Grieving A Person You Never Knew with Margaret
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Margaret is an author who lost a brother she never even knew. The news was a shock and she wanted to know all the details. But she didn’t get all the details right away, it has been years of talking to others and research that helped show how the stories we carry throughout our lives impact our everyday choices. Key Takeaways: [2:41] I didn’t know I had a sibling that died and I needed to know more [9:15] We didn’t talk about his death, but it came out in my town anyway [14:01] My dad spilled all the details on what happened before he died [17:13] I finally...
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Finding Happiness with Patrick
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Patrick is 20 years old and has written a book that is filled with so much wisdom. We got to chatting about the impact of phones on society, instant gratification, his process for writing his book, and his unique outlook on life. In this episode, Patrick talks about his journey to find happiness and what he’s learned along the way. Key Takeaways: [1:23] Patrick’s basketball career and switching universities [5:37] How I wrote my book [9:32] Being addicted to your phone and getting a flip phone [15:35] Expecting instant gratification because of phones [23:32]...
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Grieving for Two Decades with Matt
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Matt, the host of The Life Shift, came on to talk about losing his mom, perfectionism, learning new ways to grieve, and how having a podcast has been so validating. He goes through his journey of grief over a lifetime and how for so long he did what society expected of him. Now he has a different view on life and tries to share it every week. Key Takeaways: [1:20] Losing my mom at age 8 and no one around me talking about their grief [5:02] Being perfect out of fear and grieving the things you didn’t get to do [8:41] I didn’t have a safe place and lost all of the...
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Weight and Organ Donation With Gabby
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Gabby is the daughter of Tim who had a pig kidney put inside him, but he knows it’s only a temporary fix. So it sent Gabby on a journey to initially be a possible candidate to donate her kidney, but it became so much more. It has become a journey of health - and what that means to her. Key Takeaways: [1:51] Gabby traveled all over the country and took care of animals [4:33] Having a dad on dialysis needing a kidney but not being eligible due to BMI [9:39] Getting gastric bypass surgery, the pain, and the emotional hurdles [16:03] Finding out my partner has...
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Exit 20? On The Grief Highway
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Highway to Hell… waitttt a minute, sorry, wrong place, although it can feel like that sometimes. In this episode, I am once again brought back to making other people comfortable in my grief. I may be at exit twenty in grief on a really good day, but the others? Well, it can feel like the highway to hell. Key Takeaways: [0:46] Bereaved Parents Month and my mixed thoughts on it [3:01] The highway of grief, I’m at Exit God If I Know. [9:44] Making comments from our exit sounds terrible to others [12:30] I never get to have these memories with Molly again ...
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Waiting Years for a Diagnosis with Tammy
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Tammy went on a journey to find her diagnosis: Primary Hyperparathyroidism. Countless doctors, tests, misdiagnoses, and so many pills it made her head spin. After all the turmoil, she found her diagnosis, got treatment, and is living a great life today running again. Key Takeaways: [2:01] Finding out I have high blood pressure again and again [3:53] The beginning of taking medication after medication [9:48] Low potassium, terrible migraines, and horrid edema [12:40] Doing a mind/body program for high blood pressure [18:56] Being diagnosed with colitis and ovarian...
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Finding a New Relative with Eleanor
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Eleanor joins me again to discuss our new relative: how we found her and the mix of emotions surrounding it. Excited, nervous, and a lot of feelings over the memory of our brother Jeffery. Finding out our deceased brother had a child who will never get to know him is another twist in our lives. Key Takeaways: [4:45] A woman reached out asking if we were related [7:46] Feeling intimidated, excited, selfish, and seeing my assumptions debunked [9:26] Finding Jeffery’s child felt so important because he’s dead [10:48] Protecting the memory of Jeffrey and the...
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Choosing to Breastfeed with Kelsey
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Kelsey is the amazing woman who supplied me donor milk when Jack was young. This concept didn’t exist when I was younger and I’m so glad this option does now. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other moms, get advice, and have support to breastfeed and not use formula if that’s what you choose. Key Takeaways: [1:47] Nursing all my kids to older ages and using donor milk [11:55] I nurse in public and criticism I’ve received [15:11] Using donor milk and great groups that support breastfeeding [20:31] Just nursing one child now and the feelings that...
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Adjusting to my Changing Life
A Thousand Tiny Steps
As I give out MollyB awards and receive an award of my own, I reflect on what I’m doing in my life, how I’m working towards my goals, what my priorities are, and how I am adjusting to my life which is changing rapidly. Key Takeaways: [1:09] Life still carries on even if Molly is dead [3:04] The story of Fanny Minot the person who I received the award in honor of [8:36] Matt Bonner: a famous basketball player who also received the award [9:43] Adversity in life, finding someone to blame, and looking at yourself [11:52] Not fixating on the result...
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Being a Mortician with Jenn
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Jenn is a mortician who turned her life around. After dropping out of high school and working a low paying job that made caring for her children different she met her wonderful husband and got her GED. But when she got into her forties, she felt like she needed to do something for herself. So what did she do? Go to mortuary school, of course. Key Takeaways: [2:05] Dropping out of high school, but then changing my life in my forties [6:40] Getting diagnosed with ADHD and how that helped me succeed [9:15] How I got into mortuary school and what my classes are like...
info_outlineThis week, I sat down with my friend Jenn, a teacher who has helped create a thrift store and a period program for students. The Red Dot Program helps people have access to all types of period products and clothing without having to go to the nurse or make a big announcement.
Key Takeaways:
[2:56] What the Red Dot Program is and Jenn’s first period
[7:22] Periods are not taken as seriously as other health issues
[8:54] What products are in the lockers as well as clothing
[13:06] The pushback the program has experienced and giving education
[21:05] Jenn’s support and struggles with a period at a young age
[25:26] Period underwear is too expensive
[27:23] Homeless students dealing with their period
[29:00] How to give items and donate
[32:27] How the programs been perceived
Resources:
Connect with Barb: