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We explore the findings of the Your Story Research Report — a significant national study that listens to the voices of more than 400 young people as they reflect on their spiritual journeys.We find out who and what has, and is, shaping young people's faith from their childhood, though to adolescence, to right now.There are insights into the eight “faith journeys” —from Embracing to Reconstructing to Disengaging— highlighting the importance of relationships, trust, and belonging in shaping faith over time. Plus advice for churches, families, and schools on how to nurture young people in ways that are both personal and sustainable.Graham Stanton is Director of the Centre for Children's and Youth Ministry. He lectures in Practical Theology at Melbourne's Ridley College.Download the Your Story Research Project: https://www.convergeoceania.com/yourstoryThe Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches. Church SuiteGavin and Paul from ChurchSuite are at Reach Australia and at a special Melbourne taster day on 26 May 2025. Reach Australia National ConferenceReach Australia's National Conference is from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year's theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info.Anglican AidAnglican Aid - To find out more about how to support Anglican Aid. Dominic Steele's preaching at Village Subscribe to Dominic Steele's weekly sermons from the Village Church website. Support the show--Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.
To access the energy activation that accompanies this episode along with bonus episodes, other exclusive content and discounts, join my online community: Join the Spiritual Awakening SanctuaryIn Episode 182 we discuss the continuing call for personal empowerment as we step into the 5D (expansive/unconditional love). I talk about a recent experience around limiting beliefs that showed me a way to disengage from them without expecting them to fully clear.Check out my website for many more tools and services to help you grow in your spiritual and personal development.Follow me on TikTokFollow me on Insight TimerFollow me on FacebookFollow me on InstagramFollow me on SpotifyFollow me on Apple Music
Do you ever find yourself stuck in a conversation that's going in circles, desperately trying to find a resolution? It's natural to want closure, but sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is step back. In this episode, Seth and I explore how disengaging can actually strengthen healthy communication with your teen rather than shutting it down.When emotions run high, it can be difficult to recognize when a conversation is no longer productive. As parents, we often enter discussions with our teens with an agenda, wanting to fix a behavior or push for change. But if your teen isn't on the same page, the conversation can quickly become frustrating for both of you. Instead of seeking to be heard, what if we focused on understanding and connection instead?“If I don't want to listen to the person, the conversation is not going to go well.” - Seth GottliebIn this episode, we discuss how healthy communication with your teen isn't about pushing harder but about knowing when to pause, reset, and approach conversations with more awareness and intention.If you've ever felt stuck in an argument or frustrated by going in circles, this episode will give you the tools to step back, create space, and improve communication with your teen in a meaningful way.In this episode on the power of disengaging for healthy communication with your teen, we cover:How to recognize when a conversation with your teen isn't going anywhere;The impact of entering a discussion with an agenda;How to increase self-awareness and shift to understanding rather than control;Practical ways to disengage in a way that strengthens, rather than harms, your relationship or family dynamics;What to ask your teen to foster healthy communication and more open, productive conversations;And more!Looking for support?
When the world feels overwhelming—whether it's due to the constant stream of bad news, policies that target marginalized communities, or the weight of everyday stress—how do we stay grounded? How do we protect our peace without disengaging? Today, we're tackling these questions with someone who’s spent his career helping people navigate racial, ethnic, and cultural stress. Dr. Ryan DeLapp is a staff psychologist and the director of the Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Healing Program, known as REACH, at the Ross Center. He’s also the author of Empower Yourself Against Racial and Cultural Stress, a book designed to help young people—and really, all of us—build resilience and find agency in the face of adversity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Identifying the inner critic is present helps. Learning how to change our relationship with it, is critical for our growth and well-being. Thanks to Roxanne Howe Murphy for allowing me to replay portions of our 2017 interview. Resources Roxanne Howe Murphy and Deep Living Lab What is the Inner Critic? Podcast Identifying the Inner Critic Podcast The post BOO459 – Encore – Disengaging From the Inner Critic appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.
Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time. “I; I don't want to just be a charity case,” Ken replied. “If you do this, Gabrielle;”“It will only be because I want to. Promise,” Gabby replied, finishing his thought. “Now, your first lesson in kissing: making the move. I'm a young, attractive woman who has been making eye contact with you all night and finding every excuse in the book to touch you. You may not realize it, but when a woman does that, it means she's ready for you to make the move. Try it on me, just like I did.”Mimicking Ken, Gabby closed her eyes, waiting for the moment that Ken would kiss her once more. He leaned in as she had done, trying to take his time and not rush anything. As he was about to kiss her, he remembered that agonizing wait when he could sense her almost on top of him. Pausing mere centimeters from her lips, he allowed the tension to build up for a few moments. Soon, a huge smile began to form on Gabby's lips; she was enjoying this, and he hadn't even touched her yet! Ken collected his courage and finally met her lips with his, moving them ever so slightly as he kissed her. He only had his instincts to guide him, but she didn't seem to mind one bit.“Umm; that was very nice,” Gabby whispered as they parted. “Good job in mimicking my technique. Let's try one more. This time, lick your lips just a bit before you kiss me, and try to let our mouths fit together like a puzzle. You can take my lower lip between yours, or I can take your lip between mine. Tilting your head to the side a bit is also a natural position. The possibilities are almost endless. When you're ready, don't be afraid to put your tongue in my mouth. In the future, you'll want to be careful about doing this too soon, but for our purposes tonight, go right ahead.”Ken did as she instructed, and found that the increased moisture to be quite pleasant. It allowed each of their lips to slide along the other's with little effort. All too soon, he felt Gabby take his lower lip in hers, sucking lightly and even nibbling for an instant. After she did this a second time, Ken took the hint and reciprocated in kind, eliciting a contented murmur from Gabby. As their kissing became more passionate, he could no longer resist the urge to taste this gorgeous woman. Still tentative, he pressed his tongue against the crease of her lips, which parted to allow him entry. Though he didn't know what to do once he was in, he soon found himself enthralled in Gabby's passions. Her tongue danced with his, exploring his mouth in a slow, methodical fashion. This gave him the perfect gauge to judge his own efforts by. After nearly twenty minutes of making out, they finally separated, their faces flushed from the experience.“Holy shit.” Ken sighed.“You, my friend, are one quick study. The next girl that kisses you may well get addicted and refuse to let you go,” Gabby agreed with a playful grin. Leaning back on the sofa, she reached down and unbuttoned the top button of her jeans, asking, “You ready to learn something else?”In spite of his hardening cock, Ken couldn't help but feel like he was doing something he shouldn't. “Look, you seriously don't have to;”“I want to,” she said with confidence. “Ken, you are such a sweet, special guy, and I want to show you that. I want to prove to you how lucky a girl I would be to have a guy like you.”Would be? What's that supposed to mean?“I've never made love to a virgin, Ken,” she continued. “But I know what I love in bed, and I think I can help you get quite good at this. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but if you'll allow me, I'd love nothing more than to take your virginity tonight.”Ken was torn. This woman certainly drove him crazy, but part of him worried this was all an elaborate setup. Women never came on to him like this, let alone one this beautiful! Then again, she hadn't balked in the slightest in kissing him. Hell, she had even encouraged him to French kiss her. In spite of the fact that he had every reason to be distrusting after Jacqueline's message, he recognized that she had shown him nothing but kindness and patience. He didn't believe in destiny or fate, but if there was a moment in which he was supposed to lose his virginity, this had to be it.“Okay; I want to,” he whispered.“I'm glad,” she replied with a warm smile.Fumbling with his belt, he said, “I guess I'd better;”“There's plenty of time, Ken,” Gabby reassured him. “If we do this, I want to do it right. I want to show you the proper way to take a girl around the world. That starts with what we were doing earlier, only this time, you can start removing my clothes in the process.”As Ken leaned in and resumed their kissing, Gabby guided his hands lower and slipped them underneath her sweater. He spent a few moments enjoying the warm sensation of skin-to-skin contact before tugging her sweater up. They separated for a moment so that Gabby could finish peeling her top off, revealing a simple, black silk bra. As they continued making out, Ken reached behind her, trying to decipher the key to unhooking the ever-hated bra.“Want some advice?” Gabby asked with a slight giggle.“Sure,” Ken signed, beginning to get frustrated.“Feel for the crease, then slip one finger under and one finger over. Squeeze together and rub your fingers until it unhooks.”Concentrating, Ken did as she instructed. The clasp itself was easy to find, and her descriptions were spot on. To his surprise, it only took one unsuccessful attempt before he managed to snap the garment open.“Impressive,” Gabby marveled.“Thanks, but that was all you. I'd be lost without your instructions.”“You're a natural student; you take direction well. Ready for the next lesson?”“Oh yeah,” Ken said with anticipation.“Your kissing skills have grown by leaps and bounds in just a few minutes. Now you should remember that you don't have to kiss just my lips. My cheeks, my neck, my shoulders; my entire body is your playground. Few things turn a woman on more than a man whose only desire is to worship every inch of her form.”With that, Gabby shrugged her shoulders and slipped her bra off, revealing her ample D-cup tits to Ken. He was utterly speechless at the sight he now beheld. They were not only large, but quite perky as well. Her tiny pink nipples, already hard from their making out, were the perfect accent to Gabby's most notable assets. As he drank her in, he felt her guide his hand towards her, reaching him out to touch her tit. It barely fit into his hand, yet it was so soft and warm that it felt like it just belonged there. Taking a deep breath, Ken now reached in with both of his hands, squeezing her tits together and exploring every inch of their surface. Remembering her words from a moment ago, he leaned in once more and began to kiss his way from her lips down to her chest.“Yes; just like that.” she cooed.Arriving at the valley of her bosom, he made his way to one side, kissing her tit while also stimulating her nipple with his finger.“That's so good, Ken; ooh, you can suck on them too,” she whispered with encouragement.Ken's heart leapt at her suggestion, and he moved to take one of her tiny nipples in his mouth. He sucked with eagerness at first, but Gabby soon coaxed him to go slower.“Careful there; be gentle.”“Sorry.”“Quite alright, they're just a bit sensitive,” she said with a sweet giggle.Ken spent quite some time lapping at her tits, alternating sides every so often. At first, Gabby advised him on when to change so as not to over stimulate one side or the other. Soon, though, Ken was moving back and forth all on his own, driving her wild with lust in the process. After several minutes of this, she lifted his head up, a wicked grin on her face.“Ready for the big reveal?” she asked, lowering the zipper of her jeans.“Uh; uh huh.”Lifting her hips up, Gabby slipped her jeans over her curvy ass and down her long legs before kicking them off with her boots. She then turned to recline back on the sofa, spreading her legs a tiny bit. The smoldering come hither look she gave Ken was enough to bring any man to his knees.“Come on, Ken; you've got a Christmas present to open.”Ken's mouth went dry as he stared at her black thong panties, mesmerized in disbelief by what was about to happen. With trembling hands, he slipped his fingers into her waistband and slid the silky garment off, revealing Gabby's shaven pussy at last. In that moment, Ken had completely forgotten that he was still wearing all his clothes.“I just love the way you're looking at me,” Gabby breathed, breaking his trance. “It's like you won the lottery or something.”“I; think I did.”“So sweet. Now then, time to learn how to really make a woman happy. Most women are at least willing to engage in oral sex, but you always need to give at least as much as you receive. It's only polite. And there's no better way to make a woman want to suck your cock; than to eat her pussy without prompting. With that said.”Gabby now spread her legs wide for him, beckoning him to explore her delectable womanhood. Following a trail she laid with her fingers, Ken began to kiss his way up her leg and inner thigh. After repeating the action on her other leg, he arrived at her soaked pussy, breathing in the musky aroma seeping from within her.“Spread my lips, Ken,” Gabby whispered.Using a gentle touch, he did as she asked, gazing deep into her slick tunnel. He soon leaned forward, touching his tongue to the folds of her labia. She tasted different than he had expected, perhaps a bit salty, but nothing unpleasant in Ken's mind. He continued to taste and tease her lips for a few moments, and she began to squirm and writhe under him in pleasure.“Oh, yes; that's just right, Ken; you can move a little higher, too. See that little bump there? That's my clit. She's sensitive, but if you pay enough attention to her; something good is bound to happen.”He tilted his head upwards a bit, running his tongue along her lips as he arrived at her clit. Flicking the nub a couple of times, he was surprised at just how strong Gabby's reaction was. Ken liked that. She was having the time of her life, and it was all because of him. Feeling a twinge of confidence, he redoubled his efforts and began lapping at her clit again and again, never giving her a chance to rest.“Yes; yes, that's fucking incredible!” she cried out.As Gabby's hips began to buck, Ken looped his arms around her thighs on instinct, helping her to remain still. He continued his worshipping of her womanhood, savoring every drop of her juices as she squirmed and squealed in delight. Soon, he began to sense that her thrashing was reaching a crescendo and an ultimate plateau. He received almost immediate verbal confirmation of this.“Holy shit; Fuck that's awesome! Oh, Ken don't stop; don't; stop; please don't stop don't stop don't stop; ah!”Ken knew in an academic sense that women could achieve powerful orgasms. Still, he had never actually seen it happen, let alone experienced it by his hand, or rather his tongue. Yet lying beneath him was the most beautiful woman he had ever met in his life, and she was becoming even more beautiful by the second as her body erupted in ecstasy. The look of pleasure on her face as her eyes fluttered closed was awe-inspiring. A few final licks to her pussy, and she gently pushed his face away from her crotch.“That's quite enough; but oh so wonderful.” she sighed. “You're a natural, Ken.”“Thanks. That's; got to be the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life. Seeing you lose control like that, it was surreal.”“So sweet,” she said, sitting up straight on the sofa. “For all your supposed awkwardness, you sure know how to pay a girl a compliment.” She leaned forward, planting a long, slow kiss on his lips. As they parted, she whispered, “Ready for your due reward?”With a slight gasp, he replied, “Oh, hell yes.”Gabby stood from the sofa, smiling the entire time. Reaching behind the armrest of the sofa, she pulled out a dark blue sleeping bag and began to spread it out on the thick rug in front of the fire.“It's a tradition,” she explained, seeing the look of confusion on Ken's face. “When I was a little girl, I swore I'd catch Santa in the act by sleeping next to the tree. He'd never be able to sneak past me. Well, my parents told me to go for it, but that it wouldn't work; he's too good. Sure enough, he had come and gone the next morning. He even left a note next to my pillow that said, ‘Nice try, Gabby. Merry Christmas.' Ever since then, I've slept by the tree every Christmas Eve.”“Love it,” Ken grinned.By now, she had finished spreading the sleeping bag out on the floor and affixed a couple of pillows at the head for them. As it was designed for one person, she had opened it completely and laid it out flat, making it large enough for two to lie on. Seeing what she was doing, Ken grabbed a large throw blanket from the sofa to cover up with.“Why, thank you,” she said. “But don't you think you're a bit overdressed?”“Huh?” Ken had been so entranced with Gabby's naked body that he'd forgotten that he was still wearing his clothes. “Oh, uh, I guess so.”“Can I help with that?” she asked with a mischievous grin.“Sure.”Gabby sauntered over to him, wrapping him in a warm hug as they stood next to the fireplace. After kissing his lips, she moved to his cheek and neck, just as he had done to her before. As she began to drive him crazy, she slipped her fingers into his tee shirt and pulled it off of him, exposing his bare chest to her. Now with a new playground to explore, Gabby continued from where she left off. She first lingered around his neck and shoulders, then down his chest before finally reaching his stomach. As she knelt before him, she unbuckled his belt and slid his jeans and boxers down to his ankles, freeing his rock hard cock at last.Ken was not large my most standards, being only about five inches in length at full staff, but to Gabby he was perfect. She had no hesitation as she began to lightly stroke his length in her hand, and soon began to take him in her mouth bit-by-bit. Ken was in blissful agony; not only was he receiving is first blowjob, but he also had to keep from exploding too soon, all while concentrating on standing still. She sucked him for a few seconds more before releasing him.“If you get close, let me know, okay? I want this inside my pussy, too.”Ken could only nod in reply. She soon resumed her pleasuring of his member, sucking him with gleeful determination. He had been so good to her tonight; she only wanted to reward his efforts. Slowing her pace, she gazed up at him with her smoldering eyes, her pretty face framed by her long blonde hair. As Ken began to lose himself in her beauty, he also felt a familiar bubbling up in the pit of his stomach. Though he panicked for a moment, he soon had the presence of mind to tap Gabby on the forehead.“I think you'd better slow down,” he stammered.Releasing his cock from her mouth with a pop, Gabby grinned and replied, “Good. Because I think it's time for me to take your virginity.”After switching off the gas logs, she stretched out on the open sleeping bag and held part of the blanket up, beckoning Ken to slide in with her. He did so with eagerness, though was still nervous as hell; he had no idea what he was doing! Sensing his doubts, Gabby spoke with soft confidence and reassurance.“Let's go you on top to start. That way you can control it so you don't go off too soon. Honestly, though, don't worry about stamina. You've already lasted through one of my blowjobs, which is no small feat, if I do say so myself. You ready?”“Um, yeah; I think so. But do we need any; protection? I don't have a condom or anything.”With a warm smile, she replied, “Don't ever change, Ken. Sweet, humble, and considerate, that's what you are. I don't have any diseases per my last doctor's visit two months ago, and I know you're a virgin so I don't think there's any concern.”“That's good. But; what if you get pregnant? I'm not sure I'd be able to pull out in time.”“Well,” she paused, her smile becoming more bittersweet. “It's a long story, but trust me when I say that there's no risk of me becoming pregnant. We're clear to let loose with this, as long as you're comfortable with that, of course.”“I am. I just; wanted to be sure.”“Thank you, Ken. Now, if you please, my pussy is aching for your cock, and you'd best make her happy.”Positioning his pelvic region between her legs, Ken attempted to push into her, but his slick cock merely grazed the surface before slipping up to her belly. Gabby just smiled and reached down, taking a gentle grip on his cock with her hand and guiding him to the entrance of her pussy. Feeling a bit of give, he followed his instincts and penetrated her at long last, his virginity melting away in the process. She was divine, far tighter than Ken had ever imagined in his wildest dreams and fantasies.“Oh Ken; that's just where you belong,” she cooed in satisfaction.“Holy fuck; so tight.” he could only reply.Ken began to thrust in and out of her, keeping his tempo moderate at the start to get a feel for how sensitive he was. The sensations of making love to this goddess were only enhanced by the look of sheer enjoyment in Gabby's eyes. He prayed that he would be able to last and enjoy it all, even if only for a few minutes. As he continued thrusting into her, Gabby began to get a mischievous look in her eyes.“You're thinking something,” Ken observed.“Uh huh. Wanna learn a trick that'll drive any girl nuts?”“Sure.”“Come up on your knees and keep your torso straight up. Try to get to where you can keep yourself inside me without having to balance on your arms.”“Like this?” he asked, relaxing back on his folded knees.“Exactly. You can also stretch my leg out against your chest to help you balance.”“Very nice,” he said as he followed her instructions.“Yep, but that's not the trick. This is the trick. Use your hand; and masturbate me while you fuck me.”Ken at first wasn't sure if he had heard correctly, but Gabby soon confirmed that he had when she took his hand and slid it down her thigh towards her slit. Once there, he reacquainted himself with her womanhood, finding her clit with little effort. Gabby's reaction was immediate. Her eyes bulged and her arms began to flail about in ecstasy. This only spurred Ken on further, as he upped the tempo of his thrusts while continuing to jack her off. Gabby was in such pleasure that she couldn't even form words. Nothing but incoherent babbling came from her mouth. Finally, her long-awaited orgasm arrived, and Gabby screamed into her pillow at the top of her lungs. Meanwhile, Ken had the pleasure of experiencing what would become his favorite part of lovemaking: a woman's pussy erupting in climax around his cock.“Oh my god; that; was awesome,” he marveled.“Uh huh; you're fucking amazing, Ken.”“Thanks to you,” he grinned, slowing his thrusts to allow her to recover.“I just gave pointers. You executed; to perfection, I may add.”“My knees are about to give out, though.”“Well isn't that excellent timing; because I wanna ride you now.”Disengaging from him, Gabby gave Ken a playful push to the side, landing him flat on his back. Before he could even think of retaliating, she had already clambered on top of him and was rubbing her slick entrance against his cock. If she wasn't careful she might have made him blow his load right then and there, but she backed off in time, planting a deep kiss on his lips. As their tongues danced, she positioned his head against her and lowered herself onto him. Ken moaned into her mouth at the reintroduction of her wonderful tunnel. Their mouths parted as she arrived at the base of his cock, and she sat up straight to give him an unobstructed view of her glorious tits.Rather than bounce on him full force, Gabby used a smooth, firm grinding motion on his cock. After all, they were on a sleeping bag on the floor, rather than a proper bed. Ken couldn't help but reach up and take her jiggling globes in his hands, squeezing them and tweaking her nipples a bit. This only encouraged Gabby further, now exploring every inch of his cock with her velvety pussy. She rode him for all she was worth, no longer trying to extend their session, but actively working to send him over the edge. Ken, perhaps picking up on this, tried to coax her to slow down.“Gabby, you'd better slow; oh shit; down. I'm not gonna;”“I don't care. Give it to me,” she replied in a husky voice.“Huh? But I haven't even gone ten minutes? Aren't guys supposed to be able to last?”Gabby smiled at him. “Ken, you've been wonderful tonight. You kissed me like I was the only woman in the world, ate my pussy, and survived one of my world-famous blowjobs. Believe me, you're no slouch. You've lasted Ken, and made me orgasm twice in the process!” She leaned closer, whispering in his ear, “Cum for me, right in my pussy. I want it. I need it. Please don't hold back. Give it all; to me.”That did it. Her masterful motions combined with her seductive voice were too much for poor Ken to handle. As she planted her lips firmly on his, he thrust his last into her and began to spray his seed into Gabby's pussy. Though he had masturbated many times, none of his orgasms were ever this long or powerful; it was unreal. As he finally came down from his high, Ken's cock began to soften inside her pussy, slipping out after a few seconds.“That was; amazing.” he sighed, feeling the call of sleep washing over him.“Nuh uh! No you don't, Ken!” Gabby replied with a playful slap.“Huh?”“There's one more thing for you to learn: the art of pillow talk. Trust me, Ken. You stay awake and talk to a woman after sex, and you show her she's more than just a piece of ass,” she said, rolling off to lie next to him.“Guess that makes sense,” he mused, rubbing his eyes to stay awake. “Well you asked me all about myself, and I was about to do the same when, uh; all this happened.”“Not complaining are you?” she asked with a grin as she laid her head on his shoulder.“Hell no! Still, what about Gabby? What makes her tick?”“Well, my family is the biggest part of my life, in all honesty. With Mom, Dad, plus two big brothers and a little sister, there's a lot of love to go around. We've always been tight.”“Oh yeah! You mentioned earlier about not being alone on Christmas Eve, yet you would have been alone if we hadn't met. What's up with that?”Gabby replied, “We're kinda spread across the southeast right now. One brother works in Birmingham, another in Nashville. My sister is visiting a sorority sister up in South Carolina. Mom and Dad live near here, but have been traveling. They were supposed to get in today, but their flight got delayed. Won't be seeing them until after lunch tomorrow. Still, we should have everyone together by the day after Christmas.”“Always good,” Ken smiled, wishing his own family was a close as Gabby's. Noticing the silver cross still hanging from her neck, he asked, “I guess you're pretty religious, too?”“Very much so. Born and raised Catholic.”“Yet, you're not at mass?”“Extenuating circumstances,” she replied, a slight grimace on her face.“Sorry, didn't mean for that to come out harsh. No judgment from me, promise. My mom's always been religious, but it just never spoke to me. I mean, how can a supposedly loving God allow such evil acts in the world He created?”Gabby looked up, calm confidence in her eyes. “Sometimes bad things happen to good people. That doesn't mean God causes those bad things to happen. In all things, I believe God works for good. Even in the worst situations imaginable, God manages to cause some amount of good to come from them.”“You really believe that?” Ken asked.“With every fiber of my being. It's what keeps me going.”“Well, you're the first that's been able to answer me that question in a way that makes sense. No ‘it's all in God's plan' or ‘you must not love God enough' or any such nonsense. You; you get it.”Lying there in silence for a few minutes, Ken finally found the courage to ask the question he was afraid to know the answer to.“Will I ever see you again?”A long pause, then Gabby replied, “No.”“Why? I know I go to school in Massachusetts, but I'd be a fool to give up on an incredible woman like you. Why can't we give it a shot?”With a sigh, she answered, “Because there's something you don't know about me.” Taking his face in her hands and gazing deep into his eyes, she continued, “I'm dying, Ken.”He blinked twice, uncertain if he had heard her right. “Dying?”“I have; a rare and aggressive form of grade IV brain cancer. The doctors diagnosed me about two months ago. I have less than six months to live. They said they could treat it, but it would only buy me another year at best. Even if it were successful, I'd be so weak from the chemo that I wouldn't be able to do much of anything. So, I opted for a powerful regiment of pain management and resolved to live what time I have left to the fullest. Experience all I can, spread as much joy as I can.”“This explains everything,” Ken realized. “Why you weren't scared of me in the park, even with me holding a knife. Why you didn't hesitate to invite me to your home. Why there was no concern of you getting pregnant.”“And why we can't be together, as much as I want it. Ken, I meant what I said earlier. If I could spend any amount of time, and especially years with a guy like you, I would be so lucky and blessed. You're a wonderful person, and you're going to make some girl happy beyond belief someday. Whoever she is, wherever she may be; I envy her.”“I just wish it could be you.”“I know, Ken, but you don't deserve that. You don't deserve to fall head-over-heels in love with a girl that you know will be dead in a few short months. In another lifetime, maybe we could have been soul mates. But God seems to have other plans.”“Gabby, how can you still believe in God through all this? You said that He works all things for good, but what good can come of this?”She collected her courage, deciding to tell him her darkest secret, one that not even her own family knew. “About a month ago, I was in a really bad spot. I still believed in God, but couldn't believe He would put me through such pain and suffering. I had dreams, hopes, plans; but all for naught. I got low. So low that, one night, I almost did; what you almost did.”“Take the easy way out?”“Exactly. I nearly went through with it, but at the last moment decided to sleep on it. That night, I had a dream. Someone, I don't know who, was speaking to me. ‘Your life still has meaning. You still have a purpose.' That's what they told me. There's no way that was a coincidence. When I woke up, I promised myself I'd find that purpose for my life. Tonight, I may have done just that.”“What do you mean?” Ken asked.“Ken, if I had killed myself, I wouldn't have only been responsible for my own death. I'd have also been responsible for yours. I wouldn't have been there to talk to you and convince you there was a better way.”“That's one way of looking at it, I guess,” Ken mused, pondering her realization.“There's more, Ken. You're going to be a brain surgeon. I have no doubt about that. If I'm not there tonight, how many lives are lost in the future because Dr. Ken Dix isn't around to save them? How many children have their lives snuffed out from you not being there to ward off the hand of Death? You are going to help so many people in your life, Ken. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.”“And all that is worth the horrible death you're destined for?”“Absolutely,” she replied without hesitation.Shaking his head, Ken said, “You're a far better human being than I am.”Kissing him lightly on the cheek, Gabby whispered, “Don't sell yourself short. You had a moment of weakness, but walked back from the brink. Doesn't matter how or why, the fact is you didn't go through with it. Hang on to that.”“So there's one thing that still confuses me.”“What's that?”“With you being as religious as you are, I still don't get why you aren't at mass tonight? It's Christmas Eve, after all.”“Well; shortly after my diagnosis, I had a falling out with Father Maxwell. He was comforting at first, but soon began trying to convince me to allow him to pray over me for healing. He said that my tumor ‘was not unlike that of a demon needing to be exorcised.' That hurt me deeply. If I had let him pray over me for healing, yet was not healed, the logical argument could be made that God refused to listen! Good people get sick and are cut down too soon, but that doesn't mean that they didn't pray hard enough or that they didn't love God enough. After those conversations; I couldn't take anything that man said seriously. I've made my peace with God; that's more than enough for me.”Nodding, Ken replied, “I think you made the right call, and that's not just ‘cause I'm a religious cynic. Your reasons make perfect sense.”Gabby smiled and snuggled up in the crook of his arm, pulling the blanket over them in the process. “Thank you, Ken. For everything. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have met you tonight.”Kissing her on the forehead, he whispered, “Merry Christmas, Gabby.”Christmas Morning.Gabby awoke on Christmas morning feeling surprisingly cold. Turning over, she saw that the other side of the sleeping bag was now empty; Ken had already gone, it seemed. As she rubbed her eyes awake, she found a piece of paper on his pillow with a note written on it.Gabby,I'm so sorry for leaving before you woke up, but I think it will be less painful this way for both of us. I'm guessing from your statements last night that you've fallen for me, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't crazy for you. As much as I want us to be together, deep down I know you're right. It's just not meant for this lifetime.I want to thank you for giving this religious cynic the most valuable insights on God, that he's ever heard in his life. I have a lot to mull over and some serious questions to ask myself, about the man I want to become. Though I never said it out loud, I'm so sorry that I considered killing myself. It was selfish and shortsighted of me. Thanks to you, I realize that now.Gabrielle Libertine, you are truly one of God's gifts to mankind. For me, you're an Angel of Mercy; descended from on high at just the moment I needed you most. I promise you, from this day on, I will never again consider killing myself. You have my word of honor. In your memory, I am now devoted to finding my purpose in life. I do want to help people. I do want to save lives. I do want to find a special girl to spend my life with. And thanks to you, I still can. Thank you for everything, Gabby. I pray that your life will be full of joy and happiness.All my love, Kenneth Dix.P.S. Merry Christmas to you and your family.Tears of joy streamed down her face as she read his message. Gabby had hoped that her efforts might in some small way have an impact on Ken, but to see such immediate effects was more than she could have ever hoped for. To bring about such direct improvements in a young man's life was truly the greatest purpose she could ever imagine in her life. She no longer had any doubt in her mind; this was God's intention all along. Perhaps she had lost the love of her life, but she had also saved the love of her life, giving him a second chance at love in the process.“Merry Christmas, Ken. God speed,” she whispered, kissing her fingers and touching them to the paper.The sound of a phone ringing from the sofa interrupted her thoughts. Reaching over, Gabby saw that it was her mom.“Hey Mom! Merry Christmas; Yes, I slept in front of the tree; Oh, your flight's already here? Awesome! Lemmie get dressed, and I'll come get you guys; Love you too. Bye.”Mother's House.Ken pulled up to his mom's house in a taxi around seven that morning. Before he was even halfway up the driveway, Helen was already running out to meet him, wrapping him in a tight hug.“Ken! Thank God you're alright!”“I'm fine, Mom. No worries.”Taking his hand, she said, “Come on, Uncle Lee wants to talk to you. He's up in your room.”Ken climbed the stairs in relative silence, pondering what sort of conversation awaited him. Arriving at his room, he entered, closing the door behind him. Uncle Lee sat at his desk chair.“Ken.”“Uncle Lee.”The two eyed each other for several seconds, the tension growing in the room.“Mom said you want to talk to me,” Ken said, sitting on his bed.“Yeah, I do. Ken; I was a real ass yesterday.”“That's not really fair;”“No. No, it is. You were right about everything. A real man stands up for his family, lends a hand to someone being ganged up on. Truth is; I was afraid to get involved yesterday. I was afraid if I did; you'd never learn to be self-sufficient. Fact is I was a coward. Plain and simple.”Sitting for a moment, Ken replied, “It's alright, Uncle Lee. We're still family, after all.”“Glad to hear you say that,” Lee said, rising to shake his nephew's hand. “Now, as my apology, how ‘bout you and I pay a visit to this Jason character? Make sure he knows what's what.”“That's; really kind of you, Uncle Lee, but I'm not interested.”“Not interested?”“Jason Brown's a fucking dumbass!” Ken said with a laugh. “He's peaked in his life; even he knows that. It's all downhill for him from here on out. Me? I'm going places. Hell, I'm on scholarship at MIT, aiming to go to Harvard Medical in a few years. Why should I care what a stupid jock thinks of me?”Lee studied his face for a few moments. “There's something different about you, Ken. You've got this look in your eye. ‘I don't know where I'll end up, but wherever it is, I'm going to be kicking ass.' That's what it says to me. What's up? What did you do last night?”Thinking of Gabby, Ken smiled and answered, “Just; took some time alone, found a bit of peace and quiet. That's where I do my best thinking. It let me put things into perspective, figure out what's most important to me.”“Huh. Well whatever you did, I like the results. Still as smart as ever; but somehow more confident.”“Thanks.”“So what was Jason so hot about, anyhow?”“Ah, he had seen me talking to his sister, Jacqueline. She and I had been partners a lot in school, and I stopped to chat when I saw her in the parking lot. He didn't like that.”“Seems like none of his fuckin' business.”“Yeah, but she's just as mean as he is, deep down. She's just really good at hiding it until the opportune moment; for her, of course,” Ken explained.“She shot ya down in the worst possible way, eh?” Lee realized.“Yeah,” Ken said, recalling his lowest moment from last night. “Her loss, though.”“Damn right, it is! Come on, we got presents to open,” Lee said jovially, leading the way down the stairs.The Gravesite.“Come on, Tiffany. It's this way.”“Where are we going, Ken? What's so important that we have to wait until tomorrow to leave for our honeymoon?”“You'll see. It's just up ahead. Besides, all our patients are in good hands with Dr. Nguyen. We've got all the time in the world.”“Always the hopeless romantic.”Ken clutched the hand of the gorgeous redhead following him, running his finger along the rings on her left hand as they went. The pair remained careful, always watching where they stepped, as several tree roots popped up from the ground along the trail. Finally, they reached their destination.“Here she is,” Ken said.The couple stood in front of a headstone, simple yet beautiful in its design. Tiffany, still confused, began to read the words carved on it.“Gabrielle Dorothy Libertine.February 10, 1993 to April 29, 2017.Loving daughter, sister, and friend.An Angel of Mercy.“Ken; who is this?” Tiffany was confused.“Well; I've told you about the night I almost killed myself. Remember how I said that there's more to the story, but I wasn't ready to tell you yet?”“Of course.”“She's the rest of the story, Tiff. Ten years ago, to this very day, Gabby arrived at the moment I needed her most; and saved my life. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be here today. I'd have done it. She had no skin in the game and was going to die of cancer a few months later, but she felt called to help me nonetheless.”Turning to the headstone, he continued, “Gabby; It's me, Ken. I did it. I did everything you said I would. Became a brain surgeon, save the lives of kids every day; and I met the love of my life. This is Tiffany Sanders, or Tiffany Dix, as of yesterday. We met at Harvard. We practice medicine together, we help people; she's everything I've ever wanted. And because of everything you did for me; I made it. You saved my life, showed me what worth I had, encouraged me to find God's purpose for my life, hell you even took my virginity. Gabby, no words could ever express my gratitude for you. All I can say is; thank you.”Moved to tears, Tiffany collapsed to her knees, touching the letters on the headstone with her fingers. “You; saved my husband's life? You would spend what little time you had left on Earth helping him? My God; miracles do happen, after all. I; I love him, Gabrielle. I love him with all my heart. He completes me. Ken's always had his doubts, but I know there is a God. I know there is a Heaven. And if everything Ken said is true; that's exactly where you are today. Please, watch over us. One day, I plan to thank you in person.”Ken rested a gentle hand on her shoulder, comforting her. Tiffany began to rise to her feet, wrapping her husband in a long embrace. They shared a long, tender kiss, thinking of nothing but each other. At long last, they parted, their eyes locked together.“You ready to start our life together?” Ken asked.“Yeah; more than ever.” based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts for Sex Stories.
Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time. “I; I don't want to just be a charity case,” Ken replied. “If you do this, Gabrielle;”“It will only be because I want to. Promise,” Gabby replied, finishing his thought. “Now, your first lesson in kissing: making the move. I'm a young, attractive woman who has been making eye contact with you all night and finding every excuse in the book to touch you. You may not realize it, but when a woman does that, it means she's ready for you to make the move. Try it on me, just like I did.”Mimicking Ken, Gabby closed her eyes, waiting for the moment that Ken would kiss her once more. He leaned in as she had done, trying to take his time and not rush anything. As he was about to kiss her, he remembered that agonizing wait when he could sense her almost on top of him. Pausing mere centimeters from her lips, he allowed the tension to build up for a few moments. Soon, a huge smile began to form on Gabby's lips; she was enjoying this, and he hadn't even touched her yet! Ken collected his courage and finally met her lips with his, moving them ever so slightly as he kissed her. He only had his instincts to guide him, but she didn't seem to mind one bit.“Umm; that was very nice,” Gabby whispered as they parted. “Good job in mimicking my technique. Let's try one more. This time, lick your lips just a bit before you kiss me, and try to let our mouths fit together like a puzzle. You can take my lower lip between yours, or I can take your lip between mine. Tilting your head to the side a bit is also a natural position. The possibilities are almost endless. When you're ready, don't be afraid to put your tongue in my mouth. In the future, you'll want to be careful about doing this too soon, but for our purposes tonight, go right ahead.”Ken did as she instructed, and found that the increased moisture to be quite pleasant. It allowed each of their lips to slide along the other's with little effort. All too soon, he felt Gabby take his lower lip in hers, sucking lightly and even nibbling for an instant. After she did this a second time, Ken took the hint and reciprocated in kind, eliciting a contented murmur from Gabby. As their kissing became more passionate, he could no longer resist the urge to taste this gorgeous woman. Still tentative, he pressed his tongue against the crease of her lips, which parted to allow him entry. Though he didn't know what to do once he was in, he soon found himself enthralled in Gabby's passions. Her tongue danced with his, exploring his mouth in a slow, methodical fashion. This gave him the perfect gauge to judge his own efforts by. After nearly twenty minutes of making out, they finally separated, their faces flushed from the experience.“Holy shit.” Ken sighed.“You, my friend, are one quick study. The next girl that kisses you may well get addicted and refuse to let you go,” Gabby agreed with a playful grin. Leaning back on the sofa, she reached down and unbuttoned the top button of her jeans, asking, “You ready to learn something else?”In spite of his hardening cock, Ken couldn't help but feel like he was doing something he shouldn't. “Look, you seriously don't have to;”“I want to,” she said with confidence. “Ken, you are such a sweet, special guy, and I want to show you that. I want to prove to you how lucky a girl I would be to have a guy like you.”Would be? What's that supposed to mean?“I've never made love to a virgin, Ken,” she continued. “But I know what I love in bed, and I think I can help you get quite good at this. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but if you'll allow me, I'd love nothing more than to take your virginity tonight.”Ken was torn. This woman certainly drove him crazy, but part of him worried this was all an elaborate setup. Women never came on to him like this, let alone one this beautiful! Then again, she hadn't balked in the slightest in kissing him. Hell, she had even encouraged him to French kiss her. In spite of the fact that he had every reason to be distrusting after Jacqueline's message, he recognized that she had shown him nothing but kindness and patience. He didn't believe in destiny or fate, but if there was a moment in which he was supposed to lose his virginity, this had to be it.“Okay; I want to,” he whispered.“I'm glad,” she replied with a warm smile.Fumbling with his belt, he said, “I guess I'd better;”“There's plenty of time, Ken,” Gabby reassured him. “If we do this, I want to do it right. I want to show you the proper way to take a girl around the world. That starts with what we were doing earlier, only this time, you can start removing my clothes in the process.”As Ken leaned in and resumed their kissing, Gabby guided his hands lower and slipped them underneath her sweater. He spent a few moments enjoying the warm sensation of skin-to-skin contact before tugging her sweater up. They separated for a moment so that Gabby could finish peeling her top off, revealing a simple, black silk bra. As they continued making out, Ken reached behind her, trying to decipher the key to unhooking the ever-hated bra.“Want some advice?” Gabby asked with a slight giggle.“Sure,” Ken signed, beginning to get frustrated.“Feel for the crease, then slip one finger under and one finger over. Squeeze together and rub your fingers until it unhooks.”Concentrating, Ken did as she instructed. The clasp itself was easy to find, and her descriptions were spot on. To his surprise, it only took one unsuccessful attempt before he managed to snap the garment open.“Impressive,” Gabby marveled.“Thanks, but that was all you. I'd be lost without your instructions.”“You're a natural student; you take direction well. Ready for the next lesson?”“Oh yeah,” Ken said with anticipation.“Your kissing skills have grown by leaps and bounds in just a few minutes. Now you should remember that you don't have to kiss just my lips. My cheeks, my neck, my shoulders; my entire body is your playground. Few things turn a woman on more than a man whose only desire is to worship every inch of her form.”With that, Gabby shrugged her shoulders and slipped her bra off, revealing her ample D-cup tits to Ken. He was utterly speechless at the sight he now beheld. They were not only large, but quite perky as well. Her tiny pink nipples, already hard from their making out, were the perfect accent to Gabby's most notable assets. As he drank her in, he felt her guide his hand towards her, reaching him out to touch her tit. It barely fit into his hand, yet it was so soft and warm that it felt like it just belonged there. Taking a deep breath, Ken now reached in with both of his hands, squeezing her tits together and exploring every inch of their surface. Remembering her words from a moment ago, he leaned in once more and began to kiss his way from her lips down to her chest.“Yes; just like that.” she cooed.Arriving at the valley of her bosom, he made his way to one side, kissing her tit while also stimulating her nipple with his finger.“That's so good, Ken; ooh, you can suck on them too,” she whispered with encouragement.Ken's heart leapt at her suggestion, and he moved to take one of her tiny nipples in his mouth. He sucked with eagerness at first, but Gabby soon coaxed him to go slower.“Careful there; be gentle.”“Sorry.”“Quite alright, they're just a bit sensitive,” she said with a sweet giggle.Ken spent quite some time lapping at her tits, alternating sides every so often. At first, Gabby advised him on when to change so as not to over stimulate one side or the other. Soon, though, Ken was moving back and forth all on his own, driving her wild with lust in the process. After several minutes of this, she lifted his head up, a wicked grin on her face.“Ready for the big reveal?” she asked, lowering the zipper of her jeans.“Uh; uh huh.”Lifting her hips up, Gabby slipped her jeans over her curvy ass and down her long legs before kicking them off with her boots. She then turned to recline back on the sofa, spreading her legs a tiny bit. The smoldering come hither look she gave Ken was enough to bring any man to his knees.“Come on, Ken; you've got a Christmas present to open.”Ken's mouth went dry as he stared at her black thong panties, mesmerized in disbelief by what was about to happen. With trembling hands, he slipped his fingers into her waistband and slid the silky garment off, revealing Gabby's shaven pussy at last. In that moment, Ken had completely forgotten that he was still wearing all his clothes.“I just love the way you're looking at me,” Gabby breathed, breaking his trance. “It's like you won the lottery or something.”“I; think I did.”“So sweet. Now then, time to learn how to really make a woman happy. Most women are at least willing to engage in oral sex, but you always need to give at least as much as you receive. It's only polite. And there's no better way to make a woman want to suck your cock; than to eat her pussy without prompting. With that said.”Gabby now spread her legs wide for him, beckoning him to explore her delectable womanhood. Following a trail she laid with her fingers, Ken began to kiss his way up her leg and inner thigh. After repeating the action on her other leg, he arrived at her soaked pussy, breathing in the musky aroma seeping from within her.“Spread my lips, Ken,” Gabby whispered.Using a gentle touch, he did as she asked, gazing deep into her slick tunnel. He soon leaned forward, touching his tongue to the folds of her labia. She tasted different than he had expected, perhaps a bit salty, but nothing unpleasant in Ken's mind. He continued to taste and tease her lips for a few moments, and she began to squirm and writhe under him in pleasure.“Oh, yes; that's just right, Ken; you can move a little higher, too. See that little bump there? That's my clit. She's sensitive, but if you pay enough attention to her; something good is bound to happen.”He tilted his head upwards a bit, running his tongue along her lips as he arrived at her clit. Flicking the nub a couple of times, he was surprised at just how strong Gabby's reaction was. Ken liked that. She was having the time of her life, and it was all because of him. Feeling a twinge of confidence, he redoubled his efforts and began lapping at her clit again and again, never giving her a chance to rest.“Yes; yes, that's fucking incredible!” she cried out.As Gabby's hips began to buck, Ken looped his arms around her thighs on instinct, helping her to remain still. He continued his worshipping of her womanhood, savoring every drop of her juices as she squirmed and squealed in delight. Soon, he began to sense that her thrashing was reaching a crescendo and an ultimate plateau. He received almost immediate verbal confirmation of this.“Holy shit; Fuck that's awesome! Oh, Ken don't stop; don't; stop; please don't stop don't stop don't stop; ah!”Ken knew in an academic sense that women could achieve powerful orgasms. Still, he had never actually seen it happen, let alone experienced it by his hand, or rather his tongue. Yet lying beneath him was the most beautiful woman he had ever met in his life, and she was becoming even more beautiful by the second as her body erupted in ecstasy. The look of pleasure on her face as her eyes fluttered closed was awe-inspiring. A few final licks to her pussy, and she gently pushed his face away from her crotch.“That's quite enough; but oh so wonderful.” she sighed. “You're a natural, Ken.”“Thanks. That's; got to be the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life. Seeing you lose control like that, it was surreal.”“So sweet,” she said, sitting up straight on the sofa. “For all your supposed awkwardness, you sure know how to pay a girl a compliment.” She leaned forward, planting a long, slow kiss on his lips. As they parted, she whispered, “Ready for your due reward?”With a slight gasp, he replied, “Oh, hell yes.”Gabby stood from the sofa, smiling the entire time. Reaching behind the armrest of the sofa, she pulled out a dark blue sleeping bag and began to spread it out on the thick rug in front of the fire.“It's a tradition,” she explained, seeing the look of confusion on Ken's face. “When I was a little girl, I swore I'd catch Santa in the act by sleeping next to the tree. He'd never be able to sneak past me. Well, my parents told me to go for it, but that it wouldn't work; he's too good. Sure enough, he had come and gone the next morning. He even left a note next to my pillow that said, ‘Nice try, Gabby. Merry Christmas.' Ever since then, I've slept by the tree every Christmas Eve.”“Love it,” Ken grinned.By now, she had finished spreading the sleeping bag out on the floor and affixed a couple of pillows at the head for them. As it was designed for one person, she had opened it completely and laid it out flat, making it large enough for two to lie on. Seeing what she was doing, Ken grabbed a large throw blanket from the sofa to cover up with.“Why, thank you,” she said. “But don't you think you're a bit overdressed?”“Huh?” Ken had been so entranced with Gabby's naked body that he'd forgotten that he was still wearing his clothes. “Oh, uh, I guess so.”“Can I help with that?” she asked with a mischievous grin.“Sure.”Gabby sauntered over to him, wrapping him in a warm hug as they stood next to the fireplace. After kissing his lips, she moved to his cheek and neck, just as he had done to her before. As she began to drive him crazy, she slipped her fingers into his tee shirt and pulled it off of him, exposing his bare chest to her. Now with a new playground to explore, Gabby continued from where she left off. She first lingered around his neck and shoulders, then down his chest before finally reaching his stomach. As she knelt before him, she unbuckled his belt and slid his jeans and boxers down to his ankles, freeing his rock hard cock at last.Ken was not large my most standards, being only about five inches in length at full staff, but to Gabby he was perfect. She had no hesitation as she began to lightly stroke his length in her hand, and soon began to take him in her mouth bit-by-bit. Ken was in blissful agony; not only was he receiving is first blowjob, but he also had to keep from exploding too soon, all while concentrating on standing still. She sucked him for a few seconds more before releasing him.“If you get close, let me know, okay? I want this inside my pussy, too.”Ken could only nod in reply. She soon resumed her pleasuring of his member, sucking him with gleeful determination. He had been so good to her tonight; she only wanted to reward his efforts. Slowing her pace, she gazed up at him with her smoldering eyes, her pretty face framed by her long blonde hair. As Ken began to lose himself in her beauty, he also felt a familiar bubbling up in the pit of his stomach. Though he panicked for a moment, he soon had the presence of mind to tap Gabby on the forehead.“I think you'd better slow down,” he stammered.Releasing his cock from her mouth with a pop, Gabby grinned and replied, “Good. Because I think it's time for me to take your virginity.”After switching off the gas logs, she stretched out on the open sleeping bag and held part of the blanket up, beckoning Ken to slide in with her. He did so with eagerness, though was still nervous as hell; he had no idea what he was doing! Sensing his doubts, Gabby spoke with soft confidence and reassurance.“Let's go you on top to start. That way you can control it so you don't go off too soon. Honestly, though, don't worry about stamina. You've already lasted through one of my blowjobs, which is no small feat, if I do say so myself. You ready?”“Um, yeah; I think so. But do we need any; protection? I don't have a condom or anything.”With a warm smile, she replied, “Don't ever change, Ken. Sweet, humble, and considerate, that's what you are. I don't have any diseases per my last doctor's visit two months ago, and I know you're a virgin so I don't think there's any concern.”“That's good. But; what if you get pregnant? I'm not sure I'd be able to pull out in time.”“Well,” she paused, her smile becoming more bittersweet. “It's a long story, but trust me when I say that there's no risk of me becoming pregnant. We're clear to let loose with this, as long as you're comfortable with that, of course.”“I am. I just; wanted to be sure.”“Thank you, Ken. Now, if you please, my pussy is aching for your cock, and you'd best make her happy.”Positioning his pelvic region between her legs, Ken attempted to push into her, but his slick cock merely grazed the surface before slipping up to her belly. Gabby just smiled and reached down, taking a gentle grip on his cock with her hand and guiding him to the entrance of her pussy. Feeling a bit of give, he followed his instincts and penetrated her at long last, his virginity melting away in the process. She was divine, far tighter than Ken had ever imagined in his wildest dreams and fantasies.“Oh Ken; that's just where you belong,” she cooed in satisfaction.“Holy fuck; so tight.” he could only reply.Ken began to thrust in and out of her, keeping his tempo moderate at the start to get a feel for how sensitive he was. The sensations of making love to this goddess were only enhanced by the look of sheer enjoyment in Gabby's eyes. He prayed that he would be able to last and enjoy it all, even if only for a few minutes. As he continued thrusting into her, Gabby began to get a mischievous look in her eyes.“You're thinking something,” Ken observed.“Uh huh. Wanna learn a trick that'll drive any girl nuts?”“Sure.”“Come up on your knees and keep your torso straight up. Try to get to where you can keep yourself inside me without having to balance on your arms.”“Like this?” he asked, relaxing back on his folded knees.“Exactly. You can also stretch my leg out against your chest to help you balance.”“Very nice,” he said as he followed her instructions.“Yep, but that's not the trick. This is the trick. Use your hand; and masturbate me while you fuck me.”Ken at first wasn't sure if he had heard correctly, but Gabby soon confirmed that he had when she took his hand and slid it down her thigh towards her slit. Once there, he reacquainted himself with her womanhood, finding her clit with little effort. Gabby's reaction was immediate. Her eyes bulged and her arms began to flail about in ecstasy. This only spurred Ken on further, as he upped the tempo of his thrusts while continuing to jack her off. Gabby was in such pleasure that she couldn't even form words. Nothing but incoherent babbling came from her mouth. Finally, her long-awaited orgasm arrived, and Gabby screamed into her pillow at the top of her lungs. Meanwhile, Ken had the pleasure of experiencing what would become his favorite part of lovemaking: a woman's pussy erupting in climax around his cock.“Oh my god; that; was awesome,” he marveled.“Uh huh; you're fucking amazing, Ken.”“Thanks to you,” he grinned, slowing his thrusts to allow her to recover.“I just gave pointers. You executed; to perfection, I may add.”“My knees are about to give out, though.”“Well isn't that excellent timing; because I wanna ride you now.”Disengaging from him, Gabby gave Ken a playful push to the side, landing him flat on his back. Before he could even think of retaliating, she had already clambered on top of him and was rubbing her slick entrance against his cock. If she wasn't careful she might have made him blow his load right then and there, but she backed off in time, planting a deep kiss on his lips. As their tongues danced, she positioned his head against her and lowered herself onto him. Ken moaned into her mouth at the reintroduction of her wonderful tunnel. Their mouths parted as she arrived at the base of his cock, and she sat up straight to give him an unobstructed view of her glorious tits.Rather than bounce on him full force, Gabby used a smooth, firm grinding motion on his cock. After all, they were on a sleeping bag on the floor, rather than a proper bed. Ken couldn't help but reach up and take her jiggling globes in his hands, squeezing them and tweaking her nipples a bit. This only encouraged Gabby further, now exploring every inch of his cock with her velvety pussy. She rode him for all she was worth, no longer trying to extend their session, but actively working to send him over the edge. Ken, perhaps picking up on this, tried to coax her to slow down.“Gabby, you'd better slow; oh shit; down. I'm not gonna;”“I don't care. Give it to me,” she replied in a husky voice.“Huh? But I haven't even gone ten minutes? Aren't guys supposed to be able to last?”Gabby smiled at him. “Ken, you've been wonderful tonight. You kissed me like I was the only woman in the world, ate my pussy, and survived one of my world-famous blowjobs. Believe me, you're no slouch. You've lasted Ken, and made me orgasm twice in the process!” She leaned closer, whispering in his ear, “Cum for me, right in my pussy. I want it. I need it. Please don't hold back. Give it all; to me.”That did it. Her masterful motions combined with her seductive voice were too much for poor Ken to handle. As she planted her lips firmly on his, he thrust his last into her and began to spray his seed into Gabby's pussy. Though he had masturbated many times, none of his orgasms were ever this long or powerful; it was unreal. As he finally came down from his high, Ken's cock began to soften inside her pussy, slipping out after a few seconds.“That was; amazing.” he sighed, feeling the call of sleep washing over him.“Nuh uh! No you don't, Ken!” Gabby replied with a playful slap.“Huh?”“There's one more thing for you to learn: the art of pillow talk. Trust me, Ken. You stay awake and talk to a woman after sex, and you show her she's more than just a piece of ass,” she said, rolling off to lie next to him.“Guess that makes sense,” he mused, rubbing his eyes to stay awake. “Well you asked me all about myself, and I was about to do the same when, uh; all this happened.”“Not complaining are you?” she asked with a grin as she laid her head on his shoulder.“Hell no! Still, what about Gabby? What makes her tick?”“Well, my family is the biggest part of my life, in all honesty. With Mom, Dad, plus two big brothers and a little sister, there's a lot of love to go around. We've always been tight.”“Oh yeah! You mentioned earlier about not being alone on Christmas Eve, yet you would have been alone if we hadn't met. What's up with that?”Gabby replied, “We're kinda spread across the southeast right now. One brother works in Birmingham, another in Nashville. My sister is visiting a sorority sister up in South Carolina. Mom and Dad live near here, but have been traveling. They were supposed to get in today, but their flight got delayed. Won't be seeing them until after lunch tomorrow. Still, we should have everyone together by the day after Christmas.”“Always good,” Ken smiled, wishing his own family was a close as Gabby's. Noticing the silver cross still hanging from her neck, he asked, “I guess you're pretty religious, too?”“Very much so. Born and raised Catholic.”“Yet, you're not at mass?”“Extenuating circumstances,” she replied, a slight grimace on her face.“Sorry, didn't mean for that to come out harsh. No judgment from me, promise. My mom's always been religious, but it just never spoke to me. I mean, how can a supposedly loving God allow such evil acts in the world He created?”Gabby looked up, calm confidence in her eyes. “Sometimes bad things happen to good people. That doesn't mean God causes those bad things to happen. In all things, I believe God works for good. Even in the worst situations imaginable, God manages to cause some amount of good to come from them.”“You really believe that?” Ken asked.“With every fiber of my being. It's what keeps me going.”“Well, you're the first that's been able to answer me that question in a way that makes sense. No ‘it's all in God's plan' or ‘you must not love God enough' or any such nonsense. You; you get it.”Lying there in silence for a few minutes, Ken finally found the courage to ask the question he was afraid to know the answer to.“Will I ever see you again?”A long pause, then Gabby replied, “No.”“Why? I know I go to school in Massachusetts, but I'd be a fool to give up on an incredible woman like you. Why can't we give it a shot?”With a sigh, she answered, “Because there's something you don't know about me.” Taking his face in her hands and gazing deep into his eyes, she continued, “I'm dying, Ken.”He blinked twice, uncertain if he had heard her right. “Dying?”“I have; a rare and aggressive form of grade IV brain cancer. The doctors diagnosed me about two months ago. I have less than six months to live. They said they could treat it, but it would only buy me another year at best. Even if it were successful, I'd be so weak from the chemo that I wouldn't be able to do much of anything. So, I opted for a powerful regiment of pain management and resolved to live what time I have left to the fullest. Experience all I can, spread as much joy as I can.”“This explains everything,” Ken realized. “Why you weren't scared of me in the park, even with me holding a knife. Why you didn't hesitate to invite me to your home. Why there was no concern of you getting pregnant.”“And why we can't be together, as much as I want it. Ken, I meant what I said earlier. If I could spend any amount of time, and especially years with a guy like you, I would be so lucky and blessed. You're a wonderful person, and you're going to make some girl happy beyond belief someday. Whoever she is, wherever she may be; I envy her.”“I just wish it could be you.”“I know, Ken, but you don't deserve that. You don't deserve to fall head-over-heels in love with a girl that you know will be dead in a few short months. In another lifetime, maybe we could have been soul mates. But God seems to have other plans.”“Gabby, how can you still believe in God through all this? You said that He works all things for good, but what good can come of this?”She collected her courage, deciding to tell him her darkest secret, one that not even her own family knew. “About a month ago, I was in a really bad spot. I still believed in God, but couldn't believe He would put me through such pain and suffering. I had dreams, hopes, plans; but all for naught. I got low. So low that, one night, I almost did; what you almost did.”“Take the easy way out?”“Exactly. I nearly went through with it, but at the last moment decided to sleep on it. That night, I had a dream. Someone, I don't know who, was speaking to me. ‘Your life still has meaning. You still have a purpose.' That's what they told me. There's no way that was a coincidence. When I woke up, I promised myself I'd find that purpose for my life. Tonight, I may have done just that.”“What do you mean?” Ken asked.“Ken, if I had killed myself, I wouldn't have only been responsible for my own death. I'd have also been responsible for yours. I wouldn't have been there to talk to you and convince you there was a better way.”“That's one way of looking at it, I guess,” Ken mused, pondering her realization.“There's more, Ken. You're going to be a brain surgeon. I have no doubt about that. If I'm not there tonight, how many lives are lost in the future because Dr. Ken Dix isn't around to save them? How many children have their lives snuffed out from you not being there to ward off the hand of Death? You are going to help so many people in your life, Ken. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.”“And all that is worth the horrible death you're destined for?”“Absolutely,” she replied without hesitation.Shaking his head, Ken said, “You're a far better human being than I am.”Kissing him lightly on the cheek, Gabby whispered, “Don't sell yourself short. You had a moment of weakness, but walked back from the brink. Doesn't matter how or why, the fact is you didn't go through with it. Hang on to that.”“So there's one thing that still confuses me.”“What's that?”“With you being as religious as you are, I still don't get why you aren't at mass tonight? It's Christmas Eve, after all.”“Well; shortly after my diagnosis, I had a falling out with Father Maxwell. He was comforting at first, but soon began trying to convince me to allow him to pray over me for healing. He said that my tumor ‘was not unlike that of a demon needing to be exorcised.' That hurt me deeply. If I had let him pray over me for healing, yet was not healed, the logical argument could be made that God refused to listen! Good people get sick and are cut down too soon, but that doesn't mean that they didn't pray hard enough or that they didn't love God enough. After those conversations; I couldn't take anything that man said seriously. I've made my peace with God; that's more than enough for me.”Nodding, Ken replied, “I think you made the right call, and that's not just ‘cause I'm a religious cynic. Your reasons make perfect sense.”Gabby smiled and snuggled up in the crook of his arm, pulling the blanket over them in the process. “Thank you, Ken. For everything. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have met you tonight.”Kissing her on the forehead, he whispered, “Merry Christmas, Gabby.”Christmas Morning.Gabby awoke on Christmas morning feeling surprisingly cold. Turning over, she saw that the other side of the sleeping bag was now empty; Ken had already gone, it seemed. As she rubbed her eyes awake, she found a piece of paper on his pillow with a note written on it.Gabby,I'm so sorry for leaving before you woke up, but I think it will be less painful this way for both of us. I'm guessing from your statements last night that you've fallen for me, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't crazy for you. As much as I want us to be together, deep down I know you're right. It's just not meant for this lifetime.I want to thank you for giving this religious cynic the most valuable insights on God, that he's ever heard in his life. I have a lot to mull over and some serious questions to ask myself, about the man I want to become. Though I never said it out loud, I'm so sorry that I considered killing myself. It was selfish and shortsighted of me. Thanks to you, I realize that now.Gabrielle Libertine, you are truly one of God's gifts to mankind. For me, you're an Angel of Mercy; descended from on high at just the moment I needed you most. I promise you, from this day on, I will never again consider killing myself. You have my word of honor. In your memory, I am now devoted to finding my purpose in life. I do want to help people. I do want to save lives. I do want to find a special girl to spend my life with. And thanks to you, I still can. Thank you for everything, Gabby. I pray that your life will be full of joy and happiness.All my love, Kenneth Dix.P.S. Merry Christmas to you and your family.Tears of joy streamed down her face as she read his message. Gabby had hoped that her efforts might in some small way have an impact on Ken, but to see such immediate effects was more than she could have ever hoped for. To bring about such direct improvements in a young man's life was truly the greatest purpose she could ever imagine in her life. She no longer had any doubt in her mind; this was God's intention all along. Perhaps she had lost the love of her life, but she had also saved the love of her life, giving him a second chance at love in the process.“Merry Christmas, Ken. God speed,” she whispered, kissing her fingers and touching them to the paper.The sound of a phone ringing from the sofa interrupted her thoughts. Reaching over, Gabby saw that it was her mom.“Hey Mom! Merry Christmas; Yes, I slept in front of the tree; Oh, your flight's already here? Awesome! Lemmie get dressed, and I'll come get you guys; Love you too. Bye.”Mother's House.Ken pulled up to his mom's house in a taxi around seven that morning. Before he was even halfway up the driveway, Helen was already running out to meet him, wrapping him in a tight hug.“Ken! Thank God you're alright!”“I'm fine, Mom. No worries.”Taking his hand, she said, “Come on, Uncle Lee wants to talk to you. He's up in your room.”Ken climbed the stairs in relative silence, pondering what sort of conversation awaited him. Arriving at his room, he entered, closing the door behind him. Uncle Lee sat at his desk chair.“Ken.”“Uncle Lee.”The two eyed each other for several seconds, the tension growing in the room.“Mom said you want to talk to me,” Ken said, sitting on his bed.“Yeah, I do. Ken; I was a real ass yesterday.”“That's not really fair;”“No. No, it is. You were right about everything. A real man stands up for his family, lends a hand to someone being ganged up on. Truth is; I was afraid to get involved yesterday. I was afraid if I did; you'd never learn to be self-sufficient. Fact is I was a coward. Plain and simple.”Sitting for a moment, Ken replied, “It's alright, Uncle Lee. We're still family, after all.”“Glad to hear you say that,” Lee said, rising to shake his nephew's hand. “Now, as my apology, how ‘bout you and I pay a visit to this Jason character? Make sure he knows what's what.”“That's; really kind of you, Uncle Lee, but I'm not interested.”“Not interested?”“Jason Brown's a fucking dumbass!” Ken said with a laugh. “He's peaked in his life; even he knows that. It's all downhill for him from here on out. Me? I'm going places. Hell, I'm on scholarship at MIT, aiming to go to Harvard Medical in a few years. Why should I care what a stupid jock thinks of me?”Lee studied his face for a few moments. “There's something different about you, Ken. You've got this look in your eye. ‘I don't know where I'll end up, but wherever it is, I'm going to be kicking ass.' That's what it says to me. What's up? What did you do last night?”Thinking of Gabby, Ken smiled and answered, “Just; took some time alone, found a bit of peace and quiet. That's where I do my best thinking. It let me put things into perspective, figure out what's most important to me.”“Huh. Well whatever you did, I like the results. Still as smart as ever; but somehow more confident.”“Thanks.”“So what was Jason so hot about, anyhow?”“Ah, he had seen me talking to his sister, Jacqueline. She and I had been partners a lot in school, and I stopped to chat when I saw her in the parking lot. He didn't like that.”“Seems like none of his fuckin' business.”“Yeah, but she's just as mean as he is, deep down. She's just really good at hiding it until the opportune moment; for her, of course,” Ken explained.“She shot ya down in the worst possible way, eh?” Lee realized.“Yeah,” Ken said, recalling his lowest moment from last night. “Her loss, though.”“Damn right, it is! Come on, we got presents to open,” Lee said jovially, leading the way down the stairs.The Gravesite.“Come on, Tiffany. It's this way.”“Where are we going, Ken? What's so important that we have to wait until tomorrow to leave for our honeymoon?”“You'll see. It's just up ahead. Besides, all our patients are in good hands with Dr. Nguyen. We've got all the time in the world.”“Always the hopeless romantic.”Ken clutched the hand of the gorgeous redhead following him, running his finger along the rings on her left hand as they went. The pair remained careful, always watching where they stepped, as several tree roots popped up from the ground along the trail. Finally, they reached their destination.“Here she is,” Ken said.The couple stood in front of a headstone, simple yet beautiful in its design. Tiffany, still confused, began to read the words carved on it.“Gabrielle Dorothy Libertine.February 10, 1993 to April 29, 2017.Loving daughter, sister, and friend.An Angel of Mercy.“Ken; who is this?” Tiffany was confused.“Well; I've told you about the night I almost killed myself. Remember how I said that there's more to the story, but I wasn't ready to tell you yet?”“Of course.”“She's the rest of the story, Tiff. Ten years ago, to this very day, Gabby arrived at the moment I needed her most; and saved my life. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be here today. I'd have done it. She had no skin in the game and was going to die of cancer a few months later, but she felt called to help me nonetheless.”Turning to the headstone, he continued, “Gabby; It's me, Ken. I did it. I did everything you said I would. Became a brain surgeon, save the lives of kids every day; and I met the love of my life. This is Tiffany Sanders, or Tiffany Dix, as of yesterday. We met at Harvard. We practice medicine together, we help people; she's everything I've ever wanted. And because of everything you did for me; I made it. You saved my life, showed me what worth I had, encouraged me to find God's purpose for my life, hell you even took my virginity. Gabby, no words could ever express my gratitude for you. All I can say is; thank you.”Moved to tears, Tiffany collapsed to her knees, touching the letters on the headstone with her fingers. “You; saved my husband's life? You would spend what little time you had left on Earth helping him? My God; miracles do happen, after all. I; I love him, Gabrielle. I love him with all my heart. He completes me. Ken's always had his doubts, but I know there is a God. I know there is a Heaven. And if everything Ken said is true; that's exactly where you are today. Please, watch over us. One day, I plan to thank you in person.”Ken rested a gentle hand on her shoulder, comforting her. Tiffany began to rise to her feet, wrapping her husband in a long embrace. They shared a long, tender kiss, thinking of nothing but each other. At long last, they parted, their eyes locked together.“You ready to start our life together?” Ken asked.“Yeah; more than ever.” based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts for Sex Stories.
Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. This episode marks the final installment in our Unfiltered Series, where we've brought you the raw, unedited conversations with some of the most thought-provoking and inspiring guests we've ever had on the show. Today, we close the series with a conversation about anger—an emotion we're all grappling with in these challenging times. Our guest is Dr. Ryan Martin, a psychologist, Dean at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and author of How to Deal with Angry People. Known as The Anger Professor on TikTok, Ryan combines humor, research, and practical insights to help us better understand anger and how to handle it in ourselves and others.
This week, we're revisiting one of our most powerful conversations from the first season of the podcast, back when we were known as My Possible Self. January is often considered the most depressing month of the year—cold, dark, and weighed down by the emotional and financial fallout of the holidays. But beyond the January blues, this episode takes a broader look at depression, a condition that impacts millions worldwide. Guest, James Withey, is an acclaimed author, counselor, and mental health advocate with firsthand experience navigating clinical depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Drawing from his bestselling book 'How to Tell Depression to P**s Off' and his other impactful works, James offers practical strategies to take back control from depression. In this episode, James delves into why depression is a life-threatening illness that demands attention and care, shares coping techniques to create distance from its grip, and reveals why recovery lies in finding purpose and meaning. He also provides insights into doing the opposite of what depression urges you to do and shares hope for anyone feeling overwhelmed by its weight. Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of suicidal thoughts and attempts. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional help immediately and proceed listening with caution, however James' story and strategies may offer hope and help. Listen now to gain valuable tools and inspiration to face depression head-on. To download the free My Possible Self app: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself To follow Dr. Kelly Vincent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameswwithey/ James Withey's Website: https://www.jameswithey.com/
After praising her performance in Sunset Blvd. Bryan is upset with the lead Pussycat Doll's recent Instagram likes and comments of conservative content, and Erin is introduced to the 1985 Alice in Wonderland with Carol Channing. Bryan teaches us how to disengage and set boundaries with our Trump-loving family members this holiday season. Erin tells us all about the Korean 4B movement (also known as the 4 No's) and its tenets: no marriage, no childbirth, no dating and no sex - which has had renewed interest in the United States after Donald Trump's election. For Groceries and this week's bonus Dateline Recap visit www.patreon.com/attitudesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Key Points: Host Heidi Benjaminsen discusses the importance of "quiet wins" - personal victories in emotional life and relationships that often go unnoticed These wins build confidence and strengthen family relationships, even when others don't explicitly acknowledge them Notable Quiet Wins Discussed: Staying calm and curious during difficult conversations, especially with children Not participating in gossip or spreading private information about others Declining invitations/opportunities that don't align with your values or energy Resisting the urge to correct or give unsolicited advice, especially to children Allowing others (particularly children) to manage their own responsibilities Speaking positively to yourself after failures or setbacks Apologizing without casting blame on others Making responsible financial decisions, even when unsexy or invisible Remaining non-defensive when facing criticism or belittling comments Maintaining a positive attitude after committing to help, even if reluctant Disengaging from negative discussions without feeling compelled to respond Being direct about important issues while maintaining professionalism Avoiding guilt trips with teens/young adults when they decline family activities Key Takeaway: While these wins may be quiet, their impact is significant - they build trust, strengthen relationships, and develop personal integrity. As Heidi emphasizes, "A confident mother is the greatest gift to her family - not a perfect mother." Sign up for a consult call here.
Do you ever feel like things are getting just a little too 'noisy' for you? Maybe you're juggling too many things at work, or change is coming at you at increasing speeds and frequency, or maybe 'doom scrolling' is taking its toll?Experiences of cognitive load are being increasingly reported in the workplace. It is a real thing that can create high levels of instability in people's experiences of work and workplace relationships. People in leadership positions want to show support for people's physical and mental wellbeing, but the work still needs to get done. So how can people actually pull away and give themselves some space to rest and replenish, given the pressures of the working environment?In this Cheeky Half Paul and KG discuss this potential conundrum and throw around some half-baked thoughts and ideas that might provide some insight. Maybe. If not, there's always Meatloaf.Join us and let us know what you think!We'd love to hear what you thought of this conversation.Please let us know through either of the options below.Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.comDisagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!
This week on Radically Loved, Rosie Acosta, Nedra Glover Tawwab, and Tessa Tovar explore the complexities of family dynamics, the importance of setting boundaries, and the challenges of navigating emotional triggers. They discuss the significance of having difficult conversations, especially in the context of relationships with family members who struggle with addiction. The discussion emphasizes the need for self-awareness, the application of therapeutic tools, and the process of deciding when to let go of toxic relationships. Three reasons to listen to the whole podcast: 1. Learning to set boundaries and lean into uncomfortable family dynamics. 2. Learn to recognize when relationships are no longer serving you. 3. Develop the ability to have difficult conversations that are necessary for relationship growth. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:03:41) Building and Maintaining Family Relationships (00:05:51) Setting Boundaries for Healthy Relationships (00:11:57) Caring and Responding to Triggers (00:14:33) Disengaging from Drama and Gossip (00:25:38) Knowing When to Let Go (00:28:24) Staying Inspired and Connected (00:35:38) Conclusion and Finding More Information Resources: Website: https://www.nedratawwab.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nedratawwab/ Books: https://www.nedratawwab.com/books Podcast: https://www.nedratawwab.com/nedra-podcast Enjoy the Podcast? Love to give us 5 stars? Help us reach more people and make them feel loved. A simple way is to share what you've learned today on social media. Don't forget to follow and message us on these platforms! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosieacosta/ Twitter: https::twitter.com/rosieacosta Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radicallylovedrosie TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrosieacosta Website: https://www.radicallyloved.com/ Get You Are Radically Loved the book: https://www.radicallyloved.com/book Try Headspace for 30 days free! use code: ROSIE30 www.headspace.com Sign up for 'The Mindful Love Hub' on Substack: https://radicallyloved.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=2t314w Create a daily meditation ritual in just seven days! Download BUILD YOUR DAILY MEDITATION RITUAL and other freebies at https://www.radicallyloved.com/free-stuff! Connect with Tessa Tovar: Website: https://tessatovar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHMYm-7kNZfulgaiCi2w8Cw Book of Poetry for Savasana: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-Book-Poetry-Savasana/dp/1731243588
Join Paulette and Michelle for this conversation on The Brilliant Art of Parallel Parenting in High Conflict Divorce About Michelle: Coach Michelle is a high conflict resolution coach, an attorney, and a badass single mom. She helps parents disengage from high conflict relationships, getting them out of court, and stepping back into their lives. Her unique combination as a certified Martha Beck life coach, a lawyer for almost 20 years, her field of study in Psychology, and her own personal family law experience, makes Michelle a well-rounded coach, capable of helping parents learn how to disengage from a challenging and protracted co-parenting relationship. Topics Michelle and Paulette discuss in today's episode: • The fastest way to get out of family court and step back into your life is to disengage from the conflict. • It only takes one parent to disengage. • Disengaging from the conflict does NOT mean letting go of your reasonable boundaries. • When you're forced to go to court, it is vital that you prepare yourself to disengage from the conflict. • In family court, there's really no such thing as “winning”. • You can't move forward with living your best life if you're stuck in the trenches in family court. Michelle was the first person in her family to go to college or graduate school, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy, as well as her Juris Doctorate. • She has always been passionate about helping people overcome life's obstacles, and re-inventing themselves. • Michelle was raising her son as a single mom when she was 38, and she chose to have a second child on her own at 40. Parenting her two kids and raising them to appreciate the importance of social justice and equality is what she is most proud of. SIGN UP FOR my Better Divorce Blueprint PROGRAM: https://betterdivorceblueprint.com/ WEBSITE - resources for those in need of Certified Divorce Coaching and Private Mediation Services : https://betterdivorceacademy.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA - bit.ly/betterdivorceacademy Buy my book and workbook: Better Divorce Blueprint https://betterdivorceblueprint.com/ RESOURCES - https://betterdivorceacademy.com/reso... AUDIOBOOK FROM AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/Better-Div... Are you looking for answers and guidance? BOOK a 30 minute assessment consultation: https://calendly.com/betterdivorceaca... Disclaimer: All statements made in this audio/video are expressions of the opinion of the speaker, and should be regarded as such. The audio/video is made to serve a therapeutic purpose for the speaker or speakers and to assist others in recognizing and dealing with matters in their own lives which they believe may be similar. #divorce #mediation #coaching #lifeafterdivorce #divorcesupport
In this episode, Sarah describes in detail the RAIN technique for disengaging from, separating yourself from and separating yourself from your own thinking. If you learn and use this technique you won't feel as mentally drained and feel physically more energetic. You will feel as though you have taken back being in charge of your life, versus your mind and thoughts pulling you in a million directions. This technique involves four steps and will give you the teachings you need to enhance your understanding of the Buddhist practice of mindfulness meditation.Sarah's video course on Youtube This course is designed to work with coaching. Contact Sarah through her websites below if you are interested in coaching.Sarah's list of types of thinkingSarah's list of 300 emotionsTSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center FREE monthly meditation group meets the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM New York Time/3:00 PM London Time. Third Saturday of each month. Join us, July 20, 2024. Register at https://www.tsdmind.org/groupImportant links:TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center https://www.tsdmind.orgSarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: https://www.sarahvallely.comThis episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching for people with past trauma, anxiety and depression disorders, business leaders, and people who work in the helping professions (i.e. counselors, healers and yoga and meditation teachers).
This week on The KICK-ASS Stepmom Podcast, Jamie and Darren dive into how disengaging has been one of the best strategies Jamie has used to thrive in her role as a stepmom and how Darren supports this strategy. They share: The right (and wrong) way to disengage How to know if a stepmom needs to take a step back How to communicate your needs with your family What partners need to understand about disengaging and more! Want more from Jamie? Check out her website Follow along on Instagram Follow along on Facebook Join The KICK-ASS Stepmom Community Download 12 Ways To Redefine Your Stepmom Experience When Should A Stepmom Disengage? Take The Quiz and See Thanks to Our Sponsors: LMNT | My Go To Electrolyte Drink. Head to www.drinklmnt.com/kickassstepmom to get a free sample pack with any drink mix purchase. RITUAL | Get 25% off your first month at www.ritual.com/stepmom OSEA | Clean skincare. Head to www.oseamailibu.com and use code KICKASSSTEPMOM for 10% off at checkout.
Okay, this is a big one. We've got New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author and all-around extraordinary human, Katherine May talking to us about all things being in process - why it's so hard to slow down, how to be vulnerable, and what knocks us out of the spaces that (if we can have a little faith) help us to flourish. Here's what we discuss in this episode: What keeps us from being curiousWhat makes us fear slowing down The richness and reward of forced fallow periodsHow to trust your own process Disengaging from an outcome-driven worldDid this episode hit a little close to home or interested in our program?Feeling stuck even though you're incredibly self-aware? You're not alone! If you're tired of the gap between what you know and what you actually DO, we'd love to connect. Let's talk about the patterns holding you back and how coaching can get you unstuck and confidently moving towards your goals.Think of us as your catalyst for a rich, impactful life. Ready to step into your boldest potential? Let's talk. Book a free 30-min chat to explore what we can to together: https://savvycal.com/knomii/podcastWant to get in touch?Go to our website at www.knomii.com or email us at podcast@knomii.com or madeline@knomii.com to request a topic, give feedback, or learn more about our 1:1 sessions.Follow Knomii on Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn.Follow and connect with Madeline on Linkedin.Follow and connect with Cynthia on Linkedin.Follow and connect with Maggie on Linkedin.Hosts & GuestsCynthia Garrett, LMHC HostMadeline Farquharson, CPCC HostMaggie Glennon, Coach HostEllen Wallace, Coach HostKatherine May, GuestInformationShow: Being Curious with Knomii (The Knomii Podcast)Published 05/21/2024Season 2Rating: CleanFrequency: Updated Bi-monthlyLength: 52 minEpisode 7Copyright, All rights reservedKatherine May is an internationally bestselling author and podcaster living in Whitstable, UK. Her most recent book, Enchantment became an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. Her internationally bestselling hybrid memoir Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times was adapted as BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week, and was shortlisted for the Porchlight and Barnes and Noble Book of the Year. The Electricity of Every Living Thing, her memoir...
I provide two possible reasons.
On this episode Ariel talks about energy cords & how to disengage your energy from other people in a healthy way – not from cord cutting, but through disengagement. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cords are bioplasmic streamers, energies that we send out from our energy system, through our chakras or sometimes through our auric field to connect to other people. It's normal for us to do this on a daily basis, whenever we meet someone & engage with them we're cording, even looking at them. It's normal for people to attach through cording, the problem is staying attached after we need to disengage. We sometimes don't know how to let go, or they don't know how to let go of us. A lot of people who work in the energy medicine field teach cord cutting, but the problem with this is you create an injury to a cord while cutting it. What you should do is disengage energy – theirs from your field & yours from their – & clean the energy up as it passes through. You don't want to send bad energy to others because that creates bad karma for you. Disengaging cording is like leaving a room & going out the front door. You literally leave them in their space & you in your space. This is a very helpful process when you feel like you need to clear energy after an argument or you have a busy day seeing lots of clients, you don't want to take the energy of the previous client(s) into the meeting with the next one. Use the violet flame to transmute negative energy into positive energy so you're not bring their negative energy back into your space. When you release your energy from their field you should also do this for the same reason. This cleans up not only the frequencies of these energies but it opens up and clears your energy so you can be clear of mind, focussed & at peace. In this state you have the ability to identify upcoming goals, actions you're going to take to follow through on them, clear up resistances to positive changes in you life, take action. It gets you out of being stuck into movement, action & flow. BEST MOMENTS “As humans we attach & we tend to stay attached, such as still thinking about someone from a love relationship even if it didn't end well.” “Sometimes you can feel bad juju or bad energy from someone, that's because they're sending energy your way & the thoughts aren't necessarily positive.” “Cording in & of itself isn't a bad thing, it's natural to connect with people when you interact.” “Cords are energetic structures like arms & legs, when you cut them you damage them, it's like cutting someone's arm off. You don't cut, you just diengage.” ABOUT THE HOST Ariel is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master, Empath & Psychic who has been involved in holistic healing since 1988. She is also an educator, speaker, author & mentor for empaths, spiritual seekers & medical professionals. To reach Ariel, go to www.arielhubbard.com, where you will be able to contact her directly. Please let her know you heard her on the podcast & the assistance you need or question you have. Website Podcast: Woman Power Zone on all major platforms LinkedInIGFacebookYouTubeCH: @arielhubbard Pinterest Pre-order form for Ariel's educational, hilarious and spicy dating book: The Empowered Woman's Guide to Online Dating: Set Your BS Tolerance to Zero Access to the Mindset Reset Club
Easily listen to The Science of Self in your podcast app of choice at https://bit.ly/ScienceOfSelfPodcast00:04:11 •Novel skills00:06:43 •Play games and solve puzzles00:12:11 •Meditation.00:14:41 •Resisting temptation.00:18:57 •Reappraisal00:20:11 •Distinguishing between emotions and reality00:21:10 •Distinguishing between ideas and reality 00:25:23 •Memory gamesHear it Here - https://adbl.co/3Lz7o1b• The brain can prefer repetition and habit. Get out of autopilot by using novelty to get out of the default node network. Learn something new, do games and puzzles and attempt things in a novel way.• Executive skills are those that allow us to exert fine control over our behavior. We can develop our self-control by using mediation to bring us to the moment despite distraction and a wandering mind. Resisting temptation becomes easier with practice, and strengthens our executive function. • We can improve our emotional regulation by having CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy. We can reappraise situations and our emotional responses, distinguishing between perception and reality, and empowering proactive choice. • Finally, we can boost our brain's recall limitations by practicing N-back tasks and other memory games that strengthen our working memory. #ADHD #AlkozeiCooperCreswell #Bubbico #ChalaAyache #CognitiveBehavioralTherapy #Cowan #DMN #ExecutiveFunction #FisslerKolassaSchreder #Jaeggi #Lazaridou #Maguire #Meditation #Milyavskaya #Mindfulness #MoyalHenikAnholt #PhineasGage #Posner #ReorganizationLearning #SecondLanguageLearning #Selfcontrol #Selfregulation #TangPosnerRothbart #VatanseverMenonSamakatis #Vestberg #Weitgel #WilmsLahnwerKastenmuller #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #SuperBrain #DisengagingYourBrain'sAutopilot
If you're like us, you watch videos too loudly, give long-winded directions, and totally forget the names of your kids' friends. While those examples may feel like no big deal, there are plenty of other habits that hinder us as dads. Ted Lowe, BJ Foster, Reggie Lewis, and Buck Buchanan dive into a couple of these destructive dad habits. What are 5 bad habits dads need to stop? Have you struggled with any of these?1. Yelling2. Overreacting 3. Disengaging 4. Getting drunk5. Watching porn Bottomline: Breaking bad habits leads to raising stronger kids. Today's Pro Move: Choose one bad habit and stop it for one week. MORE from All Pro Dad:The Secret to Stopping Bad Behavior 5 Good Habits Dads Need to Start 5 Bad Habits Dads Need to Stop 5 Good Habits For Kids How To Quit Porn EXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com
In this episode, I'm sharing some insights on the importance of being able to engage and disengage a horse's hindquarters. Establishing control of this key body part aids in balancing your horse's body weight, which in turn improves their performance and promotes soundness in the front end. Tune into this episode to learn more about the fundamentals of hindquarter control and the benefits of having a horse that is balanced on their front and hind end. Episode Resources: To join the Be Your Best Membership with Phil Haugen, visit: philhaugenhorsemanship.com/be-your-best-membership. To request a topic for our next episode, visit: philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and tag #beyourbesthorsemanship!
Jasmin Larian Hekmat is the founder, designer, and CEO of fashion-girl favorite brand Cult Gaia. Hekmat started Cult Gaia as an accessories line, creating stunning pieces that doubled as objets d'art like the iconic Ark Bag. Eventually, she realized that in order to style the pieces the way she envisioned, she'd need to start designing clothes to go with them, thus the ready-to-wear and lifestyle brand was born. Hekmat's commitment to producing meaningful, artistic pieces has never wavered. Today, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with the designer to talk about Cult Gaia's Resort 2024 collection, which was recently shown at the brand's first official fashion show in Los Angeles.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jasmin Larian Hekmat is the founder, designer, and CEO of fashion-girl favorite brand Cult Gaia. Hekmat started Cult Gaia as an accessories line, creating stunning pieces that doubled as objets d'art like the iconic Ark Bag. Eventually, she realized that in order to style the pieces the way she envisioned, she'd need to start designing clothes to go with them, thus the ready-to-wear and lifestyle brand was born. Hekmat's commitment to producing meaningful, artistic pieces has never wavered. Today, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with the designer to talk about Cult Gaia's Resort 2024 collection, which was recently shown at the brand's first official fashion show in Los Angeles.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Although both Laura Frombach and Joy Farrow lived completely different experiences, their similarities working in male dominated fields and their desire to help women compelled them to work together to write a book for women and their safety. Laura Frombach was introduced to technology in the United States Army, working on Pershing nuclear missiles. She spent most of her career as a technologist and engineer with IBM, Hewlett Packard, FedEx, Coca Cola Enterprises, Lenovo, and others. A turning point in Laura's life was the aha moment when she correlated her mother's mental illness to domestic violence. She advocates for local domestic violence shelters. She's a TEDx speaker and speaks on women's safety. And Joy Farrow is a retired deputy sheriff with 28 years of experience. She worked road patrol in Pompano Beach, Florida and faced every situation imaginable. After the 911 tragedy, Joy transferred to the Fort Lauderdale Holiday International Airport with Broward's Sheriff's Office to focus on safety of air traveling. In 2017, Joy assisted in the aftermath of the mass shooting at the airport. She's received numerous letters of recommendations and several lifestyle life saving awards. Joy is also a TEDx speaker. She speaks on women's safety. Joy and Laura wrote Street Smart Safety for Women, which came out in October, in an effort to help women learn how to defend themselves, give them the tools to continue pursuing their interests and upkeep their physical and mental well being. It includes modern strategies for women to develop safety intuition, practice defensive living by trying to be persuasion proof, incorporating daily safety practices, tech vigilance, and learning about victim recovery. What You Will Hear in This Episode: 3:47 Laura and Joy's personal journeys 11:08 Being professionals in a male dominated field 13:09 Street Smart, Safety for Women inspiration and advice from Laura and Joy's book 16:10 Dating apps and dating 27:00 Traveling alone 34:01 Disengaging in conversation and social conditioning as women Quotes “violence isn't normal and it's not okay. No matter Who you are.” “The anonymity of the internet. is a playground for predators. “ “Predators take advantage of that with women, they know that we are brought up to be nice, that we're brought up to be pleasant, that we're brought up to be polite and they take advantage of it.” Mentioned: Streetsmartsafety.org Facebook Instagram eConnect with Bonnie https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/ https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus https://twitter.com/selfpromote https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/ Gendered Ageism Survey Results Forbes article 5 Tips to own the superpower of your age IAMMusicGroup Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
Yesterday, President Biden held a long-awaited meeting with Communist China's “dictator,” Xi Jinping. As expected, the two agreed to renew so-called military-to-military contacts. The problem is not actually a failure to communicate. Rather, it is the fact that Xi is relentlessly preparing for a shooting war with our country. That reality makes all the more reckless the Biden administration's other efforts in the name of “engagement” to prop up a Chinese Communist Party increasingly beset by potentially terminal political, economic and demographic crises. Fortunately, at least it will no longer be compelling past and present military personnel and their civilian federal government counterparts to invest in China's companies – including some manufacturing weapons intended to kill us. Their pension fund will henceforth be offering an investment platform that excludes Chinese and Hong Kong-based corporations. The rest of America must disengage, too. This is Frank Gaffney.
Episode 188 / Contemporary romance author Cadence Keys has only been publishing for a few years. She describes how she's found success publishing wide and selling directly to readers. We also delve into the topic of setting back from social media, something Cadence has chosen to do. Instead of using the social platforms, she's investing in her newsletter and in her Ream subscribers. https://www.cadencekeysauthor.comLinks mentioned: https://heartbreathings.teachable.com/p/hb90-bootcampReam
As I bring a third child into the world, I have a few of my own thoughts and opinions on the world of kids and parenting, for sure! But no matter how much I learn, I still have questions. And so do you! In fact, raising children – feeding them, relating to them, keeping them happy and healthy – is one of the most common topics in my DMs, and one of the most popular interview themes on our feed.In this episode, you'll hear from some of the biggest names and brightest minds in the space – from experienced parents to accomplished scholars, doctors, bestselling authors, and more. We cover the importance of nutrition and gut health, handling picky eating, building connection, the science behind tantrums and developing brains, communication, and independence - just to name a few.And while this episode features our most impactful segments on the topic, the full conversations from which they're pulled offer tons of additional knowledge. Listen for episode numbers between each guest rotation, or search the word "kids" on the show's website at bewellbykelly.com to find the source material and more.On this roundtable journey, we draw insights from previous episodes featuring brilliant minds like:• Dr. Nicole Beurkens, Healthy Kids, Happy Parents #134• Jennifer Anderson, Bringing Joy to the Table with Kids Eat in Color #189• Dr. Elisa Song, Whole Family Wellness: Helping Our Kids Thrive #208• Dr. Becky Kennedy, Cultivating the Good Inside Our Kids and Ourselves #151• Dr. Tina Bryson, Parenting & the Power of Showing Up #212• Jenn Curtis, Using the Parent Compass: Promoting Self-Advocacy in Kids #199• Dr. Marion Van Horn, Supporting Children's Neural Development #74We also cover…00:01:00 — The Important Role Nutrition Plays in Behavior (Dr. Nicole Beurkens)• Considering the impact of food on a child's mood and mental health• Getting off of the blood sugar rollercoaster • Examples of blood sugar spiking breakfast foods• A growing mind and body are more sensitive to health variables • Benefits of protein for breakfast• Why kids need good sources of carbs • Excessive additive sugar has a negative impact on the brain • Importance of hydration on health 00:14:00 — Effectively Encouraging a Picky Eater (Jennifer Anderson)• Fab 4 Under 4: A Comprehensive Guide To Feeding Your Children• Unlocking the power of “You don't have to eat it”• Disengaging from the mealtime power struggle • Encouraging picky eaters through their interests• Rescue snacking vs. holding your...
Retrogrades are such a great time of reflection. Let's discuss why disengagement during this time is welcomed. Get my FREE 10 Minute Love Meditation to shift your mindset to receive ALL types of love in your life:https://www.innerpeaceposse.com/opt-in-3f0fd8fa-9176-4ca7-97a7-541fca06edb1Subscribe to Spiritual Homegirl's YouTube here: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UClfzaF9Vr-xEPh9WBaEBhww?sub_confirmation=1Join my text club: https://spiritualhomegirl.pscr.pt/1XIQ1r Sign up for the Merch/T-Shirt of the Month Club here: https://www.spiritualhomegirl.shop/Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/spiritualhomegirl/Also, follow Make Peace With the Day: https://instagram.com/makepeacewiththedayCheck me out on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SpiritualHomegirl/
Do you struggle with knowing when to communicate with your partner about a problem and when to disengage? Are you reactive in conflict with people who are important to you, and you often end up feeling angry and miserable? Discover the two choices you need to make to lovingly disengage in conflict and what the process of lovingly disengaging looks like.
ON THIS EPISODE: Mary Cosby's comebacks. Jack Barlow's college deferral plan. O Pioneers! Should we stream it or skip it? DISENGAGING is on all major streaming platforms. Like, subscribe and share! • APPLE • SPOTIFY • POCKETCASTS Get full access to Meat 'n Three by Julia Ritchey at juliaritchey.substack.com/subscribe
To Stop Pleasing & Appeasing Others, Focus On These 3 ThingsWonder why you automatically people-please, rush to fix things when there's a problem, panic at the idea of someone being upset with you, or feel an internal pressure to avoid disappointing others?This is the fawn response in action, and it is happening because your body is perceiving a threat or anticipating a threat.The body will react to the present based on your past, re-living that past experience through the feelings, sensations, reactions, and thoughts that flood you. When you've been threatened or harmed and your body has used the fawn response to survive it, it will do that again in the future because it worked.Disengaging this response involves:1) Restoring a sense of safety by nurturing capacity for those reactions, connecting with safe community and persons, and learning to regulate back into a window of tolerance through titrated experiencing of the sensations that show up2) Processing the pain, fear, and hurt that is stuck in a loop that was created in the previous threatening events. This will involve feeling the sensations in short, bit-by-bit moments over time. As the body begins to experience a reduction in the intensity, duration, and frequency of the intense sensations that come with fawning, it will start engaging in other responses to it, including inquiry, indifference, advocacy, and even fight or flight.3) Discovering safety and who you are without the fawning response. This will likely feel uncomfortable, confusing, liberating, and even empowering. You'll find yourself experiencing more rest, more confidence, more peace, and more clarity about what you want, what you feel, and your intuitive senses will arise.This is a core feature of the Codependency Healing System. Over 35 live-taught classes, you are nurtured through each of these phases of healing through live support, effective tools, and community.Your codependency developed in relationship. Your healing and freedom develops in relationship. We heal together. We thrive together.[Annual Enrollment in The Codependency Healing System Closes Saturday Till 2024]New payment options available! Check below!This is an invitation to codependents, people-pleasers, and perfectionists who've been doing therapy or self-help, are struggling to get lasting, consistent results, and are seeking greater self-worth, peace, and freedom in being who they are without trying to figure it all out or do it on their own.You will work along with me and 74 other students over a gentle 9 months as we increase your sense of safety, connection, and self-worth through:1) Increasing your emotional safety. 2) Connecting with reality and using it to build real connection. 3) Taking back and becoming your power. 4) Discovering and embodying who you really are through knowing your innate worth. 5) Reclaim your natural ability to create connection with others and build healthy, safe, playful bonds with your fellow humans. This is achieved through The Codependency Healing System 9-month, 36-module journey.To succeed in these areas, all you will need to do is:1) Watch the recorded trainings or show up to the live versions2) Do the practices 2 - 3 times a week3) Get support when you need it.The program supports you in doing that through:- Weekly live trainings hosted and taught by Marshall- Unrivaled live support facilitated by Marshall that includes:- Twice-a-week support calls to help you as you learn these concepts and master them in your daily life- Twice-a-week homework calls to help you do the homework, get help with tools, or have a space to do the work - Twice-a-month practice sessions to help you
Do you feel like you're in this cycle of high motivation, high compliance, gradually lower compliance, gradually lower motivation, disengaging, frustration, repeat? Today I want to breakdown the process of creating a feedback loop so you can learn from the things that usually throw you off track and avoid making the same mistakes (again). Join me inside The Consistency Course!
Identifying the inner critic is present helps. Learning how to change our relationship with it, is critical for our growth and well-being. Thanks to Roxanne Howe Murphy for allowing me to replay portions of our 2017 interview. Resources Roxanne Howe Murphy and Deep Living Lab What is the Inner Critic? Podcast Identifying the Inner Critic Podcast The post BOO381- Encore – Disengaging with the Inner Critic appeared first on Marcia Hyatt.
What does technology amplify in your life, and what does it amputate? In her book, 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, Tiffany Shlain shares how her family unplugged one day a week and how you can achieve digital wellness. Terms like “digital detox” and “internet addiction,” were developed to identify the problem a device can play. In addition, Tiffany explains what her family calls a “technology Shabbat.” So, where do you want to place your time and attention? IN THIS EPISODE: [04:05] Tiffany shares a quote from Marshall McLuhan, a media theorist. “Does technology amplify and what does it amputate?” and she discusses the impact of the tech world in our lives [05:15] Taking a technology Shabbat. Tiffany explains what Shabbat is and how it applies to screen time [09:26] The history of spending time without technology and a plan to achieve digital wellness in today's world [18:26] Your screen can rob you of creativity and restful “me” time. Structure, organization and rituals are positives choices [22:48] Your role as a parent is to set device boundaries [26:40] Screen addiction can cause a dopamine rush. Often people use their devices to escape. Internet addiction is real [37:08] Inappropriate content is available via the screen, and the average age of children viewing is nine [40:28] Disengaging from a screen creates a “me” network; however, the flip side is allowing validation of what you post frame who you are KEY TAKEAWAYS: The default mode network frees your mind to think creatively and recall events of the day or week without the “noise” of a device Unfortunately, some parents use the internet as a babysitter, training their child to get validation from posts, etc., and the child doesn't learn how to feel their disappointment, which we all need to be able to do. Screen addiction is so prevalent that treatment centers focus on that particular addiction. RESOURCES: Amandadecadenet.com Amanda de Cadenet LinkedIn Amanda de Cadenet Instagram Tiffany Shlain - Instagram Tiffany Shlain - Facebook 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week - Book ABOUT THIS PODCAST: The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet is a groundbreaking series of weekly interviews featuring candid conversations with impactful thought leaders. Host Amanda de Cadenet provides a platform for raw and honest discussions on a wide variety of topics, from porn to politics. Visit amandadecadenet.com to learn more and sign up for her newsletter. Follow Amanda on Instagram @amandadecadenet. QUOTES: “The concept of one day a week is profound. Many people have read it from different backgrounds, and it's like yoga and meditation. These ancient ideas were brought to the west and popularized, and people now understand yoga and medication make your life better.” - Tiffany Shlain “The best thing I've ever done as a parent is ‘technology Shabbat' because the boundary is clear. The idea of Shabbat is a temple in time; we are talking about time and attention. For one day, your home is sacred. The outside world can't get in.” - Tiffany ShlainSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome back to another episode of “The Direct Dish”! I am so excited to wrap up this series on 100 lessons from 100 episodes. In case you missed it, in episodes 100 and 101 I shared the first 66 lessons I've learned over the past few years of being a podcaster. And today I'm sharing the final 34 lessons – all things I've learned as a mother and entrepreneur, or nuggets of wisdom that have been taught to me by guests I've had on the podcast. I hope you take away something today that inspires and encourages you in your business, motherhood, and beyond! And I cannot wait for the next 100 episodes as we uncover all the truths to running a business and raising a family with joy! In this episode you'll hear: ⏲️ My “Take 20” approach to time management
Michael Jacobus has been working with teens for over 35 years as a summer camp director. In 2018 he founded Reset Summer Camp to address the needs of kids who found themselves escaping into digital media and gaming in order to avoid the real-world. His program will expand into Canada this summer and has launched an App for teens and their families to help keep them on track, year-round. Key Takeaways What are signs to look out for when we feel our teen may be to-tuned-into digital media? Disengaging from family activities, if they'd rather eat in their room instead of showing up for meals, if their sleep pattern has them up late at night, if their grades are starting to drop. Parents can take a healthy approach to digital media by not denying their teen the right to play a game when they are focused on having a healthy balance of life, family, sleep, studies, outdoor activity, and interests beyond digital media. It used to be that when parents were young and played games as kids, the game would be over. Games don't end now so there's a bottomless spiral to turning them off. Teens lose their interpersonal skills and face to face ability to interact when they become to involved with digital media. Parents can opt to take all digital media out of their teen's bedroom so when it's time for bed, there are no distractions. Buy an alarm clock so they will not wake up by a digital device that will hook them as soon as they wake up. Fear of missing out is real for teens. It can cause anxiety, emotional upset, and so much more, however when they find out later what they were worried about, it generally ends up being nothing. Attention span in the average teen is down to about 8 seconds, before they are looking for the next stimulus. Limiting their time on digital media will greatly improve that statistic. Parents can manage future digital over-dose in their teen by not letting them become a user until they can have a conversation and follow parental guidelines on what the boundaries are for use. If your teen is interacting with people they don't know, set up a zoom call for them to meet and be included in that meeting, along with a parent of theirs. Parents need to lead by example. Are they modeling good behavior when using technology or do they model different behaviors. Everyone in the household needs to adhere to the same rules. Parents can help their teens find balance away from digital media with practices such as mindfulness, yoga, meditation, physical activity: giving them time to be present in the moment. Sponsored by Lessons in Leadership: https://varsityleadership.com/ Resources Reset Summer Camp website The Life Skills App Email Michael Jacobus Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram
Christina chats with Kelly who shares her journey of being a pandemic stepmom, teens and parenting with a "performative" biomom. Do you feel like you live in a fishbowl? Is it weird to have never met the ex? With all the ups and downs, let's talk our greatest lifeline: Disengaging. Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radicalstepmoms/message
Huberman Lab Podcast Notes Key Takeaways Creativity is closer to magic than it is to science Strictly adhering to “how things are supposed to be done” undermines the creative process Understand how you feel in the face of other voices without second-guessing yourselfKnow how you feel, and own your feelings The most important part of the creative process is having the ability to stay present in the work The creative process: “I am doing me, and I am showing you who I am, and you can like it or not but either way, this is still how I see it.” The artist's superpower is to accept that he does not know anything Any external information that undermines the clarity of that connection is probably bad for the art The physical world is constrained by the laws of physics, but the imagination is unconstrained; the work sits somewhere between these two Rick has a sense of anxiety when he starts a new project because he knows that whatever is going to happen is completely out of his control “Our whole lives are reacting to things, making up a story of what we think may have happened without realizing that's what we're doing, and then living the rest of our lives as if that thing that we made up really happened. And we never know.” – Rick RubinChallenge your assumption that the way you work is the best way, simply because it is the way that you have done it before Do not get comfortable with thinking you know how it works just because you get the outcome that you want The world gives you creative clues all the time if you are paying attention; the universe is on the same team as creativity Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.orgMy guest is Rick Rubin, one of the most renowned music producers of all time, known for his work with a wide range of artists, including Run DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, JayZ, Adele, Johnny Cash, LL Cool J, Slayer, Neil Young, Kanye West, Tom Petty, and many more. He is also the author of a new book, "The Creative Act: A Way of Being," which explores the creative process and how to access creativity. We discuss topics such as finding inspiration, the role of feelings as guideposts, learning from observing nature, balancing self-doubt and anxiety, and adopting new perspectives to channel the creative process. Rick also shares his thoughts on using deadlines, eliminating distractions, and how our experiences and emotions influence the creative process. Additionally, we discuss his love for professional wrestling. Our conversation can be applied to any activity or profession to access creativity. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman WHOOP: https://join.whoop.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Rick Rubin (00:04:08) Maui Nui Venison, Thesis, WHOOP, Momentous (00:08:23) Creativity & Ideas, Cloud Analogy (00:12:26) Language & Creativity; Kids (00:17:36) Feelings & Creative Ideas (00:22:01) Rules, Choice & Art; Personal Taste & Other's Opinions (00:30:20) Changing Perspective & Creativity (00:33:55) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:35:04) Scientific Knowledge; Opinions & Art (00:41:27) Finishing Projects; The Source & Nature (00:47:40) Perception Filters, Contrast & Novelty (00:58:42) Music & Identity, Evolving Tastes (01:03:03) InsideTracker (01:04:14) Focus, Disengaging & Subconscious; Anxiety (01:13:22) Collaboration, Art & Rigorous Work (01:18:26) Process & “Cloud”; Perception & Storytelling (01:29:13) Limited Resolution, Considering the Inverse (01:35:38) Wrestling, Energy & Reality; Dopamine (01:49:43) Wrestling, Style & Performance (01:52:40) Resetting Energy & Nature; Nostalgia (02:01:56) Sleep, Waking Up & Sunlight, Capturing Ideas (02:08:16) Creative Work Phases; Structure & Deadlines (02:15:32) Self-Doubt & Performance (02:19:13) Predictability & Surprise, Authenticity (02:25:02) Past Experiences, Other's Opinions (02:29:42) Public Opinion & Science: Light, Acupuncture & Nutrition (02:39:44) “Look for Clues”, Belief Effects (02:46:25) Attention, Emotion & Art (02:48:07) Mantra Meditation, Awareness Meditation (02:57:33) Rick Rubin Questions, Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
My guest is Rick Rubin, one of the most renowned music producers of all time, known for his work with a wide range of artists, including Run DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, JayZ, Adele, Johnny Cash, LL Cool J, Slayer, Neil Young, Kanye West, Tom Petty, and many more. He is also the author of a new book, "The Creative Act: A Way of Being," which explores the creative process and how to access creativity. We discuss topics such as finding inspiration, the role of feelings as guideposts, learning from observing nature, balancing self-doubt and anxiety, and adopting new perspectives to channel the creative process. Rick also shares his thoughts on using deadlines, eliminating distractions, and how our experiences and emotions influence the creative process. Additionally, we discuss his love for professional wrestling. Our conversation can be applied to any activity or profession to access creativity. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman WHOOP: https://join.whoop.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Rick Rubin (00:04:08) Maui Nui Venison, Thesis, WHOOP, Momentous (00:08:23) Creativity & Ideas, Cloud Analogy (00:12:26) Language & Creativity; Kids (00:17:36) Feelings & Creative Ideas (00:22:01) Rules, Choice & Art; Personal Taste & Other's Opinions (00:30:20) Changing Perspective & Creativity (00:33:55) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:35:04) Scientific Knowledge; Opinions & Art (00:41:27) Finishing Projects; The Source & Nature (00:47:40) Perception Filters, Contrast & Novelty (00:58:42) Music & Identity, Evolving Tastes (01:03:03) InsideTracker (01:04:14) Focus, Disengaging & Subconscious; Anxiety (01:13:22) Collaboration, Art & Rigorous Work (01:18:26) Process & “Cloud”; Perception & Storytelling (01:29:13) Limited Resolution, Considering the Inverse (01:35:38) Wrestling, Energy & Reality; Dopamine (01:49:43) Wrestling, Style & Performance (01:52:40) Resetting Energy & Nature; Nostalgia (02:01:56) Sleep, Waking Up & Sunlight, Capturing Ideas (02:08:16) Creative Work Phases; Structure & Deadlines (02:15:32) Self-Doubt & Performance (02:19:13) Predictability & Surprise, Authenticity (02:25:02) Past Experiences, Other's Opinions (02:29:42) Public Opinion & Science: Light, Acupuncture & Nutrition (02:39:44) “Look for Clues”, Belief Effects (02:46:25) Attention, Emotion & Art (02:48:07) Mantra Meditation, Awareness Meditation (02:57:33) Rick Rubin Questions, Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Friday, December 2, 2022, we talk with former white supremacist Christian Picciolini about how to help people disengage from extremist movements.
Purusha Gordon - mum of two, aged 43 is no longer a stranger to wild challenges after a change of mindset 6 years ago transformed her life. Having battled with depression and weight gain after the arrival of her children, Purusha realised something had to change. Approaching her 40's in the worst shape and health she'd ever been in, Purusha's mission became to create a healthy lifestyle, to rebuild confidence and self belief, living life for each day. After completing 40 challenges in her 40th year, the love and passion for living life healthy and well opened up an opportunity to take on the challenge to build a team and row unsupported across the Pacific Ocean in 2021. Purusha believes it is never too late to make a positive change to your physical and mental health and with a bucket load of determination and hard work, 6 years later she has set a new World Record, rowing across the Pacific Ocean as part of the Ocean Sheroes team. Pulling together a challenge of this enormity in a global pandemic took a big dose resilience and positivity to overcome hurdle after hurdle. Purusha now spends her time speaking about her journey to health and works under the umbrella of The Health and Wellbeing Expert. Using her experience in this field Purusha is passionate about helping individuals and organisations create healthier, happier and more balanced lives. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. You can support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you. Show Notes Purusha, in her own words Purusha's journey to the Pacific Ocean Growing up as a sporty child Her fondness for water Having children in her mid-30s Smoking, drinking coffee, and weight gain What it's like to go on a five-day detox Experiencing postnatal depression Why did Purusha decide to go on a detox What she did to get back into fitness Losing weight and feeling better Signing up for Tough Mudder Completing 40 challenges in her 40th year Challenges in preparation for the Pacific race 18 months of preparation during the pandemic Finding a team to complete the race How the team came together during the global pandemic What motivates Purusha Feeling empowered and stronger Rowing the Pacific Ocean in 35 days, 14 hours and 32 minutes Everyone having a role to play on the boat Putting friendship at the top of priorities Living life in the present and in the moment Disengaging from technology and its beauty The magical moments she had while rowing the Pacific Ocean Some of Purusha's future plans and challenges Moving into the health and well-being space "It's never too late to do anything." The story behind her first name Final words of advice Social Media Website: www.thehealthandwellbeingexpert.com Instagram: @purusha.gordon Health & Wellbeing @thehealthandwellbeingexpert Twitter: @purushagordon In June 2021, Ocean Sheroes set off in The Great Pacific Rowing Race, a 2,700 mile row from San Francisco, California to Waikiki, Hawaii. Aiming to break the current female-four World Record of 50 days, 8 hours and 14 minutes, set in 2014, Bella Collins, Purusha Gordon, Lily Lower and Mary Sutherland set a NEW WORLD RECORD of 35 Days, 14 Hours and 32 Minutes Instagram: @oceansheroes
Are you a high-achiever? Do you suffer from perfectionism? If yes, this episode is for you my friend. In this part B convo with my life coach, Sage Miller, we deep dive into what it's like to be a high achiever and how we can start to slow the breaks on always being "Mr. or Mrs. Perfect." You'll leave this episode understanding the steps you can take to create balance, acceptance, and most importantly, sustainable momentum. Lastly, regardless of the systems and structures that trigger perfectionism, you'll learn how to subscribe to the things that protect your peace and champion your future-self. Syllabus Steps: Spend time with expanders - people who stretch your mind and serve your highest self.If you want to change anything start with the smallest possible step you can take in that direction (i.e. goal: a one hour unplugged outside walk per day - 'the smallest step:' 10 min per day). Build from here, build that belief in yourself.The power of language. Pay attention to the language you use and rely on (i.e. “go kill it, go crush it”! VS “go blow life into that!”)Reflect. What are you taking in and what are you subscribing to? Look at the type of information you're taking in; who is your community? What music are you listening to? What books are you reading? What are your friends doing/ not doing?Take Action. To change the world around you, you must reflect what you want to feel, attract, and become. What we're constantly taking in is what is manifesting and creating our reality.Superhuman: Sage Miller Instagram | Life Coach Application + For more information about Regardless, please head to @regardlessthepod and @skylasorkin! Please leave a review, like, and or subscribe!
She Thinks Big - Women Entrepreneurs Doing Good in the World
*Want one piece of business strategy delivered daily to your inbox?* Subscribe here: https://www.geraldinecarter.com/subscribe Today we're talking about disengaging and disengagement letters and the process of letting go of some, or many of your clients so that you can free up space and bandwidth in your business to focus on generating high-margin revenue. I want to share with you what this looks like, sounds like, and feels like, so that you have a sense of the experience, so that you know that this is doable for you. Not only is it doable for you: it is imperative if you are a CPA, especially when working 70, 60, 50 hours a week, and you're exhausted and worn out and want to keep being a CPA. Highlights: — “There's more revenue to be created when you focus at the top end of your client roster and figure out and design higher-value, higher-margin services that are designed to solve problems for your clients.” — “The risk of not appropriately disengaging so that you can get your time and your bandwidth back is that your best clients, who can't get your attention, leave.” — “Your position is your north star: it informs your strategy, packaging, pricing, and how you promote your business. Without a north star, a business owner wanders all over the map.” — “The strategy is universally the same: isolate who you want to work with, decide what problem you're going to solve, choose your prices and your packaging, and then focus on selling to only those people.” — “Disengaging is good for you. It's good for your business, and it's good for your clients.” Episode mentions: 211 Pricing For Improved Profitability https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/211 201 Effortless Value https://www.businessstrategyforcpas.com/201
In this episode Brook and Tony step into a deeper conversation about Disengagement and the fears that come up in the early stages for people as they contemplate what it means and the potential ramifications of exercising the disengagement strategies. If you are finding these podcast of value and would like to continue receiving this free content, commercial free please consider donating using the Donate button on your podcast page. Enjoy!!! Donate Here
Christina welcomes Lauren, a stepmom who knew from a young age she never wanted children. When she started dating her now husband, she was honest about what she wanted her stepmom role to look like. Lauren is a happily disengaged stepmom who shares how she supports her husband, how she decides when to step in, her relationship with her stepdaughter and her advice for those wanting to edit their role and expectations. Christina and Lauren also chat about how to find compassion for the ex when there is very little inspiration to do so, and when a "peace offering" leads to a therapy session. Listen in, it's a great one! Mentioned in this episode: Peace Offering Blog So much more than a podcast!!! @radicalstepmomspodcast Want to schedulea 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% ** --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radicalstepmoms/message
When working with young horses, you will often see their natural defensive, reactive tendencies come out when asking them to respond to pressure. Teaching a colt to respond to pressure instead of react to pressure is a critical step in the training process. On this episode, I'm sharing a few ways you can disengage the defensive nature of colts to enhance their understanding and confidence. Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast.
Cultivating H.E.R. Space: Uplifting Conversations for the Black Woman
Hey lady, did you know that burnout is classified as an occupational hazard and not a mental health condition? It was news to us too, which is why this week Dr. Dom and Terri sit down and break down the truth about burnout and why it can manifest in us all differently. Day-to-day life can pile up and once you add in work stressors it can feel as though you are in a pressure cooker. Tune in for tips on how to release some pressure and identify ways to prevent it. Signs of Burnout:1.Feeling depleted or exhausted2.Feeling distant, negative, or cynical about the job3.Experiencing reduced professional efficacy4.Acting out of normal character5.Disengaging from self-care routine6.Punishing self for feeling burnt outReasons for Burnout:1.Unfair treatment at work2.Unmanageable workload3.Lack of role clarity4.Lack of communication and support from management/leadership5.Unreasonable time pressure***The responsibility of reducing and eliminating burnout is on the employer, not the employee.***How to care for self before during and after burnout:1.Identify and focus on what's within your control2.Make time for what brings you joy3.REST!!!4.Always have something that you're looking forward to5.Stay connected to your support systemQuote of the Day:“All my life I've been sick and tired. Now I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.” -Fannie Lou Hamer Register here for the Vibrate Higher Empowerment Workshop!Wisdom Wednesdays with TerriCultivating H.E.R. Space SanctuaryResources:Dr. Dom's Therapy PracticeBranding with TerriMelanin and Mental HealthTherapy for Black Girls Psychology TodayTherapy for QPOCWhere to find us:Twitter: @HERspacepodcastInstagram: @herspacepodcastFacebook: @herspacepodcastWebsite: cultivatingherspace.com
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