This is a special solo episode, which is being released on the one year anniversary of my father’s death. The focus of this episode is the inspirational messages my father passed on to me. I am passing these to you as a gift, so that we may all bask in his guidance and love.

Special Messages from my Dad 

“Daughter you amaze me. Although I have known you since before you were born, somehow you still continue to amaze me. I’ve watched you go through change after change and I’ve seen you navigate through some pretty rough times with your heart as a compass and your strong spirit to carry you through. Simply put, I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve grown from an adorable girl into a most remarkable woman. A woman I admire, love and respect more every day. When I held you as a baby I knew that you were special. When I see you as a woman, I realize just how special, more so than I ever could have imagined.”

“My wish for you is to have pride in yourself for all the wonderful things you have accomplished, for all the goals you’ve met, perseverance to test your limits one day, one challenge at a time, courage to live your truth and honor the amazing person you continue to become and time to make a life so full of joy, it’s overflowing.”

More Dreams to Realize

Every day I attempt to see myself the way my father saw me. I am learning to love myself and live with joy. I no longer hide my tender parts and will soon embark on my second big life journey halfway around the world. I will probably start dating again. I look forward to making all the necessary mistakes and ‘faux pas’ needed to horrify and delight my chosen male companions. Wish me luck!

Work Directly with Me

I am accepting new coaching clients through the first week of April. If you would like to work directly with me visit my website, Annpeck.com or email me directly at [email protected]. If you would like to share your thoughts and ideas with me you can connect on twitter with #curvyworldpodcast and/or @iamannpeck. On Facebook, you can join the private Curvyworld group. If you would like a copy of my “I Am Habits” simply text Iamhabits (all one word) to 44222. Let me know how you found out about Straight Talk, I love collecting the stories.

Catch up on What You May Have Missed

New to Straight Talk for a Curvy World and want to get caught up? Try listening to episodes #3, #4 and #20 to hear the stuff we talk about that you probably won’t hear anywhere else.

A Special Quote for Bob (from Bob)

O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos

Focus your light within us - make it useful.

Create your reign of unity now-

through our fiery hearts and willing hands

Help us love beyond our ideals

and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.

Animate the earth within us: we then

feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.

Untangle the knots within

so that we can mend our hearts' simple ties to each other.

Don't let surface things delude us,

But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.

Out of you, the astonishing fire,

Returning light and sound to the cosmos.

      Amen.

Sharing Secrets for the First Time

Meetings are not by chance. My meeting with Bob Wakitsch was not by chance, it was in fact paid for in advance. We met at the Wizard Academy, a course run by the Wizard of Ads, Roy Williams in Austin, Texas. A small group of eleven of us was asked to share stories with each other. Most of us were sharing things which had never been shared before. The Wizard Academy left a long lasting impact on us, and both Bob and I are now major donors to the organization.

The Devil is in the Details

Bob felt free enough in the small group to share his gift, the gift of seeing colors. The first thought for most of us was “oh, you see auras” or “so, you see the colors of the chakras”; but Bob went on to explain what he sees is the color of the individual’s energy flow. When he was a child he had assumed everyone could see the colors. When he made mention of it to family and friends they thought it was a game he was playing. Until one day when he was 8 years old, a nun who taught at the school he attended had drastically changed color overnight. The staunch lady had gone from a frightful red to blue. Bob asked the Sister what had happened to make her color change. The nun made Bob explain in detail what he meant by this comment. After hearing his unbelievable claim she cursed him with the words “You are the Devil and you are going straight to hell!” His mother was waiting for him at the door when he arrived home, gave him a distressed look and said; “Why can’t you just act normal?”

Bob started the process of ignoring his colors and they didn’t resurface for decades until when he visited a Sufi healer in Chicago. He now identifies four different main colors along with the colors’ shadows, which signify the person’s soul path. 

Ann’s Soul Path

I am on the green path of mercy, says Bob. I may lean into the shadows from time to time, but I will stay on my path forever. This podcast is an extension of my soul’s need to show compassion for others. During one of our communications, Bob received an image from my source energy. He saw me as a campfire and he equates it to my Straight Talk for a Curvy World venture. The warm healing energy of the fire is serving those who share my circle. The power of the group provides protection from wild animals that may wish to invade our space. 

Embracing Who We Are

After spending 25 years in self-development, Bob came to the realization that humans don’t need to improve themselves. They simply need to be who they are. When we are being who we truly are, happiness is automatically a part of our lives. Trying to become somebody “better” only leads us astray from our true purpose. He has written an e-book titled “The Mysterious Truths of Limiting Beliefs”. 

Thanks to

A big colorful thank you to Bob Wakitsch for joining us today and for sharing his gift. He would like to share his gift with all of you. Simply send an email to bobwakitsch@comcast.net and in the subject line add Curvyworld so Bob knows to send you a free copy of his chapter of Joe Vitale’s book “The Midas Touch”. And be sure to visit his website VisibleLOA and sign up for his newsletter. Thanks also to Roy Williams, the marketing expert behind The Wizard Academy. 

Share Your Thoughts

If you would like to share your thoughts and ideas with me you can connect on twitter with #curvyworldpodcast and/or @iamannpeck. On Facebook, you can join the private Curvyworld group and you have direct access through my email: ann@annpeck.com and be sure to check out my website, Annpeck.com. If you would like a copy of my “I Am Habits”, simply text Iamhabits (all one word) to 44222.

A Special Quote for Rick

“Embody what you teach and teach only what you have embodied.” - The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

Acknowledging the Truth

Rick Clemons had the guts to tell his parents he was gay while he was in his teens. Whether due to a lack of understanding or social pressures, they did not accept his message and sent him to religious counseling. He was imprinted with the idea that he didn’t understand himself.

By the time Rick was 38 he was married to a woman and had children. A trip to London opened him up to the insight that he is able to love a man. The connection felt wonderful at the time but when he arrived home he knew he had to come out to his wife. The burdening guilt and shame of being a cheat was multiplied by the fact that, deep inside, he had always known he was gay. But he had never accepted this understanding from a loving place.

Searching for Acceptance

Coming out was bittersweet for Rick. He came out fighting. He tried very hard to get people to accept him, even though he had not completely accepted himself. He wanted them to accept him when he wanted them to, not giving them time to deal with the loss of who they thought he was. He hadn’t realized a grieving period was necessary. Everyone, including himself, needed to go through the 5 stages of grief, as if someone had died. He says, “I don’t want them to celebrate that I found myself but I am inviting them to find a way for me to be in their life as I am now.”

Starting to Shift

Three years later, Rick started a relationship with a man who would become his husband. Relationship troubles were creeping in again because he was still making the same mistakes. He was still hiding his true self. Once he started owning his part in the relationship and being true to himself, others responded by being their true selves towards him. Opening up allowed him to get what he wanted. 

Working with Others Who are Coming Out

He now counsels others who have yet to fully accept themselves. He works hard to not force his perspective on anyone else because that opens the door for them to force their perspective on him. He believes truths should be told. If others want to throw daggers, it is because something in them needs to be healed. In his book he shares his experiences with the hopes that people will take what they need from it and learn to embrace who they are. 

Thanks to

Thanks to Rick who took time out from working on his podcast, The Coming Out Lounge, to share with us today about his very personal experiences. His new book “Frankly my Dear I’m Gay” is now available electronically and in paperback. 

Share Your Thoughts

If you would like to share your thoughts and ideas with me, you can connect on twitter with #curvyworldpodcast and @iamannpeck. On Facebook you can join the private Curvyworld group and you have direct access through my email: ann@annpeck.com. Also, be sure to check out my website. If you would like a copy of my ‘I Am Habits’: simply text Iamhabits (all one word) to 44222.

A Special Quote from Dr. Theo

Start with the simplest thing which is a respect, an appreciation, and love for yourself. Start with that.

Worry Holds Us Back

When it comes to sex, people generally worry about everything from being comfortable in our bodies to how many partners we have had. We self-impose shame and disgust on ourselves and lack self-confidence from a young age. Wouldn’t it be nice to put aside our worry and be able to enjoy sex with our partners – much like one of Dr. Theo’s favorite clients does? She is 70 years old and has decided to give up dancing for the sake of her health, but refuses to give up sex. It’s a welcomed reminder that life doesn’t have to end when we get older. It really is about our mindset and what we want our lives to be.

Loving Ourselves

No matter how much others give us love, we will never have enough if we don’t love ourselves first. We may have a hard time accepting love from others, because we may not feel we deserve it. We find ourselves craving love and becoming ‘love junkies’. It truly is an everyday battle until we can achieve respect and appreciation for ourselves. If the environment you are in doesn’t foster love and growth, change your environment.

Dreams

Often, we do not take the time to look around and become aware that we’re living our dream life. What aspects of your life are exactly what you desire them to be? Dr. Theo was working a cool job as a Professor at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He had a great apartment and a relationship with the right partner for him, at the time. He found himself complaining one day about a small thing because he had not taken the time to stop, look around and realize that his previous life dreams were now his reality.

Dreams are building blocks for thoughts and thoughts are building blocks for actions. Use visualization to reconcile your reality with your dream. Daydreaming is also helpful as it gives you the freedom to consistently explore your wants and to manifest your dreams.

It may be time to put your dream to sleep, if it no longer inspires you towards action. Dr. Theo wants people to fulfill their dreams, which is why he wrote The Brain Blocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success. He shares on how to keep the inspiration alive without giving into the impulse. If you would like to learn more about him and his practice, visit his website Dr. Theo. Also, be sure to check out last week’s podcast to hear the first part of our conversation.

What is Your Dream?

If you would like to share your dream with me, you can connect on twitter with #curvyworldpodcast and @IamAnnPeck. On Facebook, you can join the private Curvyworld group and you also have direct access through my email: [email protected].

March 3rd is a memorable, personal growth milestone date for me. Now it can be the same for you. I am opening up coaching sessions for the entire month of March for those of you who are receptive and ready to make a positive change in your life. I want to help you achieve your dreams. It’s always easiest if you have someone holding your hand. To learn more, please visit my website AnnPeck.com or email me at [email protected]. And, if you would like a copy of my ‘I Am Habits’, simply text Iamhabits (all one word) to 44222. I look forward to hearing from you.

A Special Passage for Dr. Theo

From Brain Blocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success - “There is nothing more miserable than constantly living in fear. Challenges are perceived as threats. At the slightest deviation from the safe and familiar, alarms go off and hair stands on end. The space outside the comfort zone feels like a minefield. Fear keeps you confined in the cage of security.”

Understanding Fear

We are all born with fear. It’s a complex but natural occurrence in the human existence. Fear alerts us toward risk. Fear tells us to stop what we are doing and to be scared. If we listen to the fear, it will go away; but then the opportunity for growth goes away also. We can stay confined or we can choose to overcome fear and push forward.

Pushing Forward to Realize our Dreams

The size of our dreams is directly related to the size of our fear. The bigger our fear is, the smaller our dreams are. If we dream big our fear starts shrinking. As we start to age, our fear grows parallel with our responsibilities. Our dreams need to be adjusted to fit our new realities. If we feel the risk is too big, we may never take the necessary actions to make something happen.

There are strategies we can inhabit to reduce our fears. We build our realities within our own minds.

We Deserve Love

Loving ourselves can be a struggle. Our survival instincts want to eat our self- esteem to make us safer. If we learn to love ourselves fully, we will overcome fear and experience life to its fullest.

A more in-depth conversation with Dr. Theo will follow in my next podcast. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Theo, you can visit his website, Dr. Theo or read his moving book, Brain Blocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success.

And, I want to hear from you. Email me at [email protected], visit my website, Ann Peck or follow me on twitter @iamannpeck. If you would like a copy of my ‘I Am Habits’ simply text IAmHabits (all one word) to 44222. I look forward to hearing from you!

*Take note - This conversation contains a personal medical journey and its content is not meant to be taken as medical advice.

A Special Passage for Sharon

From Jonathan Livingston Seagull: “Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly.” – Richard Bach

It All Started with Headaches

Sharon Mayers started experiencing debilitating headaches while on a trip to her home country of Barbados. Upon her return to the US, she went to see a traditional Western medical doctor for tests. The doctors told her she might not live to her next birthday because they found an inoperable brain tumor. Following their advice, she underwent 14 months of chemotherapy and radiation to battle the cancer, which was both in her breasts and in her brain.

Her tumors eventually shrunk down to 2%, but shortly after quitting treatment she started having seizures. Her life turned upside down and her young son moved in with her to care for her during this time.

Finding Emotional Freedom through EFT & CBD Oil

Additional tests were completed and Sharon found herself in another cancer battle as it was now growing throughout her body. This time, she turned to alternative therapies. She found the practice of Meridian Tapping (EFT) gave her strength and allowed her to release her negative beliefs. She also found well-being with regular doses of yoga, meditation, and journaling. She changed her diet completely and used her NutriBullet juicer like a kamikaze.

Her life changed after volunteering at a retreat in which Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil was being used as a form of cancer treatment. Her tumor markers started decreasing so rapidly that her traditional doctors did and did not want to know what treatment she was using – for obvious reasons.

Sharon’s Sage Advice

Sharon is now living cancer free. Her advice for those who want to live a healthy life is to first change your mindset and change your diet. And, if you do undergo chemotherapy or radiation, it is IMPERATIVE you do a complete body and organ detox and try alternative tests like thermography instead of mammography.

Keep in Touch

Be sure to listen to Sharon’s lessons from her cancer journey on her My Big Red Couch series or on Facebook My Big Red Couch.

You contact me at ann@annpeck.com and go to AnnPeck.com to get exclusive content from me including access to my private Curvy World Facebook Community. E-mail me with any personal experience with cancer that you want to share.

Close your eyes and picture this...

A tropical beach in the Caribbean, on the island of Bonaire. It’s Valentine’s Day. The man of your dreams is standing next to you. He is looking into your eyes and promising his heart and body belong to you and only you until he breathes his last breath.

Sounds like a great first chapter to a romance novel or a fairytale – doesn’t it?

Well, the story didn’t exactly turn out like most fairy tales do. I know, because it’s my story. This was my life approximately seven years ago. The marriage that started on that day lasted for six years. It collapsed into chaos in less than one month –22 days to be exact. The 528 hours of conflict ended with an e-mail. An e-mail that ended my marriage with the man of my dreams.

After some time passed, my coach gave me a writing assignment. The assignment was an essay about the experience. I had been putting it off until now. Now I am ready to own my story and share it with the world. As I look back at the communication, which passed between my ex-husband and I as a form of therapy and research, I realize I was consistent and I shared my feelings with a loving heart. I owned my feelings and for that I am proud.

If you have been listening to this podcast, you know from previous episodes that my guests own and share their stories. Stories that include secrets, sex, hormones and depression. By sharing their stories with us, they feel free to move on to their next life journey. Hearing their stories reminds us we are not alone and we’re not crazy either.

You don’t know what you don’t know

My favorite attorney friend always says “You don’t know what you don’t know”, and it is so true. It could be something you didn’t know about a situation, about another person or most importantly something you didn’t know about yourself. There is a right time for us to learn our lessons.

Habit #1 of the 7 “I Am” habits is clarity. It is clear to me I wouldn’t be here without the experience of my marriage dissolving and it is also clear to me that important things don’t disappear after only 22 days.

If you would like to share a moment of clarity you’ve experienced, leave me a voicemail, send me an email (ann@annpeck.com) or send it through twitter (@iamannpeck). If you would like to get the complete “I Am” habits, simply send IAMHABITS in a text to 44222. If you like this podcast please leave me a review and subscribe to Straight Talk for a Curvy World in iTunes.

A Special Passage for Renee

“Deep in the wintry parts of our minds we are hardly stock and know there is no such thing as work-free transformation. We know that we will have to burn to the ground in one way or another and then sit right in the ashes of who we once thought we were and go from there.”

Originally from Women Who Run with the Wolves  by Clarissa Pinkola Estés and was copied by Angeles Arrien for The Second Half of Life. 

The Servant Leader

While the title denotes a religious affiliation, being a servant leader doesn’t mean you must give up a life of children and the joys of family. Leading people through the gift of service simply means you give back to your community through your gifts of time, talent and treasure. Women tend to be drawn to this environment naturally, because they inherently put others’ needs ahead of their own. In other words, you are probably already being a servant leader, and there is also a degree available in this discipline if you want to embrace your empathy.

Resentment

As with most people, even givers have a tipping point. One day while working at a homeless shelter, Renee helped to prepare a meal that was better than the ones she was able to provide for her family. These experiences made her pause, but not give up her cause. She continued serving others even when the burdens of guilt rested upon her like a heavy blanket.

The Need to be Remembered

Knowing she was born to be a worker bee, Renee embraces her gifts. This deep, philosophical understanding led her to her legacy writing project.  She started writing 40 things about herself and quickly realized this information was invaluable. Renee in turn named her journal “The Abundance Journal of Gratitude”. In this journal, she vows to capture the values and beliefs that define her and should be passed on to her children.

The timeless author Stephen Covey noted there are 4 needs all people have. People need to:

Renee Liming started Lessons for Tomorrow to help people fulfill all of those basic needs in 2013. She assists women in extracting life values, lessons and wisdom from their personal journeys in a program designed to share information with the next generation. She is available for retreats, one-on-ones, and long distance workshops.

You

You are the reason we are here. If you would like to join the private Curvy World Community on Facebook, we would love to have you. And many podcast subscribers have requested Ann’s “I am habits” document. To receive a copy simply text “I am habits” to 44222.

*Consider who may be listening with you. This episode contains fun stuff that only adults should hear.

A Special Passage for Monica

From The Call - Sometimes it comes as a soft-bellied whisper. Sometimes it holds an edge of urgency, but it always says, “Wake up my love. You are walking asleep, there’s no safety in that.”

Now Where Did I Put That?

Aging can be fun if we think about it as a never-ending game of hide-and-seek. The physical aspects of getting older are easier for us to deal with than the mental and emotional changes taking place within our bodies. We may understand that a tire with a nail in it isn’t fit to be on the road, but if the same tire simply doesn’t feel like going out for a Sunday drive because it may or may not feel flat, we have a hard time accepting that.

And, it’s not just us. There is a lot of judgement going on between people who view another person being emotional as a weakness. Most of us can remember a time when we have commented negatively about a person who allows their mental state to overwhelm them and take over their life. We might later be sorry for having said it, but we already passed judgement.

Our Ever Changing Hormones

If having a five o’clock shadow isn’t enough, we get to read our prescription bottle for our female dryness medication with our “readers” (If you don’t know, it’s the cool new way to say bifocals). And older sisters – if you are lucky enough to have one – were given to us as gifts from God, as town criers to alert us on our next genetic mutation.

Realizing that science and chemistry are behind what we are feeling is a great tool for reconnecting with ourselves and for finding balance in our lives by way of proper nutrition. If we fail to pay attention to our bodies, like Monica did, we may find ourselves gasping for breath, thinking today might be our last day. We, women, have the propensity to suffer silently.

It’s Best to Switch to Vodka now

Monica shares her darkness, her light and her compassion in today’s call. We also ponder these questions... Does a glass of red wine trigger hot flashes during the night? Are meditations and exercise black magic for curing memory lapses?

Monica Tarr, of Luvyourcustomers.com, it is our pleasure to engage in this very private, yet public conversation with you. For those of you listening and are interested in building customer or employee loyalty for your business, Monica has just the program to get you there.

Email me at ann@annpeck.com or contact me on Facebook at Curvy World Community and let me know which topics you want to hear about on an upcoming episode. 

Subscribe  to Straight Talk for a Curvy World in iTunes. There is a new episode every Thursday.

This is episode celebrates a very special anniversary.

Two years ago today my mother took her last breath. She had been in hospice care for some time and was living in a hospice facility. I struggled internally with visiting her because I was having a hard timing dealing with what I was feeling - and what I was avoiding. I was already ingesting meds to help me confront the imminent circumstances, but I was also taking care of my children, my husband, preparing to sell a business and had spent many years as her caregiver. At the time, I believed I did not want to be with her during her passing, and I will be forever thankful that I was there that day, to hold her hand.

From the moment I arrived, I knew those would be our last moments on earth together. I was compelled to make these moments about her, not me. Knowing my mother found solace in her religious beliefs, I firmly held her hand and her rosary and recited each bead to her.

My mother then gifted me with a special message, one final gift of guidance, which still drives my behavior today.

I welcome you to join me as I recall the final gift my mother gave me and listen as I assist my mother with her dreams by bringing Rae Ellen’s Memories to life.

Get Involved

If you would like to share your dreams and stories with me, I am here at [email protected]. And please subscribe to this podcast to be a part of the Curvy World Community. If you desire a personal mentorship experience, go to my website AnnPeck.com to sign up for our Curvy World Mentorship Experience starting next week.