December 9, 2025 • 23 mins
When life feels loud, heavy, or uncertain, gratitude becomes the doorway back to yourself — not as a cliché, but as an embodied practice that shifts your entire day.
In this heartfelt episode, Kena joins her pod sisters for an intimate conversation on what gratitude really looks like for a woman in midlife navigating change. You’ll hear stories, laughter, and practical rituals — from body scans to micro-moments, from “observe, don’t absorb” to choosing the energy you bring into the world.
This isn’t the performative gratitude you’ve been taught. It’s the kind that reconnects you with your body, regulates your energy, and anchors you into who you really are.
Whether you’re reinventing yourself, healing old patterns, moving through grief, or entering a new season, this episode will remind you that your daily practice — tiny, intentional, embodied — is what creates alignment, inner peace, and self-trust.
By the end, you’ll feel grounded, centered, and empowered to shape your day with presence and possibility.
✨ In This Episode You’ll Learn
- How to create a simple, loving gratitude ritual that actually feels doable
- Why body awareness is the key to self-trust and emotional regulation
- What happens when you shift from reacting to observing during stressful moments
- How micro-moments of joy rebuild your inner safety in midlife transitions
- The truth about choosing your energetic intention before you even get out of bed
🦋 Reflection Questions
- Where in your day are you already experiencing micro-moments of gratitude, and not noticing them?
- How would your energy shift if you started each morning by connecting with your body first?
- What boundaries or intentions would help you stay centered during emotional or triggering moments?
Follow my Pod Sisters:
- Casey Taton: https://www.instagram.com/cataton
- Jen Chambers: https://www.instagram.com/j_b_chambers
* * * * *
✨ First You: Boundaries for Joyful Holidays
The holidays don’t have to drain you. Step into a space where your peace comes first, your energy is protected, and your joy gets to lead.
Inside this on-demand masterclass, you’ll learn how to create loving, guilt-free boundaries that keep you grounded, present, and actually enjoying the season — without overgiving, overextending, or abandoning yourself.
- Watch the Masterclass: http://midlifebutterfly.ca/firstyoumasterclass
Song: Reborn by Alexander Nakarada
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kena Siu (00:00):
Let's talk about gratitude and how you can get to
practice it every moment ofyour day.
Yes, it is possible.
Welcome, beautiful soul.
This is Midlife Butterfly, thespace where you remember who you
truly are beneath all theroles, responsibilities, and
expectations.
I'm your empowerment guide,Kena Siu, and I hold this space
(00:23):
for women in midlife who areready to rediscover themselves,
reclaim their joy, and livefully aligned.
If you are new here, welcome toour cocoon.
You've just entered a placewhere choosing yourself isn't
selfish, it's sacred.
I want to share the amazingconversation I had with my pod
(00:44):
sisters Jen Chambers and CaseyTaton, who wanted to share our
perspectives about the holidaysand Thanksgiving on her podcast
Inner Spark.
We end up talking aboutgratitude and how we use it on
our day today.
It had great insights, and Idecided to share it with you as
well.
So be ready for somepracticalities that you can put
(01:07):
into your day today and also tohave a good smile at the
beginning since you can hearsome wiggles in there.
Enjoy.
Casey Taton (01:17):
Hey friends.
Sorry.
Friends, this is Casey Taton,your host, and I have with me
today my pot sisters, Kena Siuand Jen Chambers.
And we were just having abeautiful conversation.
(01:39):
And as we're getting ready, wewere talking about getting ready
for the holidays and what theholidays feel like.
And so we just want to sharewith you our thoughts on the
holidays and what it feels like,and how we each have our own
beliefs, our own thoughts, andhow we just connect with what
(01:59):
that really means to each of usand how it really feels.
So Kina, I actually I'll juststart.
Does anyone want to say well,I'm gonna say this.
First of all, we talk aboutgratitude a lot, and I think we
associate Thanksgiving withgratitude and being grateful,
(02:23):
and it is something that we workon all year long.
And I don't think it's just aone-time thing.
I think it's just truly tappinginto the love we all get to
share with each other andgratitude for the world,
gratitude for all the things wedo.
And so kind of that that isreally what gratitude means to
(02:46):
me.
It's not just a one-time, let'scelebrate the holidays and
really bring awareness to itthen.
It's really about bringing itall year round.
Does anyone want to say whatthey how they feel about
gratitude?
Kina.
Kena Siu (03:02):
Yeah, I I do agree.
It's I think it's it's apractice.
I I do gratitude, I practicegratitude during my whole day.
Like since I wake up, likethank you, like I can feel my
body, and then I actually offergratitude for, you know, like my
toes, and they're my legs andmy belly, and you know, I do a
(03:24):
full scan, and then also like,yeah, I'm alive again.
And uh, and then I'm gratefulfor the water that I'm drinking
because the water is life, youknow, and putting some love in
there.
I feel so grateful having theseconversations with you ladies,
you know, right now.
And I also give gratitude everytime, well, most of the time,
when I eat, being grateful, notjust for having the food there,
(03:48):
but for everyone behind who madethat possible, you know, and
then also being grateful for theweather, whatever it is, but
that's mother nature, it'scyclical.
So it's it's really cool.
I guess it's a way of seeinglife because the more I
practice, the more gratitude andmore grateful I can be every
(04:10):
moment.
Casey Taton (04:12):
I love that you just said that.
It's really about beinggrateful for every moment and
that you acknowledge that it's apractice.
Yes.
Yeah.
Jen, do you want to share?
Jen Chambers (04:24):
Yeah, that's really key.
I love that because the thingthat's really hard about
gratitude is that sometimes wealways get down on ourselves
because we don't feel gratefulenough.
I think about that all thetime, actually.
But I was actually talking tomy therapist the other day, and
he was like, But I feel like youare really excellent in
(04:47):
noticing the small things inlife.
And he calls those, and I'veheard it called glimmers, other
places.
And I mean, that's the way thatI think that I'm practicing
gratitude more often is noticingthose small moments, like
really tiny moments, like havinga cat on your lap, or a really
excellent cup of tea, orgorgeous sunset, or the fact
(05:09):
that you got the wordle in twoinstead of five, or you know,
just these little things.
I think those are lessintimidating to me than like,
oh, I have to be grateful foreverything in my whole life.
And yes, I am, of course, but Idon't feel it unless I really
take the time to notice becauseI don't necessarily practice in
(05:29):
that way that Kina does, and Ireally want to.
I like that.
So I guess the the the micromoments is how I'm practicing it
more right now.
Casey Taton (05:41):
That is so good.
I think it's yeah, it all comesdown to a practice that even
though we're each practicing it,like I mean, I do daily
meditations, I write an ingratitude journal, and and so
we're each practicing it indifferent ways, but just that
we're also aware of gratitude,and it's not just a one-day
(06:05):
thing.
It's truly like this is how welive.
Jen Chambers (06:09):
Yes, and I love what Kina said about doing the
scan.
That's something that I havegotten out of the practice of
doing, but I think that's areally easy way to tap into that
because I am so incrediblygrateful for the fact that I can
walk.
I mean, for me, that's a biggerdeal than most people because
there was a long time when Icouldn't, you know, but like
(06:30):
just the fact that my feet move,the fact that I'm able to do
things for myself that I neverthought that I could do.
You know, that I think thathaving that daily scan of those
things helps you remember to begrateful for the bigger things.
Kena Siu (06:46):
Definitely.
Casey Taton (06:47):
Yeah, I agree with you.
I just I'll tell this storylater on another podcast about
me falling, and but it was justso much gratitude of like the
people that helped me, and forlike my mom helping me shower
when I couldn't get my knee wetwith stitches, and it's just
like gratitude of our health.
(07:09):
You know, there was so manylike Thanksgivings and holidays
that I wasn't able to attendbefore, and so I think I really
love what Kina said about reallyjust checking in with your body
and doing the body scan.
Kina, would you talk aboutthat?
Kena Siu (07:26):
Yeah, sure.
Well, I usually start with thewith my toes.
Like I so I so once I I I wakeup still like under the blankets
or the cheats, I just startlike wiggling, you know, my
toes, and then like, oh yeah,still, you know, like moving and
then feeling the heels and thenshaking a bit the legs and just
(07:47):
being grateful, like, okay,it's still functioning, you
know, and then checking also,you know, with with my womb and
my belly and uh my chest.
And then sometimes I put myheart in, you know, my hand over
my heart and then saying, Yeah,still there, you know, still be
eating there, and then gochecking with the shoulders, and
then well, for me, becauseusually when I am stressed, it's
(08:09):
it's you know, that's where Iget the heaviness in my
shoulders.
So it's like also noticingthere, okay.
So, uh, how am I feeling nowthat I'm awake and having the
presence and also like movingthe you know the arms and then
okay, and then the neck, andokay, what's going on also in in
my head and being grateful atthe same time, like for my eyes,
(08:29):
and you know, like sometimes Ifocus more on the on one thing,
sometimes focus more on that andanother thing, but it's just
that connection with the bodybefore doing anything else
because that connection withourselves that's the most
important one.
We gotta meet ourselves first,so then we can meet the world
(08:50):
outside once we get out of bed.
Jen Chambers (08:54):
Oh, I love that so much.
That's exactly that's I wasthinking the same thing.
I do that with my yogapractice.
You know, you you feel more athome with yourself when you're
grateful for your physicalperson.
And in my yoga practice, likebeing being able to tap into
your own presence is and reallyfeel where you're at and feel
(09:17):
grateful that your legs hold youup.
And that, you know, I thinkthat's a wonderful way to think
about it, Kina, to to reallylike it all starts with the body
in us.
Casey Taton (09:29):
It's so powerful that you, you know, we just
brought it up of you know, wethink about gratitude about
other things, but really itstarts within ourselves and just
from the moment we open oureyes of being grateful, and just
I love how you just shared.
I kind of put you on the spotthere.
So thank you.
Kena Siu (09:48):
I'm just like, it's okay, my pleasure.
Casey Taton (09:51):
Like, can you I that's why I wanted you to share
it because if you guys see her,she's if you would see her,
she's like lighting up talkingabout it, and so it's like as
you walked us through it, it waslike I could feel myself like,
oh, are my shoulders gettingtense?
Like you know, when you talkabout certain things, it's but
it's all becomes within us, andso we can be grateful for all
(10:13):
the things outside us, but ifwe're not grateful for our own
bodies and everything, likethat's really where it all
starts.
Kena Siu (10:22):
Yeah, and I want to add something.
This practice, I just startedit in I don't know, in the last
weeks, really like tapping itinto how I want to feel during
the day.
So I'm still there, and uh thesound of my alarm, I just make
it a song, and like it's done,it's done, you know, it's done.
(10:43):
That's what my alarm is tellingme when it rings off in the
morning.
So it's like, what it's done.
It's done that I'm feeling goodtoday, it's done this dream
that I'm having over here, it'sdone this other thing that I
want to achieve, you know.
So just by ah, you know,feeling all the chills before
getting out of bed and saying,yeah, like this is possible, and
(11:04):
filling up my body with thisenergy of positivism, most of
the time, yeah, sometimes it'snot, but it's like, and it's
okay too, you know, acceptingwhatever emotions are happening
there, but most of the time,like getting into this, you
know, idea of yeah, it'spossible.
I uh you know, this body wasgiving by source, you know, by
(11:27):
God, whatever you want to callit, and he's welcome to do
everything.
And it's you know, it's abouttapping into possibility and non
limitation.
Jen Chambers (11:40):
It's what you choose to to pay attention to,
exactly before getting out ofbed, right?
Right, yeah, choosing to tapinto the feelings of positivity
and possibility rather thanyeah, my you know, my ankle
(12:01):
hurts.
And yes, that also happens, butallowing space for all the
things and pay attention to thethings that that you and that
way you're projecting the energytowards the stuff that you
want.
Kena Siu (12:14):
I love that, and projecting the energy to to the
day, right?
Right, right.
Things are gonna happen, theyare always gonna happen, but at
least if we start with thatintention with it, that
attitude, that day is gonnaapproach us differently because
we have already another, youknow, the energy, we are energy.
So if our energy is projectingthat the good things are gonna
(12:37):
happen, most likely that's we'regonna get.
Or if we, you know, stumble orsomething, then we're gonna be
calling to okay, that happened,somebody pissed you off, you get
centered again, or oh, you aresad, okay.
But let's get center again, andthen just coming back to that
kind of intention that we aresetting in since we wake up.
Casey Taton (12:59):
I love that so much that you just acknowledge that
we set the intention, even ifwe're you know, wake up feeling
like we're aware, maybe theyhave this ache or pain, but we
just you know refocus on what wewant to focus, that we actually
have the choice to start ourday, how we want to start it,
and that you brought it back tocenter of like how people are
(13:22):
gonna piss us off during theday.
And that's I think huge, likeespecially when we're talking
about going into the holidays,there's like all the added extra
stress, and things aren'talways gonna go the way you
want.
But you have the choice to comeback to you at any point during
the day.
Jen Chambers (13:42):
I have to share something really quick.
My tip for that, and it worksin the holidays for me, because
yeah, there's gonna be thosemoments where there's gonna be
one person that's annoying oryou know, something happens
during your day, especially inthe holidays when your
everybody's expectations arehigh.
And it's easy, but my trick isif I can't like physically leave
(14:03):
the room that it's happening, Ijust really quietly I do the
tapping.
I'll tap on my my chest or I'lltap on my lower arm, or I can
even tap on my thigh if I'm atthe dinner table and somebody
says something that's reallyinfuriating.
Oh you know, and tapping bringsme back.
(14:24):
And then also just taking acouple deep breaths wherever I'm
at.
It's always a good reminder tome that, like, yes, I can come
back to myself, and yes, I havethese values, these boundaries
that I've already set.
And that helps for me,preparing and having those kinds
of things in place is sohelpful.
Kena Siu (14:42):
I love that, Jen.
And as you said, we come backto the body, right?
We're in control, so just youlike noticing, okay, this is
happening, this is happening,and it's like again, choosing
from there, just taking a bit ofdeep breath and don't get
attached to whateverconversation or whatever they
are saying, because you know,you choose and say, No, I better
(15:03):
just keep quiet.
I'm okay, I'm okay, and justyou know, yeah, yeah.
Casey Taton (15:09):
The awareness of it, like just becoming like I
think we're all so aware.
So if anybody's listening andthey are like not aware, I think
that's the first thing is beaware of your own thoughts and
remember like you're in controlof your own body and your own
self.
Because I love what Jen justshared of like just the power of
(15:35):
stopping to breathe, just thepower of tapping.
Like, you can do that anywhere.
And it I think it's just soimportant that we remember that.
It's that you know, when we goto places, there's so many
people, and it's like yeah, wecan be positive and all this,
but if something happens and weget triggered, it's not them.
(15:57):
It's us, and it's like comingback home to ourselves and
knowing like okay, this is youknow, making my body get tense,
the awareness, and then bringingit back home, and that you
know, Jen just gave us greatexamples of how to do that, how
to just come back home toourselves, and it's no huge
(16:18):
extreme thing, like anybody cando these things, yeah.
Kena Siu (16:26):
He's stepping into that awareness, and then and
remember that we are theobserver, you know, it's yeah,
it's our dots, yes, yeah, yourdots, but you're not your
thoughts, just observe them.
That's it, and as you observeyour dots, observe other people
too.
I love I use I love this quote.
(16:48):
It's it says observe, don'tabsorb.
And we tend to then absorb whatother people are saying or how
they are acting and stuff, butno, it's not up to us, just
observe them, and that's it.
And that kind of if you thinkabout it, it kind of yes, it's
(17:11):
the holidays and stuff with thatsaying.
I mean, that quote is likecreating a little like energetic
shield around you that'ssaying, Yeah, no, I'm in here,
I'm in control of myself, notthe other people.
So I'm just gonna observe themand whatever they are saying, or
you know, I don't want to getinvolved with that.
I'm just gonna listen and it'sokay.
(17:32):
I'm observing, not absorbing,and it makes the difference a
lot.
Jen Chambers (17:37):
Wonderful.
I'm gonna like tattoo that onmy thigh or something.
That's amazing, or at leastwrite it on a sticky note and
put it in front of my door.
It'd be a good reminder likebefore you leave, observe, don't
absorb, observe.
Casey Taton (17:55):
That is so good.
Yeah, that's great.
Yeah, I know that we couldcarry on forever, but I just
wanted to do a little shortepisode on just gratitude as
we're walking into the holidaysand to the end of the year, but
really just how this practice isused all year for all of us.
And I am so, so thankful foreach of you.
(18:18):
My pod sisters are seriouslythe best blessing in my life.
And I love that we cancelebrate each other, we can
talk about you know all thethings we're going through in
life, and just you know, we'reall aware of coming back home to
ourselves and we get to sharethings like this.
So I just want to thank you foryou know talking about
gratitude with us.
(18:39):
I wanna if we could all likesay a closing thought.
My closing thought today forany listeners would just be let
go of the expectations and justlive in the moment.
Just truly be present whereveryou're at and let go of the
(19:04):
outcome.
Like whatever it is meant to beis gonna be, and you get to
choose to be grateful for whereyou're at.
Jen Chambers (19:20):
Do either of you want to share something say that
it's okay to it's okay to feelthe feelings where you're at, no
matter what, during theholidays, and honor that, honor
yourself.
(19:40):
And remember that you can comeback at any minute to what
boundaries you've set foryourself.
And that it's just so importantto me.
It's so important to me tothat, like I said earlier, pre
planning that out for me,knowing what I will accept and
what I won't.
And and the Energy level thatI'll accept and that I won't,
(20:02):
and knowing that you can removeyourself at any time.
You got to do what's right foryou.
Kena Siu (20:10):
Love that.
Yeah.
Well, just to complimentwhatever you know, you you
ladies said, talking aboutboundaries, I think it's good.
We usually know when we dealwith certain person, like what
may happen.
So just kind of like thinkabout it.
Okay, this might happen withthis person.
Okay, so just think about howwould you like to act the next
(20:34):
time?
So, in a way, you're preparedthat okay, this person might say
something and it might actuallytrigger me.
How do I want to act?
Do I want to keep quiet?
Do I want to leave the room?
Do I want to say politely,okay?
That's your point of view.
I respect it, but I I don'tlike it.
You know, like I respect it,but this is my point of view.
(20:55):
Like, yeah, doing those kind ofpractices in the mind because
we usually, our minds usually dothat, right?
And they are like, okay, what'sgonna happen?
And that's what we get at allthis anxiety because we move to
that future.
So that's what Casey, what shesaid about staying present.
That's important, right?
(21:16):
But then our mind is alwaysplaying us because we're playing
in that future.
So if you're gonna play thatfuture, then make a mental plan
of what can happen so you canset the boundary in advance.
So that's my take.
Casey Taton (21:32):
Love that, love that love that so much too.
Yeah, I want to thank you guysso so much for yeah, just being
here and all your gratitude andjust awareness and just all the
things we can share with eachother.
And if anyone is listening, Iguess here's another final note
is that I know that we're we'reall talking about all these
(21:55):
positive things, but we are allhuman as well.
And we have all experienced, weexperience the ups and downs,
and we share it together.
And I think that's reallyimportant to acknowledge, like I
think, and one of you guys evensaid about you know, we can
remove ourselves to differentthings, but it's okay to fill
your feelings.
And so just as you're goingthrough these days, I mean, and
(22:20):
really the whole thing of thisis is you get to make it a
lifelong practice.
And so, even though we're doingthis right before the holidays,
it becomes really a lifelongpractice that we get to carry
with us every single day.
I have so much gratitude foryou guys.
(22:41):
I love you all so much.
Kena Siu (22:43):
I love you y'all too.
Casey Taton (22:45):
You too.
Thank you for having us.
Kena Siu (22:48):
Thank you.
Thank you for tuning in toMidlife Butterfly.
I hope this episode empowersyou in some way.
Share the love by hittingfollow wherever you're listening
and leave a review if you feelinspired.
I also love to connect withyou.
Come say hi on Instagram atMidlife Butterfly.
(23:10):
I love to know you.
Until next time, keep spreadingthose wings and live enjoy
growth and pleasure.
Let's talk about gratitude and how you can get to
practice it every moment ofyour day.
Yes, it is possible.
Welcome, beautiful soul.
This is Midlife Butterfly, thespace where you remember who you
truly are beneath all theroles, responsibilities, and
expectations.
I'm your empowerment guide,Kena Siu, and I hold this space
(00:23):
for women in midlife who areready to rediscover themselves,
reclaim their joy, and livefully aligned.
If you are new here, welcome toour cocoon.
You've just entered a placewhere choosing yourself isn't
selfish, it's sacred.
I want to share the amazingconversation I had with my pod
(00:44):
sisters Jen Chambers and CaseyTaton, who wanted to share our
perspectives about the holidaysand Thanksgiving on her podcast
Inner Spark.
We end up talking aboutgratitude and how we use it on
our day today.
It had great insights, and Idecided to share it with you as
well.
So be ready for somepracticalities that you can put
(01:07):
into your day today and also tohave a good smile at the
beginning since you can hearsome wiggles in there.
Enjoy.
Casey Taton (01:17):
Hey friends.
Sorry.
Friends, this is Casey Taton,your host, and I have with me
today my pot sisters, Kena Siuand Jen Chambers.
And we were just having abeautiful conversation.
(01:39):
And as we're getting ready, wewere talking about getting ready
for the holidays and what theholidays feel like.
And so we just want to sharewith you our thoughts on the
holidays and what it feels like,and how we each have our own
beliefs, our own thoughts, andhow we just connect with what
(01:59):
that really means to each of usand how it really feels.
So Kina, I actually I'll juststart.
Does anyone want to say well,I'm gonna say this.
First of all, we talk aboutgratitude a lot, and I think we
associate Thanksgiving withgratitude and being grateful,
(02:23):
and it is something that we workon all year long.
And I don't think it's just aone-time thing.
I think it's just truly tappinginto the love we all get to
share with each other andgratitude for the world,
gratitude for all the things wedo.
And so kind of that that isreally what gratitude means to
(02:46):
me.
It's not just a one-time, let'scelebrate the holidays and
really bring awareness to itthen.
It's really about bringing itall year round.
Does anyone want to say whatthey how they feel about
gratitude?
Kina.
Kena Siu (03:02):
Yeah, I I do agree.
It's I think it's it's apractice.
I I do gratitude, I practicegratitude during my whole day.
Like since I wake up, likethank you, like I can feel my
body, and then I actually offergratitude for, you know, like my
toes, and they're my legs andmy belly, and you know, I do a
(03:24):
full scan, and then also like,yeah, I'm alive again.
And uh, and then I'm gratefulfor the water that I'm drinking
because the water is life, youknow, and putting some love in
there.
I feel so grateful having theseconversations with you ladies,
you know, right now.
And I also give gratitude everytime, well, most of the time,
when I eat, being grateful, notjust for having the food there,
(03:48):
but for everyone behind who madethat possible, you know, and
then also being grateful for theweather, whatever it is, but
that's mother nature, it'scyclical.
So it's it's really cool.
I guess it's a way of seeinglife because the more I
practice, the more gratitude andmore grateful I can be every
(04:10):
moment.
Casey Taton (04:12):
I love that you just said that.
It's really about beinggrateful for every moment and
that you acknowledge that it's apractice.
Yes.
Yeah.
Jen, do you want to share?
Jen Chambers (04:24):
Yeah, that's really key.
I love that because the thingthat's really hard about
gratitude is that sometimes wealways get down on ourselves
because we don't feel gratefulenough.
I think about that all thetime, actually.
But I was actually talking tomy therapist the other day, and
he was like, But I feel like youare really excellent in
(04:47):
noticing the small things inlife.
And he calls those, and I'veheard it called glimmers, other
places.
And I mean, that's the way thatI think that I'm practicing
gratitude more often is noticingthose small moments, like
really tiny moments, like havinga cat on your lap, or a really
excellent cup of tea, orgorgeous sunset, or the fact
(05:09):
that you got the wordle in twoinstead of five, or you know,
just these little things.
I think those are lessintimidating to me than like,
oh, I have to be grateful foreverything in my whole life.
And yes, I am, of course, but Idon't feel it unless I really
take the time to notice becauseI don't necessarily practice in
(05:29):
that way that Kina does, and Ireally want to.
I like that.
So I guess the the the micromoments is how I'm practicing it
more right now.
Casey Taton (05:41):
That is so good.
I think it's yeah, it all comesdown to a practice that even
though we're each practicing it,like I mean, I do daily
meditations, I write an ingratitude journal, and and so
we're each practicing it indifferent ways, but just that
we're also aware of gratitude,and it's not just a one-day
(06:05):
thing.
It's truly like this is how welive.
Jen Chambers (06:09):
Yes, and I love what Kina said about doing the
scan.
That's something that I havegotten out of the practice of
doing, but I think that's areally easy way to tap into that
because I am so incrediblygrateful for the fact that I can
walk.
I mean, for me, that's a biggerdeal than most people because
there was a long time when Icouldn't, you know, but like
(06:30):
just the fact that my feet move,the fact that I'm able to do
things for myself that I neverthought that I could do.
You know, that I think thathaving that daily scan of those
things helps you remember to begrateful for the bigger things.
Kena Siu (06:46):
Definitely.
Casey Taton (06:47):
Yeah, I agree with you.
I just I'll tell this storylater on another podcast about
me falling, and but it was justso much gratitude of like the
people that helped me, and forlike my mom helping me shower
when I couldn't get my knee wetwith stitches, and it's just
like gratitude of our health.
(07:09):
You know, there was so manylike Thanksgivings and holidays
that I wasn't able to attendbefore, and so I think I really
love what Kina said about reallyjust checking in with your body
and doing the body scan.
Kina, would you talk aboutthat?
Kena Siu (07:26):
Yeah, sure.
Well, I usually start with thewith my toes.
Like I so I so once I I I wakeup still like under the blankets
or the cheats, I just startlike wiggling, you know, my
toes, and then like, oh yeah,still, you know, like moving and
then feeling the heels and thenshaking a bit the legs and just
(07:47):
being grateful, like, okay,it's still functioning, you
know, and then checking also,you know, with with my womb and
my belly and uh my chest.
And then sometimes I put myheart in, you know, my hand over
my heart and then saying, Yeah,still there, you know, still be
eating there, and then gochecking with the shoulders, and
then well, for me, becauseusually when I am stressed, it's
(08:09):
it's you know, that's where Iget the heaviness in my
shoulders.
So it's like also noticingthere, okay.
So, uh, how am I feeling nowthat I'm awake and having the
presence and also like movingthe you know the arms and then
okay, and then the neck, andokay, what's going on also in in
my head and being grateful atthe same time, like for my eyes,
(08:29):
and you know, like sometimes Ifocus more on the on one thing,
sometimes focus more on that andanother thing, but it's just
that connection with the bodybefore doing anything else
because that connection withourselves that's the most
important one.
We gotta meet ourselves first,so then we can meet the world
(08:50):
outside once we get out of bed.
Jen Chambers (08:54):
Oh, I love that so much.
That's exactly that's I wasthinking the same thing.
I do that with my yogapractice.
You know, you you feel more athome with yourself when you're
grateful for your physicalperson.
And in my yoga practice, likebeing being able to tap into
your own presence is and reallyfeel where you're at and feel
(09:17):
grateful that your legs hold youup.
And that, you know, I thinkthat's a wonderful way to think
about it, Kina, to to reallylike it all starts with the body
in us.
Casey Taton (09:29):
It's so powerful that you, you know, we just
brought it up of you know, wethink about gratitude about
other things, but really itstarts within ourselves and just
from the moment we open oureyes of being grateful, and just
I love how you just shared.
I kind of put you on the spotthere.
So thank you.
Kena Siu (09:48):
I'm just like, it's okay, my pleasure.
Casey Taton (09:51):
Like, can you I that's why I wanted you to share
it because if you guys see her,she's if you would see her,
she's like lighting up talkingabout it, and so it's like as
you walked us through it, it waslike I could feel myself like,
oh, are my shoulders gettingtense?
Like you know, when you talkabout certain things, it's but
it's all becomes within us, andso we can be grateful for all
(10:13):
the things outside us, but ifwe're not grateful for our own
bodies and everything, likethat's really where it all
starts.
Kena Siu (10:22):
Yeah, and I want to add something.
This practice, I just startedit in I don't know, in the last
weeks, really like tapping itinto how I want to feel during
the day.
So I'm still there, and uh thesound of my alarm, I just make
it a song, and like it's done,it's done, you know, it's done.
(10:43):
That's what my alarm is tellingme when it rings off in the
morning.
So it's like, what it's done.
It's done that I'm feeling goodtoday, it's done this dream
that I'm having over here, it'sdone this other thing that I
want to achieve, you know.
So just by ah, you know,feeling all the chills before
getting out of bed and saying,yeah, like this is possible, and
(11:04):
filling up my body with thisenergy of positivism, most of
the time, yeah, sometimes it'snot, but it's like, and it's
okay too, you know, acceptingwhatever emotions are happening
there, but most of the time,like getting into this, you
know, idea of yeah, it'spossible.
I uh you know, this body wasgiving by source, you know, by
(11:27):
God, whatever you want to callit, and he's welcome to do
everything.
And it's you know, it's abouttapping into possibility and non
limitation.
Jen Chambers (11:40):
It's what you choose to to pay attention to,
exactly before getting out ofbed, right?
Right, yeah, choosing to tapinto the feelings of positivity
and possibility rather thanyeah, my you know, my ankle
(12:01):
hurts.
And yes, that also happens, butallowing space for all the
things and pay attention to thethings that that you and that
way you're projecting the energytowards the stuff that you
want.
Kena Siu (12:14):
I love that, and projecting the energy to to the
day, right?
Right, right.
Things are gonna happen, theyare always gonna happen, but at
least if we start with thatintention with it, that
attitude, that day is gonnaapproach us differently because
we have already another, youknow, the energy, we are energy.
So if our energy is projectingthat the good things are gonna
(12:37):
happen, most likely that's we'regonna get.
Or if we, you know, stumble orsomething, then we're gonna be
calling to okay, that happened,somebody pissed you off, you get
centered again, or oh, you aresad, okay.
But let's get center again, andthen just coming back to that
kind of intention that we aresetting in since we wake up.
Casey Taton (12:59):
I love that so much that you just acknowledge that
we set the intention, even ifwe're you know, wake up feeling
like we're aware, maybe theyhave this ache or pain, but we
just you know refocus on what wewant to focus, that we actually
have the choice to start ourday, how we want to start it,
and that you brought it back tocenter of like how people are
(13:22):
gonna piss us off during theday.
And that's I think huge, likeespecially when we're talking
about going into the holidays,there's like all the added extra
stress, and things aren'talways gonna go the way you
want.
But you have the choice to comeback to you at any point during
the day.
Jen Chambers (13:42):
I have to share something really quick.
My tip for that, and it worksin the holidays for me, because
yeah, there's gonna be thosemoments where there's gonna be
one person that's annoying oryou know, something happens
during your day, especially inthe holidays when your
everybody's expectations arehigh.
And it's easy, but my trick isif I can't like physically leave
(14:03):
the room that it's happening, Ijust really quietly I do the
tapping.
I'll tap on my my chest or I'lltap on my lower arm, or I can
even tap on my thigh if I'm atthe dinner table and somebody
says something that's reallyinfuriating.
Oh you know, and tapping bringsme back.
(14:24):
And then also just taking acouple deep breaths wherever I'm
at.
It's always a good reminder tome that, like, yes, I can come
back to myself, and yes, I havethese values, these boundaries
that I've already set.
And that helps for me,preparing and having those kinds
of things in place is sohelpful.
Kena Siu (14:42):
I love that, Jen.
And as you said, we come backto the body, right?
We're in control, so just youlike noticing, okay, this is
happening, this is happening,and it's like again, choosing
from there, just taking a bit ofdeep breath and don't get
attached to whateverconversation or whatever they
are saying, because you know,you choose and say, No, I better
(15:03):
just keep quiet.
I'm okay, I'm okay, and justyou know, yeah, yeah.
Casey Taton (15:09):
The awareness of it, like just becoming like I
think we're all so aware.
So if anybody's listening andthey are like not aware, I think
that's the first thing is beaware of your own thoughts and
remember like you're in controlof your own body and your own
self.
Because I love what Jen justshared of like just the power of
(15:35):
stopping to breathe, just thepower of tapping.
Like, you can do that anywhere.
And it I think it's just soimportant that we remember that.
It's that you know, when we goto places, there's so many
people, and it's like yeah, wecan be positive and all this,
but if something happens and weget triggered, it's not them.
(15:57):
It's us, and it's like comingback home to ourselves and
knowing like okay, this is youknow, making my body get tense,
the awareness, and then bringingit back home, and that you
know, Jen just gave us greatexamples of how to do that, how
to just come back home toourselves, and it's no huge
(16:18):
extreme thing, like anybody cando these things, yeah.
Kena Siu (16:26):
He's stepping into that awareness, and then and
remember that we are theobserver, you know, it's yeah,
it's our dots, yes, yeah, yourdots, but you're not your
thoughts, just observe them.
That's it, and as you observeyour dots, observe other people
too.
I love I use I love this quote.
(16:48):
It's it says observe, don'tabsorb.
And we tend to then absorb whatother people are saying or how
they are acting and stuff, butno, it's not up to us, just
observe them, and that's it.
And that kind of if you thinkabout it, it kind of yes, it's
(17:11):
the holidays and stuff with thatsaying.
I mean, that quote is likecreating a little like energetic
shield around you that'ssaying, Yeah, no, I'm in here,
I'm in control of myself, notthe other people.
So I'm just gonna observe themand whatever they are saying, or
you know, I don't want to getinvolved with that.
I'm just gonna listen and it'sokay.
(17:32):
I'm observing, not absorbing,and it makes the difference a
lot.
Jen Chambers (17:37):
Wonderful.
I'm gonna like tattoo that onmy thigh or something.
That's amazing, or at leastwrite it on a sticky note and
put it in front of my door.
It'd be a good reminder likebefore you leave, observe, don't
absorb, observe.
Casey Taton (17:55):
That is so good.
Yeah, that's great.
Yeah, I know that we couldcarry on forever, but I just
wanted to do a little shortepisode on just gratitude as
we're walking into the holidaysand to the end of the year, but
really just how this practice isused all year for all of us.
And I am so, so thankful foreach of you.
(18:18):
My pod sisters are seriouslythe best blessing in my life.
And I love that we cancelebrate each other, we can
talk about you know all thethings we're going through in
life, and just you know, we'reall aware of coming back home to
ourselves and we get to sharethings like this.
So I just want to thank you foryou know talking about
gratitude with us.
(18:39):
I wanna if we could all likesay a closing thought.
My closing thought today forany listeners would just be let
go of the expectations and justlive in the moment.
Just truly be present whereveryou're at and let go of the
(19:04):
outcome.
Like whatever it is meant to beis gonna be, and you get to
choose to be grateful for whereyou're at.
Jen Chambers (19:20):
Do either of you want to share something say that
it's okay to it's okay to feelthe feelings where you're at, no
matter what, during theholidays, and honor that, honor
yourself.
(19:40):
And remember that you can comeback at any minute to what
boundaries you've set foryourself.
And that it's just so importantto me.
It's so important to me tothat, like I said earlier, pre
planning that out for me,knowing what I will accept and
what I won't.
And and the Energy level thatI'll accept and that I won't,
(20:02):
and knowing that you can removeyourself at any time.
You got to do what's right foryou.
Kena Siu (20:10):
Love that.
Yeah.
Well, just to complimentwhatever you know, you you
ladies said, talking aboutboundaries, I think it's good.
We usually know when we dealwith certain person, like what
may happen.
So just kind of like thinkabout it.
Okay, this might happen withthis person.
Okay, so just think about howwould you like to act the next
(20:34):
time?
So, in a way, you're preparedthat okay, this person might say
something and it might actuallytrigger me.
How do I want to act?
Do I want to keep quiet?
Do I want to leave the room?
Do I want to say politely,okay?
That's your point of view.
I respect it, but I I don'tlike it.
You know, like I respect it,but this is my point of view.
(20:55):
Like, yeah, doing those kind ofpractices in the mind because
we usually, our minds usually dothat, right?
And they are like, okay, what'sgonna happen?
And that's what we get at allthis anxiety because we move to
that future.
So that's what Casey, what shesaid about staying present.
That's important, right?
(21:16):
But then our mind is alwaysplaying us because we're playing
in that future.
So if you're gonna play thatfuture, then make a mental plan
of what can happen so you canset the boundary in advance.
So that's my take.
Casey Taton (21:32):
Love that, love that love that so much too.
Yeah, I want to thank you guysso so much for yeah, just being
here and all your gratitude andjust awareness and just all the
things we can share with eachother.
And if anyone is listening, Iguess here's another final note
is that I know that we're we'reall talking about all these
(21:55):
positive things, but we are allhuman as well.
And we have all experienced, weexperience the ups and downs,
and we share it together.
And I think that's reallyimportant to acknowledge, like I
think, and one of you guys evensaid about you know, we can
remove ourselves to differentthings, but it's okay to fill
your feelings.
And so just as you're goingthrough these days, I mean, and
(22:20):
really the whole thing of thisis is you get to make it a
lifelong practice.
And so, even though we're doingthis right before the holidays,
it becomes really a lifelongpractice that we get to carry
with us every single day.
I have so much gratitude foryou guys.
(22:41):
I love you all so much.
Kena Siu (22:43):
I love you y'all too.
Casey Taton (22:45):
You too.
Thank you for having us.
Kena Siu (22:48):
Thank you.
Thank you for tuning in toMidlife Butterfly.
I hope this episode empowersyou in some way.
Share the love by hittingfollow wherever you're listening
and leave a review if you feelinspired.
I also love to connect withyou.
Come say hi on Instagram atMidlife Butterfly.
(23:10):
I love to know you.
Until next time, keep spreadingthose wings and live enjoy
growth and pleasure.
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