Teaching Yourself to Learn

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Y’all know that I love a good quote: after all, it’s one of the opening questions I have asked each one of my guests for the podcast, and today is no different. However, I’d love to throw in a bonus quote for you today from a famous movie that includes fried green tomatoes, the Whistle Stop Cafe, and Fannie Flagg. “It's funny when you're a child, you think time will never go by, but when you hit about twenty, time passes like you're on the fast train to Memphis. I guess life just slips up on everybody. It sure did on me.” I find this quote so relevant to both the conversation in this episode and as we navigate through this third half of life. Today's guest is dear to my heart and actually the mom of Melissa Stecher, who I chatted to all the way back in episode 14. Kim Stetcher is a devout Catholic Christian and keener than her beans gardener. Listen in as we chat about:

• Building a circle of love. A prayer group that has been going strong since 2004 and provided phenomenal support even more than anyone thought possible.

• How Kim's gardening love has developed and played a part in her life through her dad, family, mentors, and working career. Starting small with seeds and now growing to schedules, plans, and all the wisdom along the way.

• The difference between heirloom seeds can make and how Kim's family is now on board to build a legacy and help her produce enough to share with friends, family and support services in the community.

• How to start, even if you’re a complete beginner. The benefits of growing your own produce and how easy it can be to start with a seed.

Kim is developing ways to share her wisdom and skills, and in the meantime, I invite you to reach out to me with any questions and comments at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

To connect and apply to be a guest and share your story, you can reach Holly at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more, please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up.

Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author.

This episode piggybacks off last week's solo episode - although without so much of a Walton reference inside. If you’ve listened along with the Podcast for a while now you know Holly loves a good quote or few and today is no different. She opens with the quote from Jackson Pollock which says - the secret to success is to be fully awake to everything about you. Listen as Holly explores this very concept in her third half of life and talks about:

• Stepping back and taking a 360 degree look at every aspect that has to do with you including likes and dislikes, dreams and desires and where your inner world may have been influenced by that external to you.

• Think about what you keep coming back to. Often we find that it does present itself again in this third half of life journey.

• A fun and simple exercise that Holly found herself coming back to years after she was witness to it. A wonderful reminder when we find ourselves in a funk and veering off track.

• The noise that we often have around us when it comes to what we should, could and would be doing.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up.

Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author.

I’m a self-confessed sentimental, nostalgic type of person and over the years have loved to sit down with the Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch, to name a few, and today’s episode is actually inspired by a Waltons episode! The episode has a pivotal message of following your heart and encouraging us to figure out what we want by simply stepping forward. I expand on this concept in this episode with further thoughts involving:

• The John Barrymore quote A man is not old, until regrets take the place of dreams. How this quote is relevant even 100 years later and how generations benefit from these words and experiences, especially in their third half of life.

• Coming back to recurring themes in our lives, paths and signs that resurface, something that you are passionate about and is difficult to get out of your mind.

• Sentimental and nostalgic moments through memories with the box. How they can evoke further thoughts and memories and my reflections with these moments.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach me at [email protected].

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up.

Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author.

*Trigger warning. This episode contains talk of attempted suicide and may be confronting for some listeners. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in your local area. There is help available for you.

There are often events throughout our lives that shake us to our core. Past relationships which are unhealthy with harmful patterns can push us to the limit. Unfortunately Debbie Griffiths was driven to her peak after experiencing domestic violence for over 17 years. At 63, she feels like her life is just beginning. She has now published a book to help others and come through stronger, healed by taking one step and a time and rebuilding a life worth living. Listen in as Holly and Debbie discuss:

• How everything that has happened has brought her to this point.  Each stepping stone prepared for the next step, including twists and turns and the whole nine yards. Accepting responsibility and moving forward.

• Getting better at speaking up for what we need. How her suicide attempt opened her eyes to make a change to her life and how it took a while to understand and recognize what was happening.

• Giving back to others. Bringing awareness to others to help them recogize the signs and learning how to take care of ourselves.

• The important basic human need to be loved and to love in return. How we are not made to stay stuck. The opportunity in the third half of life to ask what it is we want to do.

To find out more about Debbie, take a look at her book Torched, Burnt By a Gaslighter please visit her website www.brokentoboldness.com  you can also find her on Instagram @debbiegriffiths581, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up.

Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

*Trigger warning. This episode contains talk of attempted suicide and may be confronting for some listeners. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in your local area. There is help available for you.

There are often events throughout our lives that shake us to our core. Past relationships which are unhealthy with harmful patterns can push us to the limit. Unfortunately Debbie Griffiths was driven to her peak after experiencing domestic violence for over 17 years. At 63, she feels like her life is just beginning. She has now published a book to help others and come through stronger, healed by taking one step and a time and rebuilding a life worth living. Listen in as Holly and Debbie discuss:

• How everything that has happened has brought her to this point.  Each stepping stone prepared for the next step, including twists and turns and the whole nine yards. Accepting responsibility and moving forward.

• Getting better at speaking up for what we need. How her suicide attempt opened her eyes to make a change to her life and how it took a while to understand and recognize what was happening.

• Giving back to others. Bringing awareness to others to help them recogize the signs and learning how to take care of ourselves.

• The important basic human need to be loved and to love in return. How we are not made to stay stuck. The opportunity in the third half of life to ask what it is we want to do.

To find out more about Debbie, take a look at her book Torched, Burnt By a Gaslighter please visit her website www.brokentoboldness.com  you can also find her on Instagram @debbiegriffiths581, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This episode is made possible by the New Author Intensive. To find out more please visit www.teachingyourselftolearn.com and use coupon code NEWAUTHOR for $100 off when you sign up.

Because while everyone is not a writer, anyone can become an author.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

There comes a point in time when you know what you’re doing doesn’t work, it hasn’t gotten good results and you want to take steps to make it better. This rule can definitely be applied to our health and today’s guest is an advocate for feeling good through our food choices. Former wellness designer, Suzanne Roth is now known as a Wellness Warrior and she works with women ranging from 40-60 and stands for the silent, high achieving professional women who have had their health on the backburner. Listen in as Holly and Suzanne chat about:

• Looking at root causes for health issues that we often carry for much of our lives. Very often women spend their entire lives taking care of their families and how that impacts our third half of life.

• Consuming certain foods on a daily basis rather than in moderation and how sometimes you cannot alleviate certain foods all together. How we hear wheat, gluten, sugar, oils and more are not good for us, however don't’ do anything about it.

• Stabilizers, chemicals and other ingredients that are put into food to increase shelf life and ‘taste’ good. How much all of it contributes to toxicity and diseases.

• Staying informed and educating yourself, while also taking action for our health today.

It is clear through this conversation that Suzanne has a passion for health and wellness and believes that we simply cannot do great things when we don’t feel good. Changing the way we think about and view food can be done through Suzanne’s ebook Poisons in your Pantry. Suzanne also really enjoys providing half hour discovery calls with women who would like to brainstorm and find healing from pain. Find out more here.

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

There is a certain atmosphere in the conversation contained in this episode of the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast. Holly is joined with Kathy Magan Smith from aray wellness and blown away with the nuggets of wisdom, expertise and learnings within her ears. Kathy is passionate about embracing a holistic lifestyle for women in their third half of life. She uses the acronym R.E.I.N.S. to explore and explain an approach which fulfils those around her. Listen in as Holly and Kathy chat about:

• How can we give back? If we learn something that gives depth to our lives, we can help others in the process which is both powerful and intriguing at the same time.

• How there is medicine in illness. When sick there is a vulnerability that means we can learn a lot about ourselves, our resiliency and create our own first aid kits.

• The happiness curve. Is it the real deal? Does age matter? What happens when we lessen the stress and resistance and accept where we are at different points in our lives?

• Taking initiatives and efforts to plan and make friendships work. The importance of conversations for our wellness and happiness. When we show up for others when we need it, they’re also there for us.

Three questions from this episode that really left a mark are how can I give back? How do I show up? What’s missing?

To learn more about Kathy and her work please visit her website www.araywellness.com where you can contact her in relation to her retreats and work as mentioned in this episode. You can also find out more about Kathy via her Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. You can also access Kathy’s free gift, Three Secrets for Unstoppable Energy using Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science for Women 55+ here and be in touch through her email [email protected].

To connect and find out more about the Teaching Yourself to Learn Podcast, apply to be a guest and share your story you can reach Holly at [email protected] or via the website www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.

Join Holly for this solo episode as she learns and recognises the importance of the spring and in particular the cleaning and cleansing process. This time of year, is one of migration, the weather is starting to get warmer, days longer as we open the windows to let the fresh air swirl. Listen as Holly reflects on what that means for her and thinks about:

·       Nostalgia, smells and emotions that intermingle in her memory and have carried across generations.

·       How it is not just the house we are cleaning, but also our own internal cleanse as well for preparation of the season to come.

·       To die for pear salad and foods which evoke all sorts of spring memories.

·       Being present, conscious and more as we repeat the same rhythms and patterns we have for several years.

So, as you also approach spring or whatever season this podcast episode finds you in, think about how you can clean your mind, heart, and actions as well.

This conversation is one of many which share stories within the walls of this Podcast and beyond. To apply to be a guest and find out more please connect with Holly at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com

Lisa Holzberger took a leap of faith which has come back to repay her in ways she never imagined. At 50, she found herself needing to branch out and start her own business, Prestige Realty and Property Management Services. As you listen to her talk about how that happened and the stepping stones for her it is nothing short of inspirational. Listen as Holly and Lisa discuss:

• When you feel that you can’t go any further and how sometimes we need a wake up call to stop and keep your ears and eyes open.

• When changes to your employment don’t coincide with what you envisioned for your job and the path we want to take. When we get to the stage where we think what do we have to lose?

• How Holly has dipped her toe into entrepreneurship, even if she didn’t realise it at the time.

• Getting out of negativity and anger, how we mellow as we age and sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it that matters.

I highly recommend that you follow Lisa on her Instagram @lisaholzberger and visit her website to find out more. This conversation is one of many which share stories across the globe. To apply to be a guest please connect with Holly at www.teachingyourselftolearn.com.