Less is more. Or is it?

Americans are seemingly convinced that our stuff makes us happy so we’re constantly working to accumulate more of it. Then before we know it, our stuff controls our life and we’re struggling to find a way to pay for it and the time to maintain it. 

What if there’s another, better way? A way where we buy and keep only what we need; a way that our accumulation of stuff reflects our true values. 

Join us for this episode as we define minimalism, discuss its benefits and offer some easy ways to start living a life where less really is more. 

SHOW NOTES:

How To Have More Time and Money by Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist
Would You Rather Have More Time or More Money? By Ashley Williams, PhD,
Psychology Today, Aug 23, 2018

Guide to Achieving Financial Minimalism: 12 Ways by Rebecca Lake, SoFi Learn, September 16, 2022

How To Find Peace In Your Financial Future With Kimberly Earnest:
buzzsprout.com/632383/episodes/12151105

Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble.” Yet many of us feel like we should be strong enough to face these troubles without the help of others, specifically counselors. 

For others, we may have counseled with a pastor or confided in a friend. Still others have found a counselor only to have had a negative experience. 

Join us for this episode as we unpack all of this with LPC Lauren Eisleben- a Christian and a counselor who is willing to discuss these tough subjects. 

What if we told you that you could extend your life by doing this one thing and it didn’t have anything to do with what you ate or how much you exercised?

Join us for this episode and we will do just that- as we unpack the benefits of… reading!

AND we want your input as we launch our inaugural book club! Please email us with any suggestions on how you’d most enjoy being a part of this book club designed to connect us to the gifts of the written word and each other.

Email us at: [email protected]

Show notes:
A Neurologist’s Secret Weapon for Keeping Your Memory Sharp As You Age: Novels, Inc.com 5/3/2023

People Who Read Live Longer Than Those Who Don’t – Big Think, 8/9/2016

By Charles Chu • 01/26/17 

Daniel Burke-Aguero has made a living helping people succeed. As a seasoned sales veteran and coach, Daniel began to consider why accomplishment alone doesn't always make people happy. He began asking questions about what true success looks like, and how can he help people find it. 

On this week's episode, Daniel shares these insights and in doing so, gives us a deeper look into his brand new TED Talk. Not only does he share what he thinks is the true secret to success, but he also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how a TED Talk comes to life. 

This episode will leave you inspired and asking yourself the deeper questions about how you define success. 

Special Guest: Daniel Burke-Aguero is an Elite Certified
Professional Sales and Leadership Coach and Team Leader with
Southwestern Consulting. He also recently recorded a TED Talk on how connection is often the missing piece of the success formula. He is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri and lives in Columbia, Missouri, with his wife, Alicia, and their two kids, Jonah and Josie, and their two dogs. 

To watch Daniel's TEDx Talk: Connect Your Purpose to Your Present, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=lb-BKOjaZXA&fbclid=IwAR31UZEJKGebMNxsHX0LKVgXIjQdZGjm8fsjF06YbOfcBQJSmwOFVAc7Sn8.

Connect with Daniel on Linked In at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-burke-aguero-700aa396/.

Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective therapy for everything from chronic pain and irritable bowel syndrome to infertility and anxiety. In fact, according to the National Institute of Health, it's been studied for at least 50 health problems. It is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is growing in popularity as Americans search for alternative treatments to complement Western medicine.

But how does it work? Who can benefit from it? And what is the science behind it?

Join us for this "pointed" episode as we learn the ins and outs of acupuncture from our guest, certified practitioner Cheryl Weatherby. Her knowledge, expertise, and commitment to treating the whole patient and the whole family might be just what you were looking for - even if you didn't know it.

"This podcast material is for informational purposes only, not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard or read today."

Special Guest: Cheryl Weatherby
Cheryl Weatherby is a licensed acupuncturist and certified craniosacral therapist practicing in Columbia and Harrisburg, Missouri. She studied classical midwifery with The Russian Birth Project in St. Petersburg and is a graduate of The Hypnotherapy Academy of America specializing in regression and neuro-linguistic programming. In her DIYMindBody seminars, Cheryl teaches holistic medicine self-care with topics like Food as Medicine, Therapeutic Writing, Lymphatic Drainage, and Natural Fertility.

To learn more about Cheryl, go to:
https://www.cherylweatherby.com/

For more thoughts from Denise, check out her blog, Words To Live By, at www.DeniseBickel.com.

Follow Robin at Robin May Ministries on Facebook. 

It's hard to know where you're going if you don't know where you're at. 

In a world where we rush from thing to thing, introspection doesn't come naturally. Yet if we don't periodically pause and examine our conscious thoughts and feelings, how do we know what has meaning and satisfies our soul?

Join us for this episode as we discuss the value of introspection and offer suggestions on how to begin. Whether we are looking to strengthen our emotional or spiritual health (or both), this episode will offer the guidance we all need, even if we don't know it.

Show Notes:
“Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy” by Dr. David Burns

“Loving What Is” by Byron Katie

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction -https://palousemindfulness.com

The Crossing Church Sermon from 3/12/2023 by Keith Simon: https://thecrossingchurch.com/Resources/Watch/Sermon%20Archives/Jonah/a-modern-revival

As Mother’s Day approaches, we are reminded of the many female role models who have shared their unconditional love, wisdom, and support. Our guests today recall their mothers and the pearls of wisdom and mom-isms they bestowed. They will also be offering sage advice to other moms and mothers-to-be.

We honor and bless all the mothers, wherever they may be. If you miss your mom, please know we are sending you extra prayers and love.  

To all the women in our lives who have modeled faith, friendship, and devotion, Happy Mother’s Day!

Special Guests:
Kelly Ingraham, Denver, Colorado
Kelly grew up being empowered to dream big and being told that she could become whatever she wanted to be. Now a firefighter, Kelly reflects on the encouragement that her mom gave her that helped her reach her dreams and explains why her mom is the coolest person she knows.

Vicki Chlanda, St. Louis, Missouri
There are now 19 million single-mother households in the U.S., but Vicki Chlanda's story of being a single parent is like no other. Vicki's oldest was 4 and her second 2 when her quadruplets were born - and no day has been "normal" ever since. With a strong faith and quiet confidence, Vicki will leave you inspired and amazed.

Michelle Motley, Rocheport, Missouri
Michelle Motley had a successful career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture but now enjoys a new challenge - grandmothering. With two grandchildren under the age of two, Michelle spends two days a week caring for the babies. Inspired by the example of her own mother, Michelle offers insight and wisdom that can benefit us all. 

Recipes from our moms

Michelle:

Jewish Apple Cake

2c sugar

3c flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Add to the above

1c Wesson oil

4 eggs

1/2c orange juice

2 tsp vanilla

Beat well and add 1c chopped nuts

Filling:

2c sliced apples

1/2c sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Pour ½ batter in a greased bundt pan, place ½ of apples over top and sprinkle ½ of sugar and cinnamon over apples. Pour the remaining batter over this and add the balance of apples on top. Sprinkle with remaining sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 for 1hr and 45 mins.

This cake is typically made for Rosh Hashanah because it is dietarily acceptable due to no meat or dairy.

Denise:

A recipe my mom wrote in my Betty Crocker cookbook 50 years ago – still true today: 

“My Dear Denise, to be a good cook, follow your recipe, then add a good measure of care and love.”

Kelly:

Banana Sour Cream Bread

Note from Mama: This is half of the original recipe that called for 4 loaves. I add 2 eggs. I don’t do the 1st step of coating the pans with cinnamon and sugar. I don't measure chocolate chips. I use 1 to 2 handfuls depending on how many I want in the bread.

Yield: 2 loaves

2 tablespoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons butter

1-1/2 cups white sugar

1-1/2 eggs (See Comments)

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

8 oz container sourcream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Chocolate chips

2/3 cup and 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease two 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 2 TBS white sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.

In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda, and flour. Stir in chocolate or nuts. Divide into prepared pans.

Bake for 1 hour, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Our minds are constantly filling in the gaps. Did you know that our brain processes what it knows and constructs realities to complete the unknowns? These realities and the perceived threat accompanying them help us decide our disposition to the situation. 

For example, your boss sends an email asking for a face-to-face meeting about your recent performance. How do you feel about the meeting? Nervous? Excited? Curious? Worried?

Another way of thinking about this is, "Where are you?" Are you above the line? Or below the line about the meeting? 

In this episode, we discuss the concept of above-the-line thinking, explaining what it is and how we might all benefit from knowing our location in relation to the line. It's a simple yet compelling question that could be a helpful tool in becoming more open to situations around us - allowing us to become more positive people.

Show Notes: 
For more information, watch: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLqzYDZAqCI

To read Denise's blog she mentions: https://denisebickel.com/i-did-a-thing/

Loving What Is: Four Questions that Can Change Your Life By Byron Katie

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

When we started planning for Season 5 of The Problem With Perfect, we identified topics we wanted to explore in depth- topics that were too big and too important not to give them the airtime they deserve.

Thats why we dedicated the month of April to the critical end of life issues we all face at some point in our lives, either personally or on behalf of a loved one.

Welcome to the fourth episode of this series we are calling What To Know Before You Go.. This week, our guest is Dr. Jaymi Meyers, a palliative care specialist and hospice medical director. Jaymi comes to us from the beautiful state of South Carolina, and is known as “the smart one” in Denise’s family.

Special Guest:
Dr. Jaymi Meyers, MD is a family medicine specialist in Seneca, SC. Dr. Meyers studied at the University of Iowa and currently practices at Oconee Palliative Medicine and is affiliated with Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital.

Show Notes:

For more information about palliative care and hospice: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: nhpco.org

For information about body donation programs by state - IEDS.online;

Anatomy Gifts.org; Sciencecare.com

As our Baby Boomers continue to age, many of us are faced with assisting them when they can no longer live alone. But eventually, we too will face these same difficult transitions and the decisions that prompt them. 

To help with these moves, this episode is dedicated to understanding the options available when living alone at home is no longer safe or feasible. The third in our four-part series called What To Know Before You Go, this episode offers the expertise of Suzanne Long, owner of Faith Senior Services, which helps families transition their loved ones into the next place they can call home.

From housing options to payment structures, this episode is meant to help us all as we consider the difficult decisions we will eventually encounter for ourselves or our loved ones. 

Special Guest:
Suzanne Long, Owner of Faith Senior Services. Suzanne and her team help families relocate their loved ones into facilities when they can no longer live alone. 
https://www.faithseniorservices.com/