Life Notes from Chair 17

Yoga therapy. We talked about it back in Episode 20 with our good friend Nathan, but we never thought we'd end up embracing it on our own. Join CH this week as she discusses her personal journey into yoga therapy, finding solace and healing through a tailored program, and how a personalized approach can create a supportive container for both body and mind. Whether a seasoned yoga practitioner or new to the concept of how yoga therapy differs from just doing yoga, this episode offers perspectives on integrating yoga into life for a holistic sense of well-being, and its dual benefits for physical and mental health.

Show Notes

• CH is currently working with good friend and Share the Chair (Episode 20) guest, Nathan Waldvogel, for her yoga therapy program.

• Information on some of the different styles of yoga, including the definition of yoga therapy, can be found on Nathan's Web site under the Yoga Styles section.

Have you ever showed up for a friend who was really going through it and just sat with them as if you were on a park bench? You didn’t offer advice or guidance, you just simply saw them, heard them and comforted them in their moment of struggle. Join CH this week as she recounts the story of when her friend, Sarah, offered this powerful form of friendship and support, and how that has further shaped CH's approach to being there for someone - without the need for words or advice - where a quiet, non-judgmental presence can make a world of difference during tough times.

Show Notes

• For those who may not be familiar with the term toxic positivity, you can learn more about it on VeryWellMind.com.

Sometimes, we.are.just.not.ok. No matter the day, the month, or the year. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, join CH this week as she recounts a key time in her life where prioritizing her mental well-being took precedence over celebrating a holiday, and how that moment further shaped her approach to prioritizing mental wellness on the whole not only for herself but in support of others.

Show Notes

• May is Mental Health Awareness month in the United States, which has been observed since 1949 (Wikipedia).

Be kind. Be brave. Be you. Three solid life tenets from this week's Share the Chair guest, Jackie Yeaney. Having retired from official Chief Marketing Officer duties after spending over 20 years in the C-Suite space, she joins CH this week to talk all things life journey and experience - from her beginnings in the United States Air Force, to her ascendence into executive marketing leadership, to her passion and advocacy for people and possibilities. It’s a great hour of conversation covering both work/life insights and wisdoms from an executive leader who ALSO has a knack of leading through her own life.

Show Notes

• Jackie is actively a part of the following organizations:

• Talkspace (Non Executive Director)

• The condition Eric has is called CACD - a rare form of macular degeneration (Central Areolar Choroidal Dystrophy).

The parentals. The 'rents (a.k.a. parents). It often seems it is just a matter of time before we catch ourselves doing something those who raised us used to do. Or may even still do. And that may (or may not) always be the best for us. Join CH this week for a thoughtful discussion on developing a sense of our own self, and being encouraged to forge our own path of actions and behaviors, which may differ from that set down by parental figures.

Show Notes

• The viral video clip CH discusses in this episode, called "Cranky kid goes viral for telling it like it is," can be viewed here via YouTube shorts.

Anyone have a time machine? No ...? Well, darn. As we hit our 30th episode, we've taken a moment to reflect on the things we might go back and point out to our 30-year-old selves ... and we put it in another Top 10 list! Join CH as she rolls through the 10 key things she’d point out (and double down on) to her then self if there was a DeLorean time machine with a flux capacitor nearby (“Back  to the Future,” anyone?). And no, winning lottery numbers did not make the list.

Show Notes

• For those who may not be familiar with what was the nightly Top 10 List on "The Late Show with David Letterman", check out the Wikipedia summary.

“Hey, I can teach you that!” Ah … the well-intentioned friend or partner who wants to help us learn the new thing we want to learn. But is that really the best way to help us be successful - whether it be a sport, a skill, an instrument? Join CH this week as she discusses the importance of finding the right environment - and teacher - to help us feel comfortable and confident in taking on a new adventure.

Show Notes

• CH's tips for taking on something new:

• Do not be afraid to turn down the offer from a friend or partner who wants to be the teacher; sometimes, learning from someone we are close to doesn't always provide the best learning environment or set us up for the right level of success.

Have you ever found yourself no longer as close to those you once worked with? Even when you thought they might be part of your life posse? Join CH this week as she discusses how some workplace friendships can - and will -  stand the test of time; the importance of defining camaraderie and connection on our own; and, coming to terms when the friendship exits stage left once the consistent interaction provided by the work environment is gone.

Show Notes

• The article CH references is on Business Insider, as told by Sylvia Duran Chen (a former Google employee), discussing how everything - including friendships - became tied to the company.

Actor. Painter. Businesswoman. All around creative spirit. In this very special Share the Chair episode, CH chats with one of her longtime inspirations, Ellie Cornell. Some might know Ellie from her portrayal of Rachel Carruthers in 'Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers' (it's our fave scary movie, what can we say.) But Ellie's artist journey has evolved to include her passion for painting. Join us as she reflects on her days as a working television and film actor (including being taken under Bill Murray's wing ... yes, that Bill Murray); her lifelong love of painting (and from her front porch, no less); connecting to Nantucket Island's spirit of place (we also share that sentiment); and, always finding a way to honor and stay true to one's creative callings (because, as she says, there is a place for all of us).

Show Notes

• Ellie's full list of film, television and producing credits can be found on her IMDb profile.

• The theatre company she had previously been a part of is  Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts.

• The Nantucket lighthouses CH mentions are: Brant Point, Sankaty and Great Point (a.k.a. Nantucket Light).

26 weeks. 26 episodes. We’ve reached the midpoint of our first year, so we’re celebrating our half-birthday with a thank you to all of you who are - and continuing - to tune in. Join CH as she reflects on returning to her storytelling roots, what her time as a journalism major in the Office of Communications at the University of Oregon taught her, and why really at the end of the day we just like to tell - and share - good stories as we navigate this thing called life.

Show Notes

• CH's alma mater is the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.