November 15, 2023 • 46 mins
Amanda’s cousin & co-host of The Bobby Bones Show, Amy Brown, joins the podcast today!
Amanda & Amy talk about making necessary changes when you’re not feeling inspired, how your faith can expand during difficult and beautiful times, changing the filter on your perspective, and moving through the holidays with grace, solitude, & nostalgia.
They discuss:
- Making necessary changes to follow your heart
- Noticing when your energy lights up
- How meditation led Amy to a stronger prayer practice
- Asking God for signs
- Being present
- Tweaking your perspective & the shift from isolation to solitude
- Celebrating the holidays through change & loss
Resources:
- Listen to Amy & Amanda’s 5-Minute Guided Meditation Resource
- Download Amanda’s free “Waving Dreams Into Reality” Meditation
- Check out Amanda’s 18-Day Meditation Guide
Follow Amanda & Amy on Instagram @SoulPathology & @RadioAmy
Visit SoulPathology.com for more tools & resources or to book a private session with Amanda today!
Enjoy the “Soul Sessions” podcast? Follow, subscribe, rate & review wherever you listen to podcasts!
Send us an email with your thoughts, questions & feedback: Podcast@SoulSessions.com
Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulpathology/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hi everyone, It's Amanda Rigu Green. Welcome to Soul Sessions.
I have a special episode today. I am joined by
my cousin, Amy Brown, and we are actually in her
house getting to record together in person. Welcome Amy, Well.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Yeah, you've been in Nashville for the last few days
and you're actually flying out tonight. But of course every
day we're like, we need to sit down and record.
We need to sit down and record, not need want,
we want to sit down and record.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
And so here we are.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Doing it in the final few hours, which is good
because we've been soaking up our other time totally.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And I love how intentional you are with the words.
You know, we want to record, both of us, we
do that really well together. We both practice that in life,
but when we're together, we are really mindful of our words,
what we're saying, what we're putting out there, and what
our intentions are. And this trip has has been so
joyful for me and a great reset button where I
(01:04):
needed some clarity and was struggling, and you've really held
some good space for me to notice my energy field.
We're going to talk about a few things today. It
is the holidays and the holidays can be challenging, they
can be joyful and challenging simultaneously. So we're going to
add some wisdom and experience on IRN that helps us
navigate the holidays. Both of us have lost our parents,
(01:27):
so navigating grief no matter how close you are or
far away from that grief. Also how friendships and relationships
can provide clarifying momentum and support, and also signs and synchronicities,
how we expand our faith in new ways with new
tools and techniques. So we're going to run through those
things today, add some value, insight and wisdom and hopefully
(01:50):
some inspiration for you. One of the things I wanted
to start with is when I got here, I was
in this discernment process around obligation that I have professionally
that I've been pouring my heart into, pouring my creativity,
my time, my intelligence, my resources into, and I was
(02:11):
feeling super discouraged in some areas. And when I was
sharing that with you, especially on Sunday, when I got in,
my energy field was really low, and I feel safe
in that space with you. I'm a pretty authentic person,
but sometimes we need safe space to just say I
don't know if I'm on the right path. I'm not
sure what I'm doing. This is what I have on
(02:32):
my plate, and this is how it's affecting me. Am
I making sense. I don't know how I sounded to
you on Sunday, but you can probably communicate that better.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Well. You sounded I guess to put it simply, you
sounded not excited.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Absolutely, there you go, there you go.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And to me, I feel like when you're spending that
much time and energy and resources, as you mentioned, which
is a big part of it, to feel depleted in
a way seems like, Oh, well, shoot, Amanda, are you
noticing your energy and vibe when you're talking about this,
because when you talk about other things, you perk up?
(03:10):
And that was interesting to me because I know what
you've been investing in. Has something is something that you
thought was going to perk you up?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah? Absolutely? And this is this is the kind of
energy that I think many people resonate with right now.
When we we have a goal or an aim and
then we we dump our resources, our time, and our
talents into it, and there's there's moments when we get
discouraged or things aren't panning out as quickly as we
would like them to. But then there becomes a point
(03:39):
where it's not so much about the resources, time and
focus as it is is this really aligned with my
heart right now? Is this my truth? Is this my path?
Or are there other things that are available to me
that I can be pouring my time, resources and talent
into that are more aligned with my truth, more aligned
(04:01):
where I can be of service and add value. And
that's what you helped clarify for me. And what was
amazing to me is I was on the phone with
a client two days later and she reflected that back
to me. She said, what's going on. I've had this
client for a while and she's a dear friend of
mine and we were having some candid conversation and she said,
(04:23):
how is this project going? What's going on? And I
talked to her about it and she said, hey, I
don't I'm not meaning to be critical. Don't take this
the wrong way, she said, but when you talk about that,
you just kind of sound monotone.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Right, I'm not excited?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yes, And she knows my energy field when I'm connecting
with clients in my podcast, certain things that have me
firing and wiring and creative and joyful and aligned and
feeling of value and of this light, my energy field
lights up. I think it's like that for so many
of us. So noticing when your energy field lights up
(04:59):
when you're engaged, creative, inspired, which also means it comes
from the Latin word inspiado in spirit, when you're inspired
versus when you're trying, pushing, trudging, and when you've trudged
too long. And that's been That's been very reflective for
me this week, and I appreciate it because I'm also
(05:19):
walking away with a clearer voice and direction on how
to reallocate my time and resources, communicate that to people,
and know that I am making some necessary changes responsibly,
but also following my heart, following my passion, following where
I am called, and I feel I feel more clarified
(05:40):
in that. And there's the discernment.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, what I hear in that too is you're responding
to things and not reacting because you do need to
proceed with caution. You don't have to rip this band
aid off. Sometimes you may get to a point where
judge rip the band aid off, but this would be
an need decision that people have to make, or if
they're evaluating, Yeah, maybe something they're doing professionally or personally,
(06:07):
or it's a person in your life or a relationship
or something may need to shift because you know it's
not in alignment and you're not feeling yourself and you
want to be excited, not depleted. And sometimes those feelings
are not in our control because sometimes our jobs are
jobs and.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Is what it is.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Which also I've decided I don't like that saying it
is what it is, so I've just said it. Sorry
about that, but I just wanted to point out that
responding is super important and not reacting because then you
run the risk of moving too quickly and not handling
it appropriately.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Thank you. And I'm still laughing as at it is
what it is because my mom used to say that
and we would joke about it, and every time she say, well, Amanda,
it is what it is, and I would say why
why so.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Because it's not always the case, And I'm very guilty
of saying it.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
When you really think.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
About it, it doesn't have to be that way. I feel
like that's how sometimes we get stuck, is with the
mindset of well, it is what it is.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Yeah. So absolutely, let's talk a little bit about faith
and how our faith can expand in difficult times and
our faith can expand in beautiful times. And new tools
and resources you're using right now that you've found, especially
(07:31):
this year, that are expanding your prayer life, your faith life,
your your beliefs. What does that look like for you.
I know you've shared a few things with me, and
I think it is super valuable for listeners to be
able to think creatively about the expansion of their beliefs
and their faith and experiencing it more in the day
to day. Well.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I started meditation for the first time ever this year,
and I always thought that was a little woo woo,
And I never even thought that prayer and meditation would
cross over or come together for me and prayer time Honestly, ever,
since I was nine years old, I never put myself
in the category of an amazing prayer. And because my
(08:13):
brain would go all over the place, I would try
to close my eyes and pray, and I feel like
I would talk or my brain would talk about all
these other things, and then I would feel guilty, and
then I would get defeated and I'd be oh, I'm
not good at praying some mody as well, just not pray.
So then I started praying out loud when I drive
and just starting to have more conversations with God and
talking with him. But fast forward to this year, implementing
(08:38):
a meditation practice. I started in January because I did
a meditation challenge and so I went thirty days and
I realized how much I enjoyed it, and I made
that part of my routine along with journaling. And just
this week, I did, you know a prayer meditation And
that's something I've started to sprinkle in here there. But
(09:00):
you can just go to YouTube and I google Christian
five minute meditation prayer. You put keywords in the YouTube
search and stuff will pop up. And I'm also asking
God for a lot of signs like you and I
talk a lot about when we can't quite figure something out,
or we're wanting to know something or have clarity but
(09:22):
we don't have it yet. Okay, be patient and say
God show me, and make sure that we're very intentional
at saying God show me. And just this week I
typed in you know those keywords into YouTube and the
only filter I changed from previous videos that I've received
is I went over to the filter and I wanted
to see which one was the most viewed, because in
(09:43):
my opinion, if it's been viewed a lot, it must
be a really good prayer meditation. And so I went
over I changed it to most viewed, and the video
that came up the cover shot for the YouTube video
I haven't even told you this.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
No, I'm over here in my eyes are really wid Yeah,
I'm waiting.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, because this is how God is showing me things.
So the cover shot of the YouTube for the video
just says be present, which is literally.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
What we've been talking about.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
My homework from my therapist is be present. Let's not
be thinking too much in the past. Do not think
in the future. Be present. There's nothing you have to
figure out right now. Be present. And I'm saying it
multiple times because that's what I have to say to
myself over and over. Oh okay, I catch myself and
I say be present. Well, you know, I've been typing
(10:36):
this stuff into YouTube and we've been talking about be
present for days and then the one day I changed
the filter for whatever reason, I don't know, most viewed Boila,
And to me, that was a sign, Okay, I'm on
the right path with my intentionality. Towards being present and
I must stick with that.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And what you just said, changing the filter. It's one
tweak to a perspective, to a word, change the filter,
which relates back to what we were talking about with
me and feeling in joy and enlivened and inspired in
one area and then just trudging and pushing and discouraged
and defeated and exhausted in another. Changing the filter for
(11:18):
me was having you and a couple of other people
reflect back what I was already feeling in my energy feel,
but clearly and lovingly define, Amanda, your energy sores in
this scenario and your energy is depleted in flat and
monotone in this area. Oh, change my filter. Notice where
my energy is soaring and enlivened and where it's monotone,
(11:41):
and what are the tweaks in that area? Change the filter?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Yeah, change the filter. I love that that is fitting.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
It's fitting for me. I hope it resonates for some
other people now.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Yeah, And speaking of filters, we all have different filters
that we are processing things through. Like you and I
have both lost our parents and have experienced losing a
mom losing a dad. But because our filters are different,
We're not going to have the same exact feelings. This
is why there's no way you can know what one
other person is going through or feeling. I think empathy
(12:14):
and sympathy super powerful things, and we have that. But
I love that we are all processing our own stuff,
and we all have our own filters that we need
to process because some stuff that may be clear to
you isn't clear to me because I have a different filter,
and so sometimes I just might need it tweaked or
shown to me in a different way, or I'm processing differently.
(12:34):
But back to the faith component and meditation and prayer,
and really I think increasing my meditation practice, doing it
almost every day for this entire year, and here we
are in November.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So adding that to.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
My life and the practice of it has now allowed
me to be a better at prayer, which I'm sure
the prayer would have been practicing some amost like well,
which came first. It just so happened that the meditation
led me to a place where now I feel like
I can pray more effectively and I can have gratitude
while I'm sitting there meditating, and I can run through
(13:13):
a bunch of different things, and that five minute meditation
or ten minute that pray. It may be a string
of prayers and different things, and then when outside thoughts
pop in, I recognize them and I try to release them.
But I'm by no means this perfect meditator. I don't
know that anybody is. But that's one way where the
(13:33):
meditation has now given me an actual prayer practice, because
I've wanted that since I was nine ten years old.
You know, you see people praying around or my mom
would always go to her closet for an hour and
get on her knees and she would pray. And be like,
how does she sit in there for an hour and pray?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
My mind would be all over the place, And now
I get it. She was able to dial in and
do that, and I think her originated out of complete
desperation and rock bottom, but she really clung to that
and it gave her new life. And I feel like
that's what this year for me, and some of my
(14:12):
practices and my faith have given me new life. I
had a doctor's appointment the other day with a physical therapist,
but he, you know, was doing some Eastern practices and
some of it was very new to me.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
With your skull, and it was like weird.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
He was like touching my head for about twenty minutes,
but it felt like he wasn't even touching it, but
he was. When I stood up, I was so relaxed.
It felt like I had had a full body massage
and I had not.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, so was it cranio sacral thing? Yes?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Yeah, I did not know how to say it, so
I wasn't going to try, but yes, it was that.
And there was all this paperwork I had to fill
out before you know, I went in to see him,
and I celebrated. The fact makes me think of my
friend Gracie Moechler, who she has the emergency confetti. Yeah,
and she's all about celebrating all things in life, not
(15:04):
just the big things. And as I was sitting there
filling out the paperwork, I celebrated not checking off certain
boxes that a year ago I would have checked because of,
you know, whatever was going on with me, my body
feeling this way, my mental health being this way. I
literally could not check those boxes because I was like,
I don't feel that way anymore, or that's not how
(15:26):
my body's feeling, or that's not how I'm responding to that,
and I sat there for a moment with the paperwork,
and I celebrated. And I think that's something when you're
filling out paperwork, you may fly by and not even
really take a moment to be like, oh, I didn't
just check that box. And I know for a fact
a year ago I would have checked that box.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Two things. One, all of this shows in your life
and in your field, like all of the combination of
prayer and meditation. Praying to me is talking to God
asking for help. Having dialogue. Meditation is that listening piece,
so it gives you the communion of dialogue and then
(16:10):
the receptivity the listening. But this morning, guess what I did.
I filled out paperwork because I have a doctor's appointment,
an annual doctor's appointment in the morning, and I got
my patient form and paperwork to fill in before the visit.
And I had the same realizations because of what it's
been a tough year, year and a half with walking
(16:32):
through my mom's death, moving you know, from out of
the country back into the United States, all of the stresses, pressures,
I wasn't checking some of the boxes I checked a
year ago.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And I think some of your career, yes, a move
a death, career shifts. Those are some of the top stressors,
So have grace for yourself if you've experienced one of those,
and you know, let alone multiple at the same time.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But I was filling out my assessment and I wasn't
checking some of the boxes because for the last six
months I have really done a deep dive into rehaling
my own spirit, giving myself grace, grieving and finding very
healthy ways to find healing. And it's starting to show
(17:24):
because my overall mood and outlook and energy levels are different.
But that was reflected in the clinical assessment I did.
So I had the same experience this morning that you're
talking about.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
When we hadn't discussed that, and we.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Haven't discussed that, and I'm like, oh my gosh, this
just happened to me this morning while you were at work.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Like so no, I think that, yeah, we're paying attention
to that, and you should celebrate that and anybody else
listening if the slightest thing has changed, or that you've
done something big or small. But let's go and talk
about the tiny things, because that's what I think we
overlook and we don't give them enough credit. We don't
(18:01):
take time to celebrate them in your brain will recognize
when you celebrate it. It's actually good for you to
give that gift to your brain. It's good for your
your confidence, your momentum, the trajectory you're on, knowing like,
oh there's progress here.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Well, and what I shared with you back to the
big things for a moment, I said to Dennis, my husband,
about three weeks ago, Gosh, last year was really hard.
There was a lot that went on last year. And
he said, Amanda, that was this year.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
It feels like a year ago.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
No, it does feel like a year ago. But him
saying that put into perspective that January through April were
immense and that was not last year. That was this year.
And we have I have a tendency some times to
discount that six months is not last year, that is
(18:57):
this year. And I am still re calibrating and finding
a resiliency and it's okay to give myself grace. And
I was on the phone with a client this morning
and she's making some big life changes that she's prepared
for and I am thrilled at the new adventure on
her horizon. And she has fears. She's changing careers, making
(19:18):
a big move. She's practically prepared for it, she's spiritually
armed up for it, talent wise, everything the ball is
in her court. But she's also like, I'm not doing enough.
What if I don't have this? What if everything doesn't
work out? And she wasn't in a ton of fear,
but there was that underlying energy of things aren't happening
(19:40):
fast enough, and it was like, hold on, let's stand still.
Look at what you have accomplished. The very first time
we ever spoke, this was a dream in your heart
and that was probably two years ago, and this month
it's becoming a reality. And look how well everything has
fallen into place for this new chapter to happen. Let's
(20:02):
celebrate it, you know, because the perspective and the lens
and the filter is always different. But when we can
help each other clarify the filter, fine tune the filter,
it reminds me we need each other, We need support,
We need people in our lives who can hold that
space and reflect it back.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
I was just trying to look for a text that
I had with a friend because we were talking about
if the what if, and we're going to keep talking
and I'm gonna search it because I'm going to read
you a quote that we were exchanging about the ifs
and God, and it's so powerful to him. He even
got it tattooed on his body, on his body, or
(20:42):
else would he get it tattooed on his backpack, got
it tattooed on his body on his body, so he
has it as a tattoo. But I'll find it here
in a second. And it's powerful, you know. For me,
music is very healing, especially because it can release a
lot of but also to set you up in a
(21:03):
space to receive or hear from God. And last Sunday
I had praise and worship music playing, which ever since
my mom died, certain songs are just so hard for me.
Like even praise and worship when I'm physically at church
after she passed was just too much.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I couldn't.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I didn't even want to go because I just was
so emotional and I'd be bawling crying. And of course
it's gotten better, it's been nine years, but sometimes it
just hits you out of nowhere. And last Sunday I
had it on and this song Oceans came on and
I was broken to it. But as I think of
(21:42):
the lyrics and what we're talking about. It's actually a
great song to put on and listen to if you're
needing to go somewhere, try something new, make a change,
and trust that it is okay and at least for
me as a Christian like I will call upon your name,
And that's the song. Some of the lyrics are your
(22:03):
grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be
my guide where feet may fail and fear surrounds me.
You've never failed and you won't stuck now. So I
will call upon your name, which if he thinks of God,
show me.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Hear me, God, show me, and.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise, My
soul will rest in your embrace, for I am yours
and you are mine. And one last thing. I won't
read the whole song, but this one's good. Spirit lead
me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk
upon the waters wherever you would call me, Take me
(22:41):
deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith
will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I almost want to cry because I'm thinking about Spirit
lead me. What is that part? Spirit lea mean where
my trust?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Okay, So that right there resonates with what I was
feeling when I was talking about work responsibilities and where
my passion is. When I'm talking about those things that
light my fire and soul, my trust is without borders
in that space, and when I was in the other space,
(23:19):
it feels like there are borders and barriers, and I
just get to change my lens, change my perspective, and
also give it to God. Change your filter, change my filter,
change my filter, but give it to God. God show me,
and God has shown me that is. And whatever your
faith practice is, God show me, Universe, show me, Soul,
(23:40):
will show me, Jesus show me, you know, whatever it
may be. You use the language, the beliefs, the feelings
that resonate with you. But music, like you said, has
a transcendent quality. It helps soothe and open our energy field.
And when words or melodies resonate, we vie breid at
(24:00):
different frequencies that allow us to be more attuned and cohesive,
and that's essentially what you're expressing. And then they can
also bring joy. Like last night, we were playing a
music game, is what is it called? We were like
because it's totally different energy with the music.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
It's been popular on TikTok and then I know the Toast,
which is a podcast they played it on there.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
But I think it's something like, if you know.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
The words to this song, singing along, singing along, maybe
one more time you say one word and then whoever's
playing with you they have to see from that word
they can know the rest of the song and sing along.
But again, this is an example of how music can
(24:45):
bring joy and laughter and silliness. Music can help us
grieve and feel, create sacred space to process emotions that
may be clear and present in our energy field or
packed back away. It gives us the opportunity in small
moments to create big waves, which goes back to the
(25:06):
to the song oceans Oceans, Yeah, oceans of change.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
The waves, So I will call upon your name and
keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise. That
would be a good one to do, you know, the
good song. It's a really fun game to play.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
So thinking about the holidays and creating new memories, holding
space for lost loved ones. What are some of the
lessons you've learned or the way you've grown through celebrating
holidays with change because you've had some big changes in
your personal life and holidays are a little bit different,
(25:51):
especially with the kids. And so what are some things
that you do to create new memories but still hold space.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Well, I mean, I think that people experience all different
kinds of luss because what you're referring to is my divorce. Yes,
so loss of the family that I thought we were
going to have, so grieving that not having my mom
around the last nine years, losing my dad a couple
of years ago. Yeah, and then the loss of a marriage.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
This is the first official holiday season with us being divorced,
although we've been separated for quite some time, but still
even last year when we were celebrating Christmas, we were separated,
but we were all in Colorado together. I was staying
with my sister and Ben was staying with his family
that's my ex husband's name. We've got two kids, and
(26:45):
we were able to be together. And this year it's
going to look different now, like we won't be together Thanksgiving,
we won't be together Christmas. He's going to go to
Colorado with the kids, and I've made the decision to
not go. My sisters there so that is a hard
decision for me to make, but I think it's important
(27:06):
for me to give myself that time because I'll have
the kids after Christmas and i'll have them for New Year,
so i'll have them Thanksgiving, and that's how you know
we're doing it. And I'll be with my sister for Thanksgiving.
We're taking a trip to visit her son that's in
college in Hawaii, a trip will never do again, something
like that. So I'm excited to go do that with
(27:27):
the kids.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
And having a luau for Thanksgiving.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah luel So that made it easy for me to
not fly to Colorado for Christmas and know that I'm
going to be here in my home by myself. I
have friends, and then I've got family in Alabama, which
is a few hours away. They've already texted like, Hey,
come see us, and I'll see I'm not really committing
to anything, but because I think something that is important
(27:49):
when you're going through any change like that is making
time for solitude and making time for your feelings and
your emotions. And I'm sure Amanda talks about this, but
man and I talked about all the time. If two
things can be true at the same time. You can
have happiness for the holiday season and different things about
this time that bring you joy, and you can also
(28:10):
ride alongside it have immense pain and sadness and grief.
But I just think making time for yourself and being
alone so that you can really feel your feelings whatever
they are. And some of those days you may need
to remind yourself, okay with this, I need to have
the day I need to have. And that's what our
(28:31):
friend Kat Defada says her podcast is you need therapy,
and she has a lot of good sayings, which feel
your feelings is one of her sayings that she says
a lot too. She put it on a coffee mug
in a shirt. Feel your feelings and have the day
you need to have. And that is permission. You know,
if you need to have a day where you're just
in and you're not out and about being social in
(28:52):
the holidays, and that's what's expected of you or that's
your normal personality, or I would invite your close friends
and family into whatever your plan is, not for them
to come, but make sure they're aware, Hey, this is
where I am right now, and I am giving myself
space and it would be great if like Hey, you've
(29:14):
got stuff going on. I'd love to be invited, so
I'm aware of it. However, if I choose to stay
home or need to be with myself, let that be cool,
because I could imagine some close friends and family members are.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Like, no, no, no, no, you should come, and.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
They feel as though they're doing the right thing by
quote unquote dragging you out of the house to get
you away from the feelings. But if you make that
time for that solitude and to process those feelings, in
my experience, and we're all different, but it may help
you push through some of it in a way that
(29:50):
allows space for some of the laughter and the fun
and the joy to come into play as well. And
I think that that's important because if you just stuff
it down, then after the holiday's end, there's a meltdown
coming or you're gonna like walk into your pool with
all your clothes on.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Because I've done that.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
I wouldn't do that now, would That wouldn't even cross
my mind yet.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Because you didn't check that box with the Cranio segret
I did place.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
I didn't walk.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Into your Did you walk into your pool with your clothes.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
In front of your kids and your ex husband, Well
he's my husband at the time, but I just was like, okay, people,
I got to do something to leave this situation. So
I'm just gonna go fall into water with fully clothed.
But does that make sense? And you know more about
being in touch with your feelings. It's really a mind
(30:37):
body spirit connection. And I think when you have all
that going, you can be very aware of what you're
feeling and you can say, God, show me what do
I need? What do I need today? What kind of
day do I need to have? Because you may need
to give yourself that solitude.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
And that we don't always have to have the answers.
That's where I take myself will back and my determination
and I push and I go and I think I
am completely in charge, and then it's like, oh wait
a minute, I'm not in charge. I've got angels and
God and support. Hold on, let me call those troops in,
let me help ask them to help me with my
(31:14):
discernment process, and that creates that mind body spirit connection.
One of the things that you said that lit me
up over here is you were talking about the holidays
and creating solitude, and you know that numerology is one
of my love languages where I fire and wire and
people who listen are familiar with me talking about this.
(31:35):
But twenty twenty three is a seven universal year. In numerology,
two plus zero plus two plus three equals seven. The
energy of the seven is highly introspective, analytical, putting the
cosmic puzzle pieces together. It's searching and seeking, but it
is about building faith, raising our vibration higher. And there's
(31:58):
a tendency to isolate, which is the lower vibration of
that energy, to separate, to block out, to not share
our feelings, not share our joys, our winds, or our
sorrows alike, just isolating and trying to introspectively figure all
of that out within ourselves and limiting ourselves that way.
(32:19):
And the higher vibration of it is solitude. And that's
what you said, and it put a smile on my
heart because solitude is being able to commune with God
with spirit and also to healthfully that mind body spirit
connection communicate to other people. Hey, here's what I'm doing.
(32:39):
You know, I'm not asking you to rescue me. I'm
just giving you the details. This is my plan and
I just want you to be in on it, so
you understand and that feels good for us personally, but
including people and the energy of this year. The overarching
theme we can fall into isolation and forget to communicate,
whether it's communicating with God, communicating with other people in
(33:01):
our lives, and communicating with ourselves. And so you just
demonstrated to me through your experience, the higher vibration of
the seven is communicating with yourself, communicating with God, and
communicating with the people that it affects in your life,
and then feeling whole, feeling right sized well.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
And I think circling back to something you said at
the very beginning of the podcast, after I had said
need versus want, Yeah, it's a word can change everything.
And while isolation and solitude may look sort of similar
ish in what you're doing if you're alone, shifting that
word changes everything.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah, And so.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Solitude has a higher vibration. It's more freeing, it's more roomy.
Isolation automatically is like closing a door back off. Like
I think of it more like drawing a line with
a sharpie versus a pencil that you know you can
erase the pencil line or it can be squiggly. The
sharpie line. I don't know how to erase a sharpie, yeah,
even on a whiteboard.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
When I when I think of well, I was thinking
of mister clean magic erase.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
You were thinking that would help that Let me help you.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
You can just get one of those, but you can't,
you know, mister clean magic erase things in your life.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
I wish sort of it worked that way.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
But something else that has helped me during the holidays,
along with feeling my feelings and having the day that
I need to have and creating space for solitude, but
also the joy and all the things, is remembrance and
remembering traditions or recipes that are from you know, your mom,
(34:37):
your dad, your sibling. I don't know if you are
grieving someone in particular, or grieving a life you thought
you would have. Whatever the case, what can you bring
into that that can remind you of a happy time
with that person or that situation. But now, some people's
marriages end on a very very rough note, and that's
(34:58):
not lost on me at all. And I had rough
times for sure, but thankfully we ended on good terms
and I am thankful for our happy memories that we have.
So there could be something with our relationship that I
may want to still reminisce on or what is the
tradition we have. That doesn't mean I have to completely
(35:19):
lose that for my dad and my mom's side of things,
like we always had sausage, gravy and sinnamon rolls for breakfast.
Then Ben and I started doing that in our family,
and I'm going to continue to do that. So when
I do it, not only do I think of my parents,
but I also think of Ben and the kids, and
that is okay, and that actually brings me joy because
(35:41):
when Ben joined our family, he thought it was going
to be disgusting, there's no way he was going to
eat it, and now he loves it. I bet you
he's probably gonna make it on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
And he's not going to be with me.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
But you know, that's something that you can do. And
maybe it's not with food, Maybe it's with an activity.
You know, did your parents or your loved one ll
play putt putt over the holidays, or golf.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Or tennis or hiking?
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Was there something they liked to do being with nature,
playing certain games.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
My mom loved farkle, She did love farkll.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Your farkal name would be Famanda and I was Famy.
All you have to do is just put an F
at the beginning of the name or replace the first
letter with F. So like Christy was Fristie. That's my sister,
and your mom would be Lisasa my mom, my mom
was Foodie Judy. So farkle tournaments are fun during the holidays.
(36:38):
But I know over the break I'm going to play
Farkle and that will be fun. I want to have
game nights, especially because I'm going to be here and
I'm not going to Colorado. I've already talked to some
of my friends about it. Hey, we have Christmas break,
I'm hosting game night at my house. And now I've
just decided right here now, I'm gonna have a Farkle
tournament and everyone's gonna get their farkle name.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
But the tmbrance is helpful.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
So, like, what is something you may do, Amanda this
holiday season to remember your mom? And is there anything
you do to remember your dad.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Well this holiday season? Because what's on my heart right
now is Thanksgiving because we are actually putting my mom's ashes.
We're going back to Baton Rouge and my dad is
in the columbarium in the church that we went to
and we're putting her ashes next to him on the
day after Thanksgiving. So I have been intentional about that,
(37:32):
and it is a sweet space, and I already am
anticipating that it will be beautiful, but it will be
painful because that church, for me, is where I spent
a lot of my youth. I participated. I have lots
of memories there with both of my parents and a
(37:54):
sweet time in life. And it's a sacred space, obviously,
But laying her to rest next to him is, you know,
it is. It's a big chapter. My father died in
nineteen ninety nine, she died this year, in twenty twenty three.
It's a big circle of life. But I will be
with my siblings, I will be with my family. I
(38:16):
will be in Baton Rouge. I have a couple of
high school friends who are going to come join me,
and that wanted to be included. And that's where I'm
going to actually make those phone calls today when I
get on the flight. I'm going to reach out because
two of them said, if this is private, we won't intervene,
but if you would like us there, we would like
to be there. And I I'm going to reach out
(38:38):
and take them up on that, because we're going to
have just a celebration and we're going to eat good
Louisiana food after of course it will be after Thanksgiving,
So my sister in law is helping me figure out
what we do and we're just going to go back
to the house and celebrate together. But I'm going to
invite my high school friends because they knew my parents, well,
they knew me at that stage of life that is
(38:58):
so delicate and special, and that's one thing that I
know I'm actually going to take action on today to
include them in that sweet celebration because it will make
me or give me, not make me, but give me comfort.
Oh yeah, give me comfort in a way with people
(39:19):
who are familiar who there's just times when we reach
out and we ask people to be with us, but
when they express that they want to be with us,
to allow them to be.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Well, two things with that, and it's how your friends
asked you, and I like that they said, out of
the gate, you may want to be alone of this
may be a private thing, and we'd love to be
there if that's an option. So then you don't feel pressure.
You can easily say, hey, it's private, and they've already
given you that and it's not awkward, and you also
(39:53):
being intentional about inviting them in, Like had they never
even said anything, I know that you would be asked
them anyway. And I think that's something important to do
during these times, is inviting people in.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
Inviting people in, and that thank you for even clarifying,
because that's what's coming through. What am I going to do?
Of course, I have things that celebrate my mom and
my dad that remind me of them, and I will
be able to tell stories and share memories. There will
be a lot of talk and reminiscing and celebrating.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Y'all can all put on your mom's lip color?
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Well, oh, of course bamboo brons, bamboo bron because the
bamboo bronze, by the way, is going in the ashes.
Those were direct orders from her, and my sister Sally
was afraid she had lost the bamboo bronze and it
was completely lost and Mom was going to come back
and haunt her because it's discontinued. Because it's discontinued Revlin
shade of lipstick, and my mom had two tubes of
it set aside for her ashes for years, Like this
(40:50):
was a planned thing. So we have the bamboo brons.
I have it right next to her ashes. They will
be going in the columbarium with her because those were
direct orders, and that will be hysterical and joyful and
my mother and she will have her lipstick on in
the beyond, thank goodness. She's like king tut. You know.
She puts all of her stuff in her tomb to
(41:11):
take with her on the other side. But it's for her.
It's just bamboo bronze. She's got to look good.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
If had to take something with me, I think I'd
take my Finty, which is Rihanna's take up Line contour stick. Okay,
I use that as blush eyeshadow sometimes, like around my lips.
I mean that's good stuff. Oh, contouring obviously like nos foreheads.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Yeah, I would take my concealer. My concealer is my
I can contour with it. I can just brighten up
under my eyes. It helps with like a little lift.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Oh perfect.
Speaker 1 (41:39):
So yeah, Lisa, So I think we'll be said if
you bring the contour, Mom brings the lipstick, and I've
got the concealer that's like a highlighter stick. I think
we're going to go. What does foody, have, oh foodie,
maybe she'll have a little bit of blush. She always
had really rosy sweet cheeks.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
Yeah, she did well.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
You know, she didn't like to leave the house without
a lip color there, And I don't know, maybe it's
that generation, because she would tell me, you should put.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
Your lipstick on.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
My mom would say that took put some lipstick on
your a little drab. Yeah, But of.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
Course we didn't because it just wasn't our. I don't
know that that was really our thing.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
And I found that quote that I was looking for
earlier that I was texting with the friend about. And
the reason why I texted him about it is I've
been reading Corey ten Boom's book The Hiding Place, which
it's are you familiar.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Okay, saying what is that share that World.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
War two and she was a Christian during that time
that was hiding Jews from Nazis and she was running
this whole secret ride away. So it's called The Hiding
Place and she was not Jewish, but because of her crime,
(42:54):
she went to concentration camps different ones and gosh, she
made it out. She was eventually released and then wrote
this book and towards the end she says this, There
are no ifs in God's Kingdom. I could hear her
soft voice saying it. I believe this is when she's
talking about her sister. And they would have to like
(43:16):
to get Bibles or parts of Bibles. They would sneak
them in if they went to certain appointments. They would
know this person may have a piece of a Bible,
and they would stuff it into their clothing and then
sneak it in it together to the concentration camp at
a risk of you know, getting killed for that. So
there are no ifs in God's kingdom. I could hear
(43:38):
her soft voice saying it. His timing is perfect. His
will is our hiding place. Lord Jesus, keep me in
your will. Don't let me go mad by poking about
outside it.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
And so I'd sent that to my friend.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
He's the one that even told me to read this book,
and he said, oh, yeah, I love that. I don't
know why it stood out to me, and I thought,
I'm gonna send this him. I'm reading the whole book.
I hadn't sent anything to him, and he replied back,
oh yeah, No, IFS is one of my tattoos, or
maybe it says no ifs in God.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
No ifs in God's Kingdom.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
We were talking about ifs earlier. Well, there's no ifs
if God's Kingdom. Sorry, I couldn't find that earlier because
it didn't even dawn on me.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
I was like, why was I just talking about ifs?
Speaker 1 (44:22):
And then it.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
Occurred to me it came from that book, which is
a great book to read, by the way, if you
have not If you have.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Not read it, yeah, absolutely, and thank you for sharing that.
I love that And that's a lot of times with
my faith and when when life expands, when the universe
gets more magical and bigger, it's when I remember, oh,
my gosh, God is in everything. God is in the
hard moments. God is in the arguments, and what my
part is in that and how I can grow through it,
(44:54):
change my behavior, make amends. God is in the grief.
God is in the growth. God is in the laughter.
God is in the games. Amy, thank you for joining
me today sharing insights and inspiration at any time, but
also as we move through the holidays with more grace
(45:14):
and also tapping into nostalgia. That's really one thing I
want to highlight for everyone today is the solitude and
the nostalgia, and this nostalgia being how can you celebrate
your life where you are today in a way that
is reminiscent of who you are of your past. It
honors your past and your experiences, but it celebrates you
(45:36):
today in your place today, and also taking time for solitude.
Where can you find time to communicate to yourself what
you need to communicate that to God, to your higher power,
to spirit, and then communicate it to the people in
your experience, the people you love, and that way you
find clarity in your.
Speaker 2 (45:56):
Voice and your truth and be present and be present.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
I was talking to someone this morning about fear, and
usually fear arises and gets completely out of control when
we are worried about losing something up in the future.
You know, we're not going to get what we want
or losing what we have essentially, and that's either being
in the past or the future, not in the present,
not in the now.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (46:20):
Yeah, thanks guys, all right, thank you Amy for being
on today and sharing your insight and wisdom and laughter
and silliness everyone. I hope you're doing well. I hope
that the Soul Sessions episodes have motivated and inspired you,
giving you some good food for thought, a little bit
of joy and sentimentality as you gracefully navigate the seasons
(46:42):
of life. Thank you for joining me. Be well.
Hi everyone, It's Amanda Rigu Green. Welcome to Soul Sessions.
I have a special episode today. I am joined by
my cousin, Amy Brown, and we are actually in her
house getting to record together in person. Welcome Amy, Well.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Yeah, you've been in Nashville for the last few days
and you're actually flying out tonight. But of course every
day we're like, we need to sit down and record.
We need to sit down and record, not need want,
we want to sit down and record.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
And so here we are.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Doing it in the final few hours, which is good
because we've been soaking up our other time totally.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And I love how intentional you are with the words.
You know, we want to record, both of us, we
do that really well together. We both practice that in life,
but when we're together, we are really mindful of our words,
what we're saying, what we're putting out there, and what
our intentions are. And this trip has has been so
joyful for me and a great reset button where I
(01:04):
needed some clarity and was struggling, and you've really held
some good space for me to notice my energy field.
We're going to talk about a few things today. It
is the holidays and the holidays can be challenging, they
can be joyful and challenging simultaneously. So we're going to
add some wisdom and experience on IRN that helps us
navigate the holidays. Both of us have lost our parents,
(01:27):
so navigating grief no matter how close you are or
far away from that grief. Also how friendships and relationships
can provide clarifying momentum and support, and also signs and synchronicities,
how we expand our faith in new ways with new
tools and techniques. So we're going to run through those
things today, add some value, insight and wisdom and hopefully
(01:50):
some inspiration for you. One of the things I wanted
to start with is when I got here, I was
in this discernment process around obligation that I have professionally
that I've been pouring my heart into, pouring my creativity,
my time, my intelligence, my resources into, and I was
(02:11):
feeling super discouraged in some areas. And when I was
sharing that with you, especially on Sunday, when I got in,
my energy field was really low, and I feel safe
in that space with you. I'm a pretty authentic person,
but sometimes we need safe space to just say I
don't know if I'm on the right path. I'm not
sure what I'm doing. This is what I have on
(02:32):
my plate, and this is how it's affecting me. Am
I making sense. I don't know how I sounded to
you on Sunday, but you can probably communicate that better.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Well. You sounded I guess to put it simply, you
sounded not excited.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Absolutely, there you go, there you go.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And to me, I feel like when you're spending that
much time and energy and resources, as you mentioned, which
is a big part of it, to feel depleted in
a way seems like, Oh, well, shoot, Amanda, are you
noticing your energy and vibe when you're talking about this,
because when you talk about other things, you perk up?
(03:10):
And that was interesting to me because I know what
you've been investing in. Has something is something that you
thought was going to perk you up?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah? Absolutely? And this is this is the kind of
energy that I think many people resonate with right now.
When we we have a goal or an aim and
then we we dump our resources, our time, and our
talents into it, and there's there's moments when we get
discouraged or things aren't panning out as quickly as we
would like them to. But then there becomes a point
(03:39):
where it's not so much about the resources, time and
focus as it is is this really aligned with my
heart right now? Is this my truth? Is this my path?
Or are there other things that are available to me
that I can be pouring my time, resources and talent
into that are more aligned with my truth, more aligned
(04:01):
where I can be of service and add value. And
that's what you helped clarify for me. And what was
amazing to me is I was on the phone with
a client two days later and she reflected that back
to me. She said, what's going on. I've had this
client for a while and she's a dear friend of
mine and we were having some candid conversation and she said,
(04:23):
how is this project going? What's going on? And I
talked to her about it and she said, hey, I
don't I'm not meaning to be critical. Don't take this
the wrong way, she said, but when you talk about that,
you just kind of sound monotone.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Right, I'm not excited?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Yes, And she knows my energy field when I'm connecting
with clients in my podcast, certain things that have me
firing and wiring and creative and joyful and aligned and
feeling of value and of this light, my energy field
lights up. I think it's like that for so many
of us. So noticing when your energy field lights up
(04:59):
when you're engaged, creative, inspired, which also means it comes
from the Latin word inspiado in spirit, when you're inspired
versus when you're trying, pushing, trudging, and when you've trudged
too long. And that's been That's been very reflective for
me this week, and I appreciate it because I'm also
(05:19):
walking away with a clearer voice and direction on how
to reallocate my time and resources, communicate that to people,
and know that I am making some necessary changes responsibly,
but also following my heart, following my passion, following where
I am called, and I feel I feel more clarified
(05:40):
in that. And there's the discernment.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Well, what I hear in that too is you're responding
to things and not reacting because you do need to
proceed with caution. You don't have to rip this band
aid off. Sometimes you may get to a point where
judge rip the band aid off, but this would be
an need decision that people have to make, or if
they're evaluating, Yeah, maybe something they're doing professionally or personally,
(06:07):
or it's a person in your life or a relationship
or something may need to shift because you know it's
not in alignment and you're not feeling yourself and you
want to be excited, not depleted. And sometimes those feelings
are not in our control because sometimes our jobs are
jobs and.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Is what it is.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Which also I've decided I don't like that saying it
is what it is, so I've just said it. Sorry
about that, but I just wanted to point out that
responding is super important and not reacting because then you
run the risk of moving too quickly and not handling
it appropriately.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Thank you. And I'm still laughing as at it is
what it is because my mom used to say that
and we would joke about it, and every time she say, well, Amanda,
it is what it is, and I would say why
why so.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Because it's not always the case, And I'm very guilty
of saying it.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
When you really think.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
About it, it doesn't have to be that way. I feel
like that's how sometimes we get stuck, is with the
mindset of well, it is what it is.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Yeah. So absolutely, let's talk a little bit about faith
and how our faith can expand in difficult times and
our faith can expand in beautiful times. And new tools
and resources you're using right now that you've found, especially
(07:31):
this year, that are expanding your prayer life, your faith life,
your your beliefs. What does that look like for you.
I know you've shared a few things with me, and
I think it is super valuable for listeners to be
able to think creatively about the expansion of their beliefs
and their faith and experiencing it more in the day
to day. Well.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I started meditation for the first time ever this year,
and I always thought that was a little woo woo,
And I never even thought that prayer and meditation would
cross over or come together for me and prayer time Honestly, ever,
since I was nine years old, I never put myself
in the category of an amazing prayer. And because my
(08:13):
brain would go all over the place, I would try
to close my eyes and pray, and I feel like
I would talk or my brain would talk about all
these other things, and then I would feel guilty, and
then I would get defeated and I'd be oh, I'm
not good at praying some mody as well, just not pray.
So then I started praying out loud when I drive
and just starting to have more conversations with God and
talking with him. But fast forward to this year, implementing
(08:38):
a meditation practice. I started in January because I did
a meditation challenge and so I went thirty days and
I realized how much I enjoyed it, and I made
that part of my routine along with journaling. And just
this week, I did, you know a prayer meditation And
that's something I've started to sprinkle in here there. But
(09:00):
you can just go to YouTube and I google Christian
five minute meditation prayer. You put keywords in the YouTube
search and stuff will pop up. And I'm also asking
God for a lot of signs like you and I
talk a lot about when we can't quite figure something out,
or we're wanting to know something or have clarity but
(09:22):
we don't have it yet. Okay, be patient and say
God show me, and make sure that we're very intentional
at saying God show me. And just this week I
typed in you know those keywords into YouTube and the
only filter I changed from previous videos that I've received
is I went over to the filter and I wanted
to see which one was the most viewed, because in
(09:43):
my opinion, if it's been viewed a lot, it must
be a really good prayer meditation. And so I went
over I changed it to most viewed, and the video
that came up the cover shot for the YouTube video
I haven't even told you this.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
No, I'm over here in my eyes are really wid Yeah,
I'm waiting.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, because this is how God is showing me things.
So the cover shot of the YouTube for the video
just says be present, which is literally.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
What we've been talking about.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
My homework from my therapist is be present. Let's not
be thinking too much in the past. Do not think
in the future. Be present. There's nothing you have to
figure out right now. Be present. And I'm saying it
multiple times because that's what I have to say to
myself over and over. Oh okay, I catch myself and
I say be present. Well, you know, I've been typing
(10:36):
this stuff into YouTube and we've been talking about be
present for days and then the one day I changed
the filter for whatever reason, I don't know, most viewed Boila,
And to me, that was a sign, Okay, I'm on
the right path with my intentionality. Towards being present and
I must stick with that.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And what you just said, changing the filter. It's one
tweak to a perspective, to a word, change the filter,
which relates back to what we were talking about with
me and feeling in joy and enlivened and inspired in
one area and then just trudging and pushing and discouraged
and defeated and exhausted in another. Changing the filter for
(11:18):
me was having you and a couple of other people
reflect back what I was already feeling in my energy feel,
but clearly and lovingly define, Amanda, your energy sores in
this scenario and your energy is depleted in flat and
monotone in this area. Oh, change my filter. Notice where
my energy is soaring and enlivened and where it's monotone,
(11:41):
and what are the tweaks in that area? Change the filter?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Yeah, change the filter. I love that that is fitting.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
It's fitting for me. I hope it resonates for some
other people now.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Yeah, And speaking of filters, we all have different filters
that we are processing things through. Like you and I
have both lost our parents and have experienced losing a
mom losing a dad. But because our filters are different,
We're not going to have the same exact feelings. This
is why there's no way you can know what one
other person is going through or feeling. I think empathy
(12:14):
and sympathy super powerful things, and we have that. But
I love that we are all processing our own stuff,
and we all have our own filters that we need
to process because some stuff that may be clear to
you isn't clear to me because I have a different filter,
and so sometimes I just might need it tweaked or
shown to me in a different way, or I'm processing differently.
(12:34):
But back to the faith component and meditation and prayer,
and really I think increasing my meditation practice, doing it
almost every day for this entire year, and here we
are in November.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So adding that to.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
My life and the practice of it has now allowed
me to be a better at prayer, which I'm sure
the prayer would have been practicing some amost like well,
which came first. It just so happened that the meditation
led me to a place where now I feel like
I can pray more effectively and I can have gratitude
while I'm sitting there meditating, and I can run through
(13:13):
a bunch of different things, and that five minute meditation
or ten minute that pray. It may be a string
of prayers and different things, and then when outside thoughts
pop in, I recognize them and I try to release them.
But I'm by no means this perfect meditator. I don't
know that anybody is. But that's one way where the
(13:33):
meditation has now given me an actual prayer practice, because
I've wanted that since I was nine ten years old.
You know, you see people praying around or my mom
would always go to her closet for an hour and
get on her knees and she would pray. And be like,
how does she sit in there for an hour and pray?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
My mind would be all over the place, And now
I get it. She was able to dial in and
do that, and I think her originated out of complete
desperation and rock bottom, but she really clung to that
and it gave her new life. And I feel like
that's what this year for me, and some of my
(14:12):
practices and my faith have given me new life. I
had a doctor's appointment the other day with a physical therapist,
but he, you know, was doing some Eastern practices and
some of it was very new to me.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
With your skull, and it was like weird.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
He was like touching my head for about twenty minutes,
but it felt like he wasn't even touching it, but
he was. When I stood up, I was so relaxed.
It felt like I had had a full body massage
and I had not.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, so was it cranio sacral thing? Yes?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Yeah, I did not know how to say it, so
I wasn't going to try, but yes, it was that.
And there was all this paperwork I had to fill
out before you know, I went in to see him,
and I celebrated. The fact makes me think of my
friend Gracie Moechler, who she has the emergency confetti. Yeah,
and she's all about celebrating all things in life, not
(15:04):
just the big things. And as I was sitting there
filling out the paperwork, I celebrated not checking off certain
boxes that a year ago I would have checked because of,
you know, whatever was going on with me, my body
feeling this way, my mental health being this way. I
literally could not check those boxes because I was like,
I don't feel that way anymore, or that's not how
(15:26):
my body's feeling, or that's not how I'm responding to that,
and I sat there for a moment with the paperwork,
and I celebrated. And I think that's something when you're
filling out paperwork, you may fly by and not even
really take a moment to be like, oh, I didn't
just check that box. And I know for a fact
a year ago I would have checked that box.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Two things. One, all of this shows in your life
and in your field, like all of the combination of
prayer and meditation. Praying to me is talking to God
asking for help. Having dialogue. Meditation is that listening piece,
so it gives you the communion of dialogue and then
(16:10):
the receptivity the listening. But this morning, guess what I did.
I filled out paperwork because I have a doctor's appointment,
an annual doctor's appointment in the morning, and I got
my patient form and paperwork to fill in before the visit.
And I had the same realizations because of what it's
been a tough year, year and a half with walking
(16:32):
through my mom's death, moving you know, from out of
the country back into the United States, all of the stresses, pressures,
I wasn't checking some of the boxes I checked a
year ago.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And I think some of your career, yes, a move
a death, career shifts. Those are some of the top stressors,
So have grace for yourself if you've experienced one of those,
and you know, let alone multiple at the same time.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But I was filling out my assessment and I wasn't
checking some of the boxes because for the last six
months I have really done a deep dive into rehaling
my own spirit, giving myself grace, grieving and finding very
healthy ways to find healing. And it's starting to show
(17:24):
because my overall mood and outlook and energy levels are different.
But that was reflected in the clinical assessment I did.
So I had the same experience this morning that you're
talking about.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
When we hadn't discussed that, and we.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Haven't discussed that, and I'm like, oh my gosh, this
just happened to me this morning while you were at work.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Like so no, I think that, yeah, we're paying attention
to that, and you should celebrate that and anybody else
listening if the slightest thing has changed, or that you've
done something big or small. But let's go and talk
about the tiny things, because that's what I think we
overlook and we don't give them enough credit. We don't
(18:01):
take time to celebrate them in your brain will recognize
when you celebrate it. It's actually good for you to
give that gift to your brain. It's good for your
your confidence, your momentum, the trajectory you're on, knowing like,
oh there's progress here.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Well, and what I shared with you back to the
big things for a moment, I said to Dennis, my husband,
about three weeks ago, Gosh, last year was really hard.
There was a lot that went on last year. And
he said, Amanda, that was this year.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
It feels like a year ago.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
No, it does feel like a year ago. But him
saying that put into perspective that January through April were
immense and that was not last year. That was this year.
And we have I have a tendency some times to
discount that six months is not last year, that is
(18:57):
this year. And I am still re calibrating and finding
a resiliency and it's okay to give myself grace. And
I was on the phone with a client this morning
and she's making some big life changes that she's prepared
for and I am thrilled at the new adventure on
her horizon. And she has fears. She's changing careers, making
(19:18):
a big move. She's practically prepared for it, she's spiritually
armed up for it, talent wise, everything the ball is
in her court. But she's also like, I'm not doing enough.
What if I don't have this? What if everything doesn't
work out? And she wasn't in a ton of fear,
but there was that underlying energy of things aren't happening
(19:40):
fast enough, and it was like, hold on, let's stand still.
Look at what you have accomplished. The very first time
we ever spoke, this was a dream in your heart
and that was probably two years ago, and this month
it's becoming a reality. And look how well everything has
fallen into place for this new chapter to happen. Let's
(20:02):
celebrate it, you know, because the perspective and the lens
and the filter is always different. But when we can
help each other clarify the filter, fine tune the filter,
it reminds me we need each other, We need support,
We need people in our lives who can hold that
space and reflect it back.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
I was just trying to look for a text that
I had with a friend because we were talking about
if the what if, and we're going to keep talking
and I'm gonna search it because I'm going to read
you a quote that we were exchanging about the ifs
and God, and it's so powerful to him. He even
got it tattooed on his body, on his body, or
(20:42):
else would he get it tattooed on his backpack, got
it tattooed on his body on his body, so he
has it as a tattoo. But I'll find it here
in a second. And it's powerful, you know. For me,
music is very healing, especially because it can release a
lot of but also to set you up in a
(21:03):
space to receive or hear from God. And last Sunday
I had praise and worship music playing, which ever since
my mom died, certain songs are just so hard for me.
Like even praise and worship when I'm physically at church
after she passed was just too much.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I couldn't.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I didn't even want to go because I just was
so emotional and I'd be bawling crying. And of course
it's gotten better, it's been nine years, but sometimes it
just hits you out of nowhere. And last Sunday I
had it on and this song Oceans came on and
I was broken to it. But as I think of
(21:42):
the lyrics and what we're talking about. It's actually a
great song to put on and listen to if you're
needing to go somewhere, try something new, make a change,
and trust that it is okay and at least for
me as a Christian like I will call upon your name,
And that's the song. Some of the lyrics are your
(22:03):
grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be
my guide where feet may fail and fear surrounds me.
You've never failed and you won't stuck now. So I
will call upon your name, which if he thinks of God,
show me.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Hear me, God, show me, and.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise, My
soul will rest in your embrace, for I am yours
and you are mine. And one last thing. I won't
read the whole song, but this one's good. Spirit lead
me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk
upon the waters wherever you would call me, Take me
(22:41):
deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith
will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I almost want to cry because I'm thinking about Spirit
lead me. What is that part? Spirit lea mean where
my trust?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Okay, So that right there resonates with what I was
feeling when I was talking about work responsibilities and where
my passion is. When I'm talking about those things that
light my fire and soul, my trust is without borders
in that space, and when I was in the other space,
(23:19):
it feels like there are borders and barriers, and I
just get to change my lens, change my perspective, and
also give it to God. Change your filter, change my filter,
change my filter, but give it to God. God show me,
and God has shown me that is. And whatever your
faith practice is, God show me, Universe, show me, Soul,
(23:40):
will show me, Jesus show me, you know, whatever it
may be. You use the language, the beliefs, the feelings
that resonate with you. But music, like you said, has
a transcendent quality. It helps soothe and open our energy field.
And when words or melodies resonate, we vie breid at
(24:00):
different frequencies that allow us to be more attuned and cohesive,
and that's essentially what you're expressing. And then they can
also bring joy. Like last night, we were playing a
music game, is what is it called? We were like
because it's totally different energy with the music.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
It's been popular on TikTok and then I know the Toast,
which is a podcast they played it on there.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
But I think it's something like, if you know.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
The words to this song, singing along, singing along, maybe
one more time you say one word and then whoever's
playing with you they have to see from that word
they can know the rest of the song and sing along.
But again, this is an example of how music can
(24:45):
bring joy and laughter and silliness. Music can help us
grieve and feel, create sacred space to process emotions that
may be clear and present in our energy field or
packed back away. It gives us the opportunity in small
moments to create big waves, which goes back to the
(25:06):
to the song oceans Oceans, Yeah, oceans of change.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
The waves, So I will call upon your name and
keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise. That
would be a good one to do, you know, the
good song. It's a really fun game to play.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
So thinking about the holidays and creating new memories, holding
space for lost loved ones. What are some of the
lessons you've learned or the way you've grown through celebrating
holidays with change because you've had some big changes in
your personal life and holidays are a little bit different,
(25:51):
especially with the kids. And so what are some things
that you do to create new memories but still hold space.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Well, I mean, I think that people experience all different
kinds of luss because what you're referring to is my divorce. Yes,
so loss of the family that I thought we were
going to have, so grieving that not having my mom
around the last nine years, losing my dad a couple
of years ago. Yeah, and then the loss of a marriage.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
This is the first official holiday season with us being divorced,
although we've been separated for quite some time, but still
even last year when we were celebrating Christmas, we were separated,
but we were all in Colorado together. I was staying
with my sister and Ben was staying with his family
that's my ex husband's name. We've got two kids, and
(26:45):
we were able to be together. And this year it's
going to look different now, like we won't be together Thanksgiving,
we won't be together Christmas. He's going to go to
Colorado with the kids, and I've made the decision to
not go. My sisters there so that is a hard
decision for me to make, but I think it's important
(27:06):
for me to give myself that time because I'll have
the kids after Christmas and i'll have them for New Year,
so i'll have them Thanksgiving, and that's how you know
we're doing it. And I'll be with my sister for Thanksgiving.
We're taking a trip to visit her son that's in
college in Hawaii, a trip will never do again, something
like that. So I'm excited to go do that with
(27:27):
the kids.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
And having a luau for Thanksgiving.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah luel So that made it easy for me to
not fly to Colorado for Christmas and know that I'm
going to be here in my home by myself. I
have friends, and then I've got family in Alabama, which
is a few hours away. They've already texted like, Hey,
come see us, and I'll see I'm not really committing
to anything, but because I think something that is important
(27:49):
when you're going through any change like that is making
time for solitude and making time for your feelings and
your emotions. And I'm sure Amanda talks about this, but
man and I talked about all the time. If two
things can be true at the same time. You can
have happiness for the holiday season and different things about
this time that bring you joy, and you can also
(28:10):
ride alongside it have immense pain and sadness and grief.
But I just think making time for yourself and being
alone so that you can really feel your feelings whatever
they are. And some of those days you may need
to remind yourself, okay with this, I need to have
the day I need to have. And that's what our
(28:31):
friend Kat Defada says her podcast is you need therapy,
and she has a lot of good sayings, which feel
your feelings is one of her sayings that she says
a lot too. She put it on a coffee mug
in a shirt. Feel your feelings and have the day
you need to have. And that is permission. You know,
if you need to have a day where you're just
in and you're not out and about being social in
(28:52):
the holidays, and that's what's expected of you or that's
your normal personality, or I would invite your close friends
and family into whatever your plan is, not for them
to come, but make sure they're aware, Hey, this is
where I am right now, and I am giving myself
space and it would be great if like Hey, you've
(29:14):
got stuff going on. I'd love to be invited, so
I'm aware of it. However, if I choose to stay
home or need to be with myself, let that be cool,
because I could imagine some close friends and family members are.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Like, no, no, no, no, you should come, and.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
They feel as though they're doing the right thing by
quote unquote dragging you out of the house to get
you away from the feelings. But if you make that
time for that solitude and to process those feelings, in
my experience, and we're all different, but it may help
you push through some of it in a way that
(29:50):
allows space for some of the laughter and the fun
and the joy to come into play as well. And
I think that that's important because if you just stuff
it down, then after the holiday's end, there's a meltdown
coming or you're gonna like walk into your pool with
all your clothes on.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Because I've done that.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
I wouldn't do that now, would That wouldn't even cross
my mind yet.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Because you didn't check that box with the Cranio segret
I did place.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
I didn't walk.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Into your Did you walk into your pool with your clothes.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
In front of your kids and your ex husband, Well
he's my husband at the time, but I just was like, okay, people,
I got to do something to leave this situation. So
I'm just gonna go fall into water with fully clothed.
But does that make sense? And you know more about
being in touch with your feelings. It's really a mind
(30:37):
body spirit connection. And I think when you have all
that going, you can be very aware of what you're
feeling and you can say, God, show me what do
I need? What do I need today? What kind of
day do I need to have? Because you may need
to give yourself that solitude.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
And that we don't always have to have the answers.
That's where I take myself will back and my determination
and I push and I go and I think I
am completely in charge, and then it's like, oh wait
a minute, I'm not in charge. I've got angels and
God and support. Hold on, let me call those troops in,
let me help ask them to help me with my
(31:14):
discernment process, and that creates that mind body spirit connection.
One of the things that you said that lit me
up over here is you were talking about the holidays
and creating solitude, and you know that numerology is one
of my love languages where I fire and wire and
people who listen are familiar with me talking about this.
(31:35):
But twenty twenty three is a seven universal year. In numerology,
two plus zero plus two plus three equals seven. The
energy of the seven is highly introspective, analytical, putting the
cosmic puzzle pieces together. It's searching and seeking, but it
is about building faith, raising our vibration higher. And there's
(31:58):
a tendency to isolate, which is the lower vibration of
that energy, to separate, to block out, to not share
our feelings, not share our joys, our winds, or our
sorrows alike, just isolating and trying to introspectively figure all
of that out within ourselves and limiting ourselves that way.
(32:19):
And the higher vibration of it is solitude. And that's
what you said, and it put a smile on my
heart because solitude is being able to commune with God
with spirit and also to healthfully that mind body spirit
connection communicate to other people. Hey, here's what I'm doing.
(32:39):
You know, I'm not asking you to rescue me. I'm
just giving you the details. This is my plan and
I just want you to be in on it, so
you understand and that feels good for us personally, but
including people and the energy of this year. The overarching
theme we can fall into isolation and forget to communicate,
whether it's communicating with God, communicating with other people in
(33:01):
our lives, and communicating with ourselves. And so you just
demonstrated to me through your experience, the higher vibration of
the seven is communicating with yourself, communicating with God, and
communicating with the people that it affects in your life,
and then feeling whole, feeling right sized well.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
And I think circling back to something you said at
the very beginning of the podcast, after I had said
need versus want, Yeah, it's a word can change everything.
And while isolation and solitude may look sort of similar
ish in what you're doing if you're alone, shifting that
word changes everything.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah, And so.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Solitude has a higher vibration. It's more freeing, it's more roomy.
Isolation automatically is like closing a door back off. Like
I think of it more like drawing a line with
a sharpie versus a pencil that you know you can
erase the pencil line or it can be squiggly. The
sharpie line. I don't know how to erase a sharpie, yeah,
even on a whiteboard.
Speaker 3 (34:00):
When I when I think of well, I was thinking
of mister clean magic erase.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
You were thinking that would help that Let me help you.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
You can just get one of those, but you can't,
you know, mister clean magic erase things in your life.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
I wish sort of it worked that way.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
But something else that has helped me during the holidays,
along with feeling my feelings and having the day that
I need to have and creating space for solitude, but
also the joy and all the things, is remembrance and
remembering traditions or recipes that are from you know, your mom,
(34:37):
your dad, your sibling. I don't know if you are
grieving someone in particular, or grieving a life you thought
you would have. Whatever the case, what can you bring
into that that can remind you of a happy time
with that person or that situation. But now, some people's
marriages end on a very very rough note, and that's
(34:58):
not lost on me at all. And I had rough
times for sure, but thankfully we ended on good terms
and I am thankful for our happy memories that we have.
So there could be something with our relationship that I
may want to still reminisce on or what is the
tradition we have. That doesn't mean I have to completely
(35:19):
lose that for my dad and my mom's side of things,
like we always had sausage, gravy and sinnamon rolls for breakfast.
Then Ben and I started doing that in our family,
and I'm going to continue to do that. So when
I do it, not only do I think of my parents,
but I also think of Ben and the kids, and
that is okay, and that actually brings me joy because
(35:41):
when Ben joined our family, he thought it was going
to be disgusting, there's no way he was going to
eat it, and now he loves it. I bet you
he's probably gonna make it on Christmas.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
And he's not going to be with me.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
But you know, that's something that you can do. And
maybe it's not with food, Maybe it's with an activity.
You know, did your parents or your loved one ll
play putt putt over the holidays, or golf.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Or tennis or hiking?
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Was there something they liked to do being with nature,
playing certain games.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
My mom loved farkle, She did love farkll.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Your farkal name would be Famanda and I was Famy.
All you have to do is just put an F
at the beginning of the name or replace the first
letter with F. So like Christy was Fristie. That's my sister,
and your mom would be Lisasa my mom, my mom
was Foodie Judy. So farkle tournaments are fun during the holidays.
(36:38):
But I know over the break I'm going to play
Farkle and that will be fun. I want to have
game nights, especially because I'm going to be here and
I'm not going to Colorado. I've already talked to some
of my friends about it. Hey, we have Christmas break,
I'm hosting game night at my house. And now I've
just decided right here now, I'm gonna have a Farkle
tournament and everyone's gonna get their farkle name.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
But the tmbrance is helpful.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
So, like, what is something you may do, Amanda this
holiday season to remember your mom? And is there anything
you do to remember your dad.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Well this holiday season? Because what's on my heart right
now is Thanksgiving because we are actually putting my mom's ashes.
We're going back to Baton Rouge and my dad is
in the columbarium in the church that we went to
and we're putting her ashes next to him on the
day after Thanksgiving. So I have been intentional about that,
(37:32):
and it is a sweet space, and I already am
anticipating that it will be beautiful, but it will be
painful because that church, for me, is where I spent
a lot of my youth. I participated. I have lots
of memories there with both of my parents and a
(37:54):
sweet time in life. And it's a sacred space, obviously,
But laying her to rest next to him is, you know,
it is. It's a big chapter. My father died in
nineteen ninety nine, she died this year, in twenty twenty three.
It's a big circle of life. But I will be
with my siblings, I will be with my family. I
(38:16):
will be in Baton Rouge. I have a couple of
high school friends who are going to come join me,
and that wanted to be included. And that's where I'm
going to actually make those phone calls today when I
get on the flight. I'm going to reach out because
two of them said, if this is private, we won't intervene,
but if you would like us there, we would like
to be there. And I I'm going to reach out
(38:38):
and take them up on that, because we're going to
have just a celebration and we're going to eat good
Louisiana food after of course it will be after Thanksgiving,
So my sister in law is helping me figure out
what we do and we're just going to go back
to the house and celebrate together. But I'm going to
invite my high school friends because they knew my parents, well,
they knew me at that stage of life that is
(38:58):
so delicate and special, and that's one thing that I
know I'm actually going to take action on today to
include them in that sweet celebration because it will make
me or give me, not make me, but give me comfort.
Oh yeah, give me comfort in a way with people
(39:19):
who are familiar who there's just times when we reach
out and we ask people to be with us, but
when they express that they want to be with us,
to allow them to be.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
Well, two things with that, and it's how your friends
asked you, and I like that they said, out of
the gate, you may want to be alone of this
may be a private thing, and we'd love to be
there if that's an option. So then you don't feel pressure.
You can easily say, hey, it's private, and they've already
given you that and it's not awkward, and you also
(39:53):
being intentional about inviting them in, Like had they never
even said anything, I know that you would be asked
them anyway. And I think that's something important to do
during these times, is inviting people in.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
Inviting people in, and that thank you for even clarifying,
because that's what's coming through. What am I going to do?
Of course, I have things that celebrate my mom and
my dad that remind me of them, and I will
be able to tell stories and share memories. There will
be a lot of talk and reminiscing and celebrating.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Y'all can all put on your mom's lip color?
Speaker 1 (40:27):
Well, oh, of course bamboo brons, bamboo bron because the
bamboo bronze, by the way, is going in the ashes.
Those were direct orders from her, and my sister Sally
was afraid she had lost the bamboo bronze and it
was completely lost and Mom was going to come back
and haunt her because it's discontinued. Because it's discontinued Revlin
shade of lipstick, and my mom had two tubes of
it set aside for her ashes for years, Like this
(40:50):
was a planned thing. So we have the bamboo brons.
I have it right next to her ashes. They will
be going in the columbarium with her because those were
direct orders, and that will be hysterical and joyful and
my mother and she will have her lipstick on in
the beyond, thank goodness. She's like king tut. You know.
She puts all of her stuff in her tomb to
(41:11):
take with her on the other side. But it's for her.
It's just bamboo bronze. She's got to look good.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
If had to take something with me, I think I'd
take my Finty, which is Rihanna's take up Line contour stick. Okay,
I use that as blush eyeshadow sometimes, like around my lips.
I mean that's good stuff. Oh, contouring obviously like nos foreheads.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Yeah, I would take my concealer. My concealer is my
I can contour with it. I can just brighten up
under my eyes. It helps with like a little lift.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Oh perfect.
Speaker 1 (41:39):
So yeah, Lisa, So I think we'll be said if
you bring the contour, Mom brings the lipstick, and I've
got the concealer that's like a highlighter stick. I think
we're going to go. What does foody, have, oh foodie,
maybe she'll have a little bit of blush. She always
had really rosy sweet cheeks.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
Yeah, she did well.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
You know, she didn't like to leave the house without
a lip color there, And I don't know, maybe it's
that generation, because she would tell me, you should put.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
Your lipstick on.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
My mom would say that took put some lipstick on
your a little drab. Yeah, But of.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
Course we didn't because it just wasn't our. I don't
know that that was really our thing.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
And I found that quote that I was looking for
earlier that I was texting with the friend about. And
the reason why I texted him about it is I've
been reading Corey ten Boom's book The Hiding Place, which
it's are you familiar.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Okay, saying what is that share that World.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
War two and she was a Christian during that time
that was hiding Jews from Nazis and she was running
this whole secret ride away. So it's called The Hiding
Place and she was not Jewish, but because of her crime,
(42:54):
she went to concentration camps different ones and gosh, she
made it out. She was eventually released and then wrote
this book and towards the end she says this, There
are no ifs in God's Kingdom. I could hear her
soft voice saying it. I believe this is when she's
talking about her sister. And they would have to like
(43:16):
to get Bibles or parts of Bibles. They would sneak
them in if they went to certain appointments. They would
know this person may have a piece of a Bible,
and they would stuff it into their clothing and then
sneak it in it together to the concentration camp at
a risk of you know, getting killed for that. So
there are no ifs in God's kingdom. I could hear
(43:38):
her soft voice saying it. His timing is perfect. His
will is our hiding place. Lord Jesus, keep me in
your will. Don't let me go mad by poking about
outside it.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
And so I'd sent that to my friend.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
He's the one that even told me to read this book,
and he said, oh, yeah, I love that. I don't
know why it stood out to me, and I thought,
I'm gonna send this him. I'm reading the whole book.
I hadn't sent anything to him, and he replied back,
oh yeah, No, IFS is one of my tattoos, or
maybe it says no ifs in God.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
No ifs in God's Kingdom.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
We were talking about ifs earlier. Well, there's no ifs
if God's Kingdom. Sorry, I couldn't find that earlier because
it didn't even dawn on me.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
I was like, why was I just talking about ifs?
Speaker 1 (44:22):
And then it.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
Occurred to me it came from that book, which is
a great book to read, by the way, if you
have not If you have.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Not read it, yeah, absolutely, and thank you for sharing that.
I love that And that's a lot of times with
my faith and when when life expands, when the universe
gets more magical and bigger, it's when I remember, oh,
my gosh, God is in everything. God is in the
hard moments. God is in the arguments, and what my
part is in that and how I can grow through it,
(44:54):
change my behavior, make amends. God is in the grief.
God is in the growth. God is in the laughter.
God is in the games. Amy, thank you for joining
me today sharing insights and inspiration at any time, but
also as we move through the holidays with more grace
(45:14):
and also tapping into nostalgia. That's really one thing I
want to highlight for everyone today is the solitude and
the nostalgia, and this nostalgia being how can you celebrate
your life where you are today in a way that
is reminiscent of who you are of your past. It
honors your past and your experiences, but it celebrates you
(45:36):
today in your place today, and also taking time for solitude.
Where can you find time to communicate to yourself what
you need to communicate that to God, to your higher power,
to spirit, and then communicate it to the people in
your experience, the people you love, and that way you
find clarity in your.
Speaker 2 (45:56):
Voice and your truth and be present and be present.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
I was talking to someone this morning about fear, and
usually fear arises and gets completely out of control when
we are worried about losing something up in the future.
You know, we're not going to get what we want
or losing what we have essentially, and that's either being
in the past or the future, not in the present,
not in the now.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (46:20):
Yeah, thanks guys, all right, thank you Amy for being
on today and sharing your insight and wisdom and laughter
and silliness everyone. I hope you're doing well. I hope
that the Soul Sessions episodes have motivated and inspired you,
giving you some good food for thought, a little bit
of joy and sentimentality as you gracefully navigate the seasons
(46:42):
of life. Thank you for joining me. Be well.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.