Out With the Old, In With the YOU!

This week I share about a disturbing, recent situation with our local school. After my daughter brought home a horrific story of unacceptable behaviour from her PE coaches, I set out to bring things to the light. The response from the principal shocked me. 

Listen here for the whole story and how after almost forty years of not valuing my voice, I am finally taking my power back. From here on out, I will not only speak up for myself and my family but also for those who are not listened to. 

It’s time for this small, close-minded town to wake up and get out of their ruts. 

We always have choices. They may not be our favorite choices, but we always have choices to speak up and make the changes that will best honor ourselves and our family. NEVER settle for less.

If you enjoyed the quotes I share today, check out the book at your local library - “No Fucks Given” by Sarah Knight

This week I discovered something interesting about myself. It all started with a gentle yoga session led by the incredible YouTube yoga teacher, “Yoga With Adriene.” The 26 minutes I spent caring for my body opened my heart and led me to a podcast episode by Martha Beck that brought me enlightenment and healing.

It’s beautiful - important - and worth listening to.

Here is the yoga session I joined in case you need some self-care:

Yoga For Comfort And Nourishment | 25-Minute Yoga Practice | Yoga With Adriene

Here is the Martha Beck podcast episode I highly recommend:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bG3S8abXLHtsl0Iq1JAlX?si=aH08ucw7RoG4nRGzMtJkow

Also, I confirm that Martha Beck’s most recent book is “Beyond Anxiety”. 

Hello lovelies! This week’s episode is a delightful, light-hearted exploration of the Red-winged Blackbird and why I now aspire to be like them. 🙂 Although this bird is one of the most widely spread birds in North America, I was amazed to learn how incredibly amazing this little creature is.

Sometimes I think it’s easy to think that a part of nature that is extremely common is just kind of boring - but oh would that be a mistake! 

When we take time to slow down and zoom in, nature reminds us that life is beautifully complex. Red-winged Blackbirds aren’t boring blackbirds…just as you my dear friend, are not just a boring human. 

You are unique, capable, amazing, and talented beyond your imagination. It’s time for us to take our power just like the blackbirds have taken theirs!

Hello friends. In this episode I share an extremely disheartening, disturbing story of a conversation I heard this week. I do not have the answers and I am extremely upset about the dehumanizing happening in our world right now. It’s unacceptable. 

I also take a few minutes at the end of the episode to honor my two beloved horses that passed away several years ago. 

Shiloh continues to remind me to “Never Give Up.” Though my heart is heavy and horrified, I refuse to be paralyzed with frustration. I will keep showing up. I will not quit. 

Here is a song my daughter showed me that lifted my spirits after I was finished podcasting. It’s a a beautiful reminder to live in the moment, today, and not allow ourselves to get stuck in the past or yanked to the fearful future. I encourage you to have a listen!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ynli8GlJZvguk0Jduu15v?si=vPRJF9KFQOKQjmThFFiRKg

In honor of today’s topic, I took a walk in the woods and found a peaceful spot in the forest to podcast. I’d love for you to come along with me!

Most of us know that getting out in nature is good for us. Nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress. 

Today I share some interesting studies that caught my attention and gave me an even deeper understanding of how incredible nature is. Scientists continue to study this subject because there seems to be an endless wealth of benefits.

I love nature and I love learning about it! This episode inspires and encourages you to find ways to rejuvenate your soul with this beautiful, free gift - just outside your door.

We need nature because we are a part of nature. It’s time for us to come home.

Listen to the end to hear my crazy running story and how I became a professional stunt actor through simple meditation. (Please do not try this at home. Coffee in the Corral is not responsible for anyone who attempts to do meditation while running. 😆)

Here is the link to the article I read that includes the stories shared here:

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature

Here is the podcast episode talking about how “awe” helps heal heartbreak:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4L6gpZmCV8TPgU6j7e06Br?si=n6bgONCCSBaFUHFhBRRI2A

Here is the fucking awesome podcast by Martha Beck that got me so zen I stopped watching where I was going. 🙃

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ynli8GlJZvguk0Jduu15v?si=vPRJF9KFQOKQjmThFFiRKg

Unpacking Negative Self-Talk - And Why We Should Stop Trying To Get Rid Of It #128

This week I share two stories. 

1. My first experience and encounter with our local vet. It’s a bit alarming but stick with me because it turns out pretty good. 

2. How a discouraging yoga session turned out to be an enlightening moment and important insight into the negative voices in my head.

In this episode, I discuss:

• How a rude vet situation pushed me to stand up for myself finally

• Why I care more about what my horses think than humans

• My very interesting journaling experience and what I discovered

• Who is this negative voice in my head?

• The story it shared with me

• How I am integrating and caring for it instead of banishing it

Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D - is the author and creator of Internal Family Systems. I recommend all of his books!

If this episode brought you some understanding and compassion for yourself, please share it with someone you think would benefit from it!

Super stoked and freaking grateful to record this week’s podcast as the sun rises! It’s something I have always wanted to do and nature brought in some gorgeous warm weather right in the middle of winter so I jumped at the opportunity!

Watch the sunrise with me as I discuss:

The amount of beauty and the many gorgeous animal sounds that accompany this episode are breath-taking! 

You won’t want to miss this! Send this episode to your animal/nature-loving friend!

The Trump administration has been throwing so much shit at this country that it feels like drowning. The waves keep coming.

If this is the way you feel, this episode is for you. This important discussion not only defines the situation but also gives us some efficient tools to help us know what to do next.

I discuss:

Podcast Edit Note: I quote Martha Beck as saying “The opposite of anxiety is creativity,” but this is incorrect. She says that curiosity is the opposite of anxiety.” Listen to her two recent interview episodes below to learn more.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ouixsfyR2HA7otWqo3060?si=2PbiiOqJTeWcXOOEQZu23w

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3fceqKcfNuppqgzmaJ9t42?si=OV2qyXvXQPO5d5xv_sJY5g

FB Link for the article written by Jennifer Walter:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19xEiBxgbE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Regardless of the 16-degree weather, I still recorded this week’s episode out in my corral. After watching the inauguration of Donald Trump, I knew I needed to get out of my head and into my body. Nature does this for me.

Today I share what I am doing to stay grounded amidst a lot of chaos unfolding in America. 

I encourage all my listeners to make their own lists and put them up as daily reminders. 🙂

I feel like this week’s podcast episode is an important reminder that there is still a lot within our control. There is still hope. Not all is lost. We will not be silenced. We will not be put in boxes. We are powerful. Fucking powerful.

It all starts right inside our bodies. It starts with self-love and the knowledge that we still have the most important choices right in front of us.

I love ya. I got ya. And more importantly, you got you. ❤️

Today I was delighted and honored to have my beautiful partner, Jenna Gael, join me on this week’s podcast episode! With the help of mascot Zelle who tried VERY hard to be involved in this conversation, Jenna and I discussed a recent experience I had with anxiety.

Today we talked about: