Silver Lining Moments with Kerry

A moment of REFLECTION is Lined by LOVED

A SLM conversation with Rob & Kerry

Silver Lining Moments:

a space for conversations, feelings, and ideas that expand love and light

My husband Rob helps me look back at 2020. We talk about all my Silver Lining Moments guest this year. As I recall these conversations and think of my guests, I am once again renewed in spirit and hope by their positive insight and impact. If you haven't had a chance to listen to these episodes, you may want to check them out – especially if want to feel connected to the goodness in the world.

We then talk about our Silver Lining Moments from 2020. Every moment, every year – even 2020 – has Silver Lining Moments. What was your 2020 Silver Lining Moment? Share in the comments, email me, message me, or just step into the light and feel the warmth of your Silver Lining Moment.

And, as a little bonus, this is Scribble, the dog that we talk about in this episode. Look at that pure joy - her favorite toy, outside in a park, can it get better than that?

From this conversation, I feel how....

a moment of REFLECTION is lined by LOVE.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

A moment of HATE is lined by HEALING

A SLM conversation with Arlene Kline

Silver Lining Moments:

a space for conversations, feelings, and ideas that expand love and light

"Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have read this quote many times. I believe its truth. It's one thing to read these words and agree with them; it's another to live by these words. The first part is easy; the second part, not so much.

How we do we live these words…especially when hate is being targeted at us?

Even with my 100% certainty in the truth of these words, my first reaction is often to fight back. Perhaps that is what drew me to litigation and what kept me there for so many years, even when I felt it wasn't quite the right path for me. My desire to take these words from aspirational affirmation to daily action has been part of my personal journey. When I see someone living these words, I seek them out and ask them how. This brings me to the guest of this SLM episode, Arlene Kline.

Arlene and her family have personally been on the receiving end of antisemitic hate speech. Her response against this hatred is to educate others about it and to empower others to stand against it. Her efforts are not grounded in hate for the spreaders of antisemitism but in justice and equality underlined by a love for all humanity. She volunteers with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an anti-hate group that works to secure justice and fair treatment for all.

In this episode, Arlene and I discuss:

• What it is like to be the recipient of hate speech
• The horrible feeling when your child is a recipient of hate speech
• Responding to hate with hate is driven by feelings of helplessness and fear
• Education and empowerment can transform helpless and fear into love in action
• Her work with, and the mission of, the ADL
• The importance of filling yourself up with self-love

Each instance of hate is an opportunity to live these words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each time we live these words through our thoughts and our actions, our feelings will follow; healing happens. Each time, hate weakens and love strengthens.

As you listen to this conversation, I hope that any hate directed at your or residing in your heart is healed with love. From my conversation with Arlene, I realize how:

a moment of HATE is lined by HEALING.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Arlene sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

A moment of FEELING LOST is lined by NATURE

A SLM conversation with Bart Scholtissen

Silver Lining Moments: a space for conversations, feelings, and ideas that expand love and light

In the episode, Bart Scholtissen shares his journey back to himself from a place focused on pleasing others. We discuss times in which we felt alone, disconnected from ourselves and others, and stuck but afraid of moving forward. I am guessing that many can resonate with these feelings this year.

Bart has a Ph.D. in neuroscience. After dedicating years to his education in earning his Ph.D. (no small task) and then working in academia, he got to a point where was unhappy and lost in life. He asked for help. He worked with a coach. He went out in nature. He connected with nature, himself, and with others. And, now he coaches others outside in nature.

Here are some discussion points in our conversation:

• Being your best self for others may not be the best for yourself
• Going from feeling "I am not good enough" to asking "maybe I am worthy enough?" is a positive, momentum-building, leap
• Being vulnerable enough to ask for help also means you are courageous enough to grow
• Although you need to do stuff by yourself, you are not alone
• The more we are in the present moment, the less stress we feel
• "How am I feeling now?"
• Human connection is vital. Connection to ourselves is vital. Connection to nature helps us connect with ourselves, which helps us connect with others.

As you listen to this conversation, I hope that you get a true sense that you are not alone. We are together in this moment. From my conversation with Bart, I realize how:

a moment of FEELING LOST is lined by NATURE.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Bart sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

Silver Lining Moments: a space for conversations, thoughts, and ideas that expand love and light

Sometimes, we just need to be heard. By listening to someone, without judgment or distraction, you are telling them, very clearly and very powerfully, that they matter. And, sometimes, that is all that is needed for transformational change.

Tra is a person who after you speak with you are filled with positive energy. She uses art therapy to help people connect with their self-love and self-worth. When someone connects with these, they find their voice and speak their truth in their words and through their actions.

In this conversation, Tra and I discuss:

• When you listen to someone without judgment, you are telling them that they are important and that they matter.
• Letting someone know they matter is a gift of empowerment that can be a catalysis for transformation.
• The story of a woman in a Thai prison who went from feeling not worthy speaking up to leading a Bible study group.
• The wisdom inside each of us.
• Sometimes people just need a nudge to discover (or re-connect with) their self-love and self-worth.
• How one small act can start a domino effect of great change.
• In every moment, we are empowered by, and responsible for, our choices.

My hope for you as you listen to this episode is that you are empowered by your own voice, that you feel heard, and that you know that you matter. By simply listening to this episode, you matter to me. Imagine how many other ways you matter, each and every day. Yes, you are amazing. Feel it. Believe it. Own it.

As for me, from my conversation with Tra, I discover how

a moment of ART is lined by HAVING A VOICE.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Tra sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

A SLM Special Edition: Bonus Conversation with Henry Yampolsky

Silver Lining Moments

a space for conversations, thoughts, and ideas that expand love and light

We are in a pivotal moment.

The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and the many before them, the peaceful protests, the riots, the looting, the different positions bombarding us by our leaders, pundits, and the media, and all the reactions touted on social media have forced us to look at our world and ourselves.

Yes, we are in a pivotal moment; we are in a moment of change. And, like most moments of change, conflict lurks around.

How can we peacefully work through the conflict to create meaningful and systemic social change? How can we maintain our health – mental, emotional and physical - in the process? With these in mind, I called upon SLM guest, Henry Yampolsky, who works in peace building and conflict resolution for some insight.

In this conversation, Henry shares 4 key components for creating meaningful, systemic and sustainable change:

• Inclusivity
• Inner Work
• Expansion
• Exploration

My hope for you as you listen to this episode is that any overwhelm and hopelessness that you may have been feeling are replaced with grounding and hope. If we each do our respective inner work, we can expand our thoughts, explore possibilities, and create sustainable solutions that include everyone. In this moment of change, we can make a positive impact.

As for me, from my conversation with Henry, I realize how:

a moment of UPHEAVAL and UNREST is lined by CHANGE and GROWTH.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Henry sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

Silver Lining Moments:

a space for conversations, thoughts, and ideas that expand love and light

Ukrainian refugee, lawyer, motorcycle adventurer, yogi, and peace builder are some labels that describe SLM guest Henry Yampolsky. Underneath (or is it within) each label is an authentic individual committed to inner healing and collective peace. I found our conversation insightful and practical. And, for a moment, even in the midst of all the uncertainty swirling around in our world, I felt grounded and calm.

In this conversation, Henry and I discuss:

• Conflict: it is not a negative thing; it is a human thing
• Daily meditation: from a practice to an experience to a state of being
• Thinking about living life versus living life
• Covid-19 and how it reminded the entire world at once about the frailty of life
• Fear's power over us - up to the point when we acknowledge it
• We are so busy searching for our purpose that we overlook that our purpose is to simply live
• Replacing "I know" with "I am open"
• How looking for a hobby led to a motorcycle journey along the highest pass in the Himalayas to a new life path of peace building

My hope for you as you listen to this episode is that you feel peace within yourself and for your community, and the world. As we are all facing a changing and uncertain world, together may we build peace in our homes, our neighborhoods, our cities, our nations, our world.

As for me, from my conversation with Henry, I realize how:

a moment of MOTORCYCLE RIDING is lined by PEACE BUILDING.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Henry sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

A moment of HEALING is lined by ENERGY

A SLM conversation with Hass Sadeghi

Energy – something that we cannot see, touch, smell, or taste. But, boy, can we feel it! Walk into a room, you feel its energy. A loved one's scornful look tears you down. A child's laughter uplifts your soul. No words are said but energy is exchanged. It is all around us and within us; it fuels our lives.

How can we create and sustain the energy that we want in our lives?

My guest this episode is Hass Sadeghi. He answers this question as we discuss energy.

In this SLM episode, we discuss:

• How moving an inch at the energetic level moves a mile at the physical level
• How we can create and sculpt our consciousness
• The two-year period in which life seemed to be knocking Hass down: he was in 2 car accidents; his brother died; his parents were in a car accident; his relationship ended; he was physically ill – and how being knocked down created a PAUSE so he could RESET his life;
• Being sensitive to our sensitivities
• The expanding impact of our energy and how it starts from self-love and self-care

Listen to my conversation with Hass and discover how:

a moment of HEALING is lined by ENERGY.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Hass sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

Silver Lining Moments:

a space for conversations, thoughts, and ideas that expand love and light

In 2010, Courtney had a good job with friendly colleagues and a stable income. Yet, her inner voice told her she needed a change. She listened.

In embracing change, she quit her job, traveled, and volunteered. Courtney describes these moments as "course-corrections" for her life. She found clarity for her purpose and passion. In so doing, she has and continues to make positive changes in her personal life, her professional life, and in an entire industry. She is a leader of sustainability in the event planning industry.

In this conversation, Courtney and I discuss:

• The course-correction moments in her life – traveling, volunteering, and listening to her inner self
• How one moment or experience has a ripple effect on our lives
• How finding and living your purpose and passion can develop over time, over experiences, and over moments
• Sustainability in the event planning industry
• Ways that businesses and entire industries can operate sustainability
• Community and helping one another
• Embracing change

My hope for you as you listen to this episode is that you feel connected to yourself, to your community, and the world. And, as we are all facing a changing world together with COVID-19, may we all have clarity as to how we want our present and future lives – as individuals, as friends and families, as communities, as countries, as one world – to be.

As for me, from my conversation with Courtney, I realize how:

a moment of CHANGE is lined by CLARITY.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Courtney sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

Silver Lining Moments:

a space for conversations, thoughts, and ideas that expand love and light

"Businesses can be a great force for good." Do you agree with this statement?

If you agree with this statement, listening to a CEO share how his company reinforces this statement through its business decisions and operations is emboldening. If you do not agree with this statement, learning about a business that considers its impact on profits, yes, but also on its employees, the community, and the environment, may challenge your thoughts. Either way, this episode is for you.

John Lowe is CEO of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

In this conversation, John and I discuss:

• How the story of Jeni's beginning is a sweet love story of passion and purpose,
• How Jeni's was founded by "people who believe you can do good things through business and be a great steward for your community, help your employees and who thought of the world as far away from the traditional capitalism ideals" and who aligned their business to these beliefs,
• How John led Jeni's through a business crisis and risked bankruptcy to protect its employees and consumers,
• The Conscious Capitalism movement & Certified B Corporations, and
• Why John feels like the "world's luckiest guy" & why I now think I should have gone to bars more often during law school.

My hope is that by the end of this episode, you are asking, not whether businesses can be a great force for good, but asking:

• How can my business be a great force for good, or
• How can I, as a consumer, demand that more businesses be a great force for good?

As for me, from my conversation with John, I realize how:

a moment of BUSINESS is lined by GOOD.

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By John sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.

A SLM conversation with Katie Ravindranath

Silver Lining Moments:

a space for conversations, thoughts, and ideas that expand love and light

A traveler to many lands, Katie's most meaningful journey has been one to her own personal growth. This episode starts and ends with Katie's passion for creating more holistic education systems. For me, the conversation naturally coming around full circle shows how when we heal old traumas and give self-love to ourselves, we can overflow with love in our hearts and our thoughts toward others. To go full circle and get to this conclusion, a LOT was discussed in between.

Katie shares:

• The moment when she realized that she wanted to "stop spewing chaos" in the world,
• How, as a child, she went from being bullied to one who bullied,
• Her journey as an adult back home to heal some childhood trauma,
• Her experiences volunteering at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity that led her to question her own kindness and forced her to a place of letting go, surrendering, and finding clarity
• Tools, practices, and counseling that helped her work through depression and anxiety,
• Being a wife and new Mom, living in rural India, and enjoying the simple joy in life.

All this led Katie to place where she is at peace just being herself, where she enjoys the simple things in everyday life, and where she is okay "being nobody, going nowhere". And, from this, I realize how:

a moment of DOING NOTHING is lined by FULLY BEING

Thank you for listening to Silver Lining Moments.

By Katie sharing and by you listening, together we are:

expanding love and light,

one person at a time,

one story at a time,

one Silver Lining Moment at a time.