Issue #14  //  I Needed to Hear That 🙏

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.” 

- Brené Brown

From Melia: 

The kids were out of school on Monday for Fall Break, which meant I stayed home with them. Before we set off on our usual outings, there was a small group video call scheduled for my entrepreneur mastermind. This is a bunch of women from around the country who convene to learn from the talented Hilary Rushford and each other. It means a lot to me to be a part of it.

I knew that participating in the call with the kids around was risky, but I really wanted to be there. Spoiler alert: They busted into the room repeatedly throughout the hour, distracting me and likely the other women; and worse, while I was introducing myself, a random speeding motorcycle sound effect went off on my laptop, and I didn't know how to stop it (you can't make this stuff up).

I felt embarrassed to be what I felt was the weakest link in the group, the one who didn't have her sh*t together. Why was I even here? What did I possibly have to contribute? I could feel the beginnings of a shame and self-loathing spiral, which made me want to duck out of the call and crawl back in bed. But I decided to stay, continuing to show up in all of my imperfect glory, and wrote about it on Instagram later.

I used to worry that if I posted about my deepest fears and vulnerabilities, it would bring people down, and worse, they'd think less of me. But I've seen too much evidence to the contrary. When I'm completely honest and raw, people respond every time a variation on: "I needed to hear this today. Thank you." This is fuel for my soul, because helping other people frame and make meaning of their experiences is what I'm meant to do on this earth.

Elizabeth Gilbert writes about how being open with each other reveals our shared humanity: "I think that the more honest I am about my journey, the more connected I feel to everybody and their journeys. The more I reveal that seems really vulnerable and really private, the less private it becomes, because all I hear is a chorus of voices saying, 'me too, me too.'"

I'm grateful to be part of our human family alongside you, all of us beautifully imperfect and growing every day. ❤️

🎙 Latest Minisode: Change the Plan

When you work toward a goal, you can get so focused that you lose sight of why you're doing it or more effective ways of accomplishing it. In this minisode, we discuss how to Change the Plan (very meta since we changed our own plan for the podcast while planning!).

It helps to Practice the Pause, the tip from our last minisode, and think, “What if we did this another way – or not at all?” Those three words, “What if we…” open up a whole new range of possibilities than what you might have considered. We share examples of how Change the Plan has helped us overcome obstacles – and tips you can use in your life.

• Listen to the episode and read the show notes 

👉 Steal This Tip: Think like a chef and pivot.

If what you’d planned to do isn’t working, what new plan can you make on the fly? What alternative options do you have?

👋 ICYMI

Episode #14: How to Deal with Regrets & Should-Haves 🎙

We can spend a lot of time dwelling on regrets, those small and large “should-haves” that haunt us. But obsessing over mistakes and missteps can have a negative impact on our mood, sleep and behavior. We talk about our battles with should-haves and the 5-step process we're using to make peace with them.

Listen to the episode.

😄 Things We Text Each Other

via @girlsnightinclub

😍 Stuff We Love Right Now

On the Interwebs  🖥

From Melia:

• Aurora Borealis
  It’s a dream of mine to see the Northern Lights, which for me embody the breathtaking wonder of the natural world. A photographer in Finland recently captured this magic.

From Gill:

• The Good Course
  Notre Dame is offering an interdisciplinary course on my current favorite TV show, The Good Place, studying the intersection of comedy, art, morality and philosophy. I'm very jealous of the students who get to take it (they even get to meet the show's creator, Michael Schur!). The syllabus alone is hilarious, including gems like: "Pobody’s nerfect, but more than one unexcused absence will result in an Unsatisfactory grade and a devastating declaration that Ya basic." Can we audit?
  
  

In Our Ears  🎧

From Melia: 

• JVN’s New Memoir is Gorgeous, Honey
  I’m a big fan of Jonathan Van Ness, the effervescent stylist from Queer Eye. I read his New York Times profile with tears in my eyes; I couldn’t believe that someone who’s struggled with bullying, drug and sex addiction, and who lives with H.I.V. has emerged so full of love and hilarity. I’m loving the audiobook of his new memoir, Over The Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love, which is layered with heartbreaking experiences and laugh-out-loud funny descriptions. I love when people, especially those who have a platform, publicly embrace their complexity and range of emotions. As Gail Godwin wrote, "Nobody is just one person." And hearing JVN read the book is a damn delight.
  

On Our Plates   🍽 

From Gill: 

• Make-Ahead Baked Greek Omelet 
  Prep this the night before, and pop it in the oven for a no-fuss Sunday brunch. I made it for houseguests this past weekend, and it was a hit.

From Melia: 

• Banana Banana Bread
  It’s common in our house for bananas to turn brown before we get to them, and instead of throwing them out, I’ll peel and freeze them for smoothies or make banana bread. It’s easy to get the kids involved in the mashing and stirring. It does take an hour to bake, which feels even longer when Evan is asking every few minutes when it will be done. Toast a slice and spread with cream cheese for a fantastic breakfast.

If you like the Semi-Together podcast, why not share the pod with a friend who would enjoy it? You can also become a patron here.  

Until next time! 

Love,

Melia & Gill 😘😘

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