August 9, 2023 • 39 mins
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In this episode I sit down with coach, consultant, author and all around wonderful human, April Lewis. Amidst life's uncertainties, she found the strength to transform her pain into resilience and purpose; a story she shares with us in her signature warm and candid style.
April's journey is a testament to the power of faith and the human spirit. As you listen to her recount her highs and lows, you may find yourself inspired by her strength and her unyielding faith.
Her words will leave you uplifted and empowered, serving as a reminder that, in life, the journey is as important as the destination. So join us, and let April's story remind you that whatever you're seeking is also seeking you.
You can connect with April Lewis through the links below:
Website: AprilLewis.com
YouTube: @AprilLewsiSpeaks
LinkedIn: April Lewis
Instagram: @AprilLewisIG
As always, thank you for listening to We All Have Something. If you wish to connect with Rick beyond the podcast:
Website: www.CoachRickSchwartz.com
YouTube: @RickSchwartz
Threads: @Coach_Rick_Schwartz
Instagram: @Coach_Rick_Schwartz
Facebook Page: @CoachRickSchwartz
Threads: @Coach_Rick_Schwartz
***If you are having any thoughts of self harm and need someone to reach out to please call: 1-800-273- TALK (8255)
Or use the new 988 number for calling or texting for support.
Episode Music "Inspiration Corporate" by Sandra Inspiration Music
Music rights purchased through AudioJungle.
Nothing in this podcast should be taken as therapy, medical or mental health care. Topics discussed on this podcast reflect the personal experiences of the host and guests of We All Have Something and are not intended to, nor should they, replace the services of medical care, mental health care or therapy.
If you are having thoughts of self harm or ending your life, please call or text 988 - Help is available 24/7.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
I'm Rick Schwartz, life coach, public speaker and
all around curious guy.
My curiosity, my life and thelives of the many people I have
worked with have taught me timeand time again that there are
challenges to overcome andsuccesses to celebrate.
You're listening to we All haveSomething, a podcast about the
(00:21):
human experience, a podcastabout celebrating our authentic
self.
So let's get started.
Welcome to we All haveSomething, a listener-supported
podcast.
Being a listener-supportedpodcast allows us to keep these
episodes and interviews ad-free,and if you're interested in
becoming a supporter, you canclick the link in the episode
notes down below.
(00:42):
As a supporter, you'll receivea personal email of thanks for
me.
You'll also receive a couple ofwe All have Something stickers
suitable for sticking on yourcomputer, your car, your water
bottle or wherever you want toput a cool sticker, and I'll
also mention your name on thepodcast, with your permission,
of course.
So, without further delay, abig thank you to Derek and
Allison, both from the lovelystate of Montana.
Thank you much for your support.
(01:03):
I appreciate you and Iappreciate all the other
supporters that have joined usover this season making this
podcast possible.
Now, today, we have a veryspecial guest To say.
April Lewis is a woman on amission would be an
understatement.
She does a lot of work withinthe area of helping employees
and CEOs and everybody inbetween.
In the healthcare organizationworld.
(01:23):
April uses her extensivetraining and leadership
background to help organizationstransform from the inside out.
Her guiding principle is humanfirst, employee second.
April has an extensive resumeand you can learn more about her
on her website, but I will saythis before we jump into the
interview.
April's passion for personaland professional development has
led her to become a keynotespeaker and consultant for
(01:44):
Fortune 100 companies,healthcare organizations and
education institutions acrossthe nation.
She's recently served as theinterim chief operating officer
of FQHC, based in Maryland.
Despite all of heraccomplishments, april remains
grounded and passionate aboutstress-free living.
She's also a best-sellingauthor and, like me, a taco
lover.
(02:04):
Thanks so much for joining uson the podcast today, april.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I'm doing very well, my friend.
How are you?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Oh, I'm excited to talk to you.
I know we were talking beforewe hit record that.
We know we met somewhere at theend of 2020, beginning of 21.
But, thanks to the pandemic,time is not really something we
can keep tabs on too much andwe've stayed in contact on
Instagram ever since and I lovewatching your journey.
(02:31):
I love all that you are pouringinto not only yourself, but
then using that as a model tohow you pour into others.
The intro covered a lot, ofcourse, but what is it that has
brought you to where you aretoday?
What's your story that got youhere?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
The infamous story.
Yeah, you know, my story waslife, honestly, my story.
Those four letters sum up likethe journey, the GPS that got me
here.
You know, essentially there isan extremely long version and
then there's a very targetedversion to really get to what I
know.
You're asking Because you, likemyself, believe that there are
(03:13):
many defining moments in lifethat allow us to sit in the seat
of the present moment thatwe're in, that allow us to
identify who we are, that allowus to own our truth and our
authenticity, that allow us tostart living while you're in the
midst of doing life and those,although there are several
(03:33):
defining moments, there isalways like this one, that you
know it's something that you canpinpoint to it, and so, if I
know you and know the messagethat you want to bring forth to
the world, you want me to getstraight to that one, right?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Well, it's your story , April.
You can share it however youwant.
But yeah, we want to get to thegood stuff.
Let's get to the good stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That good stuff was February 27th 2006, when I was
at home with my family homebeing Mobile Alabama fun fact
home of the Mardi Gras.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I was actually there getting ready to celebrate that
Tuesday and I got a phone callthat would forever change the
trajectory of my life.
I didn't know it then, but Iknow it now.
And that phone call told methat my husband of the time had
just gotten killed in Iraq.
And that phone call took theoxygen out of me.
And now, years later, is theabsolute reason that I have
(04:29):
breath in my body and I'm ableto be here serving as a coach
and a speaker and consultant who100% focused on helping people
be well, because that breaththat was taken out was blown
back in by way of my calling andpurpose.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
When you felt that, as you put it, that breath just
removed, that moment happened.
That is a clear and definitivemark in one's life when
something of that caliberhappens and I always reflect
back on my own personalexperiences and I can see the
choices I could have made versusthe choices I did make after
one of those moments.
Do you ever have thatreflection too?
(05:07):
Or was it such a definingchange in your trajectory that
it's like this is now my path?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Um, no, after that moment, my mind was a hot
garbage mess.
That moment was I wish I couldsay what I had.
I had like hashtag survive,right.
All I knew was and all I couldfeel and experience was like get
through.
(05:33):
And then there were times thatI felt I didn't get through, and
there was one very specifictime where I didn't want to get
through Right.
And so after that moment, itwas really like April, like
survive, don't know it was.
I define it as like that's whenI started a downer spiral
(05:54):
because it took me so low and ittook me out somewhere that I
didn't even know existed.
So I really was just gettingthrough like the moment,
whatever that moment was and Ican reflect and say in hindsight
which is always, you know, 2020, I did make some maybe not best
, the best decisions, I didn'tmake the healthiest decisions,
(06:15):
but I also ain't make the worstdecisions because I still landed
here.
So, yeah, I come I say Icompletely lost my mind, because
I did some memories andeverything, because it just, I
mean it took me out for a second.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Oh, I appreciate you sharing that part of it too.
I think that's such animportant message.
You know, I think a lot of myaudience, a lot of my audience
of people in our coaching worldas well but there's also people
who are going through stuff.
I mean, that's that's the titleof the podcast we all have
something because we do, whetherit's something we've been
through or something we're goingthrough.
And and it's one of those thingswhere I often feel, people who
(06:47):
are in the midst of that moment,whatever it is for them, look
at others and might think, well,they've got it all, they've
been through this and nowthey've got it all together.
Why aren't I there yet?
And so for you to share thatpart of your story where I was
like no, it was a downwardspiral from there.
I did not make good choices attimes.
I was making it through themoment, each moment, because
(07:07):
that's all I could do.
That's an important part of thestory, because we have to, I
think, to some degreeacknowledge that's what we do go
through when tragedy or eventsstrike or something happens that
drastically changes our life ina direction we did not see or
want to have happen.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
So I appreciate that you shared that part of it as
well, because I think it'simportant, because now we can
look at where you are and whatyou're doing and you know all
these years later and the impactyou're having, and I think
someone who's going throughtheir moment might lose sight of
.
Yeah, it's a.
It is a path of ups and downs,and at first, more downs than
ups.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yes, like preach, it is a path.
It is.
It just can't be predicted.
You don't know, like, 17 yearslater, so much has happened and
so many things that I will neverforget that moment.
But I can also say, now, beingliberated from it, I'm not
(08:03):
chained to it, and the chainbeing the chain of pain right,
there is still hurt attached toit, but I am like my.
There was a moment where myidentity was in that tragedy,
like how I thought everythingcame from this place of every.
My thoughts are coming fromthis place of, you know, sadness
, despair, anger, hurt, grief,darkness, depression, all of
(08:27):
that.
And it didn't feel like that.
It didn't feel like I wouldstop it, or it didn't feel like
that it wouldn't stop Eventhough I was still going, even
though I was still progressing,like in school, working full
time job, crushing it at work,crushing it in the community,
like you know, I could pick upthe phone and call the mayor of
the city that I was living inbecause he was cool, I could
call the deputy chief and Istill was just like, very much
living but very much dead, youknow.
(08:49):
And so when you're in the thickof it, you're in the thick of
it.
So if anyone's listening andthey're in the thick of it, like
, yeah, that's where you are.
And when you're in the thick ofit, the key, what I've realized
again thereafter is it's like ablanket.
It's actually how I definedepression, you know, and people
(09:09):
could say, depending on, well,anyway, I won't even go there.
But sometimes I feel like yousay words.
I feel like you say words andthen you feel like you got to
explain the word just becausethe world that we live in.
So when I say depression, Imean a moment to where, like,
ish is just so real in your headand heart that you kind of just
lay out and whatever thatlayout looks like, it's not you
crushing it, shining, doing that, you're just like going through
(09:31):
.
So that and being in the thickof it is like this heavy blanket
that's on you, and sometimes itcan be so heavy, like a
weighted blanket, that you can'teven feel that you're in it
because it's taking over allyour senses and all your world.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And what you want to do is, just like we do every
morning when, at alarm clock gooff, like kick the blanket off
of us, and that can literally beopening up a curtain, looking
outside, opening your eyes andseeing something different,
changing the scenery.
What are you looking at?
Getting out your house, goingsomewhere different, trying a
new restaurant, looking at adifferent type of audio media or
(10:08):
something like that.
Like, really open your eyes tosee something different and what
that'll do by you lookingthrough your natural eyes,
physiologically will change whatyou're thinking about and at
that moment, start to like,place a thought on what you want
to experience Like at thatmoment.
Choose to take in the momentand find something to be
thankful for At that moment.
Put a smile on your face so youcan feel, you know, like
(10:31):
through your skin, what happen.
This is Because you once had itand you're absolutely going to
get it again.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Right, I like that, and it's so true.
It's so true that it's thatchange of perspective Sometimes
we have to.
We have to purposely take theaction first, before the emotion
shows up, instead of waitingfor the emotion to show up to
have the action happen.
Yeah that's wisdom, you know,instead of waiting to be happy
to now, I'm going to go out anddo something.
Just go out and do somethingdifferent, and eventually those
emotions will follow along, andthat ties in actually kind of.
(10:58):
You almost already answered thequestion, but maybe we can go a
little deeper, as far as, again, you address someone who's in
it right now.
Going through it right now andthrough your experience of that
process, did you ever like sayto yourself, hey, I have to be
over this in X amount of time?
Or did you let yourself gothrough the process the way you
needed to go through it?
(11:18):
Cause I know some people arelike, oh, in six months, I've
got to be over this, I've got,you know, I've got to shake it
and I've even, honestly, we'veread some literature out there
where people are like, oh, youknow, in about six months to a
year is usually when we can getover large tragedies.
What was that process for youand what would you recommend or
suggest from your experience forothers?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
who might be?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
in the middle of something.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
I was pissed off that I wasn't over it.
I was like, okay, all right,I'm sad it happened, he gone.
Like literally that's how I was.
I was finding myself, annoyed,mad at God.
Like how long do I have to besad?
Like I get it, it's a tragedy.
Like I'm literally.
Logically, I understand that.
(11:58):
I understand sorrow, Iunderstand pain, I understand
life, I understand God.
I understand to the best of myabilities, based on my belief
system, what's going to happenwhen I leave here.
Leave here in this physicalform.
Right?
All of that understanding hasnothing to do with getting
through it and being healed andrecovering and being resilient
(12:19):
and staying the course and notgiving up.
So, understanding like no.
So for whomever they say in sixmonths, call me so I can go
ahead and debunk and deconstructthat thinking because it's
unrealistic, right?
Because when you're in pain,that pain taps into sales of
your body that you probablyhadn't thought about, that you
(12:40):
didn't even know existed, butit's there.
That's what's valid and it'sreal, which is why I encourage
people to be gentle withthemselves if you are and you
feel like you've been here forso long and you're ready to
leave.
You did not get the blueprintfor this.
You did not get the script.
There is no prescription, thereis no formulary methodology.
There are resources and toolsand conversations and
(13:02):
experiences that can help youget through it.
So when I was shared, there isno timeline.
Everything happens in the divinetime for what should happen,
which is the only time that ithappens.
When it happens that happeningthat you want, start with what
you want to feel.
When you get there, like ifyou're saying I should be over
(13:24):
this, finish the sentence.
I should be over this so I canwhat?
What is it that you want to bedoing?
Where is it that you want to begoing?
How do you want to be feeling?
So if you say I should be overthis, it's been eight months.
I am ready to move on.
Okay, move on in what and how.
I'm ready to move on and findlove again.
Great, like.
So what should you be doing todo that?
(13:45):
Should you be making yourselfavailable, reading about love?
So it's not about the time.
Time I'm Jesus.
Time can't be manipulated, butit can be woven with your
activities.
So if you're sitting in it, youdon't like it, you don't want
to be there.
Where do you want to be that?
How do you get there.
Just take some chances, do thestuff that remotely seems like
(14:08):
it'll get you there, and that isprogression and that's what we
want.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I love that.
Oh my gosh, april, that wholelast couple minutes.
Holy cow, I'm gonna, I'm gonnamake a sound bite out of that.
Just play it over and overagain.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
The breath is taking out of me because that is, um,
that's what we want and that'swhat I wanted.
What I wanted was to get out ofit, and I I did not know how,
and it's because I was trying tofigure it out.
But you can't figure it out.
Just figure it out, like, justsee something Different of what
(14:49):
you're seeing and then, like,think of something that could
get you there, and you know, soit's really just weaving it
together and I that's what savedme I just didn't, I Didn't stop
weaving, like I would weave andstitch and make something
beautiful, and then it made likeunravel, because I took my
hands off of it.
(15:09):
Like I started to teach myselfhow to crochet.
In this journey I did all typeof stuff, like I'd be anything
that somebody said like it, likelive, well, do it.
So I started crocheting and mymom's like a master crochet or
so if there's a tournamentsomewhere which I know it is for
a crochet, my mom should be init.
And so I picked up crochetingand I taught myself how to do it
(15:31):
.
I went to, like this soul, likewhat do you call the places
where they sell, like, patmaterials, like are you a part
of?
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
yes, you know, millennium ism is kicking in.
I'm like, what's that storethat my auntie used to go?
So I would crochet and I taughtmyself how to crochet and it's
such a cruel, relaxing thing todo, like you're just going from
this ball of yarn toconstructing something and
emphasis on something, because Ididn't ever turn it into
anything.
You know, I made what I need tobe a scar for my poodle.
(16:04):
Like shy, I'll take this is ascar for you.
Nevertheless, as you're likecrocheting, you're weaving.
The minute you stop, it juststops right there and if you
weren't careful, if you go backtoo far, it'll really unravel.
That's like lies.
And so if you keep going, keepgoing by seeking knowledge, keep
going by dreaming, I really,until my ex-boyfriend brought to
(16:28):
my attention, I didn't realizethat I wasn't dreaming, not even
like dream big, like no, it'sjust the one dreaming at all,
because I was so like in it thatI forgot.
Like, you know, you are stillalive and you can like have this
really dope life that you wantto live.
You deserve it.
Like yeah, you made a mistakeand things didn't go as planned
and blah, blah, blah, blah, butyou still here, so like what you
(16:50):
want to do with it?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
I love that analogy of the crochet, where if you
keep your hands on it, itbecomes something.
Yeah, you put it down or goback too far, it just comes
undone.
I think that's that's a reallygreat analogy for life.
Yeah whether you're goingthrough something or just or
just living honestly.
You know that's that's a reallygood one.
I like that one.
So for you and your journey,yeah, you get the bad news you
(17:14):
hit your lows.
Several years later, you startlooking at Life and you,
logically, you said you want toget out of it, but emotionally,
you weren't there yet.
What was that process for you?
Once you felt like you wereback on your feet and you were
in a good space, what was thatprocess moving forward than for
you, that brought you now towhere we are today, with You're
(17:36):
coaching, you're speaking,you're you're having impact on
the world.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Bless God.
Um, I Experienced that severaltimes.
Several times I felt like I hadmy footing under me.
Several times I'm like, okay,good, I got this.
And then I realized I wassaying it again.
So it's not a straight path upthe mountain top.
There are valleys.
You're going to go up and then,before you know it, it sucks
(18:02):
and, god forbid, you're gonna bedown.
So I could say I just had thatmoment on my calendar just Well,
I think the 14th, two Saturdaysago, not this past Saturday,
with the Saturday before.
I felt like, oh my god, youjust heal my mind in a way that
you never have, because Idiscovered something about
myself and he revealed somethingto me that I know it's gonna
(18:24):
make me a better person, that Iknow it's gonna help me go into
this next level that I, my soul,is yearning, that's gonna make
me be able to push through, likethe conversation we were having
before the show started, andjust record the freaking podcast
, like you know what I'm sayingright.
So I experienced it again andit's there.
So in the word of God it saysif you seek me there, you will
(18:45):
find me.
If you seek me with your wholeheart, I that is the life of
April Lewis, because there wasnothing like.
I'm a pretty smart kid.
I do some dumb ish sometimes,you know, but I'm a pretty smart
kid, by God's grace.
And One thing I know for sure isI have been begging and
(19:07):
pleading to God To live the lifethat I was created to live.
And I don't even know what thatis, but I know it's awesome and
I know it's healthy and I knowit's happy and I know it's
prosperous and I know it'sabundant and I know it's joyful
and purposeful and has meaning.
All I want is that.
(19:28):
And because I know that, Idon't know how to do it or get
it, so I have to keep tappinginto the person, the intensity,
the belief system that says like, oh yeah, you get all that.
So I crawl and clown, claw myway to God.
So I constantly have thesemoments like I got this because
I'm constantly Ascending to thehighest and best and most
(19:49):
capable version of myself.
So it's a constant go up, fallback, keep going, go higher,
fall back, whatever.
Keep going, stay the course.
Doesn't matter how big or small, just don't stop.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I love that because you really point out in that the
value of your faith.
Oh yeah that, knowing there'sups and downs, knowing there's
pits and valleys, and that'sokay, because I believe that
there is that higher power and Ibelieve there's that higher
purpose, and I may not see it,but I know it's there and it
will be revealed in divine time.
(20:22):
So I love that.
I love that With all you'vebeen through, because I know I
just for my own experiences andtalking with people and clients
sometimes People are tested sohard they question their faith.
Did you ever experience thatwhere you were just tested so
hard, you're like you know what?
I Don't know about this anymore.
Or have you always had thatsolid rooting in your faith?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Well, I guess I should be honest, cuz God
already knows I have made yourbeef with God like a straight
attitude.
You aren't real, you don'texist.
Why would you do that?
Thanks for playing me.
I see why people don't believein you.
That's why folks go over hereand do all these things like we
I can't say we, cuz obviously itwas just me had a whole
(21:06):
attitude with God, a whole likeThank you for ruining my life
Several times, like what's outthat bad it's of all the things
that you could have had tohappen to me, this, like it was
a Situation with me, and itwasn't just one, two or three
times, it was several times.
And that's when I believe NowI'm almost certain Dr Kubler
(21:31):
Ross is the founder or the the,the teacher behind the five
stages of grief.
Think it's dr Kubler.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Ross.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Yeah, yeah, if I'm wrong, Some what what you say,
email us and tell us the right.
One of those stages is anger.
So when you're mad and this isgrief and I just feel in my
spirit I need to say this togrief doesn't always mean grief
of a person you grieve anythingthat you lose a person, yeah
(21:59):
right, you can grieve a dog.
Know that, feeling the words,you can grieve a job, a
relationship.
You can breathe the state thatyour health used to be in.
When it's not that anymore, I'mlike an ex athlete, like I
played ball in Germany, got paidfor it, and now I can't run a
mile because of the state of myknees, because, you know, the
military going to war, all thatgood jazz.
(22:20):
I've had three surgeries.
Thank God I'm good, I can stillstrut in some stilettos, but
it's best I don't run unless I'mbeing chased right.
So it coming back is yes,you're going to be angry, you're
going to be mad when you losesomething that you loved, that
made you feel good, that broughtyou joy.
(22:40):
So I did lose my faith.
I will find myself still comingback to where I started, and
that is knowing that God has meand knowing that God loves me
and knowing that there was aperson that came and died before
me and saved my soul.
You know what?
That's a dang good story.
It makes sense.
(23:00):
Any time I test it, it passesthe test.
So it literally does and sayseverything that it says that it
does and says I can like 100percent and I've been all over
the place with faith, religion.
I done, did some stuff.
I know was like God, please getwhatever I put on me off of me,
my man.
(23:20):
I don't want to go too deep, Ican't come back.
So yeah, it's part of it.
But again, tiny steps forward.
Just go, don't believe and behonest, because it's God Like.
God is omnipresent, omnipotent.
There's no thought that youcan't have.
If you don't believe that I'mobviously not talking to you,
but for my people, okay.
There is no thought that youcan't have where God doesn't
(23:43):
know.
So have it and keep going,because God also wants the
absolute best for you.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
I appreciate you so much.
I appreciate you sharing thatand choosing to go the honest
route, because and not I thinkit'd be easy for somebody to go
oh yeah, well, her husband diedin Iraq.
So yeah, of course she's goingto question God and faith.
But the fact that you mentionedit it's happened several times
over your life and the angerpart and everything else the
value in sharing that not only,I think, allows us who've been
(24:13):
through it to see it in others,but also recognize the fact that
just because you've questionedor just because you've lost
faith doesn't mean you can't goback to it.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Doesn't mean you can't return.
I think some people get to thatpoint where it's a hard edge
for them and like, nope, thishappened in my life and so I'm
forgetting spirituality andforgetting faith.
There's no reason for it.
Then maybe something later inlife comes up where they feel
like maybe I should go back toit or I feel called back to it,
but I can't because I turned myback on it and I won't be
accepted.
(24:45):
The fact that you shared thatthis has been a part of your
journey is so valuable.
I appreciate you so much forsharing that.
I really do.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, because I think for people who might be in the
thick of it, this is a goodmessage.
It really is.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yeah, and it's okay.
We as humans, we're precious,and I'm the W of that.
We are so precious because wereally think we know what we're
doing.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Right and we think we're in control.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Right, and it's like we've been here before.
We've never been human before.
Like in one minute you feellike the best person in the
world.
The next minute you feel likescum of the earth.
The next minute you feel socapable, like I got this.
The next minute you crying andslaying and snot, like we go
through all the things right.
And it's just like when youstart to give yourself grace and
(25:31):
just breathe and exhale andsurrender, like that's what I
love about God, like I'm cool,not knowing what I'm doing down
here, because I want to know howhe know you created it.
Like you're way smarter, likeyou created me.
So then that means you got thecode, the blueprint of me.
So I want to tap into that so Icould function the way you want
(25:54):
me to function.
And why wouldn't?
I want your expertise and yourknowledge and your wisdom to do
the thing that you created?
Like help me be great.
So that's like how I'm living.
It's in complete humility, likeit's by God's grace that I'm
here and my desire to be who Godcalled me to be, because I've
experienced God and I know Godwants the best for me and it's
really fun.
(26:14):
It's painful.
You know my niece.
God bless her soul.
She eight years younger than me, but this little girl teaches
me so much about life.
Like she is the reason I havededicated devotion time.
I was home, visiting my family,visiting my mom and she stays
with my mom, her grandma and Iwas coming after the restroom
and my niece.
Her nickname is Piggy and herreal name is Delicia.
(26:34):
She's a beautiful soul.
We've been calling her Piggysince she was a chucky little
baby.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Oh, no yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
So she looked at me and said Piggy I'm sorry for
saying your nickname, but youknow I love you, judy.
So Piggy was coming out herroom and I was like what you in
there doing?
And she was like, oh, I'mhaving my devotion time, I have
time with God every night atnine o'clock.
I said, oh, lord Jesus, and Iimmediately got a visual of my
calendar and I was in my headstanding right there with her.
It took like a nanosecond tohave this whole thought.
(26:59):
April, you got everything onyour calendar.
You make time for everythingand everybody else on your
calendar.
No time Do you dedicate anddevote time with God, but yes,
you stay calling on them, askingfor something.
Woo, from that moment forward Ibecame intentional about my
devotion time in the morning,which I've always wanted in my
morning routine.
I just didn't level up.
(27:19):
It's like the part right.
So she checked me on that,helped me to have devotion time,
which is a game changer in life.
And then just recently she losther ability to walk for three
months and could not walk, justgoing down, falling.
She was in a wheelchair forthree months and, as we're going
through a doctor, specialist,neurologist, spying, mris a week
(27:42):
in the hospital.
Zero answers, zero explanationand now, to God be the glory,
she's on her feet.
But before she stood back up, Iasked Piggy.
I said, piggy, just God, notjust doing this, to be doing
this, god is not toward likethere is a reason, there is
something that God wants you toget out this situation.
You're a 34 year old, healthywoman who was working as a CNA
(28:05):
taking care of people living ina nursing home, a late night
shift, and now you can't walk.
Ask God, what is it that youneed to know about this
situation?
And she came to me and she saidApril, when you asked me that
question, I went to God and Godreminded me of long suffering
and part of being a believer andpart of this life is that
(28:27):
you're going to suffer andthat's okay because he is still
God and will get you through.
But if we want all the good, wegot to take the not so good,
because everything is fair andjust in this world as it's
created until we throw somethingoff.
So if they're going to be up,there has to be doubt.
If there's going to be darkness, there has to be life, and we
(28:47):
want the marshmallow lovingrainbow Skittles and juicy jolly
rancher version of life towhere there is no sorrow and
there is no long suffering.
So when you accept that there islong suffering and know that
that's part of it, that's whereyou can leverage that to be
resilient, because it's likekeep telling yourself this is
part of the game, but this ain'tthe whole game, and you're
(29:09):
still in the game.
So then play the game.
And I don't know where westarted or if I answered your
question.
I don't just I don't even knowwhere I went with that, but
there we are.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
No, I think it all fits right in.
We were talking about lifeexperiences and the ups and
downs and going through it alland having faith even in the
hardest of times.
I think it's an important.
Everything you just shared issuch an important part of the
story because I think it may notbe 100% directly relatable but
in a sense of you know, likeyour knees losing the ability to
walk, but having thosechallenges, having those ups and
downs, having that moment and Ilove how you wrap that up it is
(29:41):
just a part of the game.
It is not the game.
And that's where I see alsosometimes as a coach, and I'm
sure you do as well, where wehave to A always be mentally and
emotionally preparing ourselvesfor those hard times, coming up
with our plans and ourstrategies, but also recognizing
that when those hard times arehappening, it is just part of
the game.
(30:01):
Where it's a, it's a, it's apage in the chapter, it's not
the whole chapter, it's not thewhole game, you know.
So I love that.
I really really do, and I wantto segue into, if it's all right
with you, I'd love to hear moreabout your coaching now.
Let's bring us up to date.
We know the stuff you've beenthrough the, the hills, the
valleys, the faith kicking inyou, kicking the faith out and
then bringing it back in.
(30:21):
Yes, talk to me now about whereyou are today, because I want
to be able to make sure thatanybody listening if they want
to get in touch with you orconnect with you, they
understand what you're doing nowas a coach, speaker and world
changer.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Oh, bless you, Bless you, and I just want to
acknowledge with the words thatyou just said, for people to be
mentally and emotionallyprepared for life.
I think that's a sound bitebecause we, we practice how we
play, and if you're preparingyourself and fortifying yourself
and building yourself up, whenyou feel things are cool, when
life does pop off because itinevitably will pop off you are
(30:57):
more strengthened to get throughit.
So, feel your toolbox.
So when the time comes, you dohave something there that you
could pull on.
So don't you know, as I justwanted to like acknowledge that
because I think that's huge, andalso, when you said it, I was
like dang, that's, that was likea missing piece.
I wasn't prepared, like Ididn't know grief, like I wasn't
prepared.
(31:18):
So it was the first, it was,you know.
So I just honor you for sayingthat and I really hope your
listeners pick up on that.
Like, what are?
What can I do to make mestronger, my body and spirit,
for when life lights?
So?
Speaker 1 (31:32):
yeah, when life lights, when life lights.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
So now I get the privilege and honor of coaching
predominantly healthcareprofessionals, the professionals
of all walks of life.
I work with people that serveothers.
I work with people whotypically have such great hearts
and beautiful spirits and theyhave a big calling of it over
their life and they need someoneto help them see it clearly and
strategize so they can moveforward without completely
(31:58):
stressing themselves out andultimately burning themselves
out.
So I work with people who areexecutives in a leadership space
, who are working to hit theirnext level so they can lift up
their team collectively and behealthy in their communication,
fair and just and equitable intheir treatment and staying
excited about work and life.
So that's what I do.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
Nice, nice, yes, and so I.
Obviously I will put all thelinks down below in the show
notes.
But if someone is looking foryou, is there a website?
Or you prefer they find you onsocial media, or how would you
like someone to find you?
What's the best way?
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Easyasapralewiscom is my website and you can learn a
little bit more about me.
And you know, in the corporatespace I have a signature
organizational coaching programwork well and it focuses on the
individual, the team and theorganization at large.
And all that detail and some ofthe topics that I speak in the
teaching that program are atapriluiscom and all my social
(32:54):
media handles are there, so it'seasy to just go there.
Of course I'm on LinkedIn.
I'd love to connect with youthere.
But yeah, instagram April Lewis, ig Facebook April Lewis.
I'm on threads.
I love it there.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Oh, I know We've connected there.
I didn't really think of it.
Yes, yes, yes, it's such a goodvibe, it's really cool.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Yeah, it's very chill .
But yes, you can get with me atApril.
Lewiscom, love to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Do you still have videos on YouTube?
So remember when we firstconnected, I saw some of your
talks that you had posted, Ithink, on YouTube and they're so
good, so is that still a place?
For people to find you as well.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Absolutely, thank you .
Thank you for doing me betterthan me.
April Lewis speaks on YouTube.
I'll put a link.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
I'll make sure there's a link in the show notes
.
Yeah, because I just rememberlooking at that when I first
connected and I was like, dang,you know this is such powerful
stuff, you're such a goodspeaker and I know we've talked
more about personal stuff here.
So I want to make sure ifanyone feels a connection to you
here listening to this, theyhave the chance to see some of
your bigger presentations,because they're so good, they're
so good.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Oh, bless you.
Thank you for that, Iappreciate it oh yeah, no, I
appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
You know that.
Yes, as we start to wind downhere and wrap this up, I always
like to ask my guess what islike a particular quote or meme?
And, honestly, you have droppedsome awesome ones already, but
is there a particular quote ormeme, or the statement or
something that you would love toleave with the audience that
you feel is just a real goodpiece of knowledge?
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Oh, thank you.
I love that question.
Let me think so.
It really comes from our soul.
So what's rising to the top?
There is a quote by RumiR-U-M-I.
I don't know where he was inlife or when he got the
revelation to say these words,but it's what's coming up for me
, and if you sit with it, it'ssuch a happy quote.
(34:40):
And that quote that he saysthat which you're seeking is
seeking you, and so when I readthat or hear it, I immediately
feel like one.
I'm not alone, because what Iwant in my heart wants me to,
which means that it's comingfrom somewhere that I even
wanted.
So let me get there, becauseit's something there for me,
(35:01):
because it's mine, it's mythought, it's my dream, it's my
whatever that is, and it'sreally cool to know that you can
live a life and go aftersomething that wants you to have
it, and that's exciting.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Beautiful, beautiful.
And to piggyback on that alittle more, whenever I do hear
that quote, so I'm familiar withit too and, just as you said it
, there's like this, it's almostlike there's a sense of
permission from a higher power,because I think sometimes when
we want something, when we'reseeking something, there's also
that question of is it just?
Is it even a thing for me?
Am I allowed to have that?
(35:35):
Do I have permission to pursue?
Speaker 2 (35:36):
that yes.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
So whenever I hear that whatever you're seeking is
seeking you, it's like okay, sonow it's not a matter of can I
or should I, it's more of a okay, let's find each other, you
know.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Yeah, see, oh, I love how you said that.
Yes, let's find each other.
Yeah, oh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
Very good April.
It has been an absolutepleasure.
But before we wrap this upcompletely, I want to ask you
and kind of give you the floorIs there anything else that you
want to mention to our audiencebefore we go?
Or do we cover everything you'dlike to touch on today?
Speaker 2 (36:09):
You know, I just pray that they stay the course, the
life you know and we're.
We're so lucky that we get towrite that course and if you
need to go off that course andgo another way, it's fine.
But get very clear on your end,Like for me.
The end is purpose to feel likeplayful out, maximized
potential by God's grace, atGod's pace.
(36:30):
So I don't stress myself outbecause I don't.
I'm not divinity, God is.
And so, yeah, just stay thecourse, Keep going, Even if it's
a tiny step forward, just keepgoing.
And you got this.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Love it.
Love it, April.
Thank you so much for spendingtime with me today on my podcast
.
I appreciate you tremendouslyand I look forward to staying in
touch.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Yes, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
And, as always, thank you, dear listeners, for being
here.
I appreciate you tremendouslyand really love the community we
have created around.
We all have something.
You continue to share episodes,the community and listenership
continues to grow.
It's been amazing and again,you know I talk about almost
every time it's that rippleeffect, right, it's how we show
up for others, it's theinformation we share, it's how
(37:14):
it all makes a difference in theworld.
I have seen people's liveschange through being intentional
, through stepping up and sayingI want to live better.
Hearing April's story andknowing with the clients I've
coached how this all works andhow we can make a difference in
the world, one person at a time.
It just motivates me that muchmore to keep doing this.
(37:34):
So thank you, thank you all,for being here.
Of course, if you haven'talready, be sure to subscribe,
wherever you listen to thepodcast, feel free to leave
stars or review or whatever youcan do, because that helps tell
other people that you gotsomething out of this and will
show that maybe this issomething they should listen to
as well.
Of course, you can always findme on my website,
coachrichschwarzcom, withApril's information.
It's all down below.
(37:54):
In the show notes as well.
You can find her links there,my links are there, my social
media as well.
And if you've been consideringor thinking about coaching or
just talking through withsomebody what's going on in your
life, you can always hit me upfor a discovery call or free 30
minutes of the Zoom time.
You and me just chat aboutwhat's going on in your life.
I will share with you what mycoaching techniques are.
I'll answer your questionsabout that.
If you and I both agree thatwe'll be a good fit as coaching
(38:17):
client, be happy to startworking towards that and we can
talk more about that If at theend of the 30 minutes we're just
, like you know, goodconversation.
Thanks for the info.
Appreciate you have a good life.
That's cool too.
No pressure at all, becausethat's not what it's about.
It's about making a difference.
It's about showing up for eachother, right?
Well, like I said before, Ireally appreciate you being here
.
I appreciate you so much.
Thanks again for listening.
(38:37):
Have a good one everybody.
I'm Rick Schwartz, life coach, public speaker and
all around curious guy.
My curiosity, my life and thelives of the many people I have
worked with have taught me timeand time again that there are
challenges to overcome andsuccesses to celebrate.
You're listening to we All haveSomething, a podcast about the
(00:21):
human experience, a podcastabout celebrating our authentic
self.
So let's get started.
Welcome to we All haveSomething, a listener-supported
podcast.
Being a listener-supportedpodcast allows us to keep these
episodes and interviews ad-free,and if you're interested in
becoming a supporter, you canclick the link in the episode
notes down below.
(00:42):
As a supporter, you'll receivea personal email of thanks for
me.
You'll also receive a couple ofwe All have Something stickers
suitable for sticking on yourcomputer, your car, your water
bottle or wherever you want toput a cool sticker, and I'll
also mention your name on thepodcast, with your permission,
of course.
So, without further delay, abig thank you to Derek and
Allison, both from the lovelystate of Montana.
Thank you much for your support.
(01:03):
I appreciate you and Iappreciate all the other
supporters that have joined usover this season making this
podcast possible.
Now, today, we have a veryspecial guest To say.
April Lewis is a woman on amission would be an
understatement.
She does a lot of work withinthe area of helping employees
and CEOs and everybody inbetween.
In the healthcare organizationworld.
(01:23):
April uses her extensivetraining and leadership
background to help organizationstransform from the inside out.
Her guiding principle is humanfirst, employee second.
April has an extensive resumeand you can learn more about her
on her website, but I will saythis before we jump into the
interview.
April's passion for personaland professional development has
led her to become a keynotespeaker and consultant for
(01:44):
Fortune 100 companies,healthcare organizations and
education institutions acrossthe nation.
She's recently served as theinterim chief operating officer
of FQHC, based in Maryland.
Despite all of heraccomplishments, april remains
grounded and passionate aboutstress-free living.
She's also a best-sellingauthor and, like me, a taco
lover.
(02:04):
Thanks so much for joining uson the podcast today, april.
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I'm doing very well, my friend.
How are you?
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Oh, I'm excited to talk to you.
I know we were talking beforewe hit record that.
We know we met somewhere at theend of 2020, beginning of 21.
But, thanks to the pandemic,time is not really something we
can keep tabs on too much andwe've stayed in contact on
Instagram ever since and I lovewatching your journey.
(02:31):
I love all that you are pouringinto not only yourself, but
then using that as a model tohow you pour into others.
The intro covered a lot, ofcourse, but what is it that has
brought you to where you aretoday?
What's your story that got youhere?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
The infamous story.
Yeah, you know, my story waslife, honestly, my story.
Those four letters sum up likethe journey, the GPS that got me
here.
You know, essentially there isan extremely long version and
then there's a very targetedversion to really get to what I
know.
You're asking Because you, likemyself, believe that there are
(03:13):
many defining moments in lifethat allow us to sit in the seat
of the present moment thatwe're in, that allow us to
identify who we are, that allowus to own our truth and our
authenticity, that allow us tostart living while you're in the
midst of doing life and those,although there are several
(03:33):
defining moments, there isalways like this one, that you
know it's something that you canpinpoint to it, and so, if I
know you and know the messagethat you want to bring forth to
the world, you want me to getstraight to that one, right?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Well, it's your story , April.
You can share it however youwant.
But yeah, we want to get to thegood stuff.
Let's get to the good stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That good stuff was February 27th 2006, when I was
at home with my family homebeing Mobile Alabama fun fact
home of the Mardi Gras.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
And.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I was actually there getting ready to celebrate that
Tuesday and I got a phone callthat would forever change the
trajectory of my life.
I didn't know it then, but Iknow it now.
And that phone call told methat my husband of the time had
just gotten killed in Iraq.
And that phone call took theoxygen out of me.
And now, years later, is theabsolute reason that I have
(04:29):
breath in my body and I'm ableto be here serving as a coach
and a speaker and consultant who100% focused on helping people
be well, because that breaththat was taken out was blown
back in by way of my calling andpurpose.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
When you felt that, as you put it, that breath just
removed, that moment happened.
That is a clear and definitivemark in one's life when
something of that caliberhappens and I always reflect
back on my own personalexperiences and I can see the
choices I could have made versusthe choices I did make after
one of those moments.
Do you ever have thatreflection too?
(05:07):
Or was it such a definingchange in your trajectory that
it's like this is now my path?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Um, no, after that moment, my mind was a hot
garbage mess.
That moment was I wish I couldsay what I had.
I had like hashtag survive,right.
All I knew was and all I couldfeel and experience was like get
through.
(05:33):
And then there were times thatI felt I didn't get through, and
there was one very specifictime where I didn't want to get
through Right.
And so after that moment, itwas really like April, like
survive, don't know it was.
I define it as like that's whenI started a downer spiral
(05:54):
because it took me so low and ittook me out somewhere that I
didn't even know existed.
So I really was just gettingthrough like the moment,
whatever that moment was and Ican reflect and say in hindsight
which is always, you know, 2020, I did make some maybe not best
, the best decisions, I didn'tmake the healthiest decisions,
(06:15):
but I also ain't make the worstdecisions because I still landed
here.
So, yeah, I come I say Icompletely lost my mind, because
I did some memories andeverything, because it just, I
mean it took me out for a second.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Oh, I appreciate you sharing that part of it too.
I think that's such animportant message.
You know, I think a lot of myaudience, a lot of my audience
of people in our coaching worldas well but there's also people
who are going through stuff.
I mean, that's that's the titleof the podcast we all have
something because we do, whetherit's something we've been
through or something we're goingthrough.
And and it's one of those thingswhere I often feel, people who
(06:47):
are in the midst of that moment,whatever it is for them, look
at others and might think, well,they've got it all, they've
been through this and nowthey've got it all together.
Why aren't I there yet?
And so for you to share thatpart of your story where I was
like no, it was a downwardspiral from there.
I did not make good choices attimes.
I was making it through themoment, each moment, because
(07:07):
that's all I could do.
That's an important part of thestory, because we have to, I
think, to some degreeacknowledge that's what we do go
through when tragedy or eventsstrike or something happens that
drastically changes our life ina direction we did not see or
want to have happen.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
So I appreciate that you shared that part of it as
well, because I think it'simportant, because now we can
look at where you are and whatyou're doing and you know all
these years later and the impactyou're having, and I think
someone who's going throughtheir moment might lose sight of
.
Yeah, it's a.
It is a path of ups and downs,and at first, more downs than
ups.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yes, like preach, it is a path.
It is.
It just can't be predicted.
You don't know, like, 17 yearslater, so much has happened and
so many things that I will neverforget that moment.
But I can also say, now, beingliberated from it, I'm not
(08:03):
chained to it, and the chainbeing the chain of pain right,
there is still hurt attached toit, but I am like my.
There was a moment where myidentity was in that tragedy,
like how I thought everythingcame from this place of every.
My thoughts are coming fromthis place of, you know, sadness
, despair, anger, hurt, grief,darkness, depression, all of
(08:27):
that.
And it didn't feel like that.
It didn't feel like I wouldstop it, or it didn't feel like
that it wouldn't stop Eventhough I was still going, even
though I was still progressing,like in school, working full
time job, crushing it at work,crushing it in the community,
like you know, I could pick upthe phone and call the mayor of
the city that I was living inbecause he was cool, I could
call the deputy chief and Istill was just like, very much
living but very much dead, youknow.
(08:49):
And so when you're in the thickof it, you're in the thick of
it.
So if anyone's listening andthey're in the thick of it, like
, yeah, that's where you are.
And when you're in the thick ofit, the key, what I've realized
again thereafter is it's like ablanket.
It's actually how I definedepression, you know, and people
(09:09):
could say, depending on, well,anyway, I won't even go there.
But sometimes I feel like yousay words.
I feel like you say words andthen you feel like you got to
explain the word just becausethe world that we live in.
So when I say depression, Imean a moment to where, like,
ish is just so real in your headand heart that you kind of just
lay out and whatever thatlayout looks like, it's not you
crushing it, shining, doing that, you're just like going through
(09:31):
.
So that and being in the thickof it is like this heavy blanket
that's on you, and sometimes itcan be so heavy, like a
weighted blanket, that you can'teven feel that you're in it
because it's taking over allyour senses and all your world.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And what you want to do is, just like we do every
morning when, at alarm clock gooff, like kick the blanket off
of us, and that can literally beopening up a curtain, looking
outside, opening your eyes andseeing something different,
changing the scenery.
What are you looking at?
Getting out your house, goingsomewhere different, trying a
new restaurant, looking at adifferent type of audio media or
(10:08):
something like that.
Like, really open your eyes tosee something different and what
that'll do by you lookingthrough your natural eyes,
physiologically will change whatyou're thinking about and at
that moment, start to like,place a thought on what you want
to experience Like at thatmoment.
Choose to take in the momentand find something to be
thankful for At that moment.
Put a smile on your face so youcan feel, you know, like
(10:31):
through your skin, what happen.
This is Because you once had itand you're absolutely going to
get it again.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Right, I like that, and it's so true.
It's so true that it's thatchange of perspective Sometimes
we have to.
We have to purposely take theaction first, before the emotion
shows up, instead of waitingfor the emotion to show up to
have the action happen.
Yeah that's wisdom, you know,instead of waiting to be happy
to now, I'm going to go out anddo something.
Just go out and do somethingdifferent, and eventually those
emotions will follow along, andthat ties in actually kind of.
(10:58):
You almost already answered thequestion, but maybe we can go a
little deeper, as far as, again, you address someone who's in
it right now.
Going through it right now andthrough your experience of that
process, did you ever like sayto yourself, hey, I have to be
over this in X amount of time?
Or did you let yourself gothrough the process the way you
needed to go through it?
(11:18):
Cause I know some people arelike, oh, in six months, I've
got to be over this, I've got,you know, I've got to shake it
and I've even, honestly, we'veread some literature out there
where people are like, oh, youknow, in about six months to a
year is usually when we can getover large tragedies.
What was that process for youand what would you recommend or
suggest from your experience forothers?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
who might be?
Speaker 1 (11:35):
in the middle of something.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
I was pissed off that I wasn't over it.
I was like, okay, all right,I'm sad it happened, he gone.
Like literally that's how I was.
I was finding myself, annoyed,mad at God.
Like how long do I have to besad?
Like I get it, it's a tragedy.
Like I'm literally.
Logically, I understand that.
(11:58):
I understand sorrow, Iunderstand pain, I understand
life, I understand God.
I understand to the best of myabilities, based on my belief
system, what's going to happenwhen I leave here.
Leave here in this physicalform.
Right?
All of that understanding hasnothing to do with getting
through it and being healed andrecovering and being resilient
(12:19):
and staying the course and notgiving up.
So, understanding like no.
So for whomever they say in sixmonths, call me so I can go
ahead and debunk and deconstructthat thinking because it's
unrealistic, right?
Because when you're in pain,that pain taps into sales of
your body that you probablyhadn't thought about, that you
(12:40):
didn't even know existed, butit's there.
That's what's valid and it'sreal, which is why I encourage
people to be gentle withthemselves if you are and you
feel like you've been here forso long and you're ready to
leave.
You did not get the blueprintfor this.
You did not get the script.
There is no prescription, thereis no formulary methodology.
There are resources and toolsand conversations and
(13:02):
experiences that can help youget through it.
So when I was shared, there isno timeline.
Everything happens in the divinetime for what should happen,
which is the only time that ithappens.
When it happens that happeningthat you want, start with what
you want to feel.
When you get there, like ifyou're saying I should be over
(13:24):
this, finish the sentence.
I should be over this so I canwhat?
What is it that you want to bedoing?
Where is it that you want to begoing?
How do you want to be feeling?
So if you say I should be overthis, it's been eight months.
I am ready to move on.
Okay, move on in what and how.
I'm ready to move on and findlove again.
Great, like.
So what should you be doing todo that?
(13:45):
Should you be making yourselfavailable, reading about love?
So it's not about the time.
Time I'm Jesus.
Time can't be manipulated, butit can be woven with your
activities.
So if you're sitting in it, youdon't like it, you don't want
to be there.
Where do you want to be that?
How do you get there.
Just take some chances, do thestuff that remotely seems like
(14:08):
it'll get you there, and that isprogression and that's what we
want.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I love that.
Oh my gosh, april, that wholelast couple minutes.
Holy cow, I'm gonna, I'm gonnamake a sound bite out of that.
Just play it over and overagain.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
The breath is taking out of me because that is, um,
that's what we want and that'swhat I wanted.
What I wanted was to get out ofit, and I I did not know how,
and it's because I was trying tofigure it out.
But you can't figure it out.
Just figure it out, like, justsee something Different of what
(14:49):
you're seeing and then, like,think of something that could
get you there, and you know, soit's really just weaving it
together and I that's what savedme I just didn't, I Didn't stop
weaving, like I would weave andstitch and make something
beautiful, and then it made likeunravel, because I took my
hands off of it.
(15:09):
Like I started to teach myselfhow to crochet.
In this journey I did all typeof stuff, like I'd be anything
that somebody said like it, likelive, well, do it.
So I started crocheting and mymom's like a master crochet or
so if there's a tournamentsomewhere which I know it is for
a crochet, my mom should be init.
And so I picked up crochetingand I taught myself how to do it
(15:31):
.
I went to, like this soul, likewhat do you call the places
where they sell, like, patmaterials, like are you a part
of?
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
yes, you know, millennium ism is kicking in.
I'm like, what's that storethat my auntie used to go?
So I would crochet and I taughtmyself how to crochet and it's
such a cruel, relaxing thing todo, like you're just going from
this ball of yarn toconstructing something and
emphasis on something, because Ididn't ever turn it into
anything.
You know, I made what I need tobe a scar for my poodle.
(16:04):
Like shy, I'll take this is ascar for you.
Nevertheless, as you're likecrocheting, you're weaving.
The minute you stop, it juststops right there and if you
weren't careful, if you go backtoo far, it'll really unravel.
That's like lies.
And so if you keep going, keepgoing by seeking knowledge, keep
going by dreaming, I really,until my ex-boyfriend brought to
(16:28):
my attention, I didn't realizethat I wasn't dreaming, not even
like dream big, like no, it'sjust the one dreaming at all,
because I was so like in it thatI forgot.
Like, you know, you are stillalive and you can like have this
really dope life that you wantto live.
You deserve it.
Like yeah, you made a mistakeand things didn't go as planned
and blah, blah, blah, blah, butyou still here, so like what you
(16:50):
want to do with it?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
I love that analogy of the crochet, where if you
keep your hands on it, itbecomes something.
Yeah, you put it down or goback too far, it just comes
undone.
I think that's that's a reallygreat analogy for life.
Yeah whether you're goingthrough something or just or
just living honestly.
You know that's that's a reallygood one.
I like that one.
So for you and your journey,yeah, you get the bad news you
(17:14):
hit your lows.
Several years later, you startlooking at Life and you,
logically, you said you want toget out of it, but emotionally,
you weren't there yet.
What was that process for you?
Once you felt like you wereback on your feet and you were
in a good space, what was thatprocess moving forward than for
you, that brought you now towhere we are today, with You're
(17:36):
coaching, you're speaking,you're you're having impact on
the world.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Bless God.
Um, I Experienced that severaltimes.
Several times I felt like I hadmy footing under me.
Several times I'm like, okay,good, I got this.
And then I realized I wassaying it again.
So it's not a straight path upthe mountain top.
There are valleys.
You're going to go up and then,before you know it, it sucks
(18:02):
and, god forbid, you're gonna bedown.
So I could say I just had thatmoment on my calendar just Well,
I think the 14th, two Saturdaysago, not this past Saturday,
with the Saturday before.
I felt like, oh my god, youjust heal my mind in a way that
you never have, because Idiscovered something about
myself and he revealed somethingto me that I know it's gonna
(18:24):
make me a better person, that Iknow it's gonna help me go into
this next level that I, my soul,is yearning, that's gonna make
me be able to push through, likethe conversation we were having
before the show started, andjust record the freaking podcast
, like you know what I'm sayingright.
So I experienced it again andit's there.
So in the word of God it saysif you seek me there, you will
(18:45):
find me.
If you seek me with your wholeheart, I that is the life of
April Lewis, because there wasnothing like.
I'm a pretty smart kid.
I do some dumb ish sometimes,you know, but I'm a pretty smart
kid, by God's grace.
And One thing I know for sure isI have been begging and
(19:07):
pleading to God To live the lifethat I was created to live.
And I don't even know what thatis, but I know it's awesome and
I know it's healthy and I knowit's happy and I know it's
prosperous and I know it'sabundant and I know it's joyful
and purposeful and has meaning.
All I want is that.
(19:28):
And because I know that, Idon't know how to do it or get
it, so I have to keep tappinginto the person, the intensity,
the belief system that says like, oh yeah, you get all that.
So I crawl and clown, claw myway to God.
So I constantly have thesemoments like I got this because
I'm constantly Ascending to thehighest and best and most
(19:49):
capable version of myself.
So it's a constant go up, fallback, keep going, go higher,
fall back, whatever.
Keep going, stay the course.
Doesn't matter how big or small, just don't stop.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I love that because you really point out in that the
value of your faith.
Oh yeah that, knowing there'sups and downs, knowing there's
pits and valleys, and that'sokay, because I believe that
there is that higher power and Ibelieve there's that higher
purpose, and I may not see it,but I know it's there and it
will be revealed in divine time.
(20:22):
So I love that.
I love that With all you'vebeen through, because I know I
just for my own experiences andtalking with people and clients
sometimes People are tested sohard they question their faith.
Did you ever experience thatwhere you were just tested so
hard, you're like you know what?
I Don't know about this anymore.
Or have you always had thatsolid rooting in your faith?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Well, I guess I should be honest, cuz God
already knows I have made yourbeef with God like a straight
attitude.
You aren't real, you don'texist.
Why would you do that?
Thanks for playing me.
I see why people don't believein you.
That's why folks go over hereand do all these things like we
I can't say we, cuz obviously itwas just me had a whole
(21:06):
attitude with God, a whole likeThank you for ruining my life
Several times, like what's outthat bad it's of all the things
that you could have had tohappen to me, this, like it was
a Situation with me, and itwasn't just one, two or three
times, it was several times.
And that's when I believe NowI'm almost certain Dr Kubler
(21:31):
Ross is the founder or the the,the teacher behind the five
stages of grief.
Think it's dr Kubler.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Ross.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Yeah, yeah, if I'm wrong, Some what what you say,
email us and tell us the right.
One of those stages is anger.
So when you're mad and this isgrief and I just feel in my
spirit I need to say this togrief doesn't always mean grief
of a person you grieve anythingthat you lose a person, yeah
(21:59):
right, you can grieve a dog.
Know that, feeling the words,you can grieve a job, a
relationship.
You can breathe the state thatyour health used to be in.
When it's not that anymore, I'mlike an ex athlete, like I
played ball in Germany, got paidfor it, and now I can't run a
mile because of the state of myknees, because, you know, the
military going to war, all thatgood jazz.
(22:20):
I've had three surgeries.
Thank God I'm good, I can stillstrut in some stilettos, but
it's best I don't run unless I'mbeing chased right.
So it coming back is yes,you're going to be angry, you're
going to be mad when you losesomething that you loved, that
made you feel good, that broughtyou joy.
(22:40):
So I did lose my faith.
I will find myself still comingback to where I started, and
that is knowing that God has meand knowing that God loves me
and knowing that there was aperson that came and died before
me and saved my soul.
You know what?
That's a dang good story.
It makes sense.
(23:00):
Any time I test it, it passesthe test.
So it literally does and sayseverything that it says that it
does and says I can like 100percent and I've been all over
the place with faith, religion.
I done, did some stuff.
I know was like God, please getwhatever I put on me off of me,
my man.
(23:20):
I don't want to go too deep, Ican't come back.
So yeah, it's part of it.
But again, tiny steps forward.
Just go, don't believe and behonest, because it's God Like.
God is omnipresent, omnipotent.
There's no thought that youcan't have.
If you don't believe that I'mobviously not talking to you,
but for my people, okay.
There is no thought that youcan't have where God doesn't
(23:43):
know.
So have it and keep going,because God also wants the
absolute best for you.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
I appreciate you so much.
I appreciate you sharing thatand choosing to go the honest
route, because and not I thinkit'd be easy for somebody to go
oh yeah, well, her husband diedin Iraq.
So yeah, of course she's goingto question God and faith.
But the fact that you mentionedit it's happened several times
over your life and the angerpart and everything else the
value in sharing that not only,I think, allows us who've been
(24:13):
through it to see it in others,but also recognize the fact that
just because you've questionedor just because you've lost
faith doesn't mean you can't goback to it.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Doesn't mean you can't return.
I think some people get to thatpoint where it's a hard edge
for them and like, nope, thishappened in my life and so I'm
forgetting spirituality andforgetting faith.
There's no reason for it.
Then maybe something later inlife comes up where they feel
like maybe I should go back toit or I feel called back to it,
but I can't because I turned myback on it and I won't be
accepted.
(24:45):
The fact that you shared thatthis has been a part of your
journey is so valuable.
I appreciate you so much forsharing that.
I really do.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Yeah, because I think for people who might be in the
thick of it, this is a goodmessage.
It really is.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yeah, and it's okay.
We as humans, we're precious,and I'm the W of that.
We are so precious because wereally think we know what we're
doing.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Right and we think we're in control.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Right, and it's like we've been here before.
We've never been human before.
Like in one minute you feellike the best person in the
world.
The next minute you feel likescum of the earth.
The next minute you feel socapable, like I got this.
The next minute you crying andslaying and snot, like we go
through all the things right.
And it's just like when youstart to give yourself grace and
(25:31):
just breathe and exhale andsurrender, like that's what I
love about God, like I'm cool,not knowing what I'm doing down
here, because I want to know howhe know you created it.
Like you're way smarter, likeyou created me.
So then that means you got thecode, the blueprint of me.
So I want to tap into that so Icould function the way you want
(25:54):
me to function.
And why wouldn't?
I want your expertise and yourknowledge and your wisdom to do
the thing that you created?
Like help me be great.
So that's like how I'm living.
It's in complete humility, likeit's by God's grace that I'm
here and my desire to be who Godcalled me to be, because I've
experienced God and I know Godwants the best for me and it's
really fun.
(26:14):
It's painful.
You know my niece.
God bless her soul.
She eight years younger than me, but this little girl teaches
me so much about life.
Like she is the reason I havededicated devotion time.
I was home, visiting my family,visiting my mom and she stays
with my mom, her grandma and Iwas coming after the restroom
and my niece.
Her nickname is Piggy and herreal name is Delicia.
(26:34):
She's a beautiful soul.
We've been calling her Piggysince she was a chucky little
baby.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Oh, no yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
So she looked at me and said Piggy I'm sorry for
saying your nickname, but youknow I love you, judy.
So Piggy was coming out herroom and I was like what you in
there doing?
And she was like, oh, I'mhaving my devotion time, I have
time with God every night atnine o'clock.
I said, oh, lord Jesus, and Iimmediately got a visual of my
calendar and I was in my headstanding right there with her.
It took like a nanosecond tohave this whole thought.
(26:59):
April, you got everything onyour calendar.
You make time for everythingand everybody else on your
calendar.
No time Do you dedicate anddevote time with God, but yes,
you stay calling on them, askingfor something.
Woo, from that moment forward Ibecame intentional about my
devotion time in the morning,which I've always wanted in my
morning routine.
I just didn't level up.
(27:19):
It's like the part right.
So she checked me on that,helped me to have devotion time,
which is a game changer in life.
And then just recently she losther ability to walk for three
months and could not walk, justgoing down, falling.
She was in a wheelchair forthree months and, as we're going
through a doctor, specialist,neurologist, spying, mris a week
(27:42):
in the hospital.
Zero answers, zero explanationand now, to God be the glory,
she's on her feet.
But before she stood back up, Iasked Piggy.
I said, piggy, just God, notjust doing this, to be doing
this, god is not toward likethere is a reason, there is
something that God wants you toget out this situation.
You're a 34 year old, healthywoman who was working as a CNA
(28:05):
taking care of people living ina nursing home, a late night
shift, and now you can't walk.
Ask God, what is it that youneed to know about this
situation?
And she came to me and she saidApril, when you asked me that
question, I went to God and Godreminded me of long suffering
and part of being a believer andpart of this life is that
(28:27):
you're going to suffer andthat's okay because he is still
God and will get you through.
But if we want all the good, wegot to take the not so good,
because everything is fair andjust in this world as it's
created until we throw somethingoff.
So if they're going to be up,there has to be doubt.
If there's going to be darkness, there has to be life, and we
(28:47):
want the marshmallow lovingrainbow Skittles and juicy jolly
rancher version of life towhere there is no sorrow and
there is no long suffering.
So when you accept that there islong suffering and know that
that's part of it, that's whereyou can leverage that to be
resilient, because it's likekeep telling yourself this is
part of the game, but this ain'tthe whole game, and you're
(29:09):
still in the game.
So then play the game.
And I don't know where westarted or if I answered your
question.
I don't just I don't even knowwhere I went with that, but
there we are.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
No, I think it all fits right in.
We were talking about lifeexperiences and the ups and
downs and going through it alland having faith even in the
hardest of times.
I think it's an important.
Everything you just shared issuch an important part of the
story because I think it may notbe 100% directly relatable but
in a sense of you know, likeyour knees losing the ability to
walk, but having thosechallenges, having those ups and
downs, having that moment and Ilove how you wrap that up it is
(29:41):
just a part of the game.
It is not the game.
And that's where I see alsosometimes as a coach, and I'm
sure you do as well, where wehave to A always be mentally and
emotionally preparing ourselvesfor those hard times, coming up
with our plans and ourstrategies, but also recognizing
that when those hard times arehappening, it is just part of
the game.
(30:01):
Where it's a, it's a, it's apage in the chapter, it's not
the whole chapter, it's not thewhole game, you know.
So I love that.
I really really do, and I wantto segue into, if it's all right
with you, I'd love to hear moreabout your coaching now.
Let's bring us up to date.
We know the stuff you've beenthrough the, the hills, the
valleys, the faith kicking inyou, kicking the faith out and
then bringing it back in.
(30:21):
Yes, talk to me now about whereyou are today, because I want
to be able to make sure thatanybody listening if they want
to get in touch with you orconnect with you, they
understand what you're doing nowas a coach, speaker and world
changer.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Oh, bless you, Bless you, and I just want to
acknowledge with the words thatyou just said, for people to be
mentally and emotionallyprepared for life.
I think that's a sound bitebecause we, we practice how we
play, and if you're preparingyourself and fortifying yourself
and building yourself up, whenyou feel things are cool, when
life does pop off because itinevitably will pop off you are
(30:57):
more strengthened to get throughit.
So, feel your toolbox.
So when the time comes, you dohave something there that you
could pull on.
So don't you know, as I justwanted to like acknowledge that
because I think that's huge, andalso, when you said it, I was
like dang, that's, that was likea missing piece.
I wasn't prepared, like Ididn't know grief, like I wasn't
prepared.
(31:18):
So it was the first, it was,you know.
So I just honor you for sayingthat and I really hope your
listeners pick up on that.
Like, what are?
What can I do to make mestronger, my body and spirit,
for when life lights?
So?
Speaker 1 (31:32):
yeah, when life lights, when life lights.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
So now I get the privilege and honor of coaching
predominantly healthcareprofessionals, the professionals
of all walks of life.
I work with people that serveothers.
I work with people whotypically have such great hearts
and beautiful spirits and theyhave a big calling of it over
their life and they need someoneto help them see it clearly and
strategize so they can moveforward without completely
(31:58):
stressing themselves out andultimately burning themselves
out.
So I work with people who areexecutives in a leadership space
, who are working to hit theirnext level so they can lift up
their team collectively and behealthy in their communication,
fair and just and equitable intheir treatment and staying
excited about work and life.
So that's what I do.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
Nice, nice, yes, and so I.
Obviously I will put all thelinks down below in the show
notes.
But if someone is looking foryou, is there a website?
Or you prefer they find you onsocial media, or how would you
like someone to find you?
What's the best way?
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Easyasapralewiscom is my website and you can learn a
little bit more about me.
And you know, in the corporatespace I have a signature
organizational coaching programwork well and it focuses on the
individual, the team and theorganization at large.
And all that detail and some ofthe topics that I speak in the
teaching that program are atapriluiscom and all my social
(32:54):
media handles are there, so it'seasy to just go there.
Of course I'm on LinkedIn.
I'd love to connect with youthere.
But yeah, instagram April Lewis, ig Facebook April Lewis.
I'm on threads.
I love it there.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Oh, I know We've connected there.
I didn't really think of it.
Yes, yes, yes, it's such a goodvibe, it's really cool.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Yeah, it's very chill .
But yes, you can get with me atApril.
Lewiscom, love to talk to you.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Do you still have videos on YouTube?
So remember when we firstconnected, I saw some of your
talks that you had posted, Ithink, on YouTube and they're so
good, so is that still a place?
For people to find you as well.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Absolutely, thank you .
Thank you for doing me betterthan me.
April Lewis speaks on YouTube.
I'll put a link.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
I'll make sure there's a link in the show notes
.
Yeah, because I just rememberlooking at that when I first
connected and I was like, dang,you know this is such powerful
stuff, you're such a goodspeaker and I know we've talked
more about personal stuff here.
So I want to make sure ifanyone feels a connection to you
here listening to this, theyhave the chance to see some of
your bigger presentations,because they're so good, they're
so good.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Oh, bless you.
Thank you for that, Iappreciate it oh yeah, no, I
appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
You know that.
Yes, as we start to wind downhere and wrap this up, I always
like to ask my guess what islike a particular quote or meme?
And, honestly, you have droppedsome awesome ones already, but
is there a particular quote ormeme, or the statement or
something that you would love toleave with the audience that
you feel is just a real goodpiece of knowledge?
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Oh, thank you.
I love that question.
Let me think so.
It really comes from our soul.
So what's rising to the top?
There is a quote by RumiR-U-M-I.
I don't know where he was inlife or when he got the
revelation to say these words,but it's what's coming up for me
, and if you sit with it, it'ssuch a happy quote.
(34:40):
And that quote that he saysthat which you're seeking is
seeking you, and so when I readthat or hear it, I immediately
feel like one.
I'm not alone, because what Iwant in my heart wants me to,
which means that it's comingfrom somewhere that I even
wanted.
So let me get there, becauseit's something there for me,
(35:01):
because it's mine, it's mythought, it's my dream, it's my
whatever that is, and it'sreally cool to know that you can
live a life and go aftersomething that wants you to have
it, and that's exciting.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Beautiful, beautiful.
And to piggyback on that alittle more, whenever I do hear
that quote, so I'm familiar withit too and, just as you said it
, there's like this, it's almostlike there's a sense of
permission from a higher power,because I think sometimes when
we want something, when we'reseeking something, there's also
that question of is it just?
Is it even a thing for me?
Am I allowed to have that?
(35:35):
Do I have permission to pursue?
Speaker 2 (35:36):
that yes.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
So whenever I hear that whatever you're seeking is
seeking you, it's like okay, sonow it's not a matter of can I
or should I, it's more of a okay, let's find each other, you
know.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Yeah, see, oh, I love how you said that.
Yes, let's find each other.
Yeah, oh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
Very good April.
It has been an absolutepleasure.
But before we wrap this upcompletely, I want to ask you
and kind of give you the floorIs there anything else that you
want to mention to our audiencebefore we go?
Or do we cover everything you'dlike to touch on today?
Speaker 2 (36:09):
You know, I just pray that they stay the course, the
life you know and we're.
We're so lucky that we get towrite that course and if you
need to go off that course andgo another way, it's fine.
But get very clear on your end,Like for me.
The end is purpose to feel likeplayful out, maximized
potential by God's grace, atGod's pace.
(36:30):
So I don't stress myself outbecause I don't.
I'm not divinity, God is.
And so, yeah, just stay thecourse, Keep going, Even if it's
a tiny step forward, just keepgoing.
And you got this.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Love it.
Love it, April.
Thank you so much for spendingtime with me today on my podcast
.
I appreciate you tremendouslyand I look forward to staying in
touch.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Yes, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
And, as always, thank you, dear listeners, for being
here.
I appreciate you tremendouslyand really love the community we
have created around.
We all have something.
You continue to share episodes,the community and listenership
continues to grow.
It's been amazing and again,you know I talk about almost
every time it's that rippleeffect, right, it's how we show
up for others, it's theinformation we share, it's how
(37:14):
it all makes a difference in theworld.
I have seen people's liveschange through being intentional
, through stepping up and sayingI want to live better.
Hearing April's story andknowing with the clients I've
coached how this all works andhow we can make a difference in
the world, one person at a time.
It just motivates me that muchmore to keep doing this.
(37:34):
So thank you, thank you all,for being here.
Of course, if you haven'talready, be sure to subscribe,
wherever you listen to thepodcast, feel free to leave
stars or review or whatever youcan do, because that helps tell
other people that you gotsomething out of this and will
show that maybe this issomething they should listen to
as well.
Of course, you can always findme on my website,
coachrichschwarzcom, withApril's information.
It's all down below.
(37:54):
In the show notes as well.
You can find her links there,my links are there, my social
media as well.
And if you've been consideringor thinking about coaching or
just talking through withsomebody what's going on in your
life, you can always hit me upfor a discovery call or free 30
minutes of the Zoom time.
You and me just chat aboutwhat's going on in your life.
I will share with you what mycoaching techniques are.
I'll answer your questionsabout that.
If you and I both agree thatwe'll be a good fit as coaching
(38:17):
client, be happy to startworking towards that and we can
talk more about that If at theend of the 30 minutes we're just
, like you know, goodconversation.
Thanks for the info.
Appreciate you have a good life.
That's cool too.
No pressure at all, becausethat's not what it's about.
It's about making a difference.
It's about showing up for eachother, right?
Well, like I said before, Ireally appreciate you being here
.
I appreciate you so much.
Thanks again for listening.
(38:37):
Have a good one everybody.
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