Reframe Your Life

After a two year hiatus, Reframe Your Life is back. It took a special guest to get me to record another episode. Ann Douglas was Canada's go-to expert on all things parenting for decades. Now that her kids have grown up and left home, she's turning her attention to the glorious messiness that is midlife. And she hasn't just been researching it; she's been living it: trying to find her way through all that messiness-career curveballs, mental and physical health challenges, a house fire, relationship highs and lows, the death of a parent, and so on. Ann is the author of twenty-five non-fiction books, including many bestselling titles in the parenting category, such as The Mother of All® series, and a passionate and inspiring speaker who delivers keynote addresses and leads small-group workshops at conferences & online events. The book recommended in this episode: One Long River of Song by Brian Doyle (affiliate link) Subscribe to Reframe Your Life so you don't miss any future episodes!

We had a great time talking to Cait Flanders author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Year of Less. It may seem like an odd time to publish a book about opting out and yet, as we discovered, this is the perfect time to get serious about leading an intentional life. Find out more about Cait here. Follow on IG @caitflanders Find out more about Sandy here. Follow on IG @sandyareynolds Find out more about Patti here. Follow IG @pattimhall

About the book: It has long been thought that artistic output declines in old age. When Emily Urquhart and her family celebrated the eightieth birthday of her father, the illustrious painter Tony Urquhart, she found it remarkable that, although his pace had slowed, he was continuing his daily art practice of drawing, painting, and constructing large-scale sculptures, and was even innovating his style. Was he defying the odds, or is it possible that some assumptions about the elderly are flat-out wrong? After all, many well-known visual artists completed their best work in the last decade of their lives, Turner, Monet, and Cézanne among them. With the eye of a memoirist and the curiosity of a journalist, Urquhart began an investigation into late-stage creativity, asking: Is it possible that our best work is ahead of us? Is there an expiry date on creativity? Do we ever really know when we’ve done anything for the last time? The Age of Creativity is a graceful, intimate blend of research on ageing and creativity, including on progressive senior-led organizations, such as a home for elderly theatre performers and a gallery in New York City that only represents artists over sixty, and her experiences living and travelling with her father. Emily Urquhart reveals how creative work, both amateur and professional, sustains people in the third act of their lives, and tells a new story about the possibilities of elder-hood.

Art crashes into life for author Erica Cantley when she finds herself behind a podium in front of a class of high school seniors, teaching HAMLET as her father died, thousands of miles to the south in Costa Rica. Interspersing interactions with her teenage students and memories of her father, desperately sick and difficult to reach in his adopted jungle home, Cantley guides her students through HAMLET -- written four centuries ago -- while reflecting upon the impending loss of a parent in the never-ending now. The result is a powerful memoir of a love that will not die, the timeless story of the bond between parent and child, the magic created by a gifted teacher and willing pupils, and finally, the exploration of the timeless themes of HAMLET, the study in the transition of power through the generations. For those of you who aren't acquainted with Hamlet - don't let that deter you from this book or podcast. The themes in this book and discussion are themes we can all relate to in our lives. For more on Erica visit her website. And your cohosts can be found here: Sandy Reynolds and Patti M. Hall

This week on Reframe Your Life we interview award-winning producer Michelle Parise about her book Alone: A Love Story. This memoir is about falling in love, the fallout of infidelity, and everything messy in between — and the inspiration behind the hit CBC podcast. Parise has worked for CBC Radio and Television for over two decades. She was born and raised in Toronto in a gigantic Italian immigrant family.

Our guest this week is Anne Bokma . She is an award-winning freelance journalist and the author of My Year of Living Spiritually: From Woo-Woo to Wonderful—One Woman's Secular Quest for a More Soulful Life published by Douglas & McIntyre in October 2019. A leading expert on North America's 80-million strong "spiritual-but-not-religious" demographic, Anne was the award-winning "Spiritual But Secular" columnist for the United Church Observer (now Broadview) for four years before writing her popular My Year of Living Spiritually blog for the magazine. Anne also leads workshops and gives presentations on topics relating to spirituality and writing, including how she left a fundamentalist religion, the importance of finding community, how to live a more soulful life and what it takes to tell a good story. She is the founder of the 6-Minute Memoir “Speed Storytelling For a Cause” event, which features storytellers sharing tales on a common theme within a strict six-minute time limit. The event has raised more than $45,000 for local charities in her hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, since 2013. You can find our more about Anne at her website here. In this episode we talked about some of the challenges of losing your religion. A big part of the struggle is disappointing people. Sandy offers a free PDF course for anyone who needs to find the courage to end people-pleasing in their life. You can find it at her website https://www.sandyreynolds.com And if you want to get support in writing a memoir you've been working on, reach out to Patti M. Hall

An unexpected and belated mid-life love affair with birds and nature and finally discovering one’s place in the world – Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder illuminates the joyful experience of a new discovery and the surprising pleasure to be found while standing still on the edge of a lake at six a.m. When Julia Zarankin saw her first red-winged blackbird at the age of thirty-five, she didn’t expect that it would change her life. Recently divorced and auditioning hobbies during a stressful career transition, she stumbled on birdwatching, initially out of curiosity for the strange breed of humans who wear multi-pocketed vests, carry spotting scopes and discuss the finer points of optics with disturbing fervour. What she never could have predicted was that she would become one of them. Not only would she come to identify proudly as a birder, but birding would ultimately lead her to find love, uncover a new language and lay down her roots. For books that have inspired Julia Zarankin read her article here: https://lithub.com/the-accidental-hobby-on-the-books-that-made-me-a-birder/

We all have books that have greatly influenced us.  Dr. Sharon Blackie's bestselling book, If Women Rose Rooted is on Sandy's list of books that came along at just the right time in her life.  Having the opportunity to interview Dr. Blackie was a gift! If you aren't familiar with her, it is our privilege to introduce you! Dr. Sharon Blackie is an award-winning writer and internationally recognised teacher whose work sits at the interface of psychology, mythology and ecology. Her highly acclaimed books, courses, lectures and workshops are focused on the development of the mythic imagination, and on the relevance of our native myths, fairy tales and folk traditions to the personal, social and environmental problems we face today. She has penned four books of fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling If Women Rose Rooted. You can find out more about her work at her website.   If you enjoy this episode let us know - you can leave a review on iTunes OR send us an email and tell us your favourite book! 

Christa Couture reframes the experience of loss for us in her beautiful memoir, How to Lose Everything. In this interview we talk about the questions she gets asked most frequently, her story of loss and the writing process. Synopsis of her book: From the amputation of her leg as a cure for bone cancer at a young age to her first child’s single day of life, the heart transplant and subsequent death of her second child, the divorce born of grief and then the thyroidectomy that threatened her career as a professional musician, How to Lose Everything delves into the heart of loss. Couture bears witness to the shift in perspective that comes with loss, and how it can deepen compassion for others, expand understanding, inspire a letting go of little things and plant a deeper feeling for what matters. At the same time, Couture’s writing evokes the joy and lightness that both precede and eventually follow grief, as well as the hope and resilience that grow from connections with others. Evoking Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking and Rachel Cusk’s A Life’s Work, Couture explores the emotional and psychological experiences of motherhood, partnership and change. Deftly connecting the dots of sorrow, reprieve and hard-won hope, How to Lose Everything contains the advice Couture is often asked for, as well as the words she wishes she could have heard many years ago. It is also an offering of kinship and understanding for anyone experiencing a loss.” You can find out more about Christa at her website. If you have started on your memoir but need help shaping it and getting it ready for publication, Patti M. Hall can coach you through this critical stage. Contact Patti here. Find out more about Sandy's work with chronic people-pleasers at her website and get started Disappointing More People.

It's been said that 'life is a search for a good night's sleep.' If you have ever been sleep deprived you might relate. Sleep disruptions are more common than we realize. Sleep Coach Beth returns to Reframe Your Life to discuss her beautiful new book. It's not just a pretty book though, it is a practical resource to help you get the rest you need. You'll want to hear her publishing story as well. You never know what can happen on social media! For more on Beth check out this previous episode: Episode 79 | Reframe Your Nap.  And find out more about Beth at her website. If you are interested in working with a coach to get your book ready to publish, connect with Patti M Hall.   And if you people-pleasing is keeping you up at night connect with Sandy through her website for help.   Please leave us a review and share this episode and this podcast with your friends.  Thank you!

You are going to love this author and her latest book! Alison Wearing is a Canadian writer and performer. In addition to award-winning articles, short stories, essays and solo plays, she is the author of three critically-acclaimed memoirs. Honeymoon in Purdah became a national bestseller and was published in seven countries. Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter was both a bestselling memoir and a multiple award-winning solo play. Her new book, Moments of Glad Grace, has been heralded as "a wise, funny, and tender book, beautifully written and perfectly executed from first to last sentence" by Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi. Connect with Alison here: https://www.alisonwearing.com And find Sandy Reynolds at: https://www.sandyreynolds.com And Patti M. Hall makes her home here: https://pattimhall.com

This week we sit down with Rebecca Eckler and talk about her latest book and how she manages to be so bold in her work. Anyone in a blended family or thinking about attempting to bring two families together will benefit from this book. Rebecca Eckler’s newest book chronicles the hard truth of what it’s really like to make a blended family. Blissfully Blended Bullshit is a witty, engaging, refreshingly candid chronicle of a modern family’s journey as they blend households. We follow Eckler as her partner and his two children move in with her and her daughter. Then, thanks to a reverse vasectomy, they add a baby to the mix. Readers go along for the ride in this poignant, often hilarious tale, as everyone attempts to navigate their new roles: the children, the in-laws, the exes, the ex-in-laws, and even the dog. Lighthearted and intimate, this is an indispensable story about a family determined to make blended splendid, and the juicy truth of what it’s really like behind closed doors in what is rapidly becoming a typical family makeup. And if you are ready to get your memoir out into the hands of the world you will want to connect with Patti Hall. Visit her website and reach out and start the conversation today. Now is the perfect time to write your story. For those of you who feel hampered in your life by other people's expectations or judgements, sign up for Sandy Reynold's free e-course "Disappoint More People."

On this episode we interview Samra Zafar about her book A Good Wife.  From her website, " This ia a modern-day fairy tale where the heroine saves her own life."  Samra faced years of abuse after arriving in Canada as a teenage bride in a hastily arranged marriage, her determination and desire to forge a better life for herself never left her as she made slow progress towards her dreams.  Find out more about Samra at her website.  Find out more about Patti M Hall at her website.  Find out more about Sandy Reynolds at her website.  And if you are enjoying this podcast please share it with a friend and leave us a review on iTunes. Help us get the word out!  Thanks. 

Kate Armstrong inspired us with her truth-telling memoir about what it meant to be part of the first class of women attending Royal Military College. This book touches on many of the issues that women with natural leadership gifts encounter in their lives. You can find out more about Kate at her website. For more on writing your story contact Patti here. For more on reframing your life and learning to chart your own course connect with Sandy here.

Jane Christmas has written several memoirs. You will want to read them all!   Find out more of Jane at her website.   Inspired to write your own story? Patti M. Hall can help. Find out more about her work here.   Are you afraid you will disappoint someone if you move forward or share your story? Talk to Sandy! 

While working as an executive in the seniors' care industry, Deborah Bakti's professional and personal lives collided when her husband Ty, was diagnosed with a rare disease. When her husband was admitted to a long-term care home, Deborah was forced to adopt a new role; that of a residents' wife. On this episode we talk about her book RECIPE for Empathy and the strategies she teaches for transforming the long term care experience for families. Find out more about Deborah at her website. Find out more about how you can get started writing your memoir with Patti M. Hall here.

"When Louisa Deasey receives a message from a French woman about a stack of letters written about Louisa's father, neither woman can imagine the events it will set in motion." Tell me you don't want to find out more! My co-host Patti M Hall and I talk with Louisa Deasey about writing and a story that is proof truth is stranger than fiction. Enjoy! For more on Louisa Deasey find her here. For more on Patti M Hall click here. For more on Sandy Reynolds click here.

On this episode, memoir coach and RYL regular Patti Hall and I sit down with Shelley Paxton to talk about her book Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life. You don't have to be a corporate exec to benefit from Soulbbatical. There are lessons for everyone.  The energy and synergy in this episode was a beautiful thing.  Stop reading and start listening! 

This episode kicks off a series featuring women who have written memoirs, hybrids and creative non-fiction. It's fitting to start with the newly released memoir beautifully written by the co-host of the series, Patti M Hall. Over 30 million-plus children in North America suffer from rare, chronic, or incurable diseases. Every person who loves and cares for one of these children may have a unique tale of the diagnostic treatment odyssey. Still, Patti's commonalities and the experiences of many other parent's heartaches and despair make this story everyone's story. Find out more about Patti M. Hall and Loving Large.

Jo-Anne Gibson and I launched the first episode of Reframe Your Life on April 16, 2016. Four years later life looks a lot different. On this episode we reconnect to talk about how we are coping during this time of social-distancing.

In the midst of these uncertain times we can find help in getting through them by looking at how we have made it through challenges in the past. Jennifer Hayden is a breast cancer survivor who shared her story in the graphic memoir, The Story of My Tits. It's the first graphic novel I have read and I totally get the appeal. In this episode Jennifer talks about what she learned about uncertainty.

In this episode you will discover five ways to disappoint more people. If you want to live the life you want to live sooner or later you will run into the expectations other people have for you. If you are tired of feeling overwhelmed and resentful get comfortable disappointing people. Get the free download to accompany the podcast.

Starting on the inside with your values, believes and awareness of who you are and then aligning your life to reflect what is most important to you may sound simple but it isn't easy. On this episode I discuss a program I have developed to support you in becoming aligned with what what is most important to you.

Women today are looking for alternative ways to embrace ageing. This move towards conscious aging allows us to embrace ageing and at the same time continue to be seen for the work we do in the world. Tracie Nichols has started Rebel Crone Rising to support us in this process.

The Reframe Your Life Model is based on Reality/Realign/Relationships/Reflection/Results. In this episode I revisit reality. What are the facts in your life? The actual situation or circumstances that you find yourself in? It can be very different from the narrative you have about your reality. Take some time to think about the facts. Get clear on your actual reality. Then you can start to Reframe.

It's the 100th episode of Reframe Your Life. Thank you for being here for this journey. If you have ever wanted to start something, change something, try something new or quit something - you know how quickly you can begin to experience self-doubt. Sas Petherick's work on self-doubt is insightful and inspiring. Self-Doubt is the natural response we have when we are taking risks or doing anything outside our comfort zone. It is universal. It is not a limitation though. Reframe your self-doubt with Sas Petherick.

The heart wants what is wants - but that doesn't mean you should just follow your heart. Decision making and discernment are two practices that every woman who wants to live a soul-centered life needs to develop. Stop ignore the red flags in your life and learn how to make better decisions.

After a two month break Reframe Your Life is back with more ideas and interviews to help you live a soul-centered life. This week Sarah Leyenaar joins the podcast to discuss how we can make better decisions, specifically decisions made out of love and not out of fear.

Feeling the holiday anxiety on top of your regular anxiety? Here's how I am finding inner peace

This episode owes a great debt to The Book of Joy by Douglas Abrams based on his interviews with His Holiness that Dalai Lama and Arcibishop Desmond Tutu. It was such a helpful resource in understanding Joy.

This week we are lighting a candle of love. Whether you choose to take that literally or metaphorically please emember at you have been created in the image of love. And healing in our world will come through love. We need to level up the love.

No matter what you believe, and if you aren't sure what you believe, cultivating hope is a way to develop resilience. I'm reclaiming this season of advent. This episode gives you some insight into why we need hope and a simple practice to bring in more hope in your life.

It's already started and it would be very difficult to avoid it. The Holiday Season is here. How about reframing Christmas? Somewhere between the religious baggage you may have inherited with Christmas and the secularized version there is space to discover the sacred. To find meaning and to connect to what is most important to you. Are you longing for a more authentic and soulful Christmas? Are you ready to move beyond the religious cliches "There's a Reason for the Season"? How about reclaiming the holy-days?

On this episode, featuring Karen Petersen, we talk about what we are learning at this stage of my life. It's my 60th birthday episode. A milestone I am celebrating wholeheartedly.

Are you comfortable talking about death? Did you know that many people think just talking about death or going to get their will done is a harbinger of their own death? Death frightens us and we can get very superstitious around fears. I get it. I feel the same way. However, as my guest this week says on her website: "Spoiler alert - You're going to die." It seems like the right time of year to talk about death. There are several cultural days in the next week that recognize death, darkness and the afterlife including Samhain, Day of the Dead, Halloween and All Saint's Day. In Canada, we have less light with shorter days and longer nights. It's been a rainy few weeks and it is getting colder. The natural world is full of reminders of endings. Two years ago I interviewed Tammy Faulds on Reframe Your Life. She was just starting to focus her work on death coaching. She saw a gap in services and realized that people need support in preparing for death. Since then she has realized that we live more intentionally when we live with the end in mind. For more details and show notes visit the website above.

It's hard to be honest. Become aware of what keeps you from speaking your truth.

Read more about this weeks episode here.

After a month that included three significant losses, the impact of not having any margin in my life hit home. In this episode I help you consider how to increase the space between ourselves and our limits so that you can avoid burnout, overwhelm and anxiety.

Having a process for making good decisions that are aligned with your deepest self is part of having a healthy and vibrant spirituality. In this episode we discuss what that looks like.

What are your heart's desires? And how do the choices that you are making support the desires and dreams you have in becoming a reality? I explore the topic of desires in this week's episode of Reframe Your Life.A very basic definition of desire is a strong feeling to want or have something. We have lots of desires. I desire to be healthy. I desire to have good friends. I desire a good night’s sleep - especially after a restless night of sleep. You may have some beliefs about desires that make it difficult for you to trust them.Here are some beliefs I have heard about desires:You can't trust your feelings or desires.Following your desires will lead you to destruction or harm.The heart is wicked and not to be trusted.Feelings are not scientific or factualYou shouldn’t make decisions based on feelings or emotionsWhat messages have you heard around desires? I remember the mixed messages I received over the years around desires, emotions, feelings, faith and spirituality. One day I read, “God gives you the desires of your heart” and I started thinking about things differently. If my very desires were given to me by the Creator then how could they be bad?This week I was reading a book a friend gave me by Sage Levine about developing your business. It’s called Women Rocking Business and although I find the title a bit hokey I’ve been surprised to find the content so focused on the spiritual side of business.She talks about our desires as being our Yellow Brick Road. They are the stepping stones that lead us to our destiny. When we start to pay attention to what we desire we start to make decisions that are aligned with our truest self.And here’s a fascinating thought she shares. The word desire comes from a Latin root (sidus) meaning star or heavenly body. De-sire can be broken down to ‘of the sire’ which translates to ‘Of the Kingdom of God.” When I read that I immediately thought of the spiritual teaching, “Seek first the Kingdom of God."What if following your desires is actually seeking first the kingdom of God? What if all the other stuff we take on, all the shoulds and oughts are really creating a barrier to being who we are designed to be? “We are desire. It is the essence of the human Soul, the secret of our existence. Absolutely nothing of human greatness is ever accomplished without it. Not a symphony has been written, a mountain climbed, an injustice fought, or a love sustained apart from desire. Desire fuels our search for the life we prize. ” — John Elderidge I've been using Danielle Laporte's Desire Mapping Process for the past 5 years to help me explore my feelings and desires. I am an affiliate and you can click on the photo to find out more. The workbooks are inexpensive and are helpful anytime you want to do a deep dive into what's next. Getting clear on your desires is the first step in reclaiming a healthy and vibrant spiritual life. Of course, desires need to be balanced with

In this interview we talk about faith and church and how to heal from painful wounds.

Do you like clothes? Do you love fashion? Do you enjoy putting together outfits? Or are clothes more utilitatrian for you? My mother has told me I've always loved fashion. I remember riding my bike to a casket factory and dumpster diving for silk remants to make my Barbie doll clothes when I was a kid. (Clearly that was back in the day when ten year olds were out exploring the neighbourhood on their bikes without parental supervision.) My friends and I would go find all kinds of beautiful fabrics and come home and hand sew outfits. And it wasn't just my dolls that were well dressed. I started carrying a purse when I was 5. I worked in retail stores throughout high school so I could buy clothes with an employee discount. I can tell you what I was wearing in all of the significant memories of my life.So when I started looking at the bigger impact of my clothing purchases it was disturbing. Was I supporting garment factories? I had no idea how much water it took to make one T-Shirt. (It takes 2700 litres of water to make one T-Shirt.) This awareness that my choices were actually hurting people and our planet created a crisis for me. Then to top it off the first time I went to Cambodia I saw first hand the living conditions of garment workers. It was deeply disturbing. When I returned to Canada I decided to start being more thoughtful about my purchases. And I took to social media to find out more. On Instagram I discovered this week's guest, Leah Wise. She is a writer and blogger based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her expertise in the fields of sustainable fashion and social justice have afforded her the opportunity to write for publications such as Elephant Journal, Mind Body Green, Relevant Magazine, and Christianity Today, as well as on her own blog, stylewise-blog.com. Over the past five years, Leah has created successful influencer marketing campaigns with dozens of ethical brands on her blog platform. Leah has been named a top sustainable blogger by Bustle, ORIGIN Magazine, AGAATI, FeedSpot, and Moon Cloth, and has received various write-ups on ethical lifestyle blogs and brand websites.Here are some of the highlights of what we talked about and links to some of her articles for more on those topics.Capsule Wardrobes: If you love expressing yourself through fashion and the idea of limiting yourself to 33 items makes you feel stifled creatively check out Leah’s take on capsule wardrobes. Read her blog post here: Why I Quit My Capsule Wardrobe Leah also talks about the Wonder Wardrobe Capsule Closet Course - read her blog post about it here and if it appeals to you there is a discount code at the end of her post if you decide to sign up.Are you wondering about sustainable/ethical/fair trade and other terms? When you start to think about your purchases including clothing you begin to encounter a lot of new terms. Leah defines them in this episode and in more detail on her website. This resource is very helpful as you start to navigate this new world in your clothing shopping.We discussed Leah's blog post:

Meredith Gould offers us practices of being that anyone can focus on to create a stronger spiritual connection.

I've been eager to get this new episode up and to share this new venture with you. And a little freaked out as well! I've always related to these words from the T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets: “We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. ” I've experienced this truth in my life many times. And so it wasn't surprising to me that after years of rethinking my faith and beliefs that I would find myself back where I started - wanting to share my story with women. I am wired to want to pass on my learning to others. I call myself a 'learning catalyst.' I like to share resources and have conversations that will help you navigate life transitions and challenges. For me, that includes spirituality and faith.I am drawn to big questions of life. All of us, wherever we sit in our beliefs are trying to make sense of the world. And many of us have found our faith lacking (my apologies to G.K. Chesterton). So when Jo-Anne decided that her time with Reframe Your Life was coming to an end, I was ready to take it into a new direction. I've been interviewing guests and I'm starting to see that a new path opening up as I move forward. I hope you will hang in for a little while why I sort it all out. And please give me feedback as well! (Photo credit: Jose Antonio Gallego Vazquez) I'm interested in knowing what will be of interest and helpful to you in your life.On this episode I give you a bit more of my background and how I am refocusing.Get out your journal! I hope your summer includes some time for reflection. I've created a download for you called "Reclaiming Your Faith." It's a one pager with some questions to get you thinking about our relationship with faith. Get it hereThanks for being on this journey with me! If you know someone who you think would be interested in this conversation please share this podcast with them.

You've heard the saying, "every change, changes every thing" you will want to listen to this episode were we look at a big decision Jo-Anne has made and how it impacts us both.

We could all use a little more kindess in our lives. Being busy is a cultural norm that leads many women feeling exhausted and out of control in their lives. Lara Heacock has experienced that unending pressure to do more, be more and have more. And the subsequent burn out that is the inevitable result.We get it. Jo-Anne has talked previously about how she reframed the word 'busy' to 'full' in her vocabulary. Our language is important and we want to make sure we use it to help us own our lives fully. Lara suggests we stop saying "I don't have time" and get clear by saying, "I didn't make time." Let's take responsibility for the things we have done or not done. And for how we talk about our choices.Lara shares her story starting with committing to Self-Care Saturday - a weekly commitment to spending time doing things that would help her restore balance in her life. This commitment changed everything for her.And kindness extends beyond self-care - it involves how we treat each other personally and professionally. Lara works with her corporate clients to help them develop a kinder aproach to how they work together. Imagine being part of a corporate culture where kindness is a value! If you've ever wished you responded with more kindness OR wished you had been treated more kindly this episode will inspire you!If you are new to Reframe Your Life after you listen to this episode we suggest you listen to Episode 70 - Practical Ways to Practice Self-Care.

It's our two year anniversary! We want to thank you for being with us on this journey. We had no idea we would be still recording two years later - we weren't sure how it would go but here we are! This journey has taught us a lot. We've been learning just as much as our listeners from the topics and guests we have discussed. And as a result we are also continually reframing our lives. After all Reframing Your Life is not a one time thing. In this episode, Sandy gets personal about reframing her business to work with women to help them become spiritually aligned in their lives. What does that mean? You'll have to listen to the episode to get the details.If you have ever experienced a spiritual crisis or if you have spiritual story that needs reframed this episode is for you. A spiritual crisis happens when you experience a drastic change to your meaning system. Maybe you are questioning your purpose in life or your values. Maybe your beliefs have shifted or you are in an identity crisis. Perhaps you are undergoing an awakening to a new or deeper understanding of the world around you. Your dismantling or deconstructing can be very difficult and painful. It's happening externally as you confront some of the systems and ways you have participated in them. It's happening internally as you work through your own anxiety and fears about this shift and the way you have internalized your beliefs.Sandy is working with women to help them:Explore their valuesUnpack their beliefs (whether they have shifted, need to be discarded or reclaimed)Establish practices that support you in establishing the connection you desireGet support in navigating the conversations and changes you want to make to live truthfullyTest new ways of beingSign up for Live Truthfully and start reframing your spirituality at a special price to celebrate this new direction. Click on picture for details.Not ready to take that step? Explore Sandy's recommended reading list for spiritual health.Start aligning your life to reflect who you really are. And be sure to follow Sandy on Instagram!

Memoir writing expert, Patti Hall joins us for our final episode in this three part series on memoir writing. Honestly, we have learned so much from Patti that we feel like she is part of the Reframe Your Life team. This isn't the last time you'll hear her voice!NOTE: If you haven't listened to the first two episodes you will want to start there. In Week One we addressed the barriers we face when it comes to writing our memoir or story. If you didn't get a chance to listen to the episode you can link to it here.In Week Two we looked at tools to collect our memories and how to draw out themes. We talked about where to start your story and where to end your story. Link to the episode .And now in this final week: Patti helps us to explore where we are in our writing journey to date. Once you get started you soon begin to uncover some of your personal barriers and challenges in the writing process. It can be an emotional process and you find yourself unearthing all kinds of feelings. It can be easy to back off or avoid those feelings. Working with a writing coach can provide the support and accountability to keep you going.If you would like to get some of the resources available including a 34 page What's Your Story Memoir workbook sign up for our Memoir Writer's list. We will also send you a special code for 75% off any of the courses in the Memoir Writing Studio. You will be added to the Patti's memoir writing mailing list at the same time. 

Author of The Garden Awakening, winner of the Chelsea Garden Show and Irish midwife to the land, Mary Reynolds joins us. We reframed our relationship with our land in many ways on this episode.

March 8th is International Women's Day and we couldn't let this week go by without celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.Started by the Suffragettes in the early 1900's, the first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911. International Women's Day belongs to all communities everywhere. It marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. This year the theme is: #pressforprogress.On our episode this week we talk about some of the ways we can support women and some of our own challenges.We also suggest you continue your learning and reflect on how you can press for progress in your circle of influence.Here are three episodes that we have recorded that we recommend you listen to and share this week with the women in your life!Episode 36: Are You a Feminist?Episode 47: Six Unique Challenges Women in Leadership FaceEpisode 58: Why Women Need Other WomenDon't forget to tag us on Instagram on your International Women's Day posts using #lifereframers!