice. Despite rules, despite cultures, we as humans and individuals have been on this planet for some time. We still feel with all of our freedom of speech rights, with grief and loss, there are things we just can not say. Unspoken thoughts that really bother us. These are the "unspeakables." They are the thoughts that run through our minds. And when we are grieving from loss, we decide if they should come out of our mouth. When and if the unspeakables roll out of our mouth, these thoughts gain power, a reality that may go far beyond what we thought or meant.

Sharing Unspeakables About Grief

Unspeakables might seem to be an unlikely topic for someone like me who says, break the silent struggle with grief. But I ask you if and when you "break the silent struggle with grief," are you sharing some of your unspeakables around your loss? You see, unspeakables are not always right, and they are not necessarily bad. I believe they are driven by our emotions and our situation.

In my book, Chapter 1, " A Change of Planes," I explained it as my "unspeakable truth." The truth that my mother was in ICU was in my head and in my thoughts. It was a reality that I hadn't fully come to terms with. My mind had responded to some of the emotions around this truth. But when it came out of my mouth for the first time, I became unbearably emotional. The same thought, the same truth, had now been spoken by me.

As always loved one, I ask you to consider: Are you holding some thoughts, memories, or realities that you fear to verbalize? As I have in the past, I encourage you to take some time to reflect and consider your unspeakables. Determine if you should in the future address these unspeakables or let them stay where they are for now. I do warn you that when you speak them for the first time, expect some type of emotional response. It may be tears, pain, and anger, and it may be joy and laughter of relief. I believe it all depends upon where you are on your grief journey.

When I said my unspeakable truth to a complete stranger, I was fortunate that this airport security gate guard was present and compassionate towards me. I was grateful. As you reflect and determine what unspeakable truth you need to vocalize, please take pause. I encourage you to consider the place, the time, and the person and realize that it is your truth. Meaning, it is how you see the truth. You might want to find someone who is compassionate and explain to them what you are about to say and why so they are prepared and can understand what may come after it.

Lifestyle Loss with COVID-19

As we continue our COVID-19 quarantine, we are all trying to adjust to a loss of our lifestyle and stay positive. Staying positive is a process and sometimes a moving target. In my household, during quarantine, we have had positive and decisive moments. However, there have been moments when the unspeakable was also said. As a result, many emotions came out; but we didn't explode. I am so thankful that we didn't implode either. It's a tradeoff, I guess.

Our insides are as crucial as our outsides when it comes to well being. I know it is not easy to manage either of these sides, but it is well worth it. We must try to find a way to balance ourselves, forgive ourselves, forgive others, and move forward with love and understanding when the unspeakables emerge.

Reflecting and acting on the unspeakable is definitely a #empathyforgrief moment where I encourage you to show yourself and others more empathy than sympathy.

Gratitude

I want to thank you loved ones for listening to #empathyforgrief podcast episode #14 about "The Unspeakable." My podcasts are based on my book, My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. My book is a quick read. It's meant to capture and share the reality of life after loss and inspire reflection and conversation for those of us who are on this grief journey or know of someone who is.

This is Debra Hester, your host, where I pledge to continue to break the silent struggle with grief and loss. Remember: move forward with more empathy, less sympathy. If you found the podcast helpful, it's available free on Mother's Backyard Buzz blog at www.mothersbackyard.org.

Video versions of #empathyforgrief are available on YouTube at Mother's Backyard Enterprise Channel. Please subscribe. The podcasts are available on some new podcast providers like TuneIn, Stitcher and Himalaya, in addition to Spotify, Apple, Google, and iHeart.

#empathyforgrief podcasts are on FM radio with Force 3 Radio Network. Force 3 Radio streams online at www.force3radio.com airing the podcast now at 3pm CST during their all inspirational music Sundays.

I invite you to find out more about my mission at www.mothersbackyard.org. Join me next week when we continue with Chapter 1 - "A Change of Planes" in my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. And the buzz will be about "Grief Gets Physical."

Peace & Blessings

Small Choices, Big Blessings

Welcome to Mother's Backyard Buzz and #empathyforgrief Episode #13, where I want to focus on "Small Choices, Big Blessings." Each topic is all about "breaking the silent struggle" around grief.

My podcasts are based on my personal grief journey from my book: My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. I share current insights into this life-changing journey called grief. Thanks for joining me, Debra Hester, as the author and your host of #empathyforgrief podcast.

April Blessings

It's April! And April is Garden Month. Many people say gardening is one of the best ways to pass the time and lift your mood. I agree; no surprise that I'll rarely pass up an opportunity to talk about gardens because of my book, My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. Speaking of my book, I'm reflecting on Chapter 1, "A Change of Planes," if you're following along.

Our lifestyle has changed so much due to COVID-19. I'm hoping #empathyforgrief podcasts helps those who are grieving the loss of a loved one and also those who may be grieving the loss of a lifestyle. I've learned that traumatic events are traumatic events, and I believe COVID-19 physical distancing and potential infection qualifies as a traumatic event for many. I've found that the effects of traumatic events sometimes come up later after the dust has settled.

I'm not saying the dust has settled, but I do feel as if we are at the beginning of this COVD-19 journey with more unknowns than knowns. I am moving forward with faith that things will get better, and those big blessings will emerge from some large and small choices that we have to make right now. I don't know when these big blessings are coming, but better and benefits are still my expectation. I hope you join me in that expectation.

Past Time Choices

Most, if not all, of us, are doing something different now, and to make this adjustment, we had to experience and respond to some big choices. Now I'd like to encourage you to focus on some small decisions. There are small choices that produce big blessings as we wait for the big benefit we are all waiting on…COVID-19 under control or completely gone away from the headlines, and it impacts on our day-to-day. As Southwest Airlines use to say, we want to be "Free to move about the country."

In my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief, I decided to become a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards member. It was a small choice that paid off big when I had to suddenly change my airline tickets. I knew Southwest's plane routes, processes, and online system. So, I didn't worry about the outcome. That was a choice and a habit that was well worth investing in. We always have an opportunity to invest in the right decisions, but now more than ever.

I remember a statement that was posted on LinkedIn that said, "It is like the universe has sent us to our room." I agree, and I also believe and, as usual, ask you to think about with me, "how will we emerge from our room and be different and better."

Moving Choices

I've worked remotely for several years, so this is not a massive change for me. Staying in the house is a monumental change for me, though, as it is for most people. I think back on when I first started working remotely. I created a space and a place to work that soon became a home office in the basement. After a while in the home office, I realized that I could really work anywhere in the house that had a door. So my next move was to the den, then to the kitchen, but that room had too much traffic, so I went to the dining room table. When the weather got better, I found myself on the porch. My point is that, now that you've made this initial adjustment, if you want to, don't stop. Move again and again, even in the house, until it feels right for you.

Sometimes the slightest movement at the right time becomes a small choice with a big blessing. I've found that big blessings don't necessarily mean size but meaning. It's a big blessing to me when I experience a new understanding. That understanding can be about myself, my world, or my life. With the gift of understanding comes peace, joy, and a feeling of contentment right where I am. I encourage you to seek it, feel it, and enjoy the blessing of understanding.

Gardening Advice

Back to the garden theme, remember I can't leave it out. Gardening was recommended to me by my mother-in-law when I was going through a divorce. Starting a garden was the best advice for me at the time. Her recommendation was better than what the counselors or clergy told me. Talk about an unhappy time in my life is an understatement. I miscarried a baby and shortly afterward went through a divorce. My life was shattered. Like a broken mirror and the pieces of the mirror were falling off the wall on the floor, and I could only stand there and watch them shatter more and fall.

Gardening helped me refocus on a very tiny task. When we plant, we put a lot of effort into one small thing and take care of it in hopes that it grows into something bigger than it is. That hope in growth tends to bring some type of blessing with it. I couldn't afford large plants, so I went to Home Depot and chose small ones and worked on these little plants every day when I came home from work and on weekends.

They became tiny choices that returned big beautiful, colorful blessings. These blessings can in the form of my first bougainvillea plant, a honeysuckle vine on a trellis, and a hibiscus shrub. I can reflect back on the experience now and see those plants instead of the pain that I experienced during that traumatic life transition.

Your Choice

Here we all are, making an unexpected transition in all aspects of our lives. We are transitioning the way we work, play, live, worship, eat, shop, socialize. And we had to make that adjustment fairly quickly with life-threatening consequences.

Loved ones, personally, I've committed to helping during this COVID-19 pandemic, in some way. I so appreciate the people who are working on the front line of all this. The doctors, nurses, first responders, truckers, mail carriers, package delivery, and sanitation workers. I know they are exceptional people who are blessing so many of us who are working from and staying at home.

How I help is by writing, producing, and sharing information online and on the radio as a way to supply our need to know and provide positive encouragement and messages. I feel like my contributions may be small, but I work to share them with much love and hopefulness that they will become great blessings to someone. I encourage you to share your gift too. It may be a small choice right there in the privacy of your home, but it will be a big blessing to those who experience it.

Grateful

I want to thank you loved ones for listening to #empathyforgrief podcasts episode #13 about "Small Choices, Big Blessings." My podcasts are based on my book, My Backyard Garden - A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. My book is a quick read. It's meant to capture and share the reality of life and inspire reflection and conversation for those of us who are on this grief journey or know of someone who is. This is Debra Hester, your host, where I pledge to continue to break the silent struggle with grief and loss. Remember: move forward with more empathy, less sympathy. If you found the podcast helpful, it's available free on Mother's Backyard Buzz blog at www.mothersbackyard.org and on iHeart, iTunes, Google Play, or from your favorite podcast provider. #empathyforgrief podcasts are on FM radio with Force 3 Radio Network. Force 3 Radio streams online at www.force3radio.com airing the podcast now at 3pm CST during their all inspirational music Sundays. I invite you to find out more about my mission at www.mothersbackyard.org. Join me next week when we continue with Chapter 1 - A Change of Planes in my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. And the buzz will be about "The Unspeakable."

Peace & Blessings