November 19, 2024 • 34 mins
In this episode of Purpose Project, host Leslie Pagel welcomes Kylie Sullivan and her service dog, Finnegan on the show. Kylie shares her profound journey of discovering her life's purpose despite battling Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Kylie narrates how her diagnosis at 16 upended her dreams of a dance career but eventually led her to teach dance and advocate for chronic illness awareness. Through personal stories, she discusses navigating depression, finding gratitude, and balancing the highs and lows of life. Kylie's inspiring story offers insights into the power of resilience, the importance of living in the present moment, and advocating for oneself.
00:00 Introduction to Purpose Project
00:24 Meet Kylie Sullivan
00:55 Kylie's Health Journey
02:40 Understanding Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
06:00 Discovering Purpose
18:11 Kylie's Daily Routine and Teaching
25:30 Advocacy and Speaking Up
33:29 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Follow Ky’s Happy Place on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyshappyplace/
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Episode Transcript
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(00:04):
Welcome to Purpose Project.
My name is Leslie Pagel.
Thank you for being here on theshow today.
We have a very special guest.
Her name is Kylie Sullivan.
Kylie shares with us her journeyof discovering her life's
purpose.
It's a story that left mespeechless.
Let's take a listen.
Leslie (00:24):
Kylie, thank you so much for being here on Purpose
Project.
I have been looking forward tothis conversation for a long
time now.
Me too.
I'm so happy to be here withyou.
Thank you.
Before we dive into the topic oflife's purpose, tell us a little
bit about yourself.
My name's
Kylie (00:44):
Kylie.
I love to read.
I love coffee.
I love my dog Finnegan.
Yes, my service dog.
Um, when I was, uh, younger, Istarted to have like mild
symptoms of a lot of things.
(01:04):
And, uh, we thought it was fine.
I got injured a lot and everyonewas like, Oh, she's just clumsy.
And then when I was 16, I, and Iwas a dancer all my life too,
that was all I knew.
And when I was 16 I got reallysick and was in the hospital for
over 5 months.
And, uh, went from dancing over20 hours a week to not being
(01:27):
able to dance at all.
It was a really hard adjustment.
Um, and finally got diagnosedwith something called Ehlers
Danlos Syndrome.
And, uh, At the moment, thoughtit just like twisted my life
upside down because ever since Iwas little I had a dream of uh,
(01:49):
going to college for dance andstudying dance or just seeing
where life took me in the dancecommunity and when I got sick I
had to at first I was like, ohI'll make it work, but then I
went through so much medicalwise that I finally realized
(02:10):
like it's not gonna work andthat's okay and I found my
purpose and I had to Had to livethrough a lot to realize that my
purpose can change Okay, now Iteach dance.
So I am still in the dancecommunity and it's like the best
(02:30):
feeling ever.
I love
Leslie (02:32):
that I love that you were able to Come back to it.
Me too.
Yeah Could you?
Tell the audience a little bitabout What the disease is and
how it impacts your body?
Kylie (02:46):
Yeah, so Ehlers Danlos syndrome is a connective tissue
disorder and there are 13 typesThere are more common types and
more specific severe and raretypes and at first we thought I
had the just very mild case andit turned to be a more severe
case but it, um, it affects thecollagen so in a healthy
(03:11):
person's body Collagen keepseverything strong.
It's the glue in your body.
It keeps your joints in placeand Supports your organs and
your blood vessels and peoplewith Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
They have faulty collagen.
So Like healthy people Theirbody is like jeans.
(03:33):
They're really sturdy and peoplewith Ehlers Danlos syndrome
Their body is more of likespandex.
So it stretches more and is notas Um, structured correctly.
So I have, because of EhlersDanlos syndrome, I have
something called gastroparesis.
So my stomach is paralyzed.
Um, it affects my lungs.
(03:55):
I have, uh, heart problems and Ihave dysautonomia, which is the
dysfunction of the autonomicnervous system.
So it affects, um, Everythingthat's like should be on an
automatic for like breathing andblood pressure and heart rate.
(04:17):
Um, my joints dislocate on adaily basis.
So I have to be really carefulof how I move and how I get even
just getting ready in themorning.
Like I can injure myself soeasily and um, I used to spend
so much time in the hospital,especially when we didn't know
what was going on.
(04:37):
But now that I have likeeverything that I can help take
care of myself and keep my bodyas functioning as possible at
home, I've been able to stay outof the emergency room and
hospitals more.
So it's been really nice, butit's, I've had countless
procedures, surgeries, tests, itaffects
Leslie (04:59):
everything.
Wow, so you were 16 when
Kylie (05:05):
When it got really bad.
Leslie (05:07):
When it got really bad.
Yeah, and I imagine it soundslike it just turned your world
upside down.
It did.
Yeah,
Kylie (05:14):
I was a very, I was very depressed, I was very uh,
depressed.
angry all the time and grievingall the time and Because of all
the medical things I've had togo through I do have medical
PTSD from doctors not believingme and like they see a teen girl
(05:36):
who's hurting and They gothrough tests and when they
don't find anything on the firstlike couple tries They just like
dependent on anxiety and she'sjust depressed and it was so
hard to believe myself that I,there was actually something
physically going on.
Leslie (05:57):
Wow.
Thank you so much for sharingthat and for being here and
talking about the process anddiscovering your purpose.
You said earlier that It's beena little bit of a journey
through this to discover yourpurpose.
What, what is your purpose?
(06:19):
How do you see it?
Kylie (06:20):
Uh, you know, I feel like it's always changing, which It's
gotta get comfy.
Is that better?
Good point.
Hey, that's gross.
Don't do that on camera.
Then again, okay.
You're so rude.
Um, I feel like I have multiplepurposes too.
(06:43):
Um, a big one is educatingpeople on not only Ehlers Danlos
Syndrome and the illnesses thatI live with, but all chronic
illnesses and disabilities andeducating doctors and advocating
for myself because There's a lotof doctors who either don't
(07:04):
believe them or just don't havea good bedside manner.
So, I feel like a huge purposein my life is to educate people
and bring awareness.
And, um, a second purpose I feelvery strongly about is teaching
dance and being there for mystudents and watching them grow.
(07:24):
So, I love being able to besomeone in their life that they
see disability is not some taboosubject, but something that is
normal and being in a wheelchairisn't that scary.
Leslie (07:37):
And we are in your family's dance studio.
Yeah.
Yes, Impulse Dance Academy.
Yes.
Thanks for having us here.
You're so welcome.
It's great to be on site.
Yes, it's so
Kylie (07:48):
nice.
Leslie (07:49):
So you, you mentioned earlier that it was, journey to
discover your purpose.
Were there any defining momentsin that journey?
Kylie (08:01):
There really wasn't.
I've, I was so numb for so long,before I got my depression
really treated that I, Icouldn't find my purpose.
It wasn't there yet.
It was there, but I justcouldn't find it yet.
And, um, yeah.
Once I was treated for mydepression, everything started
(08:22):
to, I started to see life moreclearly and it was a very
gradual process of finding mypurpose and realizing
Leslie (08:30):
why I'm here.
Yeah.
Could you tell us a little bitabout that process?
It sounds like getting treatedfor depression was the first
step.
Yeah.
But in coming out of that, werethere certain things that you
did?
Kylie (08:44):
I, um, I started something called Ky's Happy
Place.
It's, uh, it's an Instagramaccount that I have and it's
kind of like a gratitudejournal, just in a different,
um, a different way and Istarted posting a positive day
and kind of talking about my dayand even if it was just like
(09:05):
waking up and that kind ofstarted the process of I I had
to stop looking in the past andI even had to stop looking in
the future because my life withchronic illness and disability
is so unpredictable and I wasfocusing so much on the future
that I wasn't able to look Atthe present.
(09:28):
So, teaching myself how to be inthe present was a lot easier to
find my purpose then when ratherthan being stuck in the future.
Leslie (09:38):
It sounds like Ky's happy place of sharing moments
of gratitude helped with that.
Kylie (09:45):
It did.
Yeah, at first it did turn intosomething like toxic positivity
where I only saw the positiveand I wouldn't let myself see
the negative and finally Goingthrough so much therapy, which
I'm so thankful for my therapistum with how much she's helped me
through this is I It's amazingto be positive.
(10:08):
It's so good to be happy.
It feels great Also, I need tofeel negative sometimes.
I need to have those sad daysand be in my thoughts and grieve
to be able to be happy.
And that was, it's a big balanceto try to find the right way to
not be stuck in the negative,but also not be stuck in the
positive.
It's a really fine balance.
Leslie (10:29):
Right.
Are there any tips that you havefor,
Kylie (10:33):
for
Leslie (10:33):
our audience?
Kylie (10:36):
I, I found that I like to give myself sad days where if
I'm just feeling caught up inlife and maybe I'm, I've been so
social that I just need torecharge, I will give myself a
sad day.
And I have a little book nook inmy closet, so I hide my closet.
(11:00):
I turn my phones off.
I might read, I might cry, Imight just like sit and stare at
the ceiling and that's actuallyhelped so much to just let
myself focus on the negativejust for a day.
And then I'm able to be like,okay, I got it all out.
I can, can start seeing myfamily now and turn my phone on
(11:22):
and text my best friends.
And it, it was really helpfulfor me to give myself that
moment to just break down.
Leslie (11:30):
And it sounds like it's time bound too, where it's like,
this is going to be my time.
I'm going to do this and thenI'm going to come out of it.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
And gratitude being, being ingratitude helps as well.
It does.
Wonderful.
Any, any other tips?
I, cause I suspect that, uh,there are people that also
(11:54):
struggled to be in the present.
There is.
And you've learned it in a waythat is unique for you.
And there's things that, thatothers can learn from that too.
Kylie (12:08):
I, sometimes I will write down.
the past, everything I've beenthrough.
And it's usually on my sad daystoo.
I might do some journaling whereI write down everything that
happened to me, not everythingthat would take forever, but
write down all the things thatI've been through in the past.
(12:28):
And then I'll write things downof like, In the future, what I
want to do, not what mighthappen, because focusing on the
what ifs and the negative aspectis not helpful for me.
Um, but I'll write downeverything that I would love to
do in the future, and then Iwill write down everything
(12:49):
that's happening now and that Ican control right now, because
there is so much I can't controlfor everyone, not just me.
And to focus on what I cancontrol right now has been a
process.
But writing everything down andI like to always focus on the
past first, the future second,and the present now because that
(13:10):
way I can like get rid of thepast and the future.
And then just get grounded inthe now.
Leslie (13:15):
Love that.
Yes.
Okay, three things.
Gratitude.
Yep.
Take the time.
Time bounded.
Yes.
So you're not kind of stuck init.
Yeah.
And then, um, journaling.
Focus on the past, the future,and then the present.
Yes.
Love that.
Yes.
(13:36):
So you shared your purposes, twopurposes.
One, the education and advocacy.
And then two, around, dance andteaching.
Is that right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And a little bit of your, andyour journey of discovering
that, which was, dealing withthe depression and then really
(13:57):
focusing on.
being in the present.
And it's through that processwhere it became clear this is
what I'm here to do.
Kylie (14:05):
Yes.
Leslie (14:06):
Yes.
Yes.
So when you are focused on yourpurpose and you're living in
purpose, how does that make youfeel?
Kylie (14:17):
I, I just feel so happy again and so nice because I was
so stuck for so long to be ableto
Leslie (14:30):
Yeah, take your time.
I'm gonna grab one too.
Kylie (14:42):
To be alive and here, um, And Able to even find my
purpose.
It's, it's an amazing feeling.
Like, it's an overwhelming happyfeeling.
Leslie (14:58):
Really?
Yeah, and it, when I hear yousay that, what, what I feel is
it's because for so long youwere in this other place, and
you're on the other side of itnow, and, and, Is it because you
(15:19):
can see a broader picture or?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kylie (15:23):
And not only like a broader picture, but I can like
actually see the picture becauseI was, I was so numb and
couldn't see life clearly.
And once I was on that otherside, like I can actually focus
to
Leslie (15:37):
find the purpose.
You mentioned that part of yourpurpose is education and
awareness and what you what Ijust heard is there was so long
where you were numb thereHopefully will be people that
are listening to you and theymight some might be in that
(16:00):
place.
What would you tell them?
Don't give up
Kylie (16:06):
That's a big one and It, I know how much it feels to be,
like, to feel stuck.
It's a huge feeling, and it'shard, and it feels impossible.
Um, and advocating for yourselfgets so tiring.
Uh, so, ask for help if you can.
(16:26):
If you have someone you love, orsomeone you feel safe with,
bring them with you to doctor'sappointments.
And, um, Just don't give upadvocating, uh, stick up for
yourself, even when it getsexhausting because there might
be a lot of people not listeningto you and saying it's anxiety,
(16:47):
saying it's depression.
Uh, just keep looking forward orlooking in the present,
whichever helps you most.
But, um, it's, yeah, it'll feelimpossible.
It'll feel like you just want togive up, but.
There, there is the other sidethat you will eventually
Leslie (17:07):
get to.
And what about people thathaven't gone through that
challenge?
What would you, what do you hopethey learn from you?
Um,
Kylie (17:20):
I hope you can see that everyone is going through
something.
Um, Even when I was stuck in thedepression, I would always hide
it.
I would, I looked happy.
I would smile.
I would laugh.
I would look like I'm having agreat time and I was going
(17:41):
through so much.
So don't, don't judge someone ofhow they look and always
remember that someone's goingthrough something and to treat
them with kindness and If you doknow that they're going through
something to be there for themand they might not want to talk
(18:02):
about it So just being presentwith them means a lot.
Mm
Leslie (18:06):
hmm Yeah, thanks for sharing both of those.
Yeah So what does the a day?
Look like when you're living inyour purpose take us through
what that looks like.
Kylie (18:21):
Um, I Can I take you through my medical day too?
Yeah, absolutely.
Because that has a lot to dowith it.
So when I get up, I usually haveto take my medicine before I get
out of bed, or else I feel likeI'm going to pass out.
Um, I have to take my inhalers,I have to do oxygen, and usually
(18:44):
by then I'm feeling like, Idon't feel like getting out of
bed physically, which means,which makes me mentally, like,
not want to get out of bed,because I don't know what that's
going to bring me to.
Okay.
Um, and I get out of bed, and Ihave to start my feeds, because
I have a feeding tube.
Okay.
So, I put my nutrition throughthere, and then I have to do my
(19:10):
infusion.
I have a port, so I do infusionsthrough there.
Okay.
And by then I'm exhausted andit's hard to keep going.
Um, and then I might take sometime to just lay in bed or read.
And that starts to get me tofeel better and, uh, think about
(19:33):
the present.
Like we've been talking about alot.
And what I can do in the day tofeel more in control, which
might be.
Um, painting my nails, just likebeing mindful, coloring, reading
more, um, and then I have, Ihave to take medicine every
(19:54):
three hours.
So, uh, I'm supposed to do itthrough my feeding tube, but I
get just so tired, it takes like30 minutes, so sometimes I just
take it by mouth, and then itmakes me nauseous, and then I
have to lay down, and, um, Ihave to sleep like 12 to 14
hours just to get like maybe 2or 3 hours of good, feeling good
(20:16):
in the day.
And by the end of the day, like,I just feel exhausted and
worried about the next day.
And I have to remind myself thatI am here for a reason.
It's a huge one.
And I am able to teach amazingkids at dance and that helps me
kind of bring myself back intowhy I'm here.
Leslie (20:39):
Yeah, yeah.
So, tell us about your teaching.
Because we're here in yourstudio, which is awesome.
Yes.
Kylie (20:49):
It's the best.
I am just so grateful for my joband all the students I teach.
I was going to say my favoritepart, but I just have so many
favorite parts.
Uh, a biggest thing is, um, I, Ijust miss dancing so bad.
It used to be, I could dancestanding and going full out.
(21:11):
And then I was could only danceon the floor and I would dance
with my arms and then I could goin my wheelchair and just kind
of do our movements.
And now my health is to a pointwhere it's hard to do any of
those.
Um, Um, but I've been able tochange my focus on
choreographing and teachingothers to kind of live through
their movements.
(21:31):
And so probably the coolest partis being able to teach a
combination or teach, um, Iteach the competition team
mostly and choreograph theirdances.
And I get to, instead of performon stage, I get to sit in the
audience and look at mychoreography.
Like, come to life, and then Iget to see my dancers when they
(21:55):
come off stage, and I'm justlike so proud of them, and also
I've been able to be proud ofmyself of how far I've come, and
I get to teach them now, andspend so much time with them,
it's so nice.
Right.
How long have you been teaching?
Um, I started assisting when Iwas about 14 years old, and then
(22:17):
I started teaching my ownclasses when I was about 19, so,
5, 6 years, yeah, yes,
Leslie (22:25):
it's incredible, Kylie, your day is a lot of taking care
of yourself.
Yeah.
And.
Fueling yourself both mentally,it sounds like.
Mostly mentally.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm at a loss for what to saybecause it is something that
(22:50):
most people don't live through.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How do you feel in this moment?
I
Kylie (23:01):
feel good.
Leslie (23:02):
Do you?
Kylie (23:02):
Yeah.
It's, it feels good to talkabout because I was, I was
holding so much in years agothat now that I'm able to talk
about it, it feels good.
It's overwhelming.
Sometimes I get emotional.
I'm a sensitive human, but I've,I found two and I realized that
that's not a bad thing.
Right.
That feels good to talk about.
Leslie (23:23):
Yeah.
Well, I appreciate you.
Talking about it was, youmentioned that you weren't
always comfortable talking aboutit.
Kylie (23:33):
No, I wasn't.
Um, I always wanted to feelcomfortable, so I would be open
about it when it first startedhappening, but I don't think I,
you know, knew much about it, soit was hard to talk about in
that aspect.
And then once I did know a lotabout my conditions, it just got
(23:54):
overwhelming and I shut all ofit out.
I didn't want to talk about it,and I didn't want to open up
about it.
But two years ago, When Istarted getting really treated
for my depression, I startedwanting to talk about it more
and educating people about itand kind of started that way.
Leslie (24:14):
Yeah.
When you look out into yourfuture, whatever time horizon
that is, what do you see interms of your purpose?
And I know we talked earlierabout looking at the past and
the future.
Yeah.
Um, are you okay looking out?
(24:34):
Yeah.
Okay.
What do you see in, in your, in
Kylie (24:38):
your future?
I have to, I have to keep mythoughts flexible.
Yeah.
Because a life with chronicillness is so unpredictable.
Um, but I hope to see myselfgrow even more.
Mm hmm.
And take the education and theadvocating further, and.
(24:59):
talking more about it openly.
I do talk about it openly rightnow, but just starting
conversations like, do you knowwhat EDS is?
Do you know what gastroparesisis?
And I don't know.
I, I, I hope to continue mypurpose and I don't know what,
where it will take me in thefuture, but I hope to just keep
(25:19):
this outlook where I am
Leslie (25:20):
now.
Yeah.
Yeah.
continue to grow through yourpurpose and it will evolve and
being open to how it evolves.
Kylie (25:29):
Yeah.
Leslie (25:29):
Yeah.
Earlier you talked aboutadvocacy and, not giving up and
continuing to advocate.
What does advocacy look like?
Kylie (25:40):
Um, huge thing is speaking up.
I, my whole life has been sohard to speak up and speak my
emotions.
Because I'm, I'm a woman, andother people like to view a
woman as dramatic and notsupposed to speak their mind.
And getting to the point where Icould speak my mind and speak up
(26:02):
for myself, I am now able to bein a doctor's office, and my
doctor might say something thatshouldn't come out of their
mouth, and I'll be like, what doyou mean by that?
Or I I can say now that what Ihave is real, and I believe in
that, so I need you to believein that.
(26:23):
Um, just really speaking up formyself, and advocating for
myself, even with friends andfamily, or strangers, and
telling them that I have achronic illness, so it's hard to
lift my glass, can I have astraw, if they don't have
straws.
This is restaurants.
Or trying to, like, get rid ofstraws, which is good for the
(26:45):
environment, but also fordisability reasons, not helpful.
So sometimes you have to ask forthat, and they'll give you,
like, crazy looks.
It's just, like, tiny thingslike that where people don't
understand.
And maybe I wouldn't understandeither in the past, but now
it's, like, I have to explainmyself for everything.
(27:07):
I used to give up and not, butnow I can be like, uh, can you
open the door for me?
Cause I can't.
Leslie (27:13):
Yeah.
So, it's through your words andusing your voice, to help
advocate for yourself to helpget what you need.
Yes.
Yes.
I, I think that is so importantfor your situation, I think it,
it also relates to some of thethings I'm learning through
(27:35):
life's purpose and it is thatsometimes we get stuck by social
norms, you know, society sayswe're not supposed to speak up
or whatever.
To make the other personcomfortable.
Right.
I need to be comfortable too.
Exactly.
And recognizing that you haveneeds as well.
(27:57):
And.
In terms of purpose, to fulfillthe purpose and to do that, I
need to advocate for myself or Ineed to go up against some
social norms that might bestanding in my way.
Exactly.
And that doesn't
Kylie (28:11):
mean if like, that's not me being rude, that's me being
respecting not only me, but youtoo.
Like.
My family, especially, theydon't want me to hold back my
thoughts of how they can helpme.
I need to speak up for that.
Leslie (28:26):
Right.
Yes, because you're helpingthem.
Yes.
Learn yes, okay.
I love that.
I love that.
What else on the topic ofpurpose is on your mind?
I can't think of anything.
You've shared your story, yourjourney of discovering your
(28:47):
purpose, and that was throughbeing in a dark place and coming
out that dark place, and thenreally staying in the present,
and it makes you feel so happy.
It does.
Overwhelmingly happy when you'rein purpose.
It does.
And you talked about your, yourdaily routine of just taking
(29:08):
care of yourself and, um, and indoing that, allowing you to
fulfill your purpose.
Yeah.
What advice do you have forthose that are listening to this
who might not have discoveredtheir purpose, who might be in
that place of uncertainty on,what am I here to do?
Kylie (29:32):
It's okay to not know.
You don't have to knoweverything right now.
Figuring out your purpose issuch an individual thing.
And I think accepting that youdon't know right now is okay.
Right.
And there's plenty of time tofigure out your purpose.
Um, I think starting with yourpurpose.
(29:53):
of just being alive and beinghere on earth is a good way to
start.
That's how I started anddefinitely took me to where I
need to be.
Right.
So just focusing on the tinybits of my purpose is to live
today and to make it
Leslie (30:08):
tomorrow is a good start.
Yeah.
So there is an Austrianneurologist and psychologist.
named Viktor Frankl.
Have you heard of him?
I
Kylie (30:19):
have not.
Leslie (30:20):
So he's he's now deceased, but he wrote a book
called Man's Search for Meaning.
Kylie (30:26):
Oh, I love that.
Leslie (30:27):
And he, as a child, got very interested in the topic of
life's purpose.
And then during World War II, hewas a concentration camp
prisoner.
Oh,
Kylie (30:40):
wow.
Leslie (30:41):
And He continued his studies, I guess, and in the
most horrific situations.
Yeah.
And afterwards he wrote Man'sSearch for Meaning and one of
the things that he said is, itis not what, You are asking of
(31:01):
life, but what life is asking ofyou, it's about asking, what is
life asking of me right now
Kylie (31:10):
in this
Leslie (31:10):
present?
And that's what you just talkedto, that what may be right now,
it is about being alive andtaking care of yourself.
Kylie (31:20):
Exactly.
Leslie (31:21):
And that can evolve as your life evolves.
But It really is about what lifeis asking of us.
Is there anything else leftunsaid on the topic of purpose?
Kylie (31:37):
I can't think of anything.
Leslie (31:39):
Anything else on topic of advocacy or dancing?
Um,
Kylie (31:45):
Kind of dancing.
I feel like Every time I saythat I'm a dance teacher or that
I like dancing a lot of peoplesay oh I could never dance like
I don't have the rhythm butsomething I like to do is I just
get up and I kind of dance in mybed and it's just so fun and I
don't know.
You can dance too, whenever youare Even if it's behind closed
(32:06):
doors, it just feels good.
Leslie (32:09):
Oh, yes.
Yes So, um, give it a go.
Even if you don't feel like youhave rhythm.
Yeah.
Move your shoulders and closethe door and see how it makes
you feel.
Cause it might lift your spirit.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
I'm going to do that.
I love to dance though.
Kylie (32:27):
Oh, it's just so fun.
Leslie (32:28):
Yes.
Do you do adult,
Kylie (32:31):
uh, teaching here?
We have one adult class.
It's an adult jazz funk.
It's kind of like, Just movingyour body and getting your heart
rate up.
Okay.
It's really fun.
Okay.
My sister Katie teaches that.
Yes.
And she's the best anyways, so.
It's a lot of fun.
You should join.
I'll have to look into that.
Leslie (32:49):
Yes.
Yes.
I would, I envision myself as ahip hop dancer in my mind's eye,
Kylie (32:56):
oh, I, I could do all the dancing, but hip hop is the only
one that I could, I just can'tdo as a very ballerina ish
person.
So trying to get myself to dothose sharper, crazy moves.
It's just, yeah, but it's stillfun.
Leslie (33:11):
Absolutely.
Well, thank you so much forsharing your journey of
discovering life's purpose andit is a journey.
It is the big journey.
Absolutely.
It's so worth it.
Yes.
Thank you for being here.
Kylie (33:26):
You're welcome.
Thank you for asking.
Leslie (33:28):
Absolutely.
There is so much I've beenreflecting on from this
conversation with Kylie.
One of the things that I amworking to bring into my life is
living each moment by beingpresent in the moment.
I think about the times when Ihave worry or I have anxiety,
(33:48):
and those are oftentimes when Iam thinking about the past.
Or worrying about the future,but it's when we're living in
the present moment where we canbe grounded and we can truly be
living our lives.
Kylie, thank you for bringingthat to us.
And thanks to all of you fortuning in.
(34:14):
Purpose Project is brought to you for education and
for entertainment purposes.
This podcast is not intended toreplace the advice that you
would receive from a licensedtherapist or doctor or any other
qualified professional.
Welcome to Purpose Project.
My name is Leslie Pagel.
Thank you for being here on theshow today.
We have a very special guest.
Her name is Kylie Sullivan.
Kylie shares with us her journeyof discovering her life's
purpose.
It's a story that left mespeechless.
Let's take a listen.
Leslie (00:24):
Kylie, thank you so much for being here on Purpose
Project.
I have been looking forward tothis conversation for a long
time now.
Me too.
I'm so happy to be here withyou.
Thank you.
Before we dive into the topic oflife's purpose, tell us a little
bit about yourself.
My name's
Kylie (00:44):
Kylie.
I love to read.
I love coffee.
I love my dog Finnegan.
Yes, my service dog.
Um, when I was, uh, younger, Istarted to have like mild
symptoms of a lot of things.
(01:04):
And, uh, we thought it was fine.
I got injured a lot and everyonewas like, Oh, she's just clumsy.
And then when I was 16, I, and Iwas a dancer all my life too,
that was all I knew.
And when I was 16 I got reallysick and was in the hospital for
over 5 months.
And, uh, went from dancing over20 hours a week to not being
(01:27):
able to dance at all.
It was a really hard adjustment.
Um, and finally got diagnosedwith something called Ehlers
Danlos Syndrome.
And, uh, At the moment, thoughtit just like twisted my life
upside down because ever since Iwas little I had a dream of uh,
(01:49):
going to college for dance andstudying dance or just seeing
where life took me in the dancecommunity and when I got sick I
had to at first I was like, ohI'll make it work, but then I
went through so much medicalwise that I finally realized
(02:10):
like it's not gonna work andthat's okay and I found my
purpose and I had to Had to livethrough a lot to realize that my
purpose can change Okay, now Iteach dance.
So I am still in the dancecommunity and it's like the best
(02:30):
feeling ever.
I love
Leslie (02:32):
that I love that you were able to Come back to it.
Me too.
Yeah Could you?
Tell the audience a little bitabout What the disease is and
how it impacts your body?
Kylie (02:46):
Yeah, so Ehlers Danlos syndrome is a connective tissue
disorder and there are 13 typesThere are more common types and
more specific severe and raretypes and at first we thought I
had the just very mild case andit turned to be a more severe
case but it, um, it affects thecollagen so in a healthy
(03:11):
person's body Collagen keepseverything strong.
It's the glue in your body.
It keeps your joints in placeand Supports your organs and
your blood vessels and peoplewith Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
They have faulty collagen.
So Like healthy people Theirbody is like jeans.
(03:33):
They're really sturdy and peoplewith Ehlers Danlos syndrome
Their body is more of likespandex.
So it stretches more and is notas Um, structured correctly.
So I have, because of EhlersDanlos syndrome, I have
something called gastroparesis.
So my stomach is paralyzed.
Um, it affects my lungs.
(03:55):
I have, uh, heart problems and Ihave dysautonomia, which is the
dysfunction of the autonomicnervous system.
So it affects, um, Everythingthat's like should be on an
automatic for like breathing andblood pressure and heart rate.
(04:17):
Um, my joints dislocate on adaily basis.
So I have to be really carefulof how I move and how I get even
just getting ready in themorning.
Like I can injure myself soeasily and um, I used to spend
so much time in the hospital,especially when we didn't know
what was going on.
(04:37):
But now that I have likeeverything that I can help take
care of myself and keep my bodyas functioning as possible at
home, I've been able to stay outof the emergency room and
hospitals more.
So it's been really nice, butit's, I've had countless
procedures, surgeries, tests, itaffects
Leslie (04:59):
everything.
Wow, so you were 16 when
Kylie (05:05):
When it got really bad.
Leslie (05:07):
When it got really bad.
Yeah, and I imagine it soundslike it just turned your world
upside down.
It did.
Yeah,
Kylie (05:14):
I was a very, I was very depressed, I was very uh,
depressed.
angry all the time and grievingall the time and Because of all
the medical things I've had togo through I do have medical
PTSD from doctors not believingme and like they see a teen girl
(05:36):
who's hurting and They gothrough tests and when they
don't find anything on the firstlike couple tries They just like
dependent on anxiety and she'sjust depressed and it was so
hard to believe myself that I,there was actually something
physically going on.
Leslie (05:57):
Wow.
Thank you so much for sharingthat and for being here and
talking about the process anddiscovering your purpose.
You said earlier that It's beena little bit of a journey
through this to discover yourpurpose.
What, what is your purpose?
(06:19):
How do you see it?
Kylie (06:20):
Uh, you know, I feel like it's always changing, which It's
gotta get comfy.
Is that better?
Good point.
Hey, that's gross.
Don't do that on camera.
Then again, okay.
You're so rude.
Um, I feel like I have multiplepurposes too.
(06:43):
Um, a big one is educatingpeople on not only Ehlers Danlos
Syndrome and the illnesses thatI live with, but all chronic
illnesses and disabilities andeducating doctors and advocating
for myself because There's a lotof doctors who either don't
(07:04):
believe them or just don't havea good bedside manner.
So, I feel like a huge purposein my life is to educate people
and bring awareness.
And, um, a second purpose I feelvery strongly about is teaching
dance and being there for mystudents and watching them grow.
(07:24):
So, I love being able to besomeone in their life that they
see disability is not some taboosubject, but something that is
normal and being in a wheelchairisn't that scary.
Leslie (07:37):
And we are in your family's dance studio.
Yeah.
Yes, Impulse Dance Academy.
Yes.
Thanks for having us here.
You're so welcome.
It's great to be on site.
Yes, it's so
Kylie (07:48):
nice.
Leslie (07:49):
So you, you mentioned earlier that it was, journey to
discover your purpose.
Were there any defining momentsin that journey?
Kylie (08:01):
There really wasn't.
I've, I was so numb for so long,before I got my depression
really treated that I, Icouldn't find my purpose.
It wasn't there yet.
It was there, but I justcouldn't find it yet.
And, um, yeah.
Once I was treated for mydepression, everything started
(08:22):
to, I started to see life moreclearly and it was a very
gradual process of finding mypurpose and realizing
Leslie (08:30):
why I'm here.
Yeah.
Could you tell us a little bitabout that process?
It sounds like getting treatedfor depression was the first
step.
Yeah.
But in coming out of that, werethere certain things that you
did?
Kylie (08:44):
I, um, I started something called Ky's Happy
Place.
It's, uh, it's an Instagramaccount that I have and it's
kind of like a gratitudejournal, just in a different,
um, a different way and Istarted posting a positive day
and kind of talking about my dayand even if it was just like
(09:05):
waking up and that kind ofstarted the process of I I had
to stop looking in the past andI even had to stop looking in
the future because my life withchronic illness and disability
is so unpredictable and I wasfocusing so much on the future
that I wasn't able to look Atthe present.
(09:28):
So, teaching myself how to be inthe present was a lot easier to
find my purpose then when ratherthan being stuck in the future.
Leslie (09:38):
It sounds like Ky's happy place of sharing moments
of gratitude helped with that.
Kylie (09:45):
It did.
Yeah, at first it did turn intosomething like toxic positivity
where I only saw the positiveand I wouldn't let myself see
the negative and finally Goingthrough so much therapy, which
I'm so thankful for my therapistum with how much she's helped me
through this is I It's amazingto be positive.
(10:08):
It's so good to be happy.
It feels great Also, I need tofeel negative sometimes.
I need to have those sad daysand be in my thoughts and grieve
to be able to be happy.
And that was, it's a big balanceto try to find the right way to
not be stuck in the negative,but also not be stuck in the
positive.
It's a really fine balance.
Leslie (10:29):
Right.
Are there any tips that you havefor,
Kylie (10:33):
for
Leslie (10:33):
our audience?
Kylie (10:36):
I, I found that I like to give myself sad days where if
I'm just feeling caught up inlife and maybe I'm, I've been so
social that I just need torecharge, I will give myself a
sad day.
And I have a little book nook inmy closet, so I hide my closet.
(11:00):
I turn my phones off.
I might read, I might cry, Imight just like sit and stare at
the ceiling and that's actuallyhelped so much to just let
myself focus on the negativejust for a day.
And then I'm able to be like,okay, I got it all out.
I can, can start seeing myfamily now and turn my phone on
(11:22):
and text my best friends.
And it, it was really helpfulfor me to give myself that
moment to just break down.
Leslie (11:30):
And it sounds like it's time bound too, where it's like,
this is going to be my time.
I'm going to do this and thenI'm going to come out of it.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
And gratitude being, being ingratitude helps as well.
It does.
Wonderful.
Any, any other tips?
I, cause I suspect that, uh,there are people that also
(11:54):
struggled to be in the present.
There is.
And you've learned it in a waythat is unique for you.
And there's things that, thatothers can learn from that too.
Kylie (12:08):
I, sometimes I will write down.
the past, everything I've beenthrough.
And it's usually on my sad daystoo.
I might do some journaling whereI write down everything that
happened to me, not everythingthat would take forever, but
write down all the things thatI've been through in the past.
(12:28):
And then I'll write things downof like, In the future, what I
want to do, not what mighthappen, because focusing on the
what ifs and the negative aspectis not helpful for me.
Um, but I'll write downeverything that I would love to
do in the future, and then Iwill write down everything
(12:49):
that's happening now and that Ican control right now, because
there is so much I can't controlfor everyone, not just me.
And to focus on what I cancontrol right now has been a
process.
But writing everything down andI like to always focus on the
past first, the future second,and the present now because that
(13:10):
way I can like get rid of thepast and the future.
And then just get grounded inthe now.
Leslie (13:15):
Love that.
Yes.
Okay, three things.
Gratitude.
Yep.
Take the time.
Time bounded.
Yes.
So you're not kind of stuck init.
Yeah.
And then, um, journaling.
Focus on the past, the future,and then the present.
Yes.
Love that.
Yes.
(13:36):
So you shared your purposes, twopurposes.
One, the education and advocacy.
And then two, around, dance andteaching.
Is that right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And a little bit of your, andyour journey of discovering
that, which was, dealing withthe depression and then really
(13:57):
focusing on.
being in the present.
And it's through that processwhere it became clear this is
what I'm here to do.
Kylie (14:05):
Yes.
Leslie (14:06):
Yes.
Yes.
So when you are focused on yourpurpose and you're living in
purpose, how does that make youfeel?
Kylie (14:17):
I, I just feel so happy again and so nice because I was
so stuck for so long to be ableto
Leslie (14:30):
Yeah, take your time.
I'm gonna grab one too.
Kylie (14:42):
To be alive and here, um, And Able to even find my
purpose.
It's, it's an amazing feeling.
Like, it's an overwhelming happyfeeling.
Leslie (14:58):
Really?
Yeah, and it, when I hear yousay that, what, what I feel is
it's because for so long youwere in this other place, and
you're on the other side of itnow, and, and, Is it because you
(15:19):
can see a broader picture or?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Kylie (15:23):
And not only like a broader picture, but I can like
actually see the picture becauseI was, I was so numb and
couldn't see life clearly.
And once I was on that otherside, like I can actually focus
to
Leslie (15:37):
find the purpose.
You mentioned that part of yourpurpose is education and
awareness and what you what Ijust heard is there was so long
where you were numb thereHopefully will be people that
are listening to you and theymight some might be in that
(16:00):
place.
What would you tell them?
Don't give up
Kylie (16:06):
That's a big one and It, I know how much it feels to be,
like, to feel stuck.
It's a huge feeling, and it'shard, and it feels impossible.
Um, and advocating for yourselfgets so tiring.
Uh, so, ask for help if you can.
(16:26):
If you have someone you love, orsomeone you feel safe with,
bring them with you to doctor'sappointments.
And, um, Just don't give upadvocating, uh, stick up for
yourself, even when it getsexhausting because there might
be a lot of people not listeningto you and saying it's anxiety,
(16:47):
saying it's depression.
Uh, just keep looking forward orlooking in the present,
whichever helps you most.
But, um, it's, yeah, it'll feelimpossible.
It'll feel like you just want togive up, but.
There, there is the other sidethat you will eventually
Leslie (17:07):
get to.
And what about people thathaven't gone through that
challenge?
What would you, what do you hopethey learn from you?
Um,
Kylie (17:20):
I hope you can see that everyone is going through
something.
Um, Even when I was stuck in thedepression, I would always hide
it.
I would, I looked happy.
I would smile.
I would laugh.
I would look like I'm having agreat time and I was going
(17:41):
through so much.
So don't, don't judge someone ofhow they look and always
remember that someone's goingthrough something and to treat
them with kindness and If you doknow that they're going through
something to be there for themand they might not want to talk
(18:02):
about it So just being presentwith them means a lot.
Mm
Leslie (18:06):
hmm Yeah, thanks for sharing both of those.
Yeah So what does the a day?
Look like when you're living inyour purpose take us through
what that looks like.
Kylie (18:21):
Um, I Can I take you through my medical day too?
Yeah, absolutely.
Because that has a lot to dowith it.
So when I get up, I usually haveto take my medicine before I get
out of bed, or else I feel likeI'm going to pass out.
Um, I have to take my inhalers,I have to do oxygen, and usually
(18:44):
by then I'm feeling like, Idon't feel like getting out of
bed physically, which means,which makes me mentally, like,
not want to get out of bed,because I don't know what that's
going to bring me to.
Okay.
Um, and I get out of bed, and Ihave to start my feeds, because
I have a feeding tube.
Okay.
So, I put my nutrition throughthere, and then I have to do my
(19:10):
infusion.
I have a port, so I do infusionsthrough there.
Okay.
And by then I'm exhausted andit's hard to keep going.
Um, and then I might take sometime to just lay in bed or read.
And that starts to get me tofeel better and, uh, think about
(19:33):
the present.
Like we've been talking about alot.
And what I can do in the day tofeel more in control, which
might be.
Um, painting my nails, just likebeing mindful, coloring, reading
more, um, and then I have, Ihave to take medicine every
(19:54):
three hours.
So, uh, I'm supposed to do itthrough my feeding tube, but I
get just so tired, it takes like30 minutes, so sometimes I just
take it by mouth, and then itmakes me nauseous, and then I
have to lay down, and, um, Ihave to sleep like 12 to 14
hours just to get like maybe 2or 3 hours of good, feeling good
(20:16):
in the day.
And by the end of the day, like,I just feel exhausted and
worried about the next day.
And I have to remind myself thatI am here for a reason.
It's a huge one.
And I am able to teach amazingkids at dance and that helps me
kind of bring myself back intowhy I'm here.
Leslie (20:39):
Yeah, yeah.
So, tell us about your teaching.
Because we're here in yourstudio, which is awesome.
Yes.
Kylie (20:49):
It's the best.
I am just so grateful for my joband all the students I teach.
I was going to say my favoritepart, but I just have so many
favorite parts.
Uh, a biggest thing is, um, I, Ijust miss dancing so bad.
It used to be, I could dancestanding and going full out.
(21:11):
And then I was could only danceon the floor and I would dance
with my arms and then I could goin my wheelchair and just kind
of do our movements.
And now my health is to a pointwhere it's hard to do any of
those.
Um, Um, but I've been able tochange my focus on
choreographing and teachingothers to kind of live through
their movements.
(21:31):
And so probably the coolest partis being able to teach a
combination or teach, um, Iteach the competition team
mostly and choreograph theirdances.
And I get to, instead of performon stage, I get to sit in the
audience and look at mychoreography.
Like, come to life, and then Iget to see my dancers when they
(21:55):
come off stage, and I'm justlike so proud of them, and also
I've been able to be proud ofmyself of how far I've come, and
I get to teach them now, andspend so much time with them,
it's so nice.
Right.
How long have you been teaching?
Um, I started assisting when Iwas about 14 years old, and then
(22:17):
I started teaching my ownclasses when I was about 19, so,
5, 6 years, yeah, yes,
Leslie (22:25):
it's incredible, Kylie, your day is a lot of taking care
of yourself.
Yeah.
And.
Fueling yourself both mentally,it sounds like.
Mostly mentally.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm at a loss for what to saybecause it is something that
(22:50):
most people don't live through.
Yeah.
Yeah.
How do you feel in this moment?
I
Kylie (23:01):
feel good.
Leslie (23:02):
Do you?
Kylie (23:02):
Yeah.
It's, it feels good to talkabout because I was, I was
holding so much in years agothat now that I'm able to talk
about it, it feels good.
It's overwhelming.
Sometimes I get emotional.
I'm a sensitive human, but I've,I found two and I realized that
that's not a bad thing.
Right.
That feels good to talk about.
Leslie (23:23):
Yeah.
Well, I appreciate you.
Talking about it was, youmentioned that you weren't
always comfortable talking aboutit.
Kylie (23:33):
No, I wasn't.
Um, I always wanted to feelcomfortable, so I would be open
about it when it first startedhappening, but I don't think I,
you know, knew much about it, soit was hard to talk about in
that aspect.
And then once I did know a lotabout my conditions, it just got
(23:54):
overwhelming and I shut all ofit out.
I didn't want to talk about it,and I didn't want to open up
about it.
But two years ago, When Istarted getting really treated
for my depression, I startedwanting to talk about it more
and educating people about itand kind of started that way.
Leslie (24:14):
Yeah.
When you look out into yourfuture, whatever time horizon
that is, what do you see interms of your purpose?
And I know we talked earlierabout looking at the past and
the future.
Yeah.
Um, are you okay looking out?
(24:34):
Yeah.
Okay.
What do you see in, in your, in
Kylie (24:38):
your future?
I have to, I have to keep mythoughts flexible.
Yeah.
Because a life with chronicillness is so unpredictable.
Um, but I hope to see myselfgrow even more.
Mm hmm.
And take the education and theadvocating further, and.
(24:59):
talking more about it openly.
I do talk about it openly rightnow, but just starting
conversations like, do you knowwhat EDS is?
Do you know what gastroparesisis?
And I don't know.
I, I, I hope to continue mypurpose and I don't know what,
where it will take me in thefuture, but I hope to just keep
(25:19):
this outlook where I am
Leslie (25:20):
now.
Yeah.
Yeah.
continue to grow through yourpurpose and it will evolve and
being open to how it evolves.
Kylie (25:29):
Yeah.
Leslie (25:29):
Yeah.
Earlier you talked aboutadvocacy and, not giving up and
continuing to advocate.
What does advocacy look like?
Kylie (25:40):
Um, huge thing is speaking up.
I, my whole life has been sohard to speak up and speak my
emotions.
Because I'm, I'm a woman, andother people like to view a
woman as dramatic and notsupposed to speak their mind.
And getting to the point where Icould speak my mind and speak up
(26:02):
for myself, I am now able to bein a doctor's office, and my
doctor might say something thatshouldn't come out of their
mouth, and I'll be like, what doyou mean by that?
Or I I can say now that what Ihave is real, and I believe in
that, so I need you to believein that.
(26:23):
Um, just really speaking up formyself, and advocating for
myself, even with friends andfamily, or strangers, and
telling them that I have achronic illness, so it's hard to
lift my glass, can I have astraw, if they don't have
straws.
This is restaurants.
Or trying to, like, get rid ofstraws, which is good for the
(26:45):
environment, but also fordisability reasons, not helpful.
So sometimes you have to ask forthat, and they'll give you,
like, crazy looks.
It's just, like, tiny thingslike that where people don't
understand.
And maybe I wouldn't understandeither in the past, but now
it's, like, I have to explainmyself for everything.
(27:07):
I used to give up and not, butnow I can be like, uh, can you
open the door for me?
Cause I can't.
Leslie (27:13):
Yeah.
So, it's through your words andusing your voice, to help
advocate for yourself to helpget what you need.
Yes.
Yes.
I, I think that is so importantfor your situation, I think it,
it also relates to some of thethings I'm learning through
(27:35):
life's purpose and it is thatsometimes we get stuck by social
norms, you know, society sayswe're not supposed to speak up
or whatever.
To make the other personcomfortable.
Right.
I need to be comfortable too.
Exactly.
And recognizing that you haveneeds as well.
(27:57):
And.
In terms of purpose, to fulfillthe purpose and to do that, I
need to advocate for myself or Ineed to go up against some
social norms that might bestanding in my way.
Exactly.
And that doesn't
Kylie (28:11):
mean if like, that's not me being rude, that's me being
respecting not only me, but youtoo.
Like.
My family, especially, theydon't want me to hold back my
thoughts of how they can helpme.
I need to speak up for that.
Leslie (28:26):
Right.
Yes, because you're helpingthem.
Yes.
Learn yes, okay.
I love that.
I love that.
What else on the topic ofpurpose is on your mind?
I can't think of anything.
You've shared your story, yourjourney of discovering your
(28:47):
purpose, and that was throughbeing in a dark place and coming
out that dark place, and thenreally staying in the present,
and it makes you feel so happy.
It does.
Overwhelmingly happy when you'rein purpose.
It does.
And you talked about your, yourdaily routine of just taking
(29:08):
care of yourself and, um, and indoing that, allowing you to
fulfill your purpose.
Yeah.
What advice do you have forthose that are listening to this
who might not have discoveredtheir purpose, who might be in
that place of uncertainty on,what am I here to do?
Kylie (29:32):
It's okay to not know.
You don't have to knoweverything right now.
Figuring out your purpose issuch an individual thing.
And I think accepting that youdon't know right now is okay.
Right.
And there's plenty of time tofigure out your purpose.
Um, I think starting with yourpurpose.
(29:53):
of just being alive and beinghere on earth is a good way to
start.
That's how I started anddefinitely took me to where I
need to be.
Right.
So just focusing on the tinybits of my purpose is to live
today and to make it
Leslie (30:08):
tomorrow is a good start.
Yeah.
So there is an Austrianneurologist and psychologist.
named Viktor Frankl.
Have you heard of him?
I
Kylie (30:19):
have not.
Leslie (30:20):
So he's he's now deceased, but he wrote a book
called Man's Search for Meaning.
Kylie (30:26):
Oh, I love that.
Leslie (30:27):
And he, as a child, got very interested in the topic of
life's purpose.
And then during World War II, hewas a concentration camp
prisoner.
Oh,
Kylie (30:40):
wow.
Leslie (30:41):
And He continued his studies, I guess, and in the
most horrific situations.
Yeah.
And afterwards he wrote Man'sSearch for Meaning and one of
the things that he said is, itis not what, You are asking of
(31:01):
life, but what life is asking ofyou, it's about asking, what is
life asking of me right now
Kylie (31:10):
in this
Leslie (31:10):
present?
And that's what you just talkedto, that what may be right now,
it is about being alive andtaking care of yourself.
Kylie (31:20):
Exactly.
Leslie (31:21):
And that can evolve as your life evolves.
But It really is about what lifeis asking of us.
Is there anything else leftunsaid on the topic of purpose?
Kylie (31:37):
I can't think of anything.
Leslie (31:39):
Anything else on topic of advocacy or dancing?
Um,
Kylie (31:45):
Kind of dancing.
I feel like Every time I saythat I'm a dance teacher or that
I like dancing a lot of peoplesay oh I could never dance like
I don't have the rhythm butsomething I like to do is I just
get up and I kind of dance in mybed and it's just so fun and I
don't know.
You can dance too, whenever youare Even if it's behind closed
(32:06):
doors, it just feels good.
Leslie (32:09):
Oh, yes.
Yes So, um, give it a go.
Even if you don't feel like youhave rhythm.
Yeah.
Move your shoulders and closethe door and see how it makes
you feel.
Cause it might lift your spirit.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
I'm going to do that.
I love to dance though.
Kylie (32:27):
Oh, it's just so fun.
Leslie (32:28):
Yes.
Do you do adult,
Kylie (32:31):
uh, teaching here?
We have one adult class.
It's an adult jazz funk.
It's kind of like, Just movingyour body and getting your heart
rate up.
Okay.
It's really fun.
Okay.
My sister Katie teaches that.
Yes.
And she's the best anyways, so.
It's a lot of fun.
You should join.
I'll have to look into that.
Leslie (32:49):
Yes.
Yes.
I would, I envision myself as ahip hop dancer in my mind's eye,
Kylie (32:56):
oh, I, I could do all the dancing, but hip hop is the only
one that I could, I just can'tdo as a very ballerina ish
person.
So trying to get myself to dothose sharper, crazy moves.
It's just, yeah, but it's stillfun.
Leslie (33:11):
Absolutely.
Well, thank you so much forsharing your journey of
discovering life's purpose andit is a journey.
It is the big journey.
Absolutely.
It's so worth it.
Yes.
Thank you for being here.
Kylie (33:26):
You're welcome.
Thank you for asking.
Leslie (33:28):
Absolutely.
There is so much I've beenreflecting on from this
conversation with Kylie.
One of the things that I amworking to bring into my life is
living each moment by beingpresent in the moment.
I think about the times when Ihave worry or I have anxiety,
(33:48):
and those are oftentimes when Iam thinking about the past.
Or worrying about the future,but it's when we're living in
the present moment where we canbe grounded and we can truly be
living our lives.
Kylie, thank you for bringingthat to us.
And thanks to all of you fortuning in.
(34:14):
Purpose Project is brought to you for education and
for entertainment purposes.
This podcast is not intended toreplace the advice that you
would receive from a licensedtherapist or doctor or any other
qualified professional.
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