Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

Today's Tools of Life is focused on Navigating the New Normal in the face of COVID 19 distancing orders. Parents and teens are navigating a tremendous number of uncharted territory on a normal day. With all the cancellations, postponements and uncertainties, those challenges have been amped up exponentially.

We've asked Dr. Lara May to join us to talk a bit about energy and immunity and also to lead us in a grounding meditation.

Dr. Lara moved to Lake Tahoe after completing her residency in Clinical Pharmacotherapy. She has worked as a clinical pharmacist in emergency rooms and adult acute care for a decade. Lara started studying and practicing reiki and energy medicine in 2014.

Her passion has since grown from “band-aid medicine” into empowering people to truly heal themselves on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. Now, as a Functional Medicine Specialist, Lara has expanded her coaching practice to encompass energy medicine, intuitive healing and functional medicine. All with the intention of empowering the healing of her clients on multiple levels to restore their health and happiness.

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At Tools of Life we offer you something to ponder, to practice and to play with.

Here are today's:

Ponder-

“One day when you wake up, you will find that you have become a forest. You have grown roots and found strength in them that no one thought you had. You have become stronger and more beautiful, full of life-giving qualities. You have learned to take all the negativity around you and turn it into oxygen for easy breathing. A host of wild creatures live inside you and you call them stories. A variety of beautiful birds rest inside your mind and you call them memories. You have become an incredible self-sustaining thing of epic proportions. And you should be so proud of yourself, of how far you have come from the seeds of who you used to be.”

– Nikita Gill, You Have Become a Forest

Practice -

The meditation that Dr. Lara led us through - at min 26:30 - 32:00. It's a beautiful 5 1/2 minutes. So CALMING AND GROUNDING!

Play with-

Step 3 - creative solutions- Make it FUN!

Have a dance party! Movement is GROUNDING!

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Resources:

Website: drlaramay.com

Social media @drlaramay

Podcast-Light Body Radio (drlaramay.com/lightbodyradio) 

Blog: drlaramay.com/blog

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Tools of Life-For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected]or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

This week, we're talking with Christa Dame of Bridgelight Counseling about Anxiety - when is it stress that we can use some techniques for chilling out to get centered and grounded, and when does it require some extra help of a therapist, counselor or doctor?

Christa has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University and has experience working in schools, community mental health centers, private practices, and ministry settings.

Some of the "DIY" tips she suggests trying are breathing techniques, journaling, talking out what's causing overwhelm and PLAYING! (We forget that our teens love to goof around sometimes!)

Have a listen to this convo with Christa and hopefully you'll have a better understanding of whether you need to take further steps or not to help your teen when they're anxious.

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At Tools of Life we offer you something to ponder, to practice and to play with.

Here are today's:

Ponder-

Be anxious for nothing. For everything give thanks.

Choosing peace = honoring the truth and surrendering it.

You don't have to deny the fear, but trust you'll be okay.

Practice-

A few of the questions Christa mentioned for discussion and/or journaling:

What do you need to believe?

What's at the end?

How can you enjoy that?

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude bullet point journaling is quick and fulfilling. Remembering the great things later (esp. on the bad days) is invaluable. Being present when what we're grateful for in the present helps us to lower our levels of fear and feel better.

Play with-

Just Play! Color, use stress balls, fidget toys, Play Doh, nerf guns… just PLAY! Move out of the spiral in the mind and shift gears.

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Resources:

www.bridgelightcounseling.com   Listeners can also follow me on FB as that's where I post resources, they get can get to know me more, and I post easy suggestions improved mental wellness.

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend (big time) and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected]or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Music: Open Road From https://www.purple-planet.com/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

This week, we're talking with Wendy Guth of Rebel on the Go Travel. She's passionate about traveling and helping others create real, radical, life-changing travel in their lives!

What could be more radical than whipping up a last-minute spring break get-away while there's a potentially scary viral pandemic going on? Wendy helps us chill with some great tips!

At Tools of Life, we offer you something to ponder, to practice and to play with.

Here are today's:

Ponder- Quote

Travel like your life depends on it.

All who wander are not lost

Practice -

PREPARATION - Map out your plan and be thoughtful about what they need to do

Especially for the transportation part of it!

Write it out. Rehearse it a little. Share it with the fam.

Play with-

What did you love about today? Ask everyone during your last meal of the day. It's fascinating and enlightening to see what everyone learned!

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Resources:

- website: www.rebelonthego.com

- interview series: https://www.rebelonthego.com/because-i-can

- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rebelonthego/

Use Google to find cool places!

Check out the tourism/visitor's bureaus at your destinations to find (or ASK FOR) already done for you itineraries for day trips to cities and festivals!

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend (big time) and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Music: Open Road From https://www.purple-planet.com/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

Today's Tools of Life is highlighting a new "chill" track intended to help you NURTURE THE NOW by being ENOUGH. We are so often lamenting the past or borrowing worry from the future. When we focus on the NOW, on this moment, it's easier to set our vibrations to "enjoy."

Are you feeling out of sorts but can't put your finger on why? This might be just what you need. Sit quietly and regroup when you find you're replaying a track of regret (yesterday's news) or worry (tomorrow's unconfirmed suspicions). It doesn't take long. It's not too much to ask to take 5-7 minutes to turn the moment around, shift the energy back to what serves - back to the NOW where you can be enough.

Hope you enjoy today's short reset!

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At Tools of Life we offer you something to ponder, to practice and to play with.

Here are today's:

PONDER:

I'M HAPPY WHERE I AM AND EAGER ABOUT WHERE I'M GOING

What would it be like to choose the moment at hand and really take honest inventory of it?

How can you own being satisfied with what is in this moment AND looking forward to what's next?

PRACTICE:

Set a reminder to listen to the affirmation "chill" track at the end of every day for a week. When you feel scarcity and "self-bashing" creeping in, hear the words in your own voice, "I am enough…"

Try listening while getting ready for bed, or while stretching before heading to sleep. Listen with your kids.

Total permission to giggle about it. It may seem goofy at first.

PLAY WITH:

Add to it in your own words. Maybe say, "I'm enough laundry-doer." Or "I'm enough superhero." See what comes up.

Notice the energy shifts that happen within and around you when you begin to own that you are enough.

Resources:

Here's a YouTube link to just the You are ENOUGH chill track.

Music in affirmation track from https://filmmusic.io

"Peace of Mind" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)

License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend big time and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Intro/Outro Music: Open Road From https://www.purple-planet.com/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

This week, we're talking with Dr, Lanae St. John, the author of “Read Me: A Parental Primer for “The Talk”. And speaking of a topic that most folks dread…

THE TALK… you know the one.

Birds and the bees, where do babies come from… S… E… X

Today Lanae gives us building blocks that not only help us to more comfortably begin the conversation (if we haven't already) but also to keep this important conversation open, honest and ONGOING.

Her building blocks to help you recognize teachable moments in everyday life to help educate your kids and promote healthy sexuality are:

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At Tools of Life we offer you something to ponder, to practice and to play with.

Here are today's:

Ponder-

Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that

God loves you and you’re going to burn in hell.

The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth,

and you should save it for someone you love.

~ Butch Hancock

This might be a great conversation at the table!

Practice-

Freebie - Touch Lab - Playful game for partners. Tip sheet for consenting adults to get clear about and comfortable with what they love, helping them practice communication, consent, respect, pleasure, and fantasy. Lanae says there's no better way to get comfortable talking about these building blocks than to practice talking about them with the one you trust the most, your own partner.

https://lsj-academy.mykajabi.com/touch-lab

Play with- In the back of Lanae's book, she has 15 questions - conversation starters geared to middle school on up.

What are the qualities you hope to find in a mate?

What is a dream date?

What do people do on a date?

How do people break up? Why?

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Resources:

Follow Lanae St. John on social media at @themamasutra and on her website www.themamasutra.net.

Lanae's book, “Read Me: A Parental Primer for “The Talk”.

The Mask You Live In by the Representation Project

The Mankind Project

"Our Whole Lives" Program

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend (big time) and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected]or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Music: Open Road From https://www.purple-planet.com/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

This week, Tools of Life is a bit different. I've highlighted a new "chill" track of affirmations that are intended to start or maybe even RESET the day when it's gone a bit sideways. It's inspired by a former client who endeared me to the term "okay-er." (Thanks Dan!) 

Recently, I produced a 5-min de-stressing track for kids going through finals. I did share it, but I didn't air it. (Thanks to the parents and kids that gave it a go. You can hear it here.)

Sitting quietly to regroup in the morning, or even before dinner is a great practice. It doesn't take long. It's not too much to ask to take 5-7 minutes to turn the moment around, shift the energy back to what serves. 

Hope you enjoy today's short reset!

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At Tools of Life we offer you something to ponder, to practice and to play with.

Here are today's:

PONDER:

Imagine keeping these affirmations alive and believable all day:

You are FORTUNATE

You are LOVEABLE

You are BRAVE

You are TALENTED

You are CONNECTED

You are at PEACE

PRACTICE:

Set a reminder to listen to the affirmation "chill" track every day for a week. See if you can hear the words in your head throughout the day.

You can listen while getting ready for the day, while stretching in bed, on the way to where you're going. Listen with your kids. Total permission to giggle about it. It may seem goofy at first.

PLAY WITH:

Add to it in your own words. Maybe say, "I'm capable." Or "I'm healthy." See what comes up.

Resources:

Here's a YouTube link to just the "Start Your Day" chill track. Listen often and SHARE! We'd love it if you'd subscribe to our YouTube Channel as well. More tools on the way!

Music in affirmation track from https://filmmusic.io "Peace of Mind" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend big time and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Intro/Outro Music: Open Road From https://www.purple-planet.com/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting (or life…) should need to be endured. Let's enjoy every stage.

This week, we're talking about how to escape negativity spirals. It's easy for us (and the kids) to get on a spiral straight south… to take the day to a bad space in a hurry. The faster we notice, the faster we can get out. Negativity is so contagious.

The good news, once we jump out of there? Positivity is also contagious! And awesome things are possible when we raise our vibe. Amazing things can occur.

Have a listen. You'll be glad you did!

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On Tools of Life, we offer you something to ponder, something to practice, and something to play with. Here you go!

Ponder

Negativity can only affect you if you’re on the same frequency.

Vibrate higher.

Practice:

Inhale positivity – exhale negativity

Simple breath exercises. Give them a go. Simplest one… the deep, cleansing breath.

https://www.yogajournal.com/videos/nadi-shodhana

Play with:

Gratitude rampages… make them fun. Try it in the car, at the dinner table, and right as your falling asleep each night.

Bonus - Go follow chunk_the_groundhog or look up Dry Bar Comedy. Fun, clean laughs for you and the fam.

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Resources:

BONUS - At Julz of Life we’re all about connection. Connecting you with tools to live and parent more joyfully and helping you connect with your kids. To learn ways that you - specifically YOU can connect better with your teen, contact me for a complimentary call.

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend big time and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life on Facebook and Instagram.

Music: Open Road From https://www.purple-planet.com/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting should need to be endured.

This week, we're talking about tips to connect with your teen to get past 1-word, grunty answers.

Why is it even important to connect?

How can we change the direction (and outcome) of our conversations in just 60 seconds?

And how can we make tough conversations more bearable and dare we say, fun?

Have a listen. This one's for you.

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On Tools of Life, we offer you something to ponder, something to practice, and something to play with. Here you go!

Ponder

Any conversation or connection has the potential to be fear-driven. To make it better… infuse it with enough LOVE (which might look like fun or humor) that the FEAR dissipates. The love will shine through. The message will become clear and CONNECTION will be made.

Practice:

Stopping, breathing, setting your intention for the conversation. This can be just 60 seconds or less. If it's a tough but necessary discussion, repeat a few deep breaths WITH your teen before speaking any other words…

Bonus… hold your kid's hand while having a tough or sensitive talk.

Play with:

Make talking with your kid like a game show. Jeopardy is a good one.

I'll take "goofy things I heard at lunch for 200, Mom."

Let me know how that one goes!

You can get more ideas on my Instagram - Cool Kid Convos

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Resources:

BONUS - To learn ways that you - specifically YOU can connect better with your teen, contact me for a complimentary call.

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend big time and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life at https://www.facebook.com/julzoflife/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting should need to be endured.

This week, we're talking about resilience. Sometimes, when we hit a negative dip, a failure, a falter, or perhaps just the temporary inability to see the abundance in the moment, we need to remember that SURRENDERING to the path of least resistance just might be the best way to bounce back up a notch or two and move forward.

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On Tools of Life, we offer you something to ponder, something to practice, and something to play with. Here you go!

Ponder

“Surrender all that no longer serves you. Let all that remains buried in your heart come to the surface and be healed. Let there be space for new energies to enter. A new beginning transforms darkness to light.” Anonymous

Practice: Allowing.

What have you been resisting that you can just allow?

Has something been eating at you that needs to be let out?

Who's your person that won't judge or try to fix you in the "gooey" stage?

Or in what way can you take a path of least resistance?

How can you have that "release valve" chat, take that nap, go for that run, or climb in the tub to feel better?

Play with:

What will you take less seriously?

What's on your plate that is just ridiculous?

Find someone to laugh with you about it.

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Resources:

BONUS - Here's a link to my Finals Week Meditation. It's 5 minutes of just chilling and feeling like you're enough. It's all working out. Enjoy and pass it on.

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Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend big time and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life at https://www.facebook.com/julzoflife/

Tools of Life is written and produced by Julie Ford of Julz of Life where we've been supporting parents and teens as they navigate the challenging richness of raising the next generation. This stage of life is full of our own "remember when" and "oh boy, here we go" moments that we can choose to either DREAD or RELISH. No stage of parenting should need to be endured. JOY is a choice and that's where we've started our continuing conversation:

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On Tools of Life, we offer you something to ponder, something to practice, and something to play with. Here you go!

Ponder:

"Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form." --Jean Luc Godard

For kids this is so important. We paint a new picture… give a new perspective of our connection when we tell them a story about us or them.

Practice:

Telling stories about yourself. Taking risks. Commute Dinnertime routine

Play with: Allowing them to ask you a question (like an "ask me anything" game) and then you ask them one.

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Resources:

Clifton Strengths by Gallup is the assessment tool we talked about today. The book, StrengthsFinder also has a code to get the basic assessment with the purchase of the book. It's a great deal.

(Then schedule a call with Jenni to interpret the results!)

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About our guest - Jenni Schubring finds delight in seeing people make shifts as they work to become their best selves. First volunteering and later working full time at a Christian camp in a variety of capacities has allowed her to work with people in different stages of their journeys. Those opportunities kept coming as she got married, had children, became a licensed foster parent, and a legal guardian while serving her community. The past 10 years have been full of rediscovering who she was created to be and how she can contribute to the people around her through her giftedness through the Transformational Discipleship process. This process and the continuing of her journey through her Nexecute Licensing has brought her to a place where she can’t help but want to help others find their own giftedness and recognize their value.

Jenni can be reached at jennischubring.com and you can follow her on Facebook or join her group, Embracing Your Story.

Tools of Life - where we bring enough levity and perspective to you on Friday that you love the weekend big time and make people wonder what on EARTH got into you by Monday.

For more tools, and details about coaching 1:1 (or with your teen, too!), contact Julie Ford at [email protected] or follow Julz of Life at https://www.facebook.com/julzoflife/

Disclosure re: linked Amazon materials.