The Edit with Holly Totten Writing, Editing, Publishing

I'm a self-confessed sentimental, nostalgic type of person and over the years have loved to sit down with the Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch, to name a few, and today's episode is actually inspired by a Waltons episode! The episode has a pivotal message of following your heart and encouraging us to figure out what we want by simply stepping forward. I expand on this concept in this episode with further thoughts involving:

• The John Barrymore quote A man is not old, until regrets take the place of dreams. How this quote is relevant even 100 years later and how generations benefit from these words and experiences, especially in their third half of life.

• Coming back to recurring themes in our lives, paths and signs that resurface, something that you are passionate about and is difficult to get out of your mind.

• Sentimental and nostalgic moments through memories with the box. How they can evoke further thoughts and memories and my reflections with these moments.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach me at [email protected].

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up.

Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author.

*Trigger warning. This episode contains talk of attempted suicide and may be confronting for some listeners. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in your local area. There is help available for you.

There are often events throughout our lives that shake us to our core. Past relationships which are unhealthy with harmful patterns can push us to the limit. Unfortunately Debbie Griffiths was driven to her peak after experiencing domestic violence for over 17 years. At 63, she feels like her life is just beginning. She has now published a book to help others and come through stronger, healed by taking one step and a time and rebuilding a life worth living. Listen in as Holly and Debbie discuss:

• How everything that has happened has brought her to this point. Each stepping stone prepared for the next step, including twists and turns and the whole nine yards. Accepting responsibility and moving forward.

• Getting better at speaking up for what we need. How her suicide attempt opened her eyes to make a change to her life and how it took a while to understand and recognize what was happening.

• Giving back to others. Bringing awareness to others to help them recogize the signs and learning how to take care of ourselves.

• The important basic human need to be loved and to love in return. How we are not made to stay stuck. The opportunity in the third half of life to ask what it is we want to do.

To find out more about Debbie, take a look at her book Torched, Burnt By a Gaslighter please visit her website www.brokentoboldness.com you can also find her on Instagram @debbiegriffiths581, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up. Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author. To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

There comes a point in time when you know what you're doing doesn't work, it hasn't gotten good results and you want to take steps to make it better. This rule can definitely be applied to our health and today's guest is an advocate for feeling good through our food choices. Former wellness designer, Suzanne Roth Paul is now known as a Wellness Warrior and she works with women ranging from 40-60 and stands for the silent, high achieving professional women who have had their health on the backburner. Listen in as Holly and Suzanne chat about:

• Looking at root causes for health issues that we often carry for much of our lives. Very often women spend their entire lives taking care of their families and how that impacts our third half of life.

• Consuming certain foods on a daily basis rather than in moderation and how sometimes you cannot alleviate certain foods all together. How we hear wheat, gluten, sugar, oils and more are not good for us, however don't' do anything about it.

• Stabilizers, chemicals and other ingredients that are put into food to increase shelf life and 'taste' good. How much all of it contributes to toxicity and diseases.

• Staying informed and educating yourself, while also taking action for our health today.

It is clear through this conversation that Suzanne has a passion for health and wellness and believes that we simply cannot do great things when we don't feel good. Changing the way we think about and view food can be done through Suzanne's ebook Poisons in your Pantry. Suzanne also really enjoys providing half hour discovery calls with women who would like to brainstorm and find healing from pain. Find out more here.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

There is a certain atmosphere in the conversation contained in this episode of the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast. Holly is joined with Kathy Magan Smith from aray wellness and blown away with the nuggets of wisdom, expertise and learnings within her ears. Kathy is passionate about embracing a holistic lifestyle for women in their third half of life. She uses the acronym R.E.I.N.S. to explore and explain an approach which fulfils those around her. Listen in as Holly and Kathy chat about:

• How can we give back? If we learn something that gives depth to our lives, we can help others in the process which is both powerful and intriguing at the same time.

• How there is medicine in illness. When sick there is a vulnerability that means we can learn a lot about ourselves, our resiliency and create our own first aid kits.

• The happiness curve. Is it the real deal? Does age matter? What happens when we lessen the stress and resistance and accept where we are at different points in our lives?

• Taking initiatives and efforts to plan and make friendships work. The importance of conversations for our wellness and happiness. When we show up for others when we need it, they're also there for us.

Three questions from this episode that really left a mark are how can I give back? How do I show up? What's missing?

To learn more about Kathy and her work please visit her website www.araywellness.com where you can contact her in relation to her retreats and work as mentioned in this episode. You can also find out more about Kathy via her Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. You can also access Kathy's free gift, Three Secrets for Unstoppable Energy using Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science for Women 55+ here and be in touch through her email [email protected].

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

Join Holly for this solo episode as she learns and recognises the importance of the spring and in particular the cleaning and cleansing process. This time of year, is one of migration, the weather is starting to get warmer, days longer as we open the windows to let the fresh air swirl. Listen as Holly reflects on what that means for her and thinks about:

· Nostalgia, smells and emotions that intermingle in her memory and have carried across generations.

· How it is not just the house we are cleaning, but also our own internal cleanse as well for preparation of the season to come.

· To die for pear salad and foods which evoke all sorts of spring memories.

· Being present, conscious and more as we repeat the same rhythms and patterns we have for several years.

So, as you also approach spring or whatever season this podcast episode finds you in, think about how you can clean your mind, heart, and actions as well.

This conversation is one of many which share stories within the walls of this Podcast and beyond. To apply to be a guest and find out more please connect with Holly at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com

Lisa Holzberger took a leap of faith which has come back to repay her in ways she never imagined. At 50, she found herself needing to branch out and start her own business, Prestige Realty and Property Management Services. As you listen to her talk about how that happened and the stepping stones for her it is nothing short of inspirational. Listen as Holly and Lisa discuss:

• When you feel that you can't go any further and how sometimes we need a wake up call to stop and keep your ears and eyes open.

• When changes to your employment don't coincide with what you envisioned for your job and the path we want to take. When we get to the stage where we think what do we have to lose?

• How Holly has dipped her toe into entrepreneurship, even if she didn't realise it at the time.

• Getting out of negativity and anger, how we mellow as we age and sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it that matters.

I highly recommend that you follow Lisa on her Instagram @lisaholzberger and visit her website to find out more. This conversation is one of many which share stories across the globe. To apply to be a guest please connect with Holly at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

Holly and Cathy are like two peas in a pod, and, in fact, two is the amount of times Cathy has now appeared on the Podcast. Returning inspired, tenacious and more life in her than ever – Cathy shares the changes since appearing on the Podcast in October 2021. Cathy is now a five-time Amazon #1 best-selling author, coach and mentor whose career is dedicated to helping women tap into their own greatness. Listen as Holly and Cathy discuss:

· The aliveness of opportunities, possibilities and hitting the tipping point when the positive world wins.

· The stories we tell ourselves and limitations that can come alongside that. Plus, becoming an author in a book and how it helps clarify your own story, bring out your message and support your own direction.

· Confidence is not about knowing that you know how to do something but knowing that you can figure it out.

· The difference in retirement now and how little time we may have had after retirement compared to now.

Cathy is a real life example of how everyone has a story and if your trajectory is not serving you, changing to find what makes you happy and satisfied. When accepting that transformation stage, it's painful and messy, yet necessary to come out the other side. To find out more about Cathy please visit her website and/or connect with her on LinkedIn.

To connect and find out more about Holly, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach her at [email protected] and her website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com. We look forward to you tuning again next week.

There is something quite enduring and spectacular about one's closest and most cherished friend. Holly is joined with one of her greatest friends, Jennifer Ryan, for a memorable and 'inspire you to do better' conversation. Even Holly is surprised that they haven't joined together after so many episodes. Yet, it is worth the wait as Holly and Jennifer chat about:

• When life is happening thick and fast, allowing ourselves to stop and think - can I change it?

• Grief, loss and coping. Inspiring yourself and others to leave a legacy in place of guilt and placing rules on how we grieve.

• Life as a pot of boiling water. The difference between carrots and eggs.

• Taking action from a Podcast episode and receiving benefits far beyond what was imagined.

There were many references referred to in this episode. Including Holly's Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast episode 38 A Reason, a Season, a Lifetime, Widow To Widow: Thoughtful, Practical Ideas For Rebuilding Your Life by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg, The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change by Jon Gordon and Damon West, The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World by Damon West and The Coffee Bean for Kids by Jon Gordon and Damon West.

We hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as we did and to connect and find out more about Holly you can reach her at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com. Here's to transforming our third half of life through teaching ourselves to learn.

As many of us approach our third half of life we want to be able to say we have no regrets, we gave it our all. A big part of being able to embrace that philosophy is welcoming transitions and learning how to deal with difficult change. Today's guest has done exactly that. A fellow Texan, Debbie Saviano retired from being a school principal and transitioned full force into the entrepreneurial world. Listen as Holly and Debbie discuss:

• Navigating the school system as a go getter and allowing differences to empower you.

• Hitting the ground running and educating yourself in areas which may seem foreign.

• How your age can be a huge asset, especially when challenging the status quo.

• Being aware of what's going on in the world when making a transition and putting your efforts into learning so you can provide help for others.

Debbie is a burst of energy and teaches us to go for our dreams and enjoy the process. To find out more about Debbie please connect with her on LinkedIn and via her website debbiesaviano.com.

To connect and find out more about Holly you can reach her at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and we look forward to you listening again next week.

There are so many fallacies we are fed about ageing and what that looks like for our third half of life. Holly is on a mission to combat myths such as letting ourselves wither away and sit around doing nothing. Today she talks about happiness and ageing and how important it is to embrace our relationships and inspires us to indulge and participate fully in our lives. Listen as she expands on:

• A Harvard Study started in 1938 which explores important aspects of happiness and longevity of life.

• Investing, listening and being present with people and building positive relationships which breed positivity and happiness.

• How change is inevitable.

• Small ways we can focus on happiness and striving to be happy every day.

The quotes and extracts referenced in this episode include Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn, The happiness curve:why life gets better after 50 and The Age of Miracles:Embracing the New Midlife by Marianne Williamson.

To connect and find out more about Holly, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach her at [email protected] and her website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com. We look forward to you tuning again next week.