feather & foundation

What a great word, that we really don't talk enough about or even mention it- but boy do we see it and feel it!  The energy force around someone that you feel, the way they seem to bounce through their day.  It can also be quietly refined and be just as powerful.  As I shared, this WOW word is suggested by Jen, whose health journey, inspired mine.  Getting stronger, losing weight, feeling more body confident and increased energy- not only do I feel like I got to feel like me again, but also gain vitality back!!!  You'll hear inspiring stories of people who model vitality.  Plus you'll hear tips on how to grow/increase/create vitality in your life and how to incorporate them into your daily lives.

Live life BIG, be full of hope, dreams and the force of vitality.  

As months come to an end, and seasons change- we sense the rhythm of timing.  Ever have those moments of perfect timing- meeting someone unexpectedly, or the perfect opportunity comes at the perfect moment?  We marvel at those God winks.  Often when we are busy or feeling overwhelmed, we convince ourselves that we are behind.  We feel stress, pressure, anxiety, maybe even guilt or shame.  What if in those moments that we are telling ourselves that story- we can reframe it to "I'm exactly where I need to be!"  There is such a sense of peace, flow and allowance in that statement.  You are exactly where you are supposed to be to learn and grow.  instead of a frenetic "behind", lack or not-enoughness energy,  we can flip to an energy that serves us so much better.  Timing is everything indeed!

This episode was inspired by the shifts I've made lately in a health wellness journey.  Being new to this - I'm amazed at the little shifts that truly are making a big different.  When we look back on our lives, we can see the shifts that have occurred - some for the good, some not.  Shifts happen everywhere and we can see if it's taking us on the right path, or there needs to be a course correction to get back on track.  We can shift our energy and our minds, which in turn can shift our lives- it's never too late!  Just like shifting a car- keep your foot on the gas, occasionally the clutch and brake- it may not always be pretty, you may stall out or jerk and jump- but just keep going and keep shifting towards your greatest life.

This heartwarming episode is packed with nostalgia on all the places we can experience home and the people that shape our life.  We can experience home in many places, as well as with people we might have just met- that we feel instantly at home with them.  Home can be a place that speaks to our soul and lets us to have that reunion and reclaim in a very busy, loud world.  Home is our nest where we can welcome others in with a big hug of hospitality.  We can road trip for real through our life story of home, or we can do it in our minds.  Home has pulling power.  May you be hugged by all the places you call home.

While I don't struggle with asking now in my life, I share a time when I did and the lessons and tips I learned.  When we ask- we can learn a lot- by the response- but also about ourselves in the willingness to be uncomfortable, or scare, we can celebrate the courage of the ask.  We can only control the asks.  Not the response or results.  If you let the fear of asking to paralyze you, do you ever wonder what you miss out?  What if behind the ask was the very thing you wanted, needed, or desired- or it blew your mind in the most spectacular way????  We often play both sides of the conversation (fear in the ask; and then play the doubt in the response).  The answer will always be "no" or "nothing"- 100% of the time if we don't ask. There is power in the ASK.

Emotions!  Just reading that- a flood of feelings can come to mind.  There are many- there's a little guess in this podcast on how many are recognized as universal emotions.  Ever have the experience of the wheel of emotions- how you can be happy and joyful and in a second mad or sad?  We are wonderfully made with emotions in creating the human experience.  Sometimes, we don't always choose the best choice or harness how we use our emotions.  Learning to have emotional balance/emotional intelligence is valued as much of intellectual intelligence.  We can supercharge our emotions when we build a story that does not serve our very best.  You'll hear the power of recognize, regulate and release in steading the emotion train (as opposed to being an emotional train wreck). You'll be educaated, inspired and entertained in this episode of emotions! 

Bliss can conjure up a spa day of relaxation, or the take your breath away moments or events that we experience in life.  I believe bliss is dancing around us, but the world is so loud and noisy, and we are busy and distracted and we miss it.  What if we walked around with an expectancy to see it and find each and every day.  Those normal everyday moments can be filled with bliss.   Let's not miss the bliss!

We welcome Heidi Ann to our podcast to discuss a tough topic- that of sibling abuse (physical & emotional).  As I read her book, My Sister's Secret Keeper my heart broke on hearing her story and family dynamics.  Yet in the unthinkable, in the hard- she shares how her faith carried her through.  The word resiliency came bubbling up over and over again with each page I turned.  The human spirit of rising above unthinkable circumstances is certainly captured and celebrated in the book and in our podcast.  It's in the hard, where we get to meet faith, courage, bravery and resiliency.   I'm honored that Heidi Ann was willing to share her personal story with Feather & Foundation and that it be used not only to educate about sibling abuse- which is not talked about, but also to remind us of our resiliency when faced with unimaginable things in our life.  

Here are resources-

My Sister's Secret Keeper by Heidi Ann Kirby.  (Surviving Family Secrets and Abuse: A Journey of Faith, Resilience and Healing.

Facebook group- My Sister's Secret Keeper

Websites:

www.siblingabuse.ca- A directory of information on sibling abuse, including blogs, podcasts, articles and survivor stories.

https://www.unh.edu/saara- Resources such as books, podcasts, and therapists.

https://www.amymeyersphd.org- An entire podcast series by Amy Meyers dedicated to sibling abuse, highly recommended by Heidi Ann.

The magic of wonder- when we pause to appreciate and recognize the moment.  Our days get filled with so many things that demand our attention so when a holy moment of wonder appears- it truly is magical.  Often we can "wonder" about others in what were they thinking or doing- often in frustration or irritation or confusion.  What if we wonder in more curiosity than in judgement.  We often do the "what if"" on big life decisions and usually it spirals down a slippery slope of fear and negativity and lack.  You'll learn how to Wonder Storm with "what if" and see how it creates energy, excitement and possibilities.  You will love this tool, it could be a game changer for you.  Have you ever seen the wonder?

This timely episode came, as I was showing up for something that I really did not want to do....HOWEVER, I had made an commitment and I honor the commitments that I make.  I am a person of my word.  Thought I didn't want to be doing what I was doing, but the time I showed up in the parking lot- it was time for attitude adjustment and to show up as my best self.  Showing up less than our best- everyone loses- especially ourselves.  I learned early on - that I could not control situations or circumstances, and I could make it even worse by a lousy attitude and brewing negative talk and a story in my head oh and add in drama for more of emotional fire.  I finally learned that I could not control the circumstances, but I could control the emotions and attitude around it.  That was were the super power resided.  

On the other hand, have you ever been the recipient of when someone showed up unexpectedly for you? Or you've been the person showing up to surprise or delight someone else?  It's a blessing to both hearts and evokes so many emotions that get tied to a forever memory, and human connection and experience.

Show up for yourself (not in harsh judgement, but kind care).  Show up in respect for yourself, using your voice for the good in this world. Amazing things happen when we show up.  Thank you for being amazing by showing up to this podcast.  I'm grateful!