Full Transcript for When Life Changes Your Voice | Denise Cesare

00:05:06.319 You know? 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:07.600 Give me my flowers. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:10.160 Uh and if you see me there, come say hi. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:10.720 You know? 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:12.480 Give me a high five. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:17.759 Don't make me do that thing where I pretend to check my phone because I don't know who to talk to. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.240 Which I probably will be doing when you see me there. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:22.639 Or I'll be working because I am supposed to be covering the event. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:23.839 Either way, I'll be there. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:30.240 Come over, say hi, and then uh be surrounded by some awesome creative people and learn some awesome, awesome things. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:30.800 Okay. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:31.360 All right. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:31.839 Okay. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:37.759 Now, before we get to today's guest, we've got a little good to put out into the world. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:39.680 You know what time it is. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:45.199 It is time for the feel good new segment. 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:13.360 All right, let's hit that dopamine button for a moment with this week's Feel Good News segment, where we take a break from the chaos and remember that there are still a lot of good people and good things happening in this world. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:18.399 All right, kicking it off at number eight, a butterfly paradise gets protected. 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:28.879 Uh, Mizambique has established a conservation area covering roughly 23,000 acres around Mount Nabu, known as butterfly forest. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:36.560 This extraordinary landscape and neighboring Mount Namu support more than 200 butterfly species. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:39.600 Local communities will help care for the protected area. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.720 That's a whole lot of wings getting a fighting chance. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:46.480 Number seven, a promising second life for plastic. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:47.120 Hmm. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:58.560 Researchers in Switzerland have developed a way to break acrylic glass, you know, like plexiglass, back into its original ingredients, recovering up to 98% in experiments. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:05.360 Those ingredients can make fresh material of the same quality using substantially lower temperatures than older methods. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:07.600 Next comes scaling it up. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:12.639 Your old plastic barrier could have a much brighter future than a landfill. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:15.519 Number six, an island is making a comeback. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:24.959 On Samoa's Naute Island, removing invasive rats and feral pigs is giving native wildlife room to recover. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:35.199 Researchers are finding new seedlings competing, I'm sorry, carpeting the forest floor, and birds nesting in places while their eggs were previously vulnerable. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:37.279 Local

communities help make it happen. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:41.439 Give nature a little breathing room, but apparently she gets straight to work. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:47.600 Number five, he found$128,000 and then returned every dollar. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:56.639 A barber in Louisville, Texas found a bag sitting on top of an ATM containing$128,514. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:01.920 He called police and handed it over with every dollar accounted for. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:06.079 The money belonged to the bank and had accidentally been left behind. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:16.800 He even asked that any ceremony honoring him stay private, quiet integrity, or, you know, he just doesn't want to be seen and known by anybody. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.959 Either way, I mean that is wild. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:22.560 Number four, one very good dog finally comes home. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:26.879 You know, I have to have a dog article in every single one because they're the best. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:33.919 Luna, a 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, survived more than a month lost in Yellowstone National Park. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:42.080 Volunteers kept searching until a trap containing f familiar scents from her family's clothing and bedding finally helped bring her in. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.919 She was thinner but otherwise healthy and reunited with her people. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:47.600 That's insane. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.159 I mean, they essentially made that movie years ago. 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:03.919 All right, number three, strangers rally around a dream nearly 40 years in the making. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:13.519 Dale, an 86-year-old in Texas, has been building a 62-foot boat in his yard since 1987, dreaming of sailing it to Alaska. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:18.480 When three visitors learned he could no longer finish it alone, they launched a fundraiser. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:25.679 More than 1,500 donors contributed over$41,000 towards finishing and moving it. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:29.440 The boat isn't afloat yet, but I mean that's pretty cool. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.679 His dream has essentially a crew. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.360 Number two, a school prank with a beautiful payoff. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.240 Georgia principal Bobby Davis rushed into the cafeteria expecting a fight. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:42.799 Instead, students erupted into birthday cheers. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:51.919 The surprise was organized by a teenager who credits Davis with helping him work through anger and discover interest in poetry, music, and mechanics. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.559 The student had called himself a bad kid. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.080 Called himself that. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:56.879 Wow. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.080 His principal kept seeing someone worth believing in. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.200 This time the kid made sure he felt appreciated. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:08.240 And number one, she saved his life, and now

they're married. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:14.320 After lightning struck beside Nick and Ava during a Wisconsin hike, Nick stopped breathing. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:22.799 Ava, who had also been shocked, called for help and performed CPR, reviving him twice before rescuers reached them 50 minutes later. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:23.679 Boy howdy. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:30.159 After leaving the hospital, Nick proposed they married this August, choosing to give the month a happier meeting. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:34.000 They survived something terrifying and got the chance to build a life together. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.879 I mean, that's that's a hell of a bright side, right? 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:37.440 That's love. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:39.519 It's a Disney movie, and that's love. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:45.440 And that is your feel good news segment of the week. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:51.840 All right, let's turn our attention to this absolute fabulous interview I have lined up for you. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:53.360 All right, brightsiders. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:58.240 Today's guest is someone who left me feeling a little better about the world, honestly. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.200 Denise spent years helping others communicate. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:06.960 And when she lost her own voice, she had to find her way through a life she hadn't really planned for. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:16.320 What came out of that is a perspective on love, perseverance, and the little moments we are so often rushed past that I'm excited to share with you. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:19.600 She's also just flat out a delight to talk to. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:23.679 So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Denise. 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:37.679 Today's guest has dedicated her life to helping others slow down, reconnect with what really matters, and lead with love. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:44.559 Through her work as an educator, speaker, and author, she's impacted countless lives. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:48.159 But as you'll hear today, those lessons didn't come from a textbook. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:54.879 They were shaped by her own experiences of adversity, of healing, and finding purpose on the other side. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:58.879 Denise, it's an honor to have you on Braving the Bright Side. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:11:59.840 Welcome to the show. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:00.879 How are you? 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.279 I'm great, Daniel. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:10.159 Thank you for having me on the Braving the Bright Side because we're going to have so much great information and a conversation that's really important. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:11.679 I absolutely agree. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:13.919 I am super excited to have you here. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:18.639 Um you are just a delightful human being. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:22.240 In the conversation we had about a month ago when we set all this up. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.960 Um, you know, it's just you're a lot of fun to talk to. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:34.320 You've got a great spirit, and I'm excited for my audience to kind of feel that through uh the airwaves. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:38.399 People still call them airwaves on podcasts, and you know, the digital airwaves, if you will. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.200 You know? 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.320 I'm with you. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.679 You're the young and you tell you, you're the young one. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:44.399 I'll take that. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.360 That's great for my email. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.000 Appreciate it. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:51.519 We'll say energy feels about that. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.200 Hopefully they feel it through, they will feel it through the energy waves. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:58.879 Um well, let's just get into it then, shall we? 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:06.720 Your work centers around love, uh, mindfulness, and uh emotional wellness. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:10.639 Was that always who you were, or did life kind of teach these lessons the hard way? 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.159 Like who were you growing up? 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:16.879 Let's talk about Denise as a kid and growing up um and where you are. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:22.960 Yeah, so you know, you you you try to re-recall your childhood, right? 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:28.080 And I do that a lot because that's that's where your healing could come from as well. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:57.440 So as a child, I was fortunate enough to be in with parents that uh my father was very imaginative, he loved Disney, so I have that love of Disney, but healing for myself did start then too, because things weren't, even though on the on like living on a bright side, it looked beautiful, but there's different things in life that have been, you know, you could be bullied in school, you could have different things that even though there's a bright side, these things can be happening underneath the surface. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:03.840 So my childhood was on the surface, wonderful, beautiful, happy family. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.799 And then things, you know, occur and change in life. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.919 You know, parents pass away. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.000 My father died when I was 22. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:16.320 Um, so you know, and then that happens and that's life altering. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.679 So my childhood was a good childhood, you know, on the on the surface. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:27.360 Then we'll fast forward to, you know, thinking about what I wanted to be in life. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:29.200 And and things change all the time. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:35.679 One thing I want to say about life, we have to have the courage to change. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.200 It's all right to change. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:40.399 You know, so if something's not working, that's okay. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.159 Don't don't don't beat yourself up. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.720

So, you know, I went to work right after high school. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:49.279 I didn't think I never thought in my wildest dreams I'd be an educator first. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:56.559 Um, had all these other different dreams, but then I just went straight to work because you know, that's the what I did. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:00.720 But as time moved, I became a speech language pathologist. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.679 I worked very hard. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:08.720 I left that job, but I started as a young person, then I went into education, went to a lot of schooling. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:13.679 I have two master's degrees of a speech language pathologist for over 25 years. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:21.519 And I I think where the healing comes from is some of the the events that occurred on that journey. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.639 So it's incredible. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.559 What is a speech pathologist anyway? 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.840 What is when you specialize in that? 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.559 What does that entail? 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:27.919 Yes. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:34.080 So speech language pathologists, people forget that they hear the speech and they think, oh, how I say sounds. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.559 Yes, that is definitely part of it. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:43.279 But there's also the brain language component that even will talk about me because I do have a voice disorder. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.360 We'll talk about that in a minute. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:55.759 Um, your brain, how you process information, auditory processing, all of these things that come into play with language development. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:16:03.360 So it's speech, yes, it's art tech and fluency, but it's also, you know, respiration, breathing, swallowing. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.240 It's science. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:07.279 Uh, you know, it's like a doctor of speech or language. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:07.679 Wow. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.080 Okay. 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.080 Yeah, that's I mean, I think that's fascinating. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.360 You remember we talked about that briefly when I first met you. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:14.799 Excuse me. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.919 And uh that's the same thing. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.080 I just thought I was like, okay, it's just how I pronounce words. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:21.360 I'm from New Jersey, so I pronounce them weird and wrong, but that's fine. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:25.519 Um weird and wrong. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.440 We all have an accent to me. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.799 I'm from New York, right? 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:31.120 I guess like I'm from different places. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.639 And then with the voice situation, it's another whole level. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:38.480 But think about this an accent is who you are. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:41.840 It's a find you, which never changed our core. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.240

You know, I want to have it, but it's a hear that. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.360 We are who we are. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.600 You know, I go on podcasts all the time. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:54.879 There's times when I, if I was on TV, because there was one time that I was on TV, I kind of made myself a little bit more a TV ready. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:59.679 But other than that, I will never change who I am because I lost my voice. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:03.600 So an accent, as long as you could be heard, who cares? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.400 Who cares? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:06.799 So you want to know about so the accent. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.680 Right. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:12.400 2006, May 6th. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.440 Like, you know, some things in Greg in you forever. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:18.240 May 6th, 2006. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.720 Um myself, my husband, and my son at the time was six. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:47.119 We we were in the car going somewhere, but prior to that, we were just taking the ride, and all of a sudden the car just lost control, and we just, you know, we had an accident, but luckily no one was really injured, like severely or fatally injured, or um, but I I was injured, but no one really realized because the seatbelt was on my neck. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:56.400 And it kind of they they can't they can't prove that what I have was caused by that, but stress was trauma could bring it on. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:05.119 So my condition, spasmodic dysphonia, is a condition where you have spasms of your vocal folds or vocal cords. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.160 And right now I'm in a phase where I need the injection. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:10.319 So it's kind of you can hear that. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.880 There was a time when you couldn't even understand me. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:19.119 So at least you could understand my words right now, but there was it's like a strangled, choked sounding voice. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:21.599 So right now I need the injection soon. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:26.079 So it could be a little bit harder for me to push the sounds out. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.519 So that's what you're hearing right now. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:29.680 Because we're speaking from respiration. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.359 So that was something, that's where it all started. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:36.079 So but I didn't have a voice for five years. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.400 Yeah. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.599 No voice. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:40.319 Because I didn't go for the injection right away. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:43.039 Because remember, I'm a speech pathologist. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:49.119 I knew too much, you know, knowledge is power, but also knowledge should make decisions. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:49.839 Yeah. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:54.559 I mean, what a what a crazy story. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:19:01.839 I mean, for to be a speech pathologist and then be in an accident where

you're unable to talk for five years. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.720 Um how how difficult was that season of your life of five years? 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.359 Was it? 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.559 You know, I'd imagine. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:15.039 So, so imagine, okay, so I have a six-year-old, which he was the only one who could understand me. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:19.440 Uh interestingly enough, that that's another whole segment, right? 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:26.160 That's another whole that's another whole scientific discovery why he would understand me more than anyone else. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:30.240 Um, five years without the voice, I was working. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.359 I was working as a speech pathologist. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:38.000 I had to come with uh the realization that I had a disability. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:41.359 You know, I didn't I didn't think that right away, right? 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:49.039 Because you just keep going, you know, you don't look at yourself in in the in the scope of what I had. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.559 So I I have a disability. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.839 So, but with having a disability comes rights, right? 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:57.119 And no, with no one knows that you have rights when you have a disability. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:06.400 And if someone try tries to um attack you for being having a disability, you are even fight. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:09.119 So I I think my fighting spirit was always there. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.319 I was always a fighter. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.920 I was always trying, and not a fighter, I should use a different word. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:21.279 I was always someone the right, you know, what's right, you know, not fighting, just doing the right thing. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:23.279 So anyway, so what's my voice? 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.480 No voice for five years. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.200 It was very dark. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:30.799 Yeah, I mean, someone's voice, I mean your voice is uh for all of us, it's attached to our identity. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:38.400 So um, I feel like that experience had to teach you about finding your identity besides just your voice. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:39.759 Yes. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:46.880 So what what it did do was um there's two two things, twofold things that happened during that time. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:57.119 Um, like I said, the the fight of my life to keep my profession, to keep it going, not listening to people thinking that I shouldn't do what I was doing. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.319 That was hard. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:08.559 Um having a six-year-old, that was that wasn't so hard, but you know, feeling embarrassed that he would see his mother can't talk, things like that would be um heavy. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:13.039 But the what happened was the darkness, right? 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:16.960 Because we all that's what we want to talk about today, because we have to

look at brain on the bright side. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.880 But darkness does come. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:27.680 And we have to be able to figure out how we're gonna get through it moment by moment, minute by minute. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:39.200 And you know, um, I was a speech pathologist, and then I became more connected to my students than ever, because they had a disab they have disabilities, and now I do too. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:50.480 So I think it opens up my eyes to them in a different way that was so beautiful that kind of then had this inspiration for me to keep moving. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.240 They motivated me to keep moving. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:58.640 My son motivated me to not give up, you know, in my mind in my mind, but I'm gonna get to a bigger point of that. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.759 But I didn't realize. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:06.079 That it was really me pushing through, not anybody else getting me through those hard times. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:12.079 So yeah, um, I had a lot of fighting going on, a lot of trying to just deal with myself. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:15.519 Simple thing, like going through a drive-through. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:20.240 It may sound simple, but it was so devastating. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:25.200 I would have to not I couldn't scream, so I'd have to go up to the window and either write it down. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:28.960 I remember back then there were no texting, no cell phones really. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.559 And it was just happening. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:39.359 So now, now someone, not that it's easy to have this condition, but I my life is easier now because of technology as well. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:44.079 I don't always have to try to stretch my voice when I'm in this phase. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:49.119 But I am fortunate that I do go for injections every four months. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:52.319 That's how I preserve to be able to be heard. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.920 Uh what a journey. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.319 Yeah. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:01.920 So where did during that time, during this stretch, you know, where did you where did hope come from? 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:10.480 Okay, so like I said, hope or all hope came from within me. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:18.079 Because there's one instance that I talk about is that I would have to like find a tool. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:25.920 Like so how how I came on this journey of being a mindfulness um coach or a self, you know, a discovery. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:30.400 I would wake up every morning because I had to go to work and it was not easy. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:35.759 If my job was easy, me giving it to my students was wonderful. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:39.519 People thinking that I shouldn't be doing it was not wonderful. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:45.680 So I would wake up every morning and I'd sit on the edge of my bed and I'd smile at myself. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.720 And I'd take a breath and

I'd say, okay, you could do this. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:58.240 And I'd get up, I'd smile at my son, I'd smile all day long, I'd I'd do my job, I'd come home, but at night I would cry. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.160 Yeah. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:05.119 But I mean, during the day you were the source of light for yourself, pushing through. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.559 Um pushing through. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.599 And there's like, you know. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.759 But then I have a cry. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:16.880 Um not cry, cry for a crying is good because crying is a way that you eliminate the stress. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:18.480 You have to get rid of the stress. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:21.119 So I would cry to get rid of it. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:24.240 But my source of light was smiling. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.680 I had to smile. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:30.319 It actually is there's a scientific um thing behind that. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:37.440 Smiling creates pathways, dopamine that were too in your brain that actually make you happier when you smile. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:41.759 So I didn't know I was on to something when I was just smiling at myself. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:46.720 It was like desperation, but you know, things got uh discovered in desperation. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.920 Incredibly true. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.920 And you know, you were doing the right thing, honestly. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:53.359 Obviously, you didn't know it, but you were pushing forward in the right way. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:56.720 Um I think smiling is very underrated. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:58.319 Unless somebody tells you to smile. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:58.640 Exactly. 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:00.480 You should smile more, then that's probably well. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.920 That's a whole tipper conversation. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.359 Exactly. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.160 Exactly. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:10.000 Um well, and this kind of ties into I mean, we're gonna get into the books that you've you've written. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:24.400 Um, is healing something that suddenly happens, you know, for yourself when you decided to really start kind of building towards getting your voice back and or you know, kind of finding your path towards coaching and and you know, your passion again. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:28.240 Is that something that happens one day that you woke up and you're like, you know what, what if I do this? 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:33.519 Or do you feel like it was kind of made up of a hundreds of tiny moments that kind of built towards it? 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:41.680 It's a hundred tiny moments that create your your path, create your your your journey. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:47.680 All all those little glimmers bring you to the place that you're at and they keep changing too, right? 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.920 Everything is all ever changing. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:52.160 Nothing really stays the same.

00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:54.079 We only have one moment, right? 00:25:54.240 --> 00:26:04.400 So moment by moment, all of my from when I was a child until today, all of those mini moments made me who I am. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.599 Love that. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.480 Yeah. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:11.039 And that's why it's so important to be in the moment, no matter what, you know? 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.240 To be present. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:23.039 Is there a particular particular moment for you where you realized that you were gonna be coming somebody different because of this this journey, because of everything you've been through? 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:27.759 Was there a moment you were like, oh, okay, all right, this is what I need to do now? 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:33.920 Well, you know, well, we're gonna talk about the books, but you know, as an educator, I love books, right? 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:37.039 I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be an author. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.920 Never. 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:41.200 Because, you know, you have so many other things you're doing. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:44.000 You're just studying, you you're doing what you're doing. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:51.920 Becoming an author was like on the side over here where I I don't even think I tapped into it, except for when my son was gone. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:55.359 Um, that that's another that we'll talk about that too. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:27:02.799 But the journey, the journey of being an educated, was that I didn't know that I was even going into that field either. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:06.319 And ironically, becoming a speech language pathologist, right? 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:13.839 And ironically, that was that was that was I think that that would some of these things are already in the stars. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.480 I don't know. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:26.319 I I can't I can't say for sure, but they're already predetermined because who would think as a speech pathologist, losing their voice is here now to help people on a journey of finding the light. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:30.079 Did losing your voice ever help you hear something you couldn't hear before? 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:33.200 It made me see things differently. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:45.680 It made me more creative, it made me um appreciate that we do have if you lose a certain sense, it does create a um, what's the word? 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:48.799 It creates other senses to enhance. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:52.480 But that, you know, that loss of that is like almost like a death. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:55.440 Losing your voice is like, especially if you had it, right? 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:58.720 When I lost my voice to that, I'm not gonna give my age away. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.680 But I was younger. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:05.119 Um not that age is okay to say your age, we're here, we're on this planet. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:09.200 But in my 40s, right, I'm losing my voice. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.200 But I had my voice for 40 years. 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:18.480 It's not like I was born, you know, we're gonna say people who are born deaf or people who were born born blind, they don't know the difference. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:23.119 Not that that makes it better or worse, but this was like taken away. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.000 Right, right, right. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.720 I see what you're saying. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.680 I had my voice. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.440 You had your voice for 40 years. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.480 You knew what that sounded like. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:33.759 Yeah, and then to not be able to express myself and you see how I am. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:38.000 But you know, it's funny, even without the voice, you couldn't stop me. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:42.880 I wasn't giving up, even though I had to push it, whatever I had to do. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:46.480 If you couldn't listen to me, oh while I was still trying to talk. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.440 Yeah, you know what? 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:50.480 I just knowing you briefly for a little while now, I could see that. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.279 I could see that. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.799 You're forced to be reckoned with. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.720 Thank you. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.359 That's true. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.160 I mean that's true. 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.519 In a good way, in a good way. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.799 In the best way, believe me. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.240 Um, all right. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:05.759 Well, let's jump into your books. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:18.559 Um, you are kind enough to send me, and I'm gonna make sure I uh link everything in the episode description, but Moments in Motion with Love by Denise Caesar. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:22.240 Um it feels less like a story. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:26.319 I've read it a couple times now, and I read it to um my niece as well. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:31.440 Feels less like a story and more like an invitation to slow down, which I really, really like. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:36.799 Um, you know, what inspired you to write it besides your own journey? 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:39.920 Because I know you wrote this during COVID, or right? 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.640 It was around then. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.440 Exactly. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:43.680 It happened during COVID, yeah. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:52.480 So you know that COVID in New York, everything locked down, you know, as the educators, even for speech pathologists. 00:29:52.640 --> 00:30:06.400 We were home virtually online with the students, and you know, every student, college, any elementary, high school, college, everyone was um was put in a lockdown. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:11.920 And that that was very, very, very um children and adults all had anxiety through the roof. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.480 Right. 00:30:12.720 -->

00:30:25.759 So much anxiety, and you know, being virtual and trying to do what they do in school and not being able to be social, and especially children that I worked with that are autistic, social is like the key to all learning for them. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:29.119 And without that component, they were just lost. 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:34.559 So when I was virtually online with them, I could see after so March, they put us all home. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.079 March, April by May. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:43.440 It's funny that May happens a lot of things for me, because May, May was when the car exit, but May is when I I drowned up the book. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:48.480 But looking at the students, I said, I have to do something for them. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:51.839 This is so odd, this is so life-altering. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.920 I have to find something to help them. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:58.880 So I went to sleep that night, May 2020. 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:00.480 And I just prayed. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.839 I said, please. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:06.720 And then whatever anybody believes in it, I said, please, God, I need to help them. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.400 And I woke up with the book. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:12.640 Now, people may not believe that, but if you talk to my husband, I woke him up out of his sleep. 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:16.799 And his name is Daniel, so by the way, I said, Oh my God, wake up. 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.160 I wrote a book. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.039 What? 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:22.559 Okay, so we're gonna be comical now because he's like, What are you talking about? 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:25.440 I said, Don't be silly, just listen to me. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:32.400 Now, what I want to say too, if you have ideas in your head, you need to have a pen by your bed, because I didn't. 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:35.519 So either I texted it into my phone. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:38.480 So I said, just listen to this. 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:41.119 So I read it to me, goes, read that again. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:43.119 And I read it and he's like, Wow. 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:49.200 Like, so out of a stupor asleep, you know, I woke him up and then second time he's like, Oh. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:57.200 So at that time, because of all the trauma that I had gone through, I had spoken to a publisher. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:00.319 And I was going to write a book for adults. 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:07.200 You know, I was that was my thing on healing for adults, because I thought that's how I would heal myself by writing this book. 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:10.079 But the minute this came out of me, I texted her. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:20.960 I think it was so that was five o'clock in the morning waking him up, and then seven o'clock texting her, and I said, I have to change that other thing because this has to happen now. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.960 And she called me, she goes, like, what? 00:32:23.279

--> 00:32:28.000 So that when I read it to her, she goes, Oh yes, this must happen now. 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.920 She's like, Oh yes. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:34.880 And then the last person solidified why I knew I should do it. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:37.440 My son Daniel, I have a son, Daniel. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:39.200 Surrounded by Daniels. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:41.839 I'm surrounded, and now I have a third Daniel. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.400 I'm so happy. 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.759 I love the power of three. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:54.000 Anyway, so what happened was um he, you know, we was Zoom, you know, thank God there's this things like that now, zooming, right? 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.920 Or not even zooming, FaceTime. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.680 I'm saying the wrong thing, FaceTime. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:03.759 And, you know, he was feeling, and you know, it was a weird day, and I said, Can I read something to you? 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:07.119 And I read the book, because it's kind of like poetry, too. 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:09.920 If you take it all the put together, it's like a poem. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:13.200 And he started crying. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:20.400 And, you know, I know that it taps into something more emotional because we all felt out of control. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:31.759 And in that moment, in that moment, he realized that we only had that moment, and that I get emotional because it was emotional, and I say that's that's why I wrote it. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:37.440 For all the people who were lost, not knowing what to do, we had to hold on to the moment. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.880 So that's how that book came to be. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:39.599 It's beautiful. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:45.839 There's more, there's more to the illustrations, there's more to all of the um how it came together. 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:51.680 But my uh my publisher will always say, she goes, I know I didn't have to edit one word. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:53.119 She didn't edit anything. 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:55.119 It was only us trying to. 00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:58.400 So, you know, some books like my notebook has illustrations. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:04.160 This book, I licensed watercolor soothing prints to match the words. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:11.119 So that was the only job matching to make it look cohesive and have it look, you know, like it belonged together. 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:12.480 And I we did a great job. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.920 You did a phenomenal job. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.960 I mean, it's it's amazing. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:21.599 And honestly, when I picked it up and started and opened it up, um, I got your beautiful message in the beginning. 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.480 So thank you for that. 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.679 And I was like, okay, cool. 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:25.119 It's a it's a it's a kid's book. 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:29.679 And then as you're reading it, you know,

you realize that this isn't just a kid's book. 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:33.360 This isn't designed just for to read to children or for children to read. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.599 This is for everybody out there. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.920 I think that the message is so important. 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:40.639 I mean, right down to the the back of the book. 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:43.840 You know, you are precious, you are light, you are loved. 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:53.119 Um, you know, these are such important words in here and such important messages, along with the gorgeous um water colors. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:53.760 My favorite. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:55.360 You have at the very back of the book. 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:59.119 My favorite is the um start each day with this poem, which I'm gonna read. 00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:01.119 Which I absolutely love. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.960 It's called Believe. 00:35:03.199 --> 00:35:10.800 I am loved, I am light, I am courage, I am bright, I am brave, I am so important in this moment. 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:14.159 Um mean just that's amazing. 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:20.400 It's absolutely amazing, and it's important to put that out there for people to hear, adults and children alike. 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:23.679 And you know, you know, thank you for reading it. 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:26.159 It makes me so happy to say, yes, I'm gonna read it. 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:31.199 Because in the book, I have the reader understand that I believe in you. 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:35.039 But if you don't believe in you, it's fruitless, right? 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:39.119 It's not you have to internalize the belief in yourself. 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:43.440 But there's all these, you know, the culture of the I am. 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:50.719 So I didn't really, that's really not what I was doing, the I am, but what I wanted them to take specific words from the book. 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:53.119 So it was from the book, the words, the I am. 00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:57.280 And almost infuse the book within you. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.239 Yeah. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.360 That's really what was about. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:01.039 Because I am is all over the place. 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:14.880 We know that a lot of it, and there's nothing wrong with that, but this particular believe poem was all of the message that I gave the reader and taking in and solidifying it into your heart, your mind, body, and spirit. 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:24.079 So that's really it was very thoughtful, very thought out, very, and I I can see from how you feel about it that it's it make what it's supposed to do. 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:25.199 Yeah, I love that. 00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:27.119 I love that's really interesting how you say that I am. 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.159 Like, there's nothing wrong with that. 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:31.440 Like when people are like, I am, I am this, yeah, you know, I am that. 00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:33.199 Wow, I'm strong, I'm brave. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:41.440 And what you're put in this book and way you've written it, it's meant to be, it's not you, the author, stating that about yourself. 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:45.840 It's you and telling the reader, this is what you should feel. 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:49.119 This is what you this is what you need to be to be strong. 00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:54.639 And this is I love that it's kind of a you passing on this power and strength as well. 00:36:54.800 --> 00:37:04.800 That I needed I needed it as to whoever you are, and I want um I want everyone to feel that because that's how you get through darkness. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:10.159 And Lord knows, I mean, we can use it more than ever for sure these days. 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:10.880 Exactly. 00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:13.199 Um these days, exactly. 00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:17.440 What were you hoping readers would I guess we already touched on that. 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:20.880 I was gonna say, what were you hoping that readers would take away from this book? 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:30.559 Yeah, well, we talked about the the belief of yourself, but also understanding that being mindful and being present is uh is work, right? 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:32.559 It's not it's not natural. 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:36.880 Let's call that like it is, even for myself, even though I wrote the book. 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:41.599 I have to use tools to be mindful at moments. 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:44.960 I may talk about it, but I have to practice. 00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:45.280 Yeah. 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:49.599 You know, so that's really a takeaway that using this book as a tool. 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:54.159 I wanted it to be a tool to say, okay, I'm feeling shaky today. 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:55.440 What what can I do? 00:37:55.599 --> 00:38:01.039 There's other things, of course, but reading this book, The Journey, right? 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:04.239 You know, there's a butterfly on your shoulder, feel it. 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:08.079 Some of us have never felt a butterfly on our shoulder. 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:13.039 But that imagination, that imagination can ground you. 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:18.000 So you are in that moment thinking, there's a butterfly on your shoulder, feel it. 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:22.639 So that that's the way it flows, like feeling the ocean is so powerful. 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:26.960 Some people in this world, we're fortunate, we have gone to the beach. 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:28.800 There's people who never went to the beach. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:36.559 So because we have the age of technology, close your eyes or put something on the screen and look at the beach. 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:42.480 You know, so you have to be creative in your own journey of healing. 00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:47.840 And like you just read that to me, and it made me know that we are all children. 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:50.800 It could be, it is

a children's book because we're all children, right? 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:58.400 Really, our inner child is always here and rallying for us, but we have to give it love. 00:38:58.639 --> 00:39:01.440 So that's giving our inner child love. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.639 Love that. 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.519 Yeah. 00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:13.360 Um, well, speaking of which, and I feel like, you know, the conversations I've been having on the podcast is uh the distracting nature of the world we live in now. 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:24.480 And and, you know, someone once said that no one's bored anymore, and you can tell because there's no there's no time to be bored because you always have this tiny computer in your pocket, or there's always something to distract yourself with. 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:28.400 Kids today are growing up in a world of constant stimulation. 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:36.639 Um, if every parent listening tonight could practice just one thing with their child, what would that be that you recommend? 00:39:37.760 --> 00:39:47.119 Well, uh first of all, I recommend putting the device down, of course, because you know, they they are at we oh uh Stuart's all stuff, we're at that shows, we're always looking. 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:55.280 But what I would say is sit with each other, um, take a moment of silence, feel your feet on the ground. 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:56.079 There's so many things. 00:39:56.159 --> 00:40:01.360 But what I would say to you just really have a conversation together, you know, people don't talk to each other anymore. 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:10.159 I would say, even if you read a simple book, and I'm saying my book is simple, simple doesn't mean not impactful. 00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:16.480 Simple where it's not time consuming, because like you just said people with the time constraints, right? 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:24.480 This is a simple way and any poem, take any poem you love and read it again, then just think about it. 00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:30.960 So Eckhart Toledo, I love him, he's all about you know mindfulness and being still. 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:34.159 Stillness he has a book called Stillness Speaks. 00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:36.960 Being still censors you. 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:41.920 So as parents and child, we we the parents need to be censored before the child. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:44.480 We need to bring them to censor. 00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:46.480 So I would say just take a moment. 00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:55.119 And I, if you're not reading a book, if you you're quick on time, read a poem or listen to a music, listen to a song together and just sit there. 00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:56.320 Yeah. 00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:57.679 I love that. 00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:58.960 So true. 00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:01.599 Again, just being in the moment with your kid. 00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:04.320 Yes, just be in the moment, whatever it may be. 00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:09.039 Because some I'm gonna say too, some children don't like reading, it's a part of school. 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:12.079 Oh my god, I gotta read again, I gotta listen to a book. 00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:14.159 Some kids are very aversive to books. 00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:15.519 So put on a song. 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:20.320 Because I always say songs are poetry put to music. 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:24.719 So read the lyrics after you listen to the song. 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:27.760 Kind of, you know, say to your child, what's your favorite song? 00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:29.119 Let's listen to it together. 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:30.639 Go into their world. 00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:30.880 Yeah. 00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:32.559 So this will be together. 00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:37.840 You know, given your your journey and your path, you know, resilience is a big thing. 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:41.039 It's which is great because that's what we, you know, we talk about on the show a lot. 00:41:41.199 --> 00:41:44.239 Resilience, an important part of it's an important human aspect that we have. 00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:49.920 You know, we often think resilience pushing through pain or pushing through the dark spots or pushing through whatever's in front of us. 00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:55.199 But sometimes uh I feel like resilience is learning also how to sit with that, you know. 00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:59.119 How do you define resilience today, especially for you? 00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:06.960 So resilience, like you just said, but resilience is seeing the light even when it's dark. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:12.800 It's when it's dark, it's dark, and you have to work on looking for the light. 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:16.320 So resilience is work to the light, I guess. 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:17.360 That's what I meant to say. 00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:18.960 Working towards the light. 00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:19.760 Yeah. 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:21.360 I love that. 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:24.000 Um that's great. 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:25.920 I might steal that from my podcast, you know? 00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:28.719 Okay, okay, you'd say Denise said I'm gonna steal it. 00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:30.000 Denise says I can steal it. 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:31.440 Yeah, I have it here. 00:42:31.599 --> 00:42:32.320 Everybody heard it. 00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:33.519 Yeah, I can steal it. 00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:40.079 Um what do you, you know, I guess this is a two-parter. 00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:45.920 What worries you most about the emotional world that children, today's children are growing up in? 00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:52.320 Um, but then also conversely, what also gives you hope about the world the children are growing up in? 00:42:53.199 --> 00:43:01.119 So we'll we'll start with the worry, because the worry is um love is the most important thing, right? 00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:07.199 The the love of yourself that that will propel you uh for further than we could even imagine. 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:16.639 Because even if you're

in a home where there's no love, if you're practicing how to love yourself, you can get through or get out of that pain. 00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:23.519 Um so this world, what what's um going on today is that there's not enough. 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:28.800 I really have to say, you know, well, taking time to really love each other. 00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:31.679 And that could be as simple as smiling at a stranger, right? 00:43:31.840 --> 00:43:38.159 So the world has become so jaded and just let's do getting angry at different things. 00:43:38.400 --> 00:43:40.719 Then we got to talk about it like politics. 00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:42.239 We're all one. 00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:46.000 And when people finally come back to that, so that's what our hope is. 00:43:46.159 --> 00:43:51.760 The hope is that we are all one and we are all of the same, you know. 00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:53.679 We're all human, you know. 00:43:53.840 --> 00:43:57.519 So give a little bit more to the humanist and be more human. 00:43:57.840 --> 00:43:59.599 So give be be. 00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:04.880 More human, but give more to the humanists and have a little bit more forgiveness for each other. 00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:06.639 But most importantly, love. 00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:07.679 Yeah. 00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:09.039 That's an important part. 00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:09.760 Love. 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:11.280 Love and empathy. 00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:12.239 Yes. 00:44:12.400 --> 00:44:13.039 And empathy. 00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:14.320 Yes. 00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:16.079 Yeah, that's great. 00:44:16.320 --> 00:44:18.079 And I 100% agree. 00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:24.880 Well, let's uh let's start talking about where everyone can find you, shall we? 00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:26.159 So yeah. 00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:27.920 So I I'm gonna jump in. 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:32.880 So you can find me, of course, on all these wonderful podcasts that I do, right? 00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:39.280 I I love these because it's a way of getting the message out that it's so needed in the world. 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:43.519 Um, you can go to my website, denisear.com, right? 00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:46.480 But that's where my books are, and that's different things. 00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:50.719 You can look on Instagram and see the things I'm doing, Denise Caesar. 00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:54.159 Um also I'm doing different events. 00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:56.000 I go to bookstores. 00:44:56.079 --> 00:45:00.239 Um, this weekend I'm gonna be in Hilton Head at a bookstore. 00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:02.400 Um, sharing my new book. 00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:09.519 Um, and then the following weekend, the book, I'm gonna be in a chocolate, chocolate shop where it's amazing. 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:10.559 Oh my goodness. 00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:12.800 Oh, so it's in Charleston. 00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.920 I'm going to Charleston. 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:16.800 It's um Starve's out of chocolate tier. 00:45:16.880 --> 00:45:26.000 Oh

my goodness, that chocolate he has is amazing, but they wanted me to come in because the book is so sweet and it just enhances the all of us. 00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:29.199 So because life is really sweet if we look at it that way. 00:45:29.519 --> 00:45:31.440 Let's talk about that book in the background, real quick. 00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:33.440 That you see that book right there. 00:45:33.840 --> 00:45:34.960 I love you more than chocolate. 00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:36.480 Now, is this out for the public? 00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:37.199 Yes. 00:45:37.360 --> 00:45:38.880 Well, it's on my website. 00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:42.559 Because why it's on my website, I'm gonna tell you why. 00:45:42.719 --> 00:45:43.280 It's so cute. 00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:45.599 See this, you gotta get that next. 00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:47.039 I gotta get this to you next. 00:45:47.199 --> 00:45:48.320 This feels like chocolate. 00:45:48.559 --> 00:46:03.519 Anyway, so on the reason this is only on my website is because I I kind of came to this conclusion that I want people just to go to my website at the moment because I want to write you a message. 00:46:03.679 --> 00:46:08.639 Oh that's I want because if you go to Amazon, what's gonna happen? 00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:12.320 I'm not saying anything about Amazon, they're wonderful, you need something tomorrow. 00:46:12.400 --> 00:46:13.599 Like right now, you get it. 00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:14.159 Good. 00:46:14.320 --> 00:46:16.400 But they're not gonna get my autograph, right? 00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:18.079 Yeah, you're not getting a personalized experience. 00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:20.159 And they're not gonna get a message. 00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:22.480 I want to touch one person at a time. 00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:29.280 So if I I if you why bought the book from me, well, I I knew you're more personal, so I go just personal nope. 00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:37.519 But even just for me to say something to you like you're so important in this moment, oh, life is sweet, savor, it's personal to you. 00:46:38.239 --> 00:46:41.599 So my website isn't that's where to go to get the book. 00:46:41.840 --> 00:46:44.559 So this new book is amazing. 00:46:44.719 --> 00:46:46.400 Do you want to know a little bit about that story? 00:46:46.639 --> 00:46:48.320 I need to know a little bit about that story. 00:46:48.559 --> 00:46:52.639 So remember, I said that teachers usually don't think that they're authors, right? 00:46:52.800 --> 00:46:54.960 But we're all authors, not a published author. 00:46:55.039 --> 00:46:58.239 We all write things, but being a published author is different. 00:46:58.400 --> 00:47:09.519 So, way back when, 26 years ago, when Daniel, my son, was born, I used to look at him and say, Oh, because I really love chocolate as a thing. 00:47:09.679 --> 00:47:13.519 So I used to look at him and say, Oh my goodness, I love you. 00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:14.960 I love you more than chocolate. 00:47:15.039 --> 00:47:16.239 It was just

the thing that came out of me. 00:47:16.320 --> 00:47:18.079 Now, did he remember that when he was an infant? 00:47:18.320 --> 00:47:19.039 Not really. 00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:22.079 He loves chocolate so much too now. 00:47:22.239 --> 00:47:28.559 But anyway, when I said that way back when I said, wow, that's a great title for a book. 00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:31.599 Hence, 26 years later, right? 00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:33.519 I didn't think I was writing this book. 00:47:33.679 --> 00:47:37.280 But since moments came out, I said, why not? 00:47:37.440 --> 00:47:40.000 But if you look at this, so you know I'm an educator. 00:47:40.239 --> 00:47:45.360 So each one represents the calendar: January, February, March, April, May. 00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:47.599 So it's all it's like a calendar-based. 00:47:47.760 --> 00:47:55.760 So you know, of course, my education brain is all over this book because it's all about memory, it's all about sequencing. 00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:57.840 I'll show you just one page. 00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:59.760 Let me I'll show you my favorite page. 00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:01.599 Well, these are the characters, I guess. 00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:02.639 Who are those two? 00:48:03.679 --> 00:48:05.599 That's Denise and Daniel, right? 00:48:05.760 --> 00:48:13.360 Uh but the funny thing, so I dedicated to my son, but all the chocolatiers and chocolate lovers around the world. 00:48:13.519 --> 00:48:14.880 Daniel, do you love chocolate? 00:48:15.199 --> 00:48:17.119 I do love chocolate, very much so. 00:48:17.440 --> 00:48:20.559 So it starts out where with the day he was born, you know. 00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:27.599 But that what I want to tell people about this book, though, it's your journey too, because it's not, I love you more than chocolate. 00:48:27.840 --> 00:48:29.519 I love you more than something. 00:48:29.840 --> 00:48:33.920 I love you so much that even the sweetest chocolate, I love you more than. 00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:35.840 So it's not about the chocolate. 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:39.519 It could be like I was on another podcast, she said, Matzatala. 00:48:39.840 --> 00:48:41.679 I said, Yeah, I love you more than what's that. 00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:42.639 Okay. 00:48:43.119 --> 00:48:47.360 So it doesn't have to be I love you more than the Philadelphia Phillies. 00:48:47.599 --> 00:48:48.559 Oh, okay, right. 00:48:48.719 --> 00:48:49.519 So there you go. 00:48:49.599 --> 00:48:50.719 Like, so that's big. 00:48:50.800 --> 00:48:53.360 If you say that to someone who knows you, that's pretty big for me, yeah. 00:48:53.519 --> 00:48:54.719 That's pretty big, right? 00:48:55.519 --> 00:48:59.199 So it's that I love you more than it's awesome. 00:49:00.239 --> 00:49:05.519 Yeah, so it's just special moments, you know, it's special, like a new baby. 00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:08.159 You know, I have one son, new baby. 00:49:09.119 --> 00:49:11.440 And you know, it's just a fun journey. 00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:11.760 Yeah. 00:49:11.920 --> 00:49:16.239 And there's like Tillis we have this Easter eggs in this book. 00:49:16.480 --> 00:49:21.760 So for him, like so Daniel could pick out certain things that no one else would know. 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:30.800 But what people can do is slip in their month, you know, what even in the back, I could show you there's like a chocolate calendar. 00:49:30.880 --> 00:49:32.559 Yesterday was World Chocolate Day. 00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:32.960 Okay. 00:49:33.280 --> 00:49:35.840 So yeah, it was World Chocolate Day yesterday. 00:49:36.719 --> 00:49:39.280 So this is really, really something special. 00:49:39.599 --> 00:49:40.400 That's so cool. 00:49:40.559 --> 00:49:44.239 Um, yeah, I mean, I really like that in the the moments in motion with love. 00:49:44.559 --> 00:49:47.760 There's almost there's a workbook in the back of it with a bunch of connectivity. 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:48.320 Oh, yes. 00:49:49.039 --> 00:49:50.400 You know I'm an educator, right? 00:49:50.880 --> 00:49:56.719 So also there's because when you read a book, anyone like the children, there's a glossary. 00:49:57.039 --> 00:50:01.840 You could be reading the word and go, really, you're telling me to believe, but what does that really mean? 00:50:02.079 --> 00:50:04.960 So that's where my language base comes in. 00:50:05.119 --> 00:50:07.920 There's coloring, there's writing notes to yourself. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:09.039 So it's a word book. 00:50:09.119 --> 00:50:10.960 It is so cool. 00:50:11.119 --> 00:50:15.039 It is, it's so it's just something, it's just something special. 00:50:15.280 --> 00:50:15.679 Um, yeah. 00:50:15.840 --> 00:50:17.039 So did you already talk about the website? 00:50:17.119 --> 00:50:19.119 Did you already say where people can find you? 00:50:19.519 --> 00:50:20.320 Did we say that? 00:50:20.480 --> 00:50:22.000 TanithCaesar.com. 00:50:22.239 --> 00:50:26.400 Um definitely go there to get the book because I want to write you a personal message. 00:50:26.639 --> 00:50:30.159 We said that this book is something special. 00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:33.440 And um, yeah, I'm I'm in different places. 00:50:33.599 --> 00:50:43.440 And if we rewind back to moments, emotions with love, I have created something for schools and for organizations that is movement. 00:50:43.599 --> 00:50:49.760 So it's yoga motions with love, where every page of the book comes to life, where you have movement. 00:50:50.079 --> 00:50:56.320 So I always wanted to do something like that because sometimes people can get out of a chair. 00:50:56.400 --> 00:51:02.079 So I mean every movement where anyone could do it, where if it's for everyone, you know. 00:51:02.320 --> 00:51:05.760 So it's very um endearing and it takes you through every page. 00:51:05.840 --> 00:51:08.000 I'm in the I'm in the book, we're in the video. 00:51:08.079 --> 00:51:09.840 You see me doing the poses in the book. 00:51:09.920 --> 00:51:10.480 It's kind of funny. 00:51:10.719 -->

00:51:11.039 I love it. 00:51:11.199 --> 00:51:14.159 But each page comes alive with the movement, man. 00:51:14.239 --> 00:51:20.559 Um because people are people are afraid to do yoga, but it's not even about yoga, it's just moving of the body. 00:51:20.639 --> 00:51:24.159 Because that's another thing that helps you movement and things like that. 00:51:24.400 --> 00:51:24.719 Yeah. 00:51:24.960 --> 00:51:27.440 Holly, I absolutely agree with that for sure. 00:51:27.679 --> 00:51:29.760 Um, what's next for you? 00:51:29.840 --> 00:51:30.639 What's coming up next? 00:51:30.800 --> 00:51:32.239 Anything besides the book tour? 00:51:32.400 --> 00:51:33.280 When's your next book? 00:51:33.519 --> 00:51:34.000 What's next? 00:51:34.159 --> 00:51:35.679 So, yeah, I'm on that book tour. 00:51:35.760 --> 00:51:38.400 I'm doing, like I said, I'm gonna have things, different things going on. 00:51:38.480 --> 00:51:42.400 I'm also gonna be in Nashville at the book uh event in November. 00:51:43.119 --> 00:51:51.199 Um, other things is having this video solidified and being able to package it and get it into the world. 00:51:51.360 --> 00:51:53.360 Um, what else is on good stuff? 00:51:53.440 --> 00:51:58.159 We have something else in the works that's gonna tie this all together. 00:51:58.400 --> 00:52:09.920 Um, kind of like a dog you series of sorts that I don't think I could talk about it just yet, but it's bringing all these things together uh in a wonderful, beautiful way. 00:52:10.239 --> 00:52:11.599 Denise, that's so cool. 00:52:11.760 --> 00:52:12.800 Um, I'm excited. 00:52:12.880 --> 00:52:15.519 I appreciate the little teaser, even though you couldn't say anything much. 00:52:15.679 --> 00:52:18.480 I'm excited for for what's coming your way. 00:52:18.719 --> 00:52:27.119 Um yes, and Wade, you'll know, of course, uh we're doing this podcast, but you'll know everything I will share and share with you as soon as I can. 00:52:27.360 --> 00:52:28.000 Oh, please do. 00:52:28.079 --> 00:52:33.679 And I will make sure I'll share it on my podcast and also on my socials too, to get as much eyes on that as possible. 00:52:33.920 --> 00:52:40.800 No, but I want to be I want to appreciate you because you are doing good in the world. 00:52:41.039 --> 00:52:53.119 I appreciate doing it and keep believing in you, you know, because we things come to us when they're supposed to, and you're you're in this moment and keep doing that. 00:52:53.440 --> 00:53:00.480 And um would you uh I was I was on a heart gets when someone says, Would you appreciate appreciates? 00:53:01.440 --> 00:53:02.880 Yeah, it's so true. 00:53:03.920 --> 00:53:18.960 Yeah, so I want I want you to know that I appreciate you and I appreciate being here today, and more to come for you, and more to come for me doing great things in this world, braving the bright side because we have to be brave to find the bright side. 00:53:19.280 --> 00:53:27.360 I was just gonna say my one last question to you was gonna be in your own words, what does braving the bright side mean to you? 00:53:29.280 --> 00:53:36.159 So braving the bright side means having the courage to see when it's dark, but looking for the light. 00:53:36.320 --> 00:53:36.880 Oh wow. 00:53:37.039 --> 00:53:37.519 Yeah. 00:53:37.840 --> 00:53:38.639 Love that. 00:53:39.199 --> 00:53:41.119 It makes sense why you're don't spoil it. 00:53:41.280 --> 00:53:44.639 No, I don't care. 00:53:44.719 --> 00:53:45.920 It's fine, it's in the world. 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:46.159 Yeah. 00:53:46.400 --> 00:53:47.119 We hear it out. 00:53:47.280 --> 00:53:49.360 It was a bad uh Denise. 00:53:49.599 --> 00:53:54.639 Now listen, your your journey, I mean, your story's incredible, your spirit's incredible. 00:53:54.800 --> 00:53:56.880 Um, you know, right back at you. 00:53:56.960 --> 00:54:01.519 You're putting a lot of good out there in the world, you're putting a lot of love out there, you're you're slowing moments down. 00:54:01.599 --> 00:54:07.119 Um, you're teaching other people how to slow moments down and appreciate the the small moments and small things. 00:54:07.199 --> 00:54:10.960 And um, plus, you know, your adorable books. 00:54:11.119 --> 00:54:13.599 And um, you just you're doing amazing work out there. 00:54:13.679 --> 00:54:37.760 And one of the things that is the best about this podcast and what I'm what I'm trying to do, besides just kind of spread the light, is getting to meet incredible human beings like yourself and forming real friendships and connections with them, and then also just being enlightened and just you know, these are just awesome conversations to have to kind of refill my my human meter, if you will. 00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:40.320 Um, yes, which is important. 00:54:40.559 --> 00:54:44.559 So not only remember I said that the you being you human, right? 00:54:44.960 --> 00:54:48.079 Feeling about you, I love that feeling about human meter. 00:54:48.239 --> 00:54:51.519 Yeah, so it's overflowing after this conversation with you. 00:54:51.599 --> 00:54:52.719 I really do appreciate it. 00:54:52.880 --> 00:54:55.440 And keep me posted on all of your happenings. 00:54:55.679 --> 00:54:58.000 And who knows, maybe at some point we'll swing back around. 00:54:58.079 --> 00:55:01.840 Maybe I'll be able to swing up to New York and do an interview with you in person at some point. 00:55:02.639 --> 00:55:05.840 Maybe that would be awesome, even though I'm in South Carolina now. 00:55:06.000 --> 00:55:07.199 Oh, you're in South Carolina now. 00:55:07.280 --> 00:55:08.480 All right, well, I was way off. 00:55:08.639 --> 00:55:11.280 Um, you could have you could call me up. 00:55:12.159 --> 00:55:16.719 Actually, I'm gonna meet you maybe in Pennsylvania because that's what my son Daniel lives. 00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:17.599 Oh, that's right. 00:55:17.679 --> 00:55:19.199 Yeah, we're he lives close too, right? 00:55:19.360 --> 00:55:20.079 Plymouth meeting? 00:55:20.239 -->

00:55:21.119 He lives close, yeah. 00:55:21.760 --> 00:55:24.159 He lives Plymouth Meeting, and you live right over there. 00:55:24.400 --> 00:55:26.639 Yeah, I live like 15 minutes away in media. 00:55:26.800 --> 00:55:33.280 Um, everybody out there, I cannot recommend moments in motion with love and just interacting with Denise in general. 00:55:33.440 --> 00:55:34.880 Um, I highly recommend it. 00:55:34.960 --> 00:55:36.559 Please check out her website, please check her out. 00:55:36.719 --> 00:55:37.360 Talk to her. 00:55:37.440 --> 00:55:39.280 Um, she's an amazing human being. 00:55:39.519 --> 00:55:43.039 Um, Denise, thank you so much for spending this time with me on the bright side. 00:55:43.119 --> 00:55:44.559 I really do appreciate that. 00:55:44.719 --> 00:55:48.239 Um, and I hope you have a lovely rest of your day. 00:55:48.719 --> 00:55:51.039 Thank you so much, and I loved being here. 00:55:51.280 --> 00:55:51.679 Thank you. 00:55:51.840 --> 00:55:53.840 And I I could love you more than chocolate. 00:55:54.159 --> 00:55:55.280 Oh, I'll take it. 00:55:56.159 --> 00:55:57.119 That's a win. 00:56:08.480 --> 00:56:16.719 A huge thank you to Denise for joining me, for sharing her story so openly, and for bringing so much warmth to this conversation. 00:56:16.960 --> 00:56:18.239 I meant what I said. 00:56:18.559 --> 00:56:22.400 My human meter feels a little fuller after that interview. 00:56:23.119 --> 00:56:31.039 What stays with me is the image of her sitting on the edge of her bed, taking a breath, and finding a way to face the day. 00:56:31.840 --> 00:56:33.920 Then coming home and crying. 00:56:34.719 --> 00:56:37.280 Both those things were part of her getting through it. 00:56:37.920 --> 00:56:41.599 And I think that's something that we need to give ourselves permission to remember. 00:56:42.559 --> 00:56:45.440 You can have hope and still have a hard day. 00:56:46.079 --> 00:56:50.079 You can encourage somebody else and still need someone to lean on yourself. 00:56:51.119 --> 00:56:54.639 I also loved her reminder to step into someone else's world for a minute. 00:56:55.280 --> 00:56:59.280 Listen to their favorite song with them, ask a question and give them time to answer. 00:56:59.920 --> 00:57:05.039 Those things seem small, but feeling like somebody actually wants to understand you? 00:57:05.840 --> 00:57:07.360 Man, that matters. 00:57:07.920 --> 00:57:11.840 You'll find Denise's information and links to her books in the episode description. 00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:14.320 So please go show her some bright side love. 00:57:14.480 --> 00:57:22.480 You'll also find a link in the description where you can vote for her so she can get her very own sponsored podcast and IHeart Radio. 00:57:22.559 --> 00:57:25.840 So again, please go vote and go show her some love. 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:27.599 She absolutely deserves it. 00:57:27.920 --> 00:57:31.440 And that'll do it for another trip to the bright side. 00:57:31.679 --> 00:57:33.679 As always, thank you so much for listening. 00:57:33.840 --> 00:57:38.719 Thank you for sharing these conversations and thank you for being part of this growing community. 00:57:38.960 --> 00:57:45.920 If you enjoyed today's episode, please follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share it with somebody who might need to hear it. 00:57:46.159 --> 00:57:51.039 You never really know when the right story is going to find someone at exactly the right time. 00:57:51.519 --> 00:57:57.280 And if you want to become an official bright sider, head over to braving the bright side.org and sign up. 00:57:57.440 --> 00:57:58.480 It's completely free. 00:57:58.639 --> 00:58:10.079 You'll get access to behind the scenes content, pre-sale tickets to upcoming live events, a monthly newsletter written by yours truly, and plenty more as we continue building this thing together. 00:58:10.320 --> 00:58:18.880 And while you're there, you can catch up on the podcast, learn more about everything under the Braving the Brightside umbrella, or, you know, just drop me a line, say hello. 00:58:19.119 --> 00:58:22.960 And of course, come hang out with me on social media, because that's what we do now. 00:58:23.119 --> 00:58:30.719 You can find me on Instagram at Braving underscore the Brightside, and Braving the Brightside on both TikTok and the Facebook. 00:58:31.280 --> 00:58:37.840 Until next time, Brightsiders, keep showing up, keep looking for the light, keep finding your way forward. 00:58:38.159 --> 00:58:42.719 One step, one sunrise, one honest conversation at a time. 00:58:42.960 --> 00:58:44.480 I'll see you next time.