One Bathroom, Three People, and a Whole Lot of Cardboard Boxes

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Ever tried to chase peace while dodging curveballs? You're not alone, friend. As I wrap up hosting the Summer Serenity Blueprint, I'm sitting in my own version of life's hurricane season—navigating my husband's retirement after 50 years of service, his recovery from surgery, a 1,100-mile relocation, and our new multi-generational living arrangement... with one bathroom. Talk about a life experiment!

The Summer Serenity Blueprint offered three transformative days focused on realignment, release, and reconnection for women over 40 who feel soul-tired and burned out. We worked through the six pillars of the Peace Restoration Method, examining what drains our energy, releasing false guilt and invisible expectations, unplugging from hustle culture, and rediscovering forgotten dreams. The most powerful revelation? Peace isn't something we chase or a destination we arrive at—it's a practice we choose daily, especially when surrounded by cardboard boxes and complicated bathroom schedules.

What emerged through tears, laughter, and countless "I thought I was the only one" moments was the understanding that we're not broken—we're just tired. And there absolutely is a way back to peace that doesn't require perfect circumstances. 

That's why I created the Peace in Your Pocket Kit—seven daily anchors for calm in chaos—simple reset tools you can use anywhere without elaborate rituals. Your reset can start right now with one deep breath. You don't need to figure everything out today, but please stop waiting for the chaos to end before you start reclaiming your joy. Peace is possible—even here, even now—and it's absolutely meant for you. Grab the Peace in Your Pocket Kit HERE

It’s time to rediscover YOU. Join the Reignite Your Flame Facebook group—a supportive community where women like you find peace, joy, and purpose. Together, we’ll nurture your mind, body, and spirit so you can shine again.  Don’t wait to start your journey back to yourself. 
Join Reignite Your Flame HERE

Support the show

Are you a woman over 40 who is on the verge of a mental or physical breakdown? Are you ready to invite peace, joy, and excitement into your life again? Download 5 Tips to Feel Joy Again in Under 20-Mintues AND Join the Reignite Your Flame Group on Facebook where women, just like you, come together to support, encourage, and connect.

Music by Adipsia

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey friend, can I just say, if you are listening
to this right now, you are mykind of woman, the kind who
somehow keeps showing up evenwhen life is handing her a
double scoop of too much.
If you've ever tried to chasepeace while dodging curve balls,
you are in good company.
Tried to chase peace whiledodging curveballs?

(00:26):
You are in good company.
I'm your host, Melissa, andtoday's episode is part recap,
part real talk and part girl.
You have got to hear this.
So we just wrapped up theSummer Serenity Blueprint and
y'all.
It was so rich, so powerful andso needed by everyone who
attended, especially in themiddle of what I lovingly call
my real life hurricane season.

(00:48):
Ready, let's do this.
Welcome to the Lemon BalmCoaching Podcast, your cozy
corner of the world where we'llsip on life's lessons and
squeeze the most out of everymoment.
I'm Melissa, your coach,cheerleader and maybe even a
little bit like that mom whoalways has a warm hug and the
best advice waiting for you.
If you're a woman over 40,feeling like life's left you a

(01:12):
little lost, aimless ordownright stuck, you're in the
right place.
This is where your joy, yourfreedom and your purpose come
back into focus.
Together, we'll laugh, learnand rediscover what makes you
come alive.
Because it's not too late, thisis your time, so grab a cup of
something warm, settle in andlet's start creating the next,

(01:32):
most beautiful chapter of yourlife together.
Okay, so let me set the stagefor you.
My husband, after almost 50years of a combination of
military and government service,finally has retired.
And that's beautiful, right itis.
But it's also a season wherehe's recovering from surgery,

(01:59):
having to downsize an entirelife's worth of stuff.
Downsize an entire life's worthof stuff.
We had to pack up his apartmentin Texas and move him all the
way to East Tennessee, 1,100miles away, and then
reintegrating him back into ourhome life after living apart for
a couple of years because hewas working and living in Texas

(02:22):
while I was here in EastTennessee caring for my dad and
getting our home ready for whenhe retires.
So welcome Welcome to ourmulti-generational one bathroom
life experiment.
My dad he has some majordigestive issues because of
surgeries that he's had to haveto save his life.

(02:44):
Digestive issues because ofsurgeries that he's had to have
to save his life.
My husband's got heart problems, which comes with its own set
of bathroom issues, if you knowwhat I'm talking about, and I'm
just trying to keep the peace,while also trying to find the
peace in the middle of sneezing,and you know what that can do
at this time of life.
But here's what I do know, andthis is what I shared during the

(03:08):
Summer Serenity Blueprint Peaceis not a place, it's not
something to chase after, it'snot a destination.
It's a practice, and it's onethat you actually get to choose,
even in the middle of cardboardboxes, rehab schedules and how
are we going to make this workconversations.

(03:28):
So what was the Summer SerenityBlueprint all about?
It was three days ofrealignment, release and
reconnection.
It was designed specificallyfor women over 40 who are
soul-tired, burned out and onedecision away from giving up or

(03:50):
glowing up.
Each day, we walked through thesix pillars of the peace
restoration method, which is mysignature process for restoring
your mind, body and spirit andreconnecting you with who you
were designed to be.
Day one, we got to be honestabout what was draining our
energy and keeping us stuck.

(04:11):
We looked at the invisibleexpectations, the false guilt
and the mental noise that keepsus on edge.
We talked about clarity and howimportant that is, and we
talked about releasing the crapthat's not yours to carry On.
Day number two we pulled theplug on the hustle culture and

(04:35):
we gave ourselves permission topause, to rest and to dream
again, and from that stillness,new dreams were able to bubble
up Forgotten longings, bolddesires and goosebump level
clarity.
On the third day, we exploredhow to move forward without

(04:56):
burning out again, Because peaceisn't passive.
Like I said, it's not adestination, it's not something
that you just achieve and thenit's there.
It's active, it's somethingthat we get to choose every
single day, and it flows when westop fighting ourselves and
start honoring our own rhythmsand who we were designed to be.

(05:17):
There were some tears, therewas laughter and there was a
whole lot of.
I thought I was the only onethat felt this way.
It was pretty incredible.
And on the fourth day, we had abonus session, which I thought
was absolutely fabulous, becauseonly a couple of people showed
up and the way that I believe inthat providence dictates

(05:43):
everything.
The two people that showed upneeded that personal attention
and they walked away withsomething just for themselves.
It was absolutely magical.
So if you're thinking, dang, Iwish I'd gone to that, let me
lovingly say you can still catchthe wave, because life isn't

(06:07):
suddenly going to get easier.
Your calendar won't magicallyclear itself, your relationships
might still feel like anemotional Jenga tower, but peace
is still possible.
And I'm not talking about theInstagram perfect piece, you
know, where they show you aperfect video and then they show
you what really happened behindthe scenes.

(06:28):
We're not talking about thatperfect video.
We're not talking about peacein the middle of a mess.
We're talking about peace thatanchors you while everything
else around you is shifting.
And because I know how fast lifecan come at us, I created
something to help you take thefirst baby step, and it's called

(06:48):
the Peace in your Pocket Kit.
It's seven daily anchors forcalm and chaos, Simple soul
reset tools that you can useanywhere no candles, no crystals
, no hour-long routines, justgrounding mantras, one-minute
breathwork rituals and quickprompts to help you reset

(07:11):
instead of react.
It's portable, it's practical,it's powerful and you can grab
it right now at the link in theshow notes.
So, wherever you are, whetheryou're sitting in your car for
just five more minutes ofsilence or hiding in the laundry
room pretending that you'refolding towels, don't lie.

(07:31):
We've all done it.
I see you.
You're not broken.
You're just tired.
And there is a way back to yourpeace.
You do not have to figure itall out today.
We don't have to know howeverything is going to work out,
but you do have to stop waitingfor the chaos to end before you
start reclaiming your joy.

(07:52):
Your reset can start right nowwith one deep breath and one
little anchor in your pocket.
This was a real quick episode.
I just wanted to kind of recapthe Summer Serenity Blueprint
for you and thank you so muchfor being here.
I am over here in EastTennessee cheering you on

(08:12):
Lipstick, on hair, messy boxes,everywhere, because we're in the
middle of moving my husbandback to Tennessee.
But my heart is wide open.
My husband back to Tennessee,but my heart is wide open.
It's wide open for you and it'swide open for this newest
experiment in my life.
So until next time, this isMelissa, reminding you that

(08:35):
peace is possible even here.
Whatever you're going throughright now, it is possible and it
is for you.
Thanks so much for spending alittle time with me today on the
Lemon Balm Coaching Podcast.
I hope you're walking away withsomething that sparks joy, hope
or a fresh perspective for yourjourney.
If you loved today's episode,let's keep the conversation

(08:58):
going.
You can find more inspiration,coaching tips and resources over
at my website,lemonbalmcoachingcom.
Don't forget to follow me onsocial media for encouragement
and updates, and you'll find meon Instagram and Facebook at
Lemon Balm Coaching.
And hey, if you're looking fora supportive, uplifting
community of amazing women justlike you, come join us in the

(09:18):
Reignite your Flame Facebookgroup.
It's a safe, welcoming spacewhere we share, grow and cheer
each other on, and you can findthe link on my website or just
search for Reignite your Flameon Facebook.
Remember, honey, just beno-transcript.