November 23, 2020 • 23 mins
Alissa Leedahl is one of those women whose calming presence immediately puts you at ease. The kind of woman who walks into relationships with an intentionality to encourage and lift those up around her.
Alissa is a labor and delivery nurse at Sanford Health. She also serves as a ministry leader and volunteer with Northview Church, and is mom to three children under the age of five: Jay, Harper, and Jones.
In our conversation, Alissa shares the moment where she knew she had to make a pivotal change in her life, to the honest feelings we women may experience of trying to measure up to the high expectations we set on ourselves, to small and impactful ways we can be intentional with our relationships during this challenging season.
Alissa’s thoughtfulness, honesty, and wisdom will leave you inspired to take a breath, a pause, and see the beauty around you.
“My eyes were really opened to the importance of sharing your life with others, making others feel loved, and accepting people where they are at. At the end of your life, what really matters? ” — Alissa Leedahl
S2:E3 // November 24, 2020
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Alissa Leedahl (00:00):
You know, thinking about your life and
thinking, how can I be morepresent in this season that I'm
in?
You know, maybe you aren'tmarried and you want to be
married or you're waiting tohave children, or you're waiting
for the time when you can buythat new house.
Like, what is it that in thisseason that you can enjoy and
really appreciate that you mightnot have in the next season.
(00:20):
And so that's just advice thatI've gotten from other people.
And I've just tried to reallytake it back.
Jessi Woinarowicz (00:29):
Glaze and Grit is a podcast where honest
and real conversations are frontand center.
A conversation we're Fargo,Morehead, area, business owners,
thought leaders, advocates, andvisionaries share their lessons
learned and provide a freshperspective to better inform and
support you in your journey.
It's about sharing the realstory to inspire lead and
(00:51):
encourage.
All right here in my backyard ofFargo, North Dakota, it all
starts with a conversation, andhonest one, I'm Jessi
Woinarowicz, and this is Glazeand Grit.
My next guest is one of thosewomen whose calming presence
immediately puts you at ease.
(01:13):
The kind of woman who walks intorelationships with an
intentionality to encourage andlet those up around her.
She's a labor and delivery nurseat Sanford health.
She also serves as a ministryleader and volunteer with
Northview church and his mom tothree children under the age of
five, Jay Harper and Jones inour conversation, Alyssa shares
(01:36):
the moment where she knew shehad to make a pivotal change in
her life.
To the honest feelings we womenmay experience of trying to
measure up to the highexpectations.
We set on ourselves to small andimpactful ways.
We can be intentional with ourrelationships during this
challenging season.
Her thoughtfulness honesty andwisdom will leave.
(01:56):
You inspired to take a breath, apause and see the beauty around
you.
Here's Alyssa Leedahl.
Hi Alyssa.
How are you?
Alissa Leedahl (02:07):
I'm good.
Yeah, we got all the kids inbed, so that's good.
So they're all sleeping, whichis, um, a huge feat sometimes.
Yeah.
How are you doing?
Jessi Woinarowicz (02:19):
Good.
Yeah, I'm doing good.
Yeah, our boys, I think myoldest is sleeping.
Uh, he, uh, we promised him acookie after dinner and then he
ended up getting a headache andwe're like, we're not giving you
any sugar versus like this hugething.
Alissa Leedahl (02:32):
Yes.
I know.
I understand.
My kids don't react super wellto sugar sometimes either.
Jessi Woinarowicz (02:38):
So, well, thanks again for coming on.
I really appreciate it.
Alissa Leedahl (02:42):
Yes.
Thank you so much for having mewhat an honor.
Aw, thank you.
Well, I thought we could juststart at the beginning.
You know, you grew up inJamestown, North Dakota.
Can you share a little bit moreabout your early years and what
brought you to Fargo?
So, yeah, I grew up inJamestown, North Dakota.
I was born and raised there andI had a great family, three
(03:02):
younger brothers.
And, uh, once I graduated highschool from Jamestown, I went to
NDSU for nursing.
And, um, that's where I met myhusband.
We actually graduated the sameyear.
We graduated, we got married andwe moved to Rochester all within
a month.
It was really busy, but we movedto Rochester.
I worked as a nurse at Mayoclinic and my husband did a two
(03:24):
year pharmacy residency there.
So he went to school to be apharmacist.
And then he did two extra yearsof training there at Mayo
clinic.
And so we really enjoyed livingin Fargo.
He grew up in Fargo and I lovedgoing to NDSU.
And so, uh, we were kind of onour own and um, in this new
environment.
And so it was really great forour marriage.
(03:44):
And my husband was offered a jobafter his two years of training.
Um, and so we could've stayed,but we just really missed the
Fargo community.
The people here and our familiesare both in this area.
So for us really Fargo, I guessyou could say was a dream
because that's where we wantedto be.
And so we moved back here and Istarted working as a nurse at
(04:07):
Sanford and labor center.
I worked full time there upuntil we had our first child
Shay.
And then I dropped down to a PRNstatus, which just means as
needed.
So, you know, up until now too,I work about one or two days a
week and we have three kids.
Jay, who is five Harper is threeand Jones is one.
(04:28):
We stay super busy.
They definitely keep lifeexciting for us.
Um, but we love it.
We love, you know, the ages thatthey're at there.
It's just always so fun andinteresting to see how their
little minds work and what theythink about.
And we really love the Fargoarea and we love being here and
we just have really enjoyed thecommunity.
That's here as well.
Jessi Woinarowicz (04:48):
Wonderful.
What made you decide on nursing?
Alissa Leedahl (04:52):
I guess I wanted, I told my mom, I wanted
to be a nurse around the age offive when I didn't quite
understand what being anexpense, but I actually really
admired the nurse that wouldcall it or names when we would
go in for checkups at thedoctor.
And so she would, she would sayher name and we'd come back and
she'd do her vitals.
And I just thought she was thebest.
Obviously I didn't know whatthat meant around the age of
(05:12):
five, what being a nurse meant,but that's what I want it to be.
And I kind of held onto thatuntil my junior senior year of
high school.
And I kind of started looking atdifferent careers and I just
always kept coming back tonursing.
I think that I felt becoming anurse I could potentially help
make even a small difference insomeone else's life.
And that was really important tome.
That's kind of what led me tonursing and I've really enjoyed
(05:35):
it.
I loved being a labor anddelivery nurse.
It's one of the most amazingexperiences to be a part of a
mom's birth experience.
It's just unreal.
Like it's I really get to dothis.
And so even though I don't workfull time, I just, I do.
I love the days that I work too.
Jessi Woinarowicz (05:48):
Ah, so beautiful being, having two
littles and going through thebirthing experience myself, I, I
am.
So for nurses, just like you,who, who do that because you
were such an encouragement,thank you.
Alissa Leedahl (06:04):
It's a huge honor to be a part of that
experience for people.
Jessi Woinarowicz (06:07):
Sure.
So along with being a labor anddelivery nurse at Sanford
hospital, you're mom to threechildren, five and under your
wife to a husband who works fulltime outside the home.
And you're also involved inministry, leading women's
groups, volunteering andteaching classes for people who
are new to your church, which isNorth future cheer.
And what sparked your passionfor ministry?
Alissa Leedahl (06:29):
I became involved in ministry in college
and it was really after asignificant time for me, an area
of my life that really made ahuge impact on me was during my
sophomore year of college.
During that time, I really beganto think that perfection in my
life was a goal and it reallybecame more like an obsessive
(06:49):
mindset.
And I really worried about whatI was eating and how much I was
exercising.
And it really just took over allareas of my life.
And I became, you know, anxiousand depressed and I wasn't
myself.
And I started pushing otherpeople out of my life.
And around that time, granddadactually passed away my
(07:10):
sophomore year of college.
And it was significant for mebecause even though I still miss
him, I felt like it reallyplayed a huge pirates and
reminding me what was mostimportant in life.
And my granddad was anincredible man.
He actually was a pastor in asmall town in North Dakota.
And it really didn't matter whoyou were or your background.
He valued you and made you feelloved.
He had several best friends, butone of his closest friends was a
(07:32):
pastor who actually pastored achurch of the different
denomination, just down the roadfrom him.
And so, you know, differences inbeliefs or opinions.
Didn't keep him from becoming afriends and relationships with
people.
What was most important to himreally next to his relationship
with God.
And I just had a greatrelationship with him and felt
like, you know, I felt like Iwas the favorite grandchild out
of 22 grandchildren come to findout all my cousins saw the same
(07:56):
way.
So he just had that way withpeople and they had to have this
funeral in high school gymnasiumbecause so many people wanted to
attend.
And it just showed the amount ofpeople that were impacted by his
life.
For me, I was just, I was onthis path to create a life that
was really about me and what Iwanted.
I feel like that moment wasreally significant because it
just opened my eyes to the needsof others and that I really
(08:18):
needed to be living a life whereI could really share my life
with others and make others feelloved and accepted at that
moment.
I really decided that I wantedto place a high importance on
relationships and make sureothers felt valued and loved by
me.
And so I feel like God justreally started working on my
heart and I really began tobecome more outwardly focused.
(08:39):
I just saw people around me whomaybe needed to experience God's
love.
And, um, I was involved in acampus ministry group called Chi
alpha, and I was a leader inthat group and I just got to be
a part of people's spiritualjourneys.
And my husband and I got as agroup, I was mentoring girls and
doing leader trainings andteachings.
(09:01):
And we were just really busywith that.
And it was at that time that Idecided, you know, if I'm going
to be doing this much ministry,that maybe I should have more
training.
And so that's when I decidedthat it might be a good idea to
get my ministry credentials.
So I actually took severalclasses and I did several exams.
And then I went through thisinterview process to become a
(09:23):
pastor.
So since then I have just reallyenjoyed doing ministry, whatever
that looks like.
Uh, when we moved back to Fargo,I was again involved with, um, a
campus ministry group.
And then when we had our firstchild, I kind of stepped back
from a lot of that.
And I just became more involvedin North future that we go to.
And so I've led women's smallgroups and classes for new
(09:45):
people at the church and justvolunteered in different areas.
And so I just feel that comingalongside someone on their
spiritual journey is one of thegreatest honors.
I just see that as a huge honorto be able to do that.
Jessi Woinarowicz (09:58):
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing.
Alissa Leedahl (10:00):
Yes.
Jessi Woinarowicz (10:01):
You touched on a little bit.
If you don't mind, when you weretalking about like the
perfection in your life becamethe goal.
I think so many women experiencethat, but I know I experienced
it too.
Just holding onto somethinguntil it's so close to perfect
and not wanting to put myselfout there and be vulnerable.
(10:22):
Can you share a little bit moreabout your experiences or your
thoughts around just the womenprimarily women's struggle in
this area?
Alissa Leedahl (10:30):
Yeah.
I think that it is a major, amajor struggle for a lot of
women and I feel that theirexpectations that we put on
ourselves, but I feel thatthere's a lot of expectations
that society puts on us too, tomaybe look a certain way or be a
certain type of mom.
If we were to do all the thingsthat we feel we should be doing,
we would never sleep.
Like if we, you know, if we dida perfect job at our nine to
(10:55):
five job, and then we came hometo our kids and cooked a meal
that was just perfect.
And then we seen the house in aperfect way.
You know, there wouldn't beenough time in the day for that.
And I just feel that a lot ofwomen do, they put all these
expectations on themselves.
For me, it's still a struggle.
I, I really have to look at mylife and say for me, I think
just having a clean house,sometimes I can get really
(11:17):
obsessed about that and it canaffect my mood depending on how
clean my house is.
And I just have to really becareful because, um, my
relationships with my kids arereally what's most important and
I'm straining thoserelationships because there's a
bunch of crumbs on the floor.
And I just, I have to kind ofjust begin to put those things
in perspective, sometimes aconstant struggle for people.
(11:38):
But I think looking at the wholepicture and saying, what is most
important here?
And I think a perfectionisticmindset comes from good
intentions of wanting to do anexcellent job at what you're
doing.
And so it's just askingyourself, what do I want to put
my time into to be excellent?
And I think that's okay, butwhen does it become too fine?
(11:59):
I think we know that.
I think it's just good to keepthat in check and that's
something that I have to do aswell.
Jessi Woinarowicz (12:04):
I think that's great advice, especially
we know when we're kind of atthat limit and then putting
yourself in.
Alissa Leedahl (12:11):
Yeah, definitely something I have to think about
often.
Jessi Woinarowicz (12:18):
What has been most surprising to you thus far
in your journey?
Most surprising to me,
Alissa Leedahl (12:24):
Honestly, just the journey through motherhood
has been really surprising forme.
You know, I've often thoughtlike, why did no one warned me?
Like what this is going to belike birthing a baby I've I'm
part of that experience.
So I can kind of understandthat, but even the pain
afterwards I've, I've watchedmoms go through all that.
(12:45):
And until you experienced ityourself, you quickly realize
like, wow, this is, you know, isa big deal and my body feels
totally different.
And just the demands on you as awoman, I mean the amount of
sleep deprivation and just theextremely responsibility that
you have to care for a littleone.
I don't know if anyone canreally even explain that to
(13:06):
someone until you actually gothrough it.
And so I think that's, what'sprobably been most surprising to
me thus far in my journey isjust the journey through
motherhood and what that lookslike.
Um, it's been a beautifuljourney and I wouldn't trade it
for anything, but I think it'sdefinitely been more surprising
to me than I expected.
Jessi Woinarowicz (13:25):
What would you say to parents out there
trying to juggle it all duringthis incredibly hectic and busy
season that we're in of what isCOVID-19?
Alissa Leedahl (13:36):
I would honestly say, just try to remember what's
most important.
And I think it's, it's easy toget caught up in the news and
the headlines.
It's easy to go to your phoneand try to see what's happening
and what's, you know, what's thenext thing that's going on.
And I feel like it can justreally induce a lot of fear and
(13:57):
I think it really takes theattention off of our family and
just being with them.
And so I would say, just decidewhat you have to do.
What is it that you have tojuggle that's most important and
then just leaving a lot of thoseemotions out of it, if you can,
you know, focusing on whatabsolutely needs to be done.
(14:17):
And I know there's a lot offamilies out there that have
lots through a lot of difficultthings during this time, and
we've been really fortunate.
And so I can't say that Itotally understand everything
that everyone is talkingthrough, but I have experienced
the fear and the unknown of itall.
And I just think that being ableto really focus on what's most
(14:37):
important.
And for me, my faith has beenhuge too.
Just being able to look to Godduring the season of a lot of
unknowns and a lot of anxiety,and just being able to give that
over to him during this time.
So I would just encouragefamilies, you know, focus on
what's important.
And if you have any type offaith to maybe start exploring
(14:59):
that more too, that's great.
As a mom, I, you know, I mostlystay home with my kids.
I work one or two days a week,so I'm with them a lot.
And I just saw that some dayswould go by and I would just
think, Oh my goodness, did Ireally actually spend quality
time with my kids today?
Like we were together, but youknow, I have this list of to-do
(15:20):
that I want to get done.
And we have these routines youwant to keep.
And, you know, I have all thesethings that are on my list, but
did I actually connect with mykids and like how embarrassing,
you know, I stay home with them,but do I actually like spend
quality time with them?
And so I just, um, really hadthis desire to just really enjoy
the season that I was in withthem, because I think that
(15:42):
sometimes we can just wish theseason away and just want the
next season to come.
And I found myself doing that.
You know, whether, Oh, whenthey're sleeping through the
night, then things will be somuch better.
Or when we get through pottytraining, then we'll be able to
do this.
And every season there's justsomething new that you're just
trying to get through Sunday.
They're going to be in schoolday and I won't get to see them.
(16:04):
And I won't get to know them aswell.
You know, I just started doingmommy, Jay and mommy Harper
time.
And Jones gets a lot of myattention the way it is.
Cause he's the only one.
But for right now we do mommy,Jay mommy's Harper time.
And basically I do 10 minuteswith each of them.
We just set that time aside.
And it's easy for me to dobecause I think I have 10
minutes.
Like I have 10 minutes for eachof them.
(16:25):
That's not a big deal.
And so we even just set thetimer and we can do whatever
they want to do for 10 minutesand we play.
So I played dinosaurs with Jay.
We, I played babies with Harper,you know, we do role play.
And it's just so interestingbecause the 10 minutes usually
becomes 20 minutes because I'mjust, I'm having the best time.
It's my favorite part of theday, because you get to get to
(16:48):
know more about your kids, hispersonality, and how they
interact and you get to buildthat foundation of just that
relationship with them.
I know there's a lot of momsthat work full time.
And so I think that it's evendoable, you know, on the
weekends or if it's somethingyou want to do with your kids as
well.
And I think that they just feelso special and I've even noticed
that they don't even act up asmuch sometimes because they've
(17:10):
had that attention from me.
And I feel like our data'ssolicitor there.
So it's just a really simplething.
And maybe it's not for everyonein that exact way, but I just
think, you know, thinking aboutyour life and thinking, how can
I be more present in this seasonthat I'm in?
You know, maybe you aren'tmarried and you want to be
married or you're waiting tohave children, or you're waiting
(17:32):
for the time when you can buythat new house.
Like, what is it that in thisseason that you can enjoy and
really appreciate that you mightnot have in the next season.
And so that's just advice thatI've gotten from other people
and I've just tried to reallytake it to heart.
I love that such practical,beautiful advice,
Jessi Woinarowicz (17:51):
Alyssa, who inspires you?
Alissa Leedahl (17:53):
I would have to say, you know, I have really
great parents and I have areally awesome mother-in-law and
I have great friends, but Iwould have to say the person who
inspires me the most, butdefinitely have to be my
husband.
He's someone that I've admiredsince honestly, the day that I
met him, obviously I married himfor a reason, but, um, he just
(18:14):
has this desire to be reallyexcellent at everything he does,
whether it's his job has worked,that he does, or even when he
comes home to be a dad, he,after a long day of work, he'll
come home and he'll get on thefloor and he'll play with our
kids.
And I know he he's had a longday and he's tired, but he just
makes time for them.
And he makes time for me.
He is a huge support to me and Ijust really admire him.
(18:37):
He is a person who, you know, hehas all these certifications and
letters behind his name, buthe's really one of the most
humble people.
I think he's a man of integrityand he just has this desire to
be excellent.
And so he just, he pushes me andhe encourages me to really do my
best
Jessi Woinarowicz (18:55):
Something you think everyone should do at
least once in their life.
Alissa Leedahl (18:58):
Okay.
So I think everyone should, atleast once in their life, this
is really practical, but I thinkeveryone should just try tents,
camping.
I will say that I was very antitent camping for, you know,
basically my whole life, Iguess.
And since I've been married, myhusband has tried to get me to
(19:18):
go with him, but I just have notbeen really a fan.
And, uh, when we had our firstchild, Jay, and he was too, my
husband just said to me, well,I'm going camping and I'm taking
Jay, well, whether you're comingor not at first, I just, I
thought, okay.
Yeah.
I said to him, you can go no bigdeal.
Like I'll just stay home.
But then I started thinking moreand I started thinking about all
(19:40):
the memories that they wouldmake together.
And I knew Dave was going tolove it.
And I thought, I want to bethere.
Like I want to be there whenthey go camping and I want to
take pictures.
Um, so I ended up going alongand I've gotten out for the past
three years and it's just been areally great thing for a family.
I really feel like we can reallyseparate ourselves from
(20:00):
everything that we have to domaybe around the house or things
in town.
And we can just enjoy each otherand you know, it's just simple.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:11):
All right.
Well let's end with a littlelightning round of questions, if
that's okay with you.
Alissa Leedahl (20:16):
Yeah, that sounds great.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:18):
All right.
Coffee or tea?
Alissa Leedahl (20:21):
Coffee, definitely.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:22):
How do you start your day?
Alissa Leedahl (20:24):
U h, I start my day typically I do the morning
waking up.
Right, right.
Yeah, exactly.
O h, thankfully our youngest issleeping through the night, so
most nights are pretty good, butyeah, h e's up at five 45, so
I'm making a bottle.
So sometimes that's the firstthing, but otherwise I do like
to start my day just with prayerand some devotional in the
(20:48):
morning.
So it might just be for fiveminutes.
That, that is my favorite way.
A nd how I typically like tostart my day.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:54):
Road trip or plane ride,?
Alissa Leedahl (20:55):
Plane ride.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:57):
What is your favorite dessert?
Alissa Leedahl (21:02):
I would have to say, Oh, I just really love cake
, like white cake with whitefrosting.
Like the really sugary frosting,Definitely! Skiing or surfing.
skiing.
Cause I've only been, I've triedto surf once and it was awful.
Jessi Woinarowicz (21:21):
What do you do to relax?
Alissa Leedahl (21:23):
I feel like I don't get to relax a lot, but
sometimes at the end of the day,I love to just crawl into bed
and read a book even for 10minutes.
And that's super relaxing forme.
Flats or heels.
Used to be heels.
Now it's definitely flats.
Jessi Woinarowicz (21:39):
What impresses you?
Alissa Leedahl (21:42):
I would have to say someone who is really real
and is really vulnerable abouttheir life.
I think that really impresses mebecause that's really hard to
do.
And so even though it's evenhard for me to do sometimes I
think that's probably whatimpresses me most about someone.
Jessi Woinarowicz (21:59):
Are you a morning or a night person?
Alissa Leedahl (22:01):
Yeah, I definitely like the mornings.
If I can get to bed on time thatI love waking up early in the
mornings, as long as I can getto bed.
Jessi Woinarowicz (22:10):
And last one, climb a mountain or skydive.
Alissa Leedahl (22:13):
Oh, probably climb a mountain.
Skydiving sounds super nervewracking.
Jessi Woinarowicz (22:21):
All right.
You're off the hot seat.
You're done.
Alyssa, thank you so much forbeing on the podcast.
I appreciate you so much.
And I just appreciate all thatyou do.
Thank you.
Alissa Leedahl (22:32):
Thank you so much for having me.
Jessi Woinarowicz (22:36):
Hey, thanks so much for listening in today.
If you would like to learn moreabout glazing and grit and the
incredible community leadershighlighted on the show, check
out glazing grid, podcast.com.
Also, if you enjoyed thisepisode, please let us know by
subscribing rating and sharingit truly does help amplify the
guest journey.
Thanks again for listening.
(22:57):
I'm Jessi Woinarowicz.
Talk to you soon.
You know, thinking about your life and
thinking, how can I be morepresent in this season that I'm
in?
You know, maybe you aren'tmarried and you want to be
married or you're waiting tohave children, or you're waiting
for the time when you can buythat new house.
Like, what is it that in thisseason that you can enjoy and
really appreciate that you mightnot have in the next season.
(00:20):
And so that's just advice thatI've gotten from other people.
And I've just tried to reallytake it back.
Jessi Woinarowicz (00:29):
Glaze and Grit is a podcast where honest
and real conversations are frontand center.
A conversation we're Fargo,Morehead, area, business owners,
thought leaders, advocates, andvisionaries share their lessons
learned and provide a freshperspective to better inform and
support you in your journey.
It's about sharing the realstory to inspire lead and
(00:51):
encourage.
All right here in my backyard ofFargo, North Dakota, it all
starts with a conversation, andhonest one, I'm Jessi
Woinarowicz, and this is Glazeand Grit.
My next guest is one of thosewomen whose calming presence
immediately puts you at ease.
(01:13):
The kind of woman who walks intorelationships with an
intentionality to encourage andlet those up around her.
She's a labor and delivery nurseat Sanford health.
She also serves as a ministryleader and volunteer with
Northview church and his mom tothree children under the age of
five, Jay Harper and Jones inour conversation, Alyssa shares
(01:36):
the moment where she knew shehad to make a pivotal change in
her life.
To the honest feelings we womenmay experience of trying to
measure up to the highexpectations.
We set on ourselves to small andimpactful ways.
We can be intentional with ourrelationships during this
challenging season.
Her thoughtfulness honesty andwisdom will leave.
(01:56):
You inspired to take a breath, apause and see the beauty around
you.
Here's Alyssa Leedahl.
Hi Alyssa.
How are you?
Alissa Leedahl (02:07):
I'm good.
Yeah, we got all the kids inbed, so that's good.
So they're all sleeping, whichis, um, a huge feat sometimes.
Yeah.
How are you doing?
Jessi Woinarowicz (02:19):
Good.
Yeah, I'm doing good.
Yeah, our boys, I think myoldest is sleeping.
Uh, he, uh, we promised him acookie after dinner and then he
ended up getting a headache andwe're like, we're not giving you
any sugar versus like this hugething.
Alissa Leedahl (02:32):
Yes.
I know.
I understand.
My kids don't react super wellto sugar sometimes either.
Jessi Woinarowicz (02:38):
So, well, thanks again for coming on.
I really appreciate it.
Alissa Leedahl (02:42):
Yes.
Thank you so much for having mewhat an honor.
Aw, thank you.
Well, I thought we could juststart at the beginning.
You know, you grew up inJamestown, North Dakota.
Can you share a little bit moreabout your early years and what
brought you to Fargo?
So, yeah, I grew up inJamestown, North Dakota.
I was born and raised there andI had a great family, three
(03:02):
younger brothers.
And, uh, once I graduated highschool from Jamestown, I went to
NDSU for nursing.
And, um, that's where I met myhusband.
We actually graduated the sameyear.
We graduated, we got married andwe moved to Rochester all within
a month.
It was really busy, but we movedto Rochester.
I worked as a nurse at Mayoclinic and my husband did a two
(03:24):
year pharmacy residency there.
So he went to school to be apharmacist.
And then he did two extra yearsof training there at Mayo
clinic.
And so we really enjoyed livingin Fargo.
He grew up in Fargo and I lovedgoing to NDSU.
And so, uh, we were kind of onour own and um, in this new
environment.
And so it was really great forour marriage.
(03:44):
And my husband was offered a jobafter his two years of training.
Um, and so we could've stayed,but we just really missed the
Fargo community.
The people here and our familiesare both in this area.
So for us really Fargo, I guessyou could say was a dream
because that's where we wantedto be.
And so we moved back here and Istarted working as a nurse at
(04:07):
Sanford and labor center.
I worked full time there upuntil we had our first child
Shay.
And then I dropped down to a PRNstatus, which just means as
needed.
So, you know, up until now too,I work about one or two days a
week and we have three kids.
Jay, who is five Harper is threeand Jones is one.
(04:28):
We stay super busy.
They definitely keep lifeexciting for us.
Um, but we love it.
We love, you know, the ages thatthey're at there.
It's just always so fun andinteresting to see how their
little minds work and what theythink about.
And we really love the Fargoarea and we love being here and
we just have really enjoyed thecommunity.
That's here as well.
Jessi Woinarowicz (04:48):
Wonderful.
What made you decide on nursing?
Alissa Leedahl (04:52):
I guess I wanted, I told my mom, I wanted
to be a nurse around the age offive when I didn't quite
understand what being anexpense, but I actually really
admired the nurse that wouldcall it or names when we would
go in for checkups at thedoctor.
And so she would, she would sayher name and we'd come back and
she'd do her vitals.
And I just thought she was thebest.
Obviously I didn't know whatthat meant around the age of
(05:12):
five, what being a nurse meant,but that's what I want it to be.
And I kind of held onto thatuntil my junior senior year of
high school.
And I kind of started looking atdifferent careers and I just
always kept coming back tonursing.
I think that I felt becoming anurse I could potentially help
make even a small difference insomeone else's life.
And that was really important tome.
That's kind of what led me tonursing and I've really enjoyed
(05:35):
it.
I loved being a labor anddelivery nurse.
It's one of the most amazingexperiences to be a part of a
mom's birth experience.
It's just unreal.
Like it's I really get to dothis.
And so even though I don't workfull time, I just, I do.
I love the days that I work too.
Jessi Woinarowicz (05:48):
Ah, so beautiful being, having two
littles and going through thebirthing experience myself, I, I
am.
So for nurses, just like you,who, who do that because you
were such an encouragement,thank you.
Alissa Leedahl (06:04):
It's a huge honor to be a part of that
experience for people.
Jessi Woinarowicz (06:07):
Sure.
So along with being a labor anddelivery nurse at Sanford
hospital, you're mom to threechildren, five and under your
wife to a husband who works fulltime outside the home.
And you're also involved inministry, leading women's
groups, volunteering andteaching classes for people who
are new to your church, which isNorth future cheer.
And what sparked your passionfor ministry?
Alissa Leedahl (06:29):
I became involved in ministry in college
and it was really after asignificant time for me, an area
of my life that really made ahuge impact on me was during my
sophomore year of college.
During that time, I really beganto think that perfection in my
life was a goal and it reallybecame more like an obsessive
(06:49):
mindset.
And I really worried about whatI was eating and how much I was
exercising.
And it really just took over allareas of my life.
And I became, you know, anxiousand depressed and I wasn't
myself.
And I started pushing otherpeople out of my life.
And around that time, granddadactually passed away my
(07:10):
sophomore year of college.
And it was significant for mebecause even though I still miss
him, I felt like it reallyplayed a huge pirates and
reminding me what was mostimportant in life.
And my granddad was anincredible man.
He actually was a pastor in asmall town in North Dakota.
And it really didn't matter whoyou were or your background.
He valued you and made you feelloved.
He had several best friends, butone of his closest friends was a
(07:32):
pastor who actually pastored achurch of the different
denomination, just down the roadfrom him.
And so, you know, differences inbeliefs or opinions.
Didn't keep him from becoming afriends and relationships with
people.
What was most important to himreally next to his relationship
with God.
And I just had a greatrelationship with him and felt
like, you know, I felt like Iwas the favorite grandchild out
of 22 grandchildren come to findout all my cousins saw the same
(07:56):
way.
So he just had that way withpeople and they had to have this
funeral in high school gymnasiumbecause so many people wanted to
attend.
And it just showed the amount ofpeople that were impacted by his
life.
For me, I was just, I was onthis path to create a life that
was really about me and what Iwanted.
I feel like that moment wasreally significant because it
just opened my eyes to the needsof others and that I really
(08:18):
needed to be living a life whereI could really share my life
with others and make others feelloved and accepted at that
moment.
I really decided that I wantedto place a high importance on
relationships and make sureothers felt valued and loved by
me.
And so I feel like God justreally started working on my
heart and I really began tobecome more outwardly focused.
(08:39):
I just saw people around me whomaybe needed to experience God's
love.
And, um, I was involved in acampus ministry group called Chi
alpha, and I was a leader inthat group and I just got to be
a part of people's spiritualjourneys.
And my husband and I got as agroup, I was mentoring girls and
doing leader trainings andteachings.
(09:01):
And we were just really busywith that.
And it was at that time that Idecided, you know, if I'm going
to be doing this much ministry,that maybe I should have more
training.
And so that's when I decidedthat it might be a good idea to
get my ministry credentials.
So I actually took severalclasses and I did several exams.
And then I went through thisinterview process to become a
(09:23):
pastor.
So since then I have just reallyenjoyed doing ministry, whatever
that looks like.
Uh, when we moved back to Fargo,I was again involved with, um, a
campus ministry group.
And then when we had our firstchild, I kind of stepped back
from a lot of that.
And I just became more involvedin North future that we go to.
And so I've led women's smallgroups and classes for new
(09:45):
people at the church and justvolunteered in different areas.
And so I just feel that comingalongside someone on their
spiritual journey is one of thegreatest honors.
I just see that as a huge honorto be able to do that.
Jessi Woinarowicz (09:58):
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing.
Alissa Leedahl (10:00):
Yes.
Jessi Woinarowicz (10:01):
You touched on a little bit.
If you don't mind, when you weretalking about like the
perfection in your life becamethe goal.
I think so many women experiencethat, but I know I experienced
it too.
Just holding onto somethinguntil it's so close to perfect
and not wanting to put myselfout there and be vulnerable.
(10:22):
Can you share a little bit moreabout your experiences or your
thoughts around just the womenprimarily women's struggle in
this area?
Alissa Leedahl (10:30):
Yeah.
I think that it is a major, amajor struggle for a lot of
women and I feel that theirexpectations that we put on
ourselves, but I feel thatthere's a lot of expectations
that society puts on us too, tomaybe look a certain way or be a
certain type of mom.
If we were to do all the thingsthat we feel we should be doing,
we would never sleep.
Like if we, you know, if we dida perfect job at our nine to
(10:55):
five job, and then we came hometo our kids and cooked a meal
that was just perfect.
And then we seen the house in aperfect way.
You know, there wouldn't beenough time in the day for that.
And I just feel that a lot ofwomen do, they put all these
expectations on themselves.
For me, it's still a struggle.
I, I really have to look at mylife and say for me, I think
just having a clean house,sometimes I can get really
(11:17):
obsessed about that and it canaffect my mood depending on how
clean my house is.
And I just have to really becareful because, um, my
relationships with my kids arereally what's most important and
I'm straining thoserelationships because there's a
bunch of crumbs on the floor.
And I just, I have to kind ofjust begin to put those things
in perspective, sometimes aconstant struggle for people.
(11:38):
But I think looking at the wholepicture and saying, what is most
important here?
And I think a perfectionisticmindset comes from good
intentions of wanting to do anexcellent job at what you're
doing.
And so it's just askingyourself, what do I want to put
my time into to be excellent?
And I think that's okay, butwhen does it become too fine?
(11:59):
I think we know that.
I think it's just good to keepthat in check and that's
something that I have to do aswell.
Jessi Woinarowicz (12:04):
I think that's great advice, especially
we know when we're kind of atthat limit and then putting
yourself in.
Alissa Leedahl (12:11):
Yeah, definitely something I have to think about
often.
Jessi Woinarowicz (12:18):
What has been most surprising to you thus far
in your journey?
Most surprising to me,
Alissa Leedahl (12:24):
Honestly, just the journey through motherhood
has been really surprising forme.
You know, I've often thoughtlike, why did no one warned me?
Like what this is going to belike birthing a baby I've I'm
part of that experience.
So I can kind of understandthat, but even the pain
afterwards I've, I've watchedmoms go through all that.
(12:45):
And until you experienced ityourself, you quickly realize
like, wow, this is, you know, isa big deal and my body feels
totally different.
And just the demands on you as awoman, I mean the amount of
sleep deprivation and just theextremely responsibility that
you have to care for a littleone.
I don't know if anyone canreally even explain that to
(13:06):
someone until you actually gothrough it.
And so I think that's, what'sprobably been most surprising to
me thus far in my journey isjust the journey through
motherhood and what that lookslike.
Um, it's been a beautifuljourney and I wouldn't trade it
for anything, but I think it'sdefinitely been more surprising
to me than I expected.
Jessi Woinarowicz (13:25):
What would you say to parents out there
trying to juggle it all duringthis incredibly hectic and busy
season that we're in of what isCOVID-19?
Alissa Leedahl (13:36):
I would honestly say, just try to remember what's
most important.
And I think it's, it's easy toget caught up in the news and
the headlines.
It's easy to go to your phoneand try to see what's happening
and what's, you know, what's thenext thing that's going on.
And I feel like it can justreally induce a lot of fear and
(13:57):
I think it really takes theattention off of our family and
just being with them.
And so I would say, just decidewhat you have to do.
What is it that you have tojuggle that's most important and
then just leaving a lot of thoseemotions out of it, if you can,
you know, focusing on whatabsolutely needs to be done.
(14:17):
And I know there's a lot offamilies out there that have
lots through a lot of difficultthings during this time, and
we've been really fortunate.
And so I can't say that Itotally understand everything
that everyone is talkingthrough, but I have experienced
the fear and the unknown of itall.
And I just think that being ableto really focus on what's most
(14:37):
important.
And for me, my faith has beenhuge too.
Just being able to look to Godduring the season of a lot of
unknowns and a lot of anxiety,and just being able to give that
over to him during this time.
So I would just encouragefamilies, you know, focus on
what's important.
And if you have any type offaith to maybe start exploring
(14:59):
that more too, that's great.
As a mom, I, you know, I mostlystay home with my kids.
I work one or two days a week,so I'm with them a lot.
And I just saw that some dayswould go by and I would just
think, Oh my goodness, did Ireally actually spend quality
time with my kids today?
Like we were together, but youknow, I have this list of to-do
(15:20):
that I want to get done.
And we have these routines youwant to keep.
And, you know, I have all thesethings that are on my list, but
did I actually connect with mykids and like how embarrassing,
you know, I stay home with them,but do I actually like spend
quality time with them?
And so I just, um, really hadthis desire to just really enjoy
the season that I was in withthem, because I think that
(15:42):
sometimes we can just wish theseason away and just want the
next season to come.
And I found myself doing that.
You know, whether, Oh, whenthey're sleeping through the
night, then things will be somuch better.
Or when we get through pottytraining, then we'll be able to
do this.
And every season there's justsomething new that you're just
trying to get through Sunday.
They're going to be in schoolday and I won't get to see them.
(16:04):
And I won't get to know them aswell.
You know, I just started doingmommy, Jay and mommy Harper
time.
And Jones gets a lot of myattention the way it is.
Cause he's the only one.
But for right now we do mommy,Jay mommy's Harper time.
And basically I do 10 minuteswith each of them.
We just set that time aside.
And it's easy for me to dobecause I think I have 10
minutes.
Like I have 10 minutes for eachof them.
(16:25):
That's not a big deal.
And so we even just set thetimer and we can do whatever
they want to do for 10 minutesand we play.
So I played dinosaurs with Jay.
We, I played babies with Harper,you know, we do role play.
And it's just so interestingbecause the 10 minutes usually
becomes 20 minutes because I'mjust, I'm having the best time.
It's my favorite part of theday, because you get to get to
(16:48):
know more about your kids, hispersonality, and how they
interact and you get to buildthat foundation of just that
relationship with them.
I know there's a lot of momsthat work full time.
And so I think that it's evendoable, you know, on the
weekends or if it's somethingyou want to do with your kids as
well.
And I think that they just feelso special and I've even noticed
that they don't even act up asmuch sometimes because they've
(17:10):
had that attention from me.
And I feel like our data'ssolicitor there.
So it's just a really simplething.
And maybe it's not for everyonein that exact way, but I just
think, you know, thinking aboutyour life and thinking, how can
I be more present in this seasonthat I'm in?
You know, maybe you aren'tmarried and you want to be
married or you're waiting tohave children, or you're waiting
(17:32):
for the time when you can buythat new house.
Like, what is it that in thisseason that you can enjoy and
really appreciate that you mightnot have in the next season.
And so that's just advice thatI've gotten from other people
and I've just tried to reallytake it to heart.
I love that such practical,beautiful advice,
Jessi Woinarowicz (17:51):
Alyssa, who inspires you?
Alissa Leedahl (17:53):
I would have to say, you know, I have really
great parents and I have areally awesome mother-in-law and
I have great friends, but Iwould have to say the person who
inspires me the most, butdefinitely have to be my
husband.
He's someone that I've admiredsince honestly, the day that I
met him, obviously I married himfor a reason, but, um, he just
(18:14):
has this desire to be reallyexcellent at everything he does,
whether it's his job has worked,that he does, or even when he
comes home to be a dad, he,after a long day of work, he'll
come home and he'll get on thefloor and he'll play with our
kids.
And I know he he's had a longday and he's tired, but he just
makes time for them.
And he makes time for me.
He is a huge support to me and Ijust really admire him.
(18:37):
He is a person who, you know, hehas all these certifications and
letters behind his name, buthe's really one of the most
humble people.
I think he's a man of integrityand he just has this desire to
be excellent.
And so he just, he pushes me andhe encourages me to really do my
best
Jessi Woinarowicz (18:55):
Something you think everyone should do at
least once in their life.
Alissa Leedahl (18:58):
Okay.
So I think everyone should, atleast once in their life, this
is really practical, but I thinkeveryone should just try tents,
camping.
I will say that I was very antitent camping for, you know,
basically my whole life, Iguess.
And since I've been married, myhusband has tried to get me to
(19:18):
go with him, but I just have notbeen really a fan.
And, uh, when we had our firstchild, Jay, and he was too, my
husband just said to me, well,I'm going camping and I'm taking
Jay, well, whether you're comingor not at first, I just, I
thought, okay.
Yeah.
I said to him, you can go no bigdeal.
Like I'll just stay home.
But then I started thinking moreand I started thinking about all
(19:40):
the memories that they wouldmake together.
And I knew Dave was going tolove it.
And I thought, I want to bethere.
Like I want to be there whenthey go camping and I want to
take pictures.
Um, so I ended up going alongand I've gotten out for the past
three years and it's just been areally great thing for a family.
I really feel like we can reallyseparate ourselves from
(20:00):
everything that we have to domaybe around the house or things
in town.
And we can just enjoy each otherand you know, it's just simple.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:11):
All right.
Well let's end with a littlelightning round of questions, if
that's okay with you.
Alissa Leedahl (20:16):
Yeah, that sounds great.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:18):
All right.
Coffee or tea?
Alissa Leedahl (20:21):
Coffee, definitely.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:22):
How do you start your day?
Alissa Leedahl (20:24):
U h, I start my day typically I do the morning
waking up.
Right, right.
Yeah, exactly.
O h, thankfully our youngest issleeping through the night, so
most nights are pretty good, butyeah, h e's up at five 45, so
I'm making a bottle.
So sometimes that's the firstthing, but otherwise I do like
to start my day just with prayerand some devotional in the
(20:48):
morning.
So it might just be for fiveminutes.
That, that is my favorite way.
A nd how I typically like tostart my day.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:54):
Road trip or plane ride,?
Alissa Leedahl (20:55):
Plane ride.
Jessi Woinarowicz (20:57):
What is your favorite dessert?
Alissa Leedahl (21:02):
I would have to say, Oh, I just really love cake
, like white cake with whitefrosting.
Like the really sugary frosting,Definitely! Skiing or surfing.
skiing.
Cause I've only been, I've triedto surf once and it was awful.
Jessi Woinarowicz (21:21):
What do you do to relax?
Alissa Leedahl (21:23):
I feel like I don't get to relax a lot, but
sometimes at the end of the day,I love to just crawl into bed
and read a book even for 10minutes.
And that's super relaxing forme.
Flats or heels.
Used to be heels.
Now it's definitely flats.
Jessi Woinarowicz (21:39):
What impresses you?
Alissa Leedahl (21:42):
I would have to say someone who is really real
and is really vulnerable abouttheir life.
I think that really impresses mebecause that's really hard to
do.
And so even though it's evenhard for me to do sometimes I
think that's probably whatimpresses me most about someone.
Jessi Woinarowicz (21:59):
Are you a morning or a night person?
Alissa Leedahl (22:01):
Yeah, I definitely like the mornings.
If I can get to bed on time thatI love waking up early in the
mornings, as long as I can getto bed.
Jessi Woinarowicz (22:10):
And last one, climb a mountain or skydive.
Alissa Leedahl (22:13):
Oh, probably climb a mountain.
Skydiving sounds super nervewracking.
Jessi Woinarowicz (22:21):
All right.
You're off the hot seat.
You're done.
Alyssa, thank you so much forbeing on the podcast.
I appreciate you so much.
And I just appreciate all thatyou do.
Thank you.
Alissa Leedahl (22:32):
Thank you so much for having me.
Jessi Woinarowicz (22:36):
Hey, thanks so much for listening in today.
If you would like to learn moreabout glazing and grit and the
incredible community leadershighlighted on the show, check
out glazing grid, podcast.com.
Also, if you enjoyed thisepisode, please let us know by
subscribing rating and sharingit truly does help amplify the
guest journey.
Thanks again for listening.
(22:57):
I'm Jessi Woinarowicz.
Talk to you soon.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
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