We wish a Merry Christmas to all listeners who are celebrating today. In this week’s episode of Financial Fridays, we also share a message about Kwanzaa, which begins tomorrow December 26th and ends next Friday, January 1st. This African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrates family, community, and culture. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies. During Kwanzaa, activities are organized around the Seven Principles. Umoja or Unity is the first and foundational principle of Kwanzaa. We hope that during this holiday season of Kwanzaa that you are able to find ways to unite with family, friends, loved ones, and community.

What is it that you would like to achieve or manifest in 2021? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette shares some reflection questions to guide you to look forward to 2021. She encourages you to use the prompts as a way of easing into the visioning process so that you can feel less pressure as you define your goals and intentions for the New Year.

We're still recruiting a few good women/womxn of color who would like to join the beta test for Libbie the mental health chatbot. If that's you, visit: http://bit.ly/TapWithLibbie to sign up!

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Thank you for listening to us this year. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, we’ve been experiencing early sunsets, shorter days, and longer nights. Monday, December 21st marks the transition into longer days and shorter nights with the Winter Solstice. This week's Financial Fridays episode offers a preview of the celestial events on Monday. It’s been a dark year in many ways for many of us. Why not reflect on how you can let more light into your life. How are you allowing your light to shine? 

Also on the 21st, the two largest planets in our solar system will appear to look like they are merging in the night sky. Astronomers are calling it The Great Conjunction of 2020. Conjunctions happen when two celestial objects appear to pass close to one another as they are seen from Earth. This will be the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, forming what's being called the Christmas Star. It's been 800 years since this conjunction has happened at night, so you may want to take a peek!

What were your wins in 2020? What went well? What are you most proud of? With just two Fridays left in 2020, in this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette shares a few prompts to help you to reflect on the past year. You know when you start within and pause to reflect, it's then that you can tap into your deepest knowing. You can tap into your inner wisdom.

If you're a woman/womxn of color and would like to join the beta test for Libbie the mental health chatbot, visit: http://bit.ly/TapWithLibbie

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Earlier this week, we hit 10,000 plays/downloads! So, thank you for listening. We could not have crossed that threshold without you.

Yesterday was Human Rights Day. The theme this year is Recover Better. We know that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed gaps in poverty, equality, discrimination, environmental degradation, and human rights protection. While the virus itself does not discriminate, it has highlighted the fact that people who are poor, marginalized, excluded, and discriminated against are more likely to get sick and not access testing. They are more likely to suffer the loss of a job, home, or other fundamental rights. In this week's episode of Financial Fridays, we explore some of these issues and share the pledge you can take to Stand Up 4 Human Rights.

Do you have a morning ritual? Do you give yourself any amount of time at the start of the day that is just for you? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette offers a personal anecdote about her morning ritual, and what happened one day this week when she tried to skip ahead and ignore it. She also provides additional reflection questions to begin pondering about 2020 and ease into your planning for the New Year. This week the focus is on health and self-care. Finally, she previews the upcoming total solar eclipse viewable from the Southern Hemisphere on Monday, December 14.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Don't forget to tell your friends about the show. While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. If you're a super fan and would like to get your Start Within merch, visit our online store here. Thanks for listening!

Did you know that December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month? With the colder weather and the days getting shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, it's important to be aware of how well you are coping. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short, is more than just Winter Blues or a seasonal funk. SAD is a real form of depression that is more commonly associated with the Fall and Winter months. How can you recognize the symptoms? They include low energy, depressed mood, hopelessness, irritability, anxiety, poor concentration, changes in your sleep, or loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed. In this week's Financial Friday's episode, you'll hear tips to help support your mental and physical wellbeing during this time.

Did you notice the full moon lunar eclipse that happened this week? Feel an impact on your energy or mood? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette shares how it affected her sleep patterns and state of mind. Are you aware that both solar and lunar eclipses can be change agents to help you break free of patterns that have kept you stuck? Tune in to hear some prompts to begin your December reflection, your January 2021 planning, along with guidance to help channel the eclipse energy and let go of self-judgment.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Earlier this week, we hit 10,000 plays/downloads! So, thank you for listening. We could not have crossed that threshold without you.

Did you know that some consider the national holiday of Thanksgiving a reminder of the genocide and continued suffering of the Native American peoples? Participants in the Indigenous Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. In this week's Financial Fridays episode, we share two resources [Native-Land.ca and JeremyNative.com] to foster conversations about the history of colonialism, Indigenous history, and settler-Indigenous relations. Both sites encourage us to become more aware of the real lives, the real lived history of Indigenous peoples and nations during the long era of colonialism. One way of doing so is to acknowledge the names of the tribes that once inhabited the land on which you live, something you can do on the Native Land Digital website. 

How did you commemorate the holiday? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette shares some anecdotes about her Vegan Virtual Thanksgiving! For what and for whom are you most grateful this year? It's really important to allow yourself time to reflect, time to pause and collect memories of gratitude and appreciation for yourself and for others. It's those memories and recollections that can really help to sustain you through difficult times.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! We are thankful for you! Thanks for listening.

Did you know that November is National Diabetes Month? More than 88 million American adults have pre-diabetes, or blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes. The percentages of US adults living with diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes is 22% in the Latinx community, 20% in the Black community, and 19% in the Asian community. This is something that we need to take seriously. In this week's episode of Financial Fridays, we look at the broader implications of lifestyle choices and habits that can raise your risk of becoming pre-diabetic or of getting Type 2 Diabetes.

As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach, have you been thinking: What's the best way to celebrate? What’s the best way to gather in ways that are safe? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette gets personal about her own concerns and fears about meeting up with her family. To help alleviate feelings of confusion and doubt, as well as anxiety and fear, she also shares some EFT-Tapping exercises you can use to calm your nerves as you make decisions about the upcoming week. 

We also want to wish you and yours an early Happy Thanksgiving! May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be loved.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Thanks for listening.

Did you know that today is World Kindness Day? It’s a day to remember that kindness, compassion, care, and concern are important energies that sustain us as humans. Remember, kindness starts from within. The more self-compassion, self-kindness, and self-love that you can give to yourself, the easier it will be to express those same emotions to others. In this week's Financial Fridays episode, Coach Colette will lead you through a Loving Kindness meditation to help you extend loving-kindness to yourself and extend loving-kindness to others. 

Where were you when herstory was being made last Saturday? In this week's Unplugged segment, shares a personal anecdote about her experience learning of the news about Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. She also provides commentary on an inspirational quote by Harris: "There will be people who say to you, ‘You are out of your lane.’ They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be. But don’t you let that burden you."

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Thanks for listening.

How have been you navigating and managing your stress this week? Ironically, Wednesday was International Stress Awareness Day. Chronic or prolonged stress can impact your sleep, your digestion, your mood, your irritability, your blood pressure, your risk for heart disease, and your immune system. It really is important that you be mindful of how your body and your mind have been dealing with the uncertainty. This Financial Fridays episode shares some healthful coping techniques for dealing with election stress in particular, and stress in general. 

Did you do anything to distract yourself from waiting for election results? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette shares an anecdote about experimenting on a chatbot building platform to learn more about coding. She describes the irony of how the misplacement of one comma or colon can derail a whole line of code. If we extrapolate that to our current situation, we are literally counting votes one by one, and each one of those votes can make the difference. If anything, the closeness of the race has renewed her commitment to building Libbie to support Black and Brown women in the fight for justice, and the fight for mental and physical wellbeing.

To learn more about or purchase essential oils mentioned in this episode, click here.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Thanks for listening.

Have you heard the phrase: once in a blue moon? There will be a blue moon on October 31, Halloween night. Tomorrow's Full Moon is also considered both the Harvest Moon because it appears nearest to the Fall Equinox, as well as the Hunter's Moon. The full moon is a great time for releasing things that no longer serve you. What do you wish to release? 

The Halloween tradition is typically about trick or treating. Since 2020 has been nothing but tricks, why not focus on the treats. What are some ways that you can treat yourself this weekend? Perhaps include some pumpkin in your self-care routine to stay on the theme!

Have you made your plans to vote? In this week’s Unplugged segment, Coach Colette talks about her experience of early voting. Did you know that there are still discriminatory policies like voter I.D. laws, cuts to early voting, polling place closures, and limits to pre-registration? Most of the policies impact marginalized communities; whether that be people of color, people who have been formerly incarcerated, or other marginalized groups. This election is important, so make sure you stay informed and involved. At the same time,  ensure that you balance how much news you are watching because over-consumption can affect your mental health and wellbeing.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

While you’re at it, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would be great too! Thanks for listening.

Did you know that loneliness makes you more likely to fall ill? It seems to prompt the chronic release of hormones that suppress healthy immune function. Biochemical changes from loneliness can accelerate the spread of cancer, hasten heart disease, and accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s. The ironic part is that loneliness is subjective. No two people experience separation or social distancing in the same way. Making new friends as an adult was already complicated. Now, when you add in the pandemic, how are you supposed to retain your most important relationships?

That's why we reached out to Kat Vellos -- connection coach, user experience designer, and author of two books on adult friendships. In this episode of Coach Chat, Kat speaks with Coach Colette about the importance of forming new friendships as well as developing strong connections with your existing contacts. If you were in an emergency and needed support, besides your family, who would you call? How many people could you count on within a 2-5 block radius of your home? You’ll hear practical strategies you can use to strengthen your real-life social network, based on the work that Kat does to help people form more authentic relationships.

To get a copy of her book, We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships, click here. Or, her second book, Connected From Afar: A Guide for Staying Close When You're Far Away, click here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen.