Midlife struggles
In this episode, Monica Inestroza-Curtis returns to interview Amy Parravano Drummond about where The Kindling Project started for her and a little deeper dive into her passions and struggles.
Monica is a dear friend and blogger now on the TKP team! Her words and interviewing ability will mesmerize you, and you won't want to miss this chance to dig inside Amy's thoughts and experiences.
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er bar class or walking the dogs. Okay. That's usually my phys, That's usually my most predictable physical.
[00:25:29] My spiritual is, is I pray. Okay. This is another junk drawer. Um, self disclosure. I pray every morning I roll outta bed and I pray on my knees every morning. I've been doing this for years. Really some really wise people taught me this years ago, and this is where I have been able to hardwire humility and vulnerability, is I literally just roll outta bed even before I do anything else.
[00:25:55] And I pray and I ask God. I say a couple like set prayers, but then I ask God like, whatever it is you need from me today, just- I'm here for you, basically, you know, um, whatever it is I need to do, you know, I just really work on opening up my heart. I work on opening up my attitude and just opening it up to God.
[00:26:17] That works for me. Okay. That's, that's what I do. Now, does it mean I'm like, throughout the day I'm like, skippity doo dah, I'm like this, you know, servant heart- oh gosh, no. Trust me, I, it's a practic. This is not perfection. This is practice. So then my emotional is, it could be anything from listening to music, talking to a friend, holding the door for somebody, something that you know, smiling, talking to the cashier.
[00:26:44] You know, something that's, filling up my emotional anchor, and I call them anchors, Monica, because these are the three variables or components that really keep me grounded and I know when I'm not up to par on those. You know, like if I don't take a, a couple, If I take a couple days off and I'm not exercising, I can start to feel a little wonky.
[00:27:08] Monica: Mm-hmm.
[00:27:09] Amy: or if I feel like, "Oh, I'm doing really great. I don't need to check in with my emo-," I call them my three E's even though they're not, they don't all start with E's. I might start to get a little like, Cocky and too confident. I'm like, "Oh, I'm good." But then I realize a couple days later, "Oh, I'm starting to feel a little, a little bit not so-" I call it emotionally sober, you know, where I'm feeling like, okay, I'm grounded. And so that's why doing these every day is so important and how I break it down in my workbook, it's something you could literally do in like 10 or 15 minutes. Now if you like to do classes or you like to take long walks or you, you know, do CrossFit or whatever your your exercise is, that's different.
[00:27:51] But the emotional and the spiritual can be done in short periods of time. That's why it doesn't have to be so daunting thinking about doing it every day.
[00:28:00] Monica: Well that's great. I love that you're actually practicing what you're preaching. So that is really, Important.
[00:28:06] Amy: Yeah, I know because it works, you know?
[00:28:08] Monica: So how long, when did you start this, by the way, and when did you realize, "Oh, I'm onto something. These things really serve me well," I call them. I have my daily dosages too. So these daily things that you do, when did you figure out this is the perfect combo that is- equates to a successful balanced life or a third eye, What do you call it? Just having that moment like, "Okay, I can do this."
[00:28:31] Amy: You know, I think, Monica, I really started to realize when I started working one on one with clients in the last few years, because I started to just share with them what was working for me.
[00:28:43] Monica: Okay.
[00:28:44] Amy: I started to realize, I'm telling a handful of these clients the same thing, and they're coming back to me and telling me that it's working, and so I'm like, "Wait a minute. I, I think I'm onto something here. I, I, this is, this is a framework for success." And so I really would say in the last few years, and then I would hear myself saying, "Okay, we're gonna write down your three E's, but it doesn't all start with an E,"
[00:29:12] Monica: right!
[00:29:12] Amy: Your emotional , your physical, and your spiritual. I would work through, through what those look like, because let's say you've been emotionally closed off for many, many years. That can be really daunting to think about," how do I connect to my emotional anchor? What does that look like?" That can be unbelievably daunting.
[00:29:32] Physical, yes and no. Especially if you have, you know, body issues, body dysmorphia, food, you know, look, everybody's got something, right? Physical doesn't have to mean joining gym and going there six times a day. You know, it can be very simple stuff. Spiritual is definitely the most challenging. If, if a person comes from either a background of a punishing God or no God or no higher power, or a negative experience with religion, or no religion or no spirituality, it can be very daunting to think about, "what does that look like?" You know, and, and I learned that spirituality and religion can be two different things. They don't have to be the same. For, for people they can be, but for the purpose of this workbook and just connecting, I really worked on keeping these two things separate. I do mention, I do mention God in, in this, but I also mentioned higher power. I also mention suggestions on something outside of a God, You know?
[00:30:39] Monica: Sure. We all have it. Call it whether you want. There is something fill in the blank.
[00:30:43] Amy: Yes.
[00:30:43] Monica: Okay. I, And so that is your next progression. That would be your kindling project. And one of the things that I've noticed when you're talking to some of these women on your podcast is most of them are living all already doing their kindling project.
[00:30:58] So they're great examples and their inspiration. But how do we connect with the women who, "Well, they're already doing it. They, I, I need, I'm back here. Like I can't even write it down barely, you know, I can't even say it out loud." So how do you help and you think perhaps you're there, the ones, the perfect candidates for the workbook?
[00:31:16] Amy: Yes, Yes.
[00:31:18] Monica: Okay.
[00:31:18] Amy: And I'm glad you brought that up because that's something Melissa and I talked a lot about because the women we're bringing on are like, High level, you know, and, um, all the women in our group, I would consider high level, but it just depends on what level you wanna go to. You know, that was one of the things that, that we did early on.
[00:31:37] I was really wanting to get just women. Women that I know, women that I don't know, to come into the Kindling project and just talk for maybe three to five minutes, "you did it. You were the first person that did it." You know, talk about what a kindling project is to you. That's something that we really have to consider for our season two is having women on that have a kindling project.
[00:32:00] They have that fire inside, but they don't know where to start. They don't know where to start. So coming on and maybe talking to us, and us maybe working through it and troubleshooting and talking through it, because I want, I want the Kindling project to be something where people feel that they can relate to it, whether they've started it, whether they've put pen to paper, or whether it's just still something deep inside.
[00:32:25] Monica: Yeah, I think that's, that would be a, a really, uh, nice, uh, progression for y'all to work with people really in the, in the starting phase, that's so crippling to a lot of women. Like, "Well, I don't even know how to start. I don't even know where to begin." So to givethem a, like a roadmap to that destination is very helpful. I know you've had some great women in your podcast. Tell me what are some of your favorite lessons that you've taken away from them?
[00:32:50] Amy: I think one of the, um, a few things that really stand out Monica, is one is perseverance. To really persevere. You know, these women didn't start out where they are today.
[00:33:02] They started out a lot of 'em, just like the rest of us as moms, as busy professionals. Um, single moms, married moms. Not moms, you know, they followed, they followed their intuition, they followed their truth. And they're still on that path too. That's the other thing. They're not, they're not done, You know, they're still, maybe they've checked off some of their, their goals, but they're still evolving.
[00:33:30] So it's, it's the grit that has inspired me, um, because this project, this kindling project is very gritty. It's, it's been, you know, Melissa and I both have full-time jobs and we both have really busy families and all these other things. So working on doing this on the side has taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
[00:33:51] There's a lot that goes into it. So we, we've had to just continue to dig deep and we've had to continue to persevere. So that, one of the takeaways, another that, um, Charlene Bauer, she was just this incredible woman who, who taught us about her industry of offroading for women, which I know nothing about.
[00:34:13] Monica: Right? She was very badass. I really enjoyed her.
[00:34:16] Amy: Gosh! And she used the word rad all the time. She's from California. I'm like, This woman is so rad. I fricking love her. Right? And she talked about waving the checkered flag at every stop, basically, you know, at every turn waving that checkered flag. And I think that that can be hard for someone like me or someone like Melissa, who has these high demands of ourselves or have these high expectations, and it's gotta be up, you know, certain level before we can actually celebrate, before we can wave the flag and say, "Good job."
[00:34:46] So what she really, my takeaway with her was to really just enjoy the process. And to enjoy the journey. And I feel like I'm, I'm pretty good at that. That's something that I feel like with Melissa, it's a little bit more challenging for her, and that's where we can bring in a little bit of a balance to one another.
[00:35:06] Monica: So what do you, what would you say is your biggest hiccup? In this whole process that you've been working on, that podcast, on the Facebook, on your, the kindling, your projects, and like you said, family career, when you're doing something that is really with intention to help women, and you're putting yourself out there at no cost, by the way, to anyone at this point, and you keep doing and you keep giving and you keep giving.
[00:35:30] And maybe some of the responses aren't what you would hope or what gets you, what trips you up at sometimes where you're like, "Ugh, this is frustrating."
[00:35:38] Amy: The, To be honest, I, I almost like came crashing down this summer because, I won't go into it completely, but I was taking three classes. And trying to launch two kids off to college.
[00:35:52] And the grief of my sister's passing started to really hit me. And so I was thinking I can't do this. I have no time. I, I was feeling super overwhelmed, and this was before we had Catherine and Marielena, her sister, helping us because with the podcasters, all of this technology and Facebook, and I don't even like social media, I was realizing I don't have anything to give right now to these women.
[00:36:55] I don't have, I, I can barely give to myself. So as a result, I reflected, I took a leave of absence from school, I took off some other pretty significant things on my plate. I got a good therapist. I'm focusing on my grief. And now the space has opened up, you know, for healing for the Kindling project and just trusting that we've got something, we just don't know how it's looking, what's gonna stick. Kind of like what you mentioned earlier.
[00:37:27] Monica: Melissa plays a big role in this. She's obviously your bestie, your business partner, but what makes her such, I mean, the, the best partner for you? What makes her, when, when you're having those moments, she's able to lift you up and keep you focused or, or carry the load and vice versa? How is it that you and Melissa are Mel and me?
[00:37:46] Amy: I love that. You know, we keep each other honest. We call each other out on things. We bring different skills to the table. We process things different. We're both sensitive. So I feel that I've been really been, been able to be really honest with her and she's had a whole slew of things too, because, Life goes, Life is what it is, right?
[00:38:08] So while I'm having my issues, she also has her life going on too. So we, we work on, you know, being there for each other when one of us maybe isn't feeling as, as strong as the other, you know, she's done such an incredible job branding us, and all of the graphics and the organization. I mean, if it was me, it would, you know, it would look like a three year old, did it, you know, she brings a lot of talent, you know?
[00:38:38] Monica: Yeah. And i, I too, you know, in thinking about the podcast and some of the speakers you had, I also felt, aside from that young girl who has lived a big life for being such a young person, I think the rest of us are of a certain age.
[00:38:53] Amy: Mm-hmm.
[00:38:53] Monica: And I'm wondering how does that play into this role of being really open with our kindling projects? Is it that we're facing out of parenthood, when I say facing out, meaning our kids are now becoming young adults and spreading their wings and living the, you know, the mass. So is it a time thing for you, uh, do you think, Amy, that your target market really is, specifically, uh, specific age group that is more open to it and responding differently than I would say a 22 year old who always likes to hear advice,
[00:39:26] but as you know, sometimes we just have to live it to really ex- we gotta live it and experience it and crash a few times.
[00:39:33] Amy: A hundred percent. You know, I was doing a podcast earlier with, um, Catherine and Marielena, um, the, the young women, the sisters that help us, and they're Gen Z through and through.
[00:39:44] They don't wanna do a nine to five. They don't really wanna be told what to do. They're independent thinkers. They have very clear ideas of what they want. And so that's their path. But for the women of our age, of, um, of Gen X, I believe some baby boomers and some high end millennials, we have had different but similar experiences in terms of maybe being in- into a career for X amount of years, or perhaps taking care of aging parents or losing a parent or being married for more than a decade.
[00:40:22] So absolutely there is this target population that we're hitting. This isn't something that I could have done 10 years ago. Now that I have two older out of the house, college, one left in high school, something like this is more, it's, it's more attainable as opposed to previous. And I do think also Monica with Covid, I've learned, not just as a therapist, but just all of the messages I get in Facebook and Ignite and the feedback I get and the DMs is that women are craving this connection.
[00:41:01] They're craving this connection with other women. You know, like you say, and we use this quote a lot, is to hold up the mirror for one another. And I think women are really craving that. And so the need is there. The need is there for this target population.
[00:41:19] Monica: I agree. And I also, I'm curious to think your thoughts on economics. I mean, for a lot of women who are struggling, who are just living payheck to paycheck who are maybe not in a position to honestly even think about their kindling project, let alone start it. Um, what would you say to someone like that? How, how do they create a little bit of time for themselves?
[00:41:41] Amy: I mean, honestly, it's starting with, That's why I love, I believe so strongly in my three E, those three anchors, because there's always going to be reasons why we can't do something.
[00:41:55] There's always going to be a reason. Now, financial, financial that is, a real barrier, you know, trust me, I'm a social worker. I, I don't live high on the hog by any means. I've always had side hustles. I've always, or as people might say, freelance, I call 'em side hustles, but I, and I still do this, I pick up, you know, different clients or I'll pick up a job that's like a couple hundred bucks here or two, you know. It's really about how much do you want to prioritize your emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing? I think those, those are the foundation to get to an actual kindling project and other things as well. But if you can hardwire those, you have a better chance of getting that fire ignited. Now, there's some women that I've worked with that do have financial challenges.
[00:42:47] I mean, let's be honest, I know most people these days because everything is so expensive, we are in a recession, everything costs much more money. So if you're working full time, it's setting aside two hours a week on the weekend of how you're maybe branding yourself or developing a, a business plan or putting pen to paper and just writing. You know, so there are, there are little ways that you can do things.
[00:43:14] And this is part of the, the barrier I think that women experience is it has to be all or nothing.
[00:43:19] Monica: Right.
[00:43:20] Amy: And that's why we have to, we have to, you know, weave into our lives these other ways to rethink things, change our narrative.
[00:43:30] Monica: What, what do you think, uh, for me, when I hear you speak that way for me, uh, it's less about the time or money. Cause to your point, you can make excuses for everything. For me, honestly, Amy, is the idea of, because I've had so much death in my life, is, to not live a life and, and not, not understanding my full potential. That I, that regret, I don't think I can live with that. So that's why I keep pushing that envelope.
[00:43:55] That's why I keep pushing myself to be better and do better, which is sort of my mantra. Um, and I'm wondering for you, what is your biggest fear in life? Uh, as you are your young, 50-some, do you have any, do you have any fears?
[00:44:11] Amy: Yeah, my fear is my middle son doesn't call me from college. That's my fear. But, um, it's not, I'm, I'm, I'm kind of joking on that, although I don't like it. But hey, he's having a great time, so.
[00:44:21] Monica: That's so hard. I know. I've been there, done that. That's my Logan. He doesn't call.
[00:44:25] Amy: I can't stand it. I cannot, But last night Jack gave me like, or maybe an hour, I don't know. We FaceTime and it was like my cup was so full by the time we hung up. I'm like, "Oh, thank you so much!"
[00:44:37] You know, I'll tell you, this is, this is a new one. This is another junk drawer thing. My mom passed away at 54, my sister at 52, and I'm 51, and I've never been afraid of death. But recently, I'm like, Wow, you know, I'm at the age where they, where they pretty much passed away. Now, luckily I have really good healthcare and I go and I get, you know, checkups and mammograms and MRIs and biopsies.
[00:45:01] I get everything checked out. So I'm very proactive, but I, I really wanna be around for my kids. I really, really, really wanna be around for my kids. So I think that's, if I was gonna say, I have a fear, it's that, but that's when I, when I, when I say that, that's me like going away from like trusting and trusting God and being like, "Oh, I'm gonna do my own thing," you know?
[00:45:22] Monica: Right, right.
[00:45:23] Amy: And I don't like any kind of rodent. Okay.
[00:45:26] Monica: Okay.
[00:45:26] Amy: No rat, no rodent, nothing.
[00:45:29] Monica: I, I absolutely agree with you. Now, just to, to sort of close off the podcast section here, what are some of your favorite podcasts? Now that we don't have you to listen to here for a while, who are you recommending?
[00:45:39] Amy: I love that. I love all things crime. I love all,
[00:45:43] Monica: okay.
[00:45:44] Amy: crime. I lo- I do, I I worked in the prosecutor's office for years, so I really love gory, gritty stuff. Um, there's a podcast I listened to regularly. It's called Crime Weekly. I listen to Crime Weekly. It's Just so good. So thorough. I mean, sometimes their podcast is like almost two hours and they do so much research.
[00:46:05] It's just they're awesome. They're so good. I like the Daily. There's one other one I was thinking of, like self-help things. I recommend a lot of self-help things, but just like positive affirmations, positive self talk kind of things. And I listen to a lot of music. I listen to a lot- I know that's not in the podcast genre, but I listen to a lot of music.
[00:46:27] I don't know if that's just a Gen X thing, but I grew up listening to music. I love listening to music today. So, um, if I'm not listening to a podcast, I'm listening to music.
[00:46:36] Monica: Okay. So now, if, if someone had to describe your life or if some, a producer or director came to you, okay, we have to do a story about your life Amy. What is it? Is that a romcom? Is it a drama? Is it a mystery?
[00:46:48] Amy: Not a romcom! I just found out what that stood for like in the last year. Oh my gosh. I wanna say drama. It's a drama.
[00:46:57] Monica: Yeah.
[00:46:57] Amy: I would say it's a drama, but it's also like an inspirational,
[00:47:02] Monica: it's a feel good drama! With a really happy ending. Like really happily ever. Yeah.
[00:47:08] Amy: Although, you know, there's been pain and heartache. There's been so much joy and so many gifts and so many blessings. I mean, just unbelievable. So yeah, definitely an inspirational.
[00:47:21] Monica: Okay, good. All right. So are you, I wanna have a little fun with you. Are we ready?
[00:47:24] Amy: Yes.
[00:47:25] Monica: Can I ask you a couple things and you just tell me what's your pet peeve? This is like, we're really gonna get to know Amy here. What's your pet peeve?
[00:47:31] Amy: Chewing gum in public.
[00:47:32] Monica: Ooh. Okay. So do you chew gum at all?
[00:47:35] Amy: Not so much, but any but like chewing gum in public is just, I just think it's incredibly rude. I just, I don't like it.
[00:47:43] Monica: Okay. Coffee or tea?
[00:47:45] Amy: Coffee.
[00:47:45] Monica: Black or is like specialty, like lots of almond milk or some Soy?
[00:47:49] Amy: Cream for sure. Definitely just almond milk. But I do love tea. I love Macha tea.
[00:47:55] Monica: Okay. People or animals?
[00:47:57] Amy: Animals!
[00:47:58] Monica: I know we, you know, we often talk about you being an empath, and I am too. And I think that you are one of those few people that is both a, a person, a people empath, but also very much an animal. Like you're very in tune with animals. Who's your celebrity crush?
[00:48:12] Amy: Matthew mcConaughy.
[00:48:14] Monica: Good answer. And how would you describe your personal style?
[00:48:17] Amy: Original, I mean, I love to wear, I love like my cowboy boots. I have more boots than I have shoes, but I also have Birkenstocks. I love to wear like my comfy athleta pants. But I, I love wearing t-shirts.
[00:48:31] I, I wear a lot of t-shirts. Like I don't, I don't, Or tanks I should say. I don't like actual t-shirts. I like tanks, but I love to always have like a, like there's a few boutiques that I just love and so like I'll get like random things from there. One's in Wyoming and one's up north in northern Michigan.
[00:48:48] Monica: And tell me, what's a personal trait or something that you do that gets you in trouble?
[00:48:53] Amy: Oh, with who? My husband?
[00:48:56] Monica: whoever.
[00:48:57] Amy: I think Overcommitting.
[00:48:58] Monica: Okay.
[00:48:59] Amy: Yeah. Overcommitting. Although I've gotten a lot better at it, that's for sure. Yeah.
[00:49:03] Monica: Good. What do you say, no is a complete sentence? Is that?
[00:49:06] Amy: "No" is a complete sentence! You do not have- Yeah, see, I have to practice what I preach.
[00:49:11] Monica: Right. Okay. Your least favorite house chore?
[00:49:14] Amy: Cleaning toilets.
[00:49:16] Monica: And Do you have a party trick?
[00:49:17] Amy: I'm really good with eighties trivia. Like music trivia.
[00:49:22] Monica: Okay! I love it. Do you have a current obsession?
[00:49:24] Amy: I love Morgan Wallace. I've gotten really into country music.
[00:49:29] Monica: Really?
[00:49:30] Amy: Yes. Yes. Well, I think having my niece, Elizabeth Ann here from Texas and her and Jack, my middle, they listen to country all the time. So I've gotten really into country music, but, but my biggest diehard, biggest diehard fan ever is Bob Seeger. Like I am the biggest Bob Seeger fan, like ever. Like I absolutely love Bob Seeger more than any musician ever.
[00:49:51] Monica: Okay. I love that. I know that about you now. And what do you think your best quality?
[00:49:56] Amy: I would say authentic.
[00:49:58] Monica: Yep. I have, uh, for, if I had to say from my perspective, your best quality is that you ask with really open ear and like you're actually listening, you're an active listener. I don't know too many people who are active listeners. You're definitely one of the top 10.
[00:50:15] Amy: Oh, thank you. Yeah, it's, It's a skill. It is a skill. That is for sure. That is for sure.
[00:50:20] Monica: Yeah. I thought for sure you would say what gets you into trouble is that you are an active, By being active listener means you ask really good questions, and sometimes you find that you ask questions, you're like, "Oh boy, I'm in this for a long time now we're, we're not going anywhere." Because if people just open up to you and you're like all of a sudden, like you're having a therapy session and, you were just walking the dog!
[00:50:38] Amy: I know. I'm good at redirecting though.
[00:50:41] Monica: Oh, are you? Good!
[00:50:42] Amy: Cause you gotta, you gotta know how to, you know, you can't just be in, and if I don't want to know, then I'm not gonna ask. Because I don't, I don't wanna be like, when I'm off the clock, so to speak, I find that I, I really have to just stay in my own lane.
[00:50:58] Cause I feel like there's, like when I'm somewhere there's like crisis or something like, like on vacation this kid, Like I was just walking by minding my own business, and this kid just like fainted right in front of me, you know? So I'm like, I wasn't like "UGH", but I'm like, I'm like, "Oh, I'm on vacation! I don't wanna deal with this crisis!"
[00:51:15] But of course I dropped everything and I'm helping this family, you know? But it's like I wanna just be like in my own lane and not running into the burning building.
[00:51:25] Monica: It's hard when you're, you're so accustomed to doing that and so helpful, and it's not only what you do for a career now for your kindling project too, by the way.
[00:51:34] You're doing things to help others. It's always about other people and doing for others. So I'm curious like, and, and I know we talked about what you do for yourself, your daily practices, but that, what's your one- is there something that is just your guilty pleasure, that's just for you that is not so perfect? Or So, I don't wanna say like, your answers are so polished, but you know, for, its a binge watching like Netflix or are you eating a pin of ice cream, and,
[00:52:04] Amy: Both. I love, I love junk food. I do. I'm not gonna, I, I love sugar. I love junk food. You know, I don't, I don't drink, I don't smoke. I don't take drugs so. I love to swear. I love to eat sugar. I love to watch like all like gross, gory crime things. I like to watch The Bachelorette, you know, that kind of stuff. I blame my niece on that because I got into it with her living with us.
[00:52:30] But yeah, like I'll watch stuff like that, but then my mind, you know, I can only watch it for so long. Cuz then I'm like, I think of it from a clinical lens and I'm like, no, just chill out. You know?
[00:52:40] Monica: Just chillax. Exactly. I know. It's crazy. Well, I really wanna thank you because I feel like as I listen to your podcast and all your listeners,
[00:52:49] uh, some of us know you personally, but a lot of don't. And I know the, as you sort of expand in your people following you, I just wanted them to take a moment or just get them to know who you really are beyond the therapist, beyond like this incredible woman who's doing amazing things in their community.
[00:53:06] Like you're a real person who you know is managing her dogs and loving life and upset because her second child is not calling her from college. Like, you're just one of us too. And I think that's what makes it perfection.
[00:53:20] Amy: Thank you so much. Like you are such a, you are such a light and you are so sweet and I know Melissa and I feel so connected to you.
[00:53:27] You have been so, you have like raised your hand with the Kindling project and you have really given us both some really, really insightful counsel, both of us, and we appreciate you so much and it was, it was nice to be on the hot seat a little bit.
[00:53:42] Monica: Do you think we missed anything? Is there anything you wanna add about anything?
[00:53:45] Amy: You know what? There's really good, exciting things to come. I'm really excited to see, to wrap up our season one, we have 20, we have 20 shows. We're gonna start recording in 2023. I really am excited to see where, where this is gonna go. You know, we really wanted to commit a year to this. To really see how this evolves.
[00:54:09] And we've only really been at this since like January. In terms of like the recordings, we didn't really start doing until June. So we're not, we haven't been in it that long, although it feels like a lifetime. So I'm really excited to see where this takes us. But I wanna say thank you so much for helping us, and giving us clarity on, you know, our verbiage and, and our messaging and things like that. Because it is evolving. That's the thing.
[00:54:36] Monica: Well, I lo- I actually think that's what's makes it so special. So if, if you're lucky like me from this group, from this perspective is, I can't wait to see where you're gonna go.
[00:54:46] Because where you are is pretty amazing already. So it's only gonna get bigger and better. And so finally, I will say, ask you, Amy, if you, as you're listening or your listeners, what is the one call to action that you have that, that you really would like for your listeners to do?
[00:55:02] Amy: I would say, you know, one thing that really surprises me is, I mean, it does, but it doesn't.
[00:55:07] But reach out, you know, like be vulnerable, be humble, and say, "Hey," you know, Cause I have a lot of women DM me and say "I wanna do this and I wanna do that." I know they do that with Melissa as well. And so I really wanna encourage the group to let us know what it is they need, or they want, Maybe they don't know.
[00:55:29] I don't know. But, you know, get vulnerable with us. Reach out, put a message in there, or send, send me an SOS or whatever it is. But let us know. I mean, maybe we're just speaking out into the galaxy and the need isn't there. I don't know. I, I, I think it is. But we want feedback too. We need, we need feedback.
[00:55:51] We need to know what it is that is, is missing for women as well. You know, like, how can we, how can we be of service? How can we be that safe space? That's what I would say is the call to action is, is reach out, connect with us. You know, I'm very accessible, you know, I'm like, I'm always around basically. So, and I know Melissa is too, even if you don't know.
[00:56:15] you know, that's why I'm hoping the workbooks can at least be a start of, of a space and then maybe creating these webinars or these workshops or something along that line.
[00:56:24] Monica: Okay. I think that's a, a great call to action. Let's do it, ladies. All right. Thank you!
[00:56:29] Amy: I wanna say thank you so much for listening to today's episode. Give us a rating and subscribe on whatever platform you listen on, to be notified whenever there is a new episode. Be sure to join our online community, the Kindling Project, Ignite on Facebook. The link is in the show notes below. Come bring your ideas, goals, and questions to the group where we can all help one another on the same path to success.
[00:56:52] No matter where you are in the process of your kindling project, there is a place for you among the rest of the women. Monica, thank you so much, your blog and, um, I wanna put your information, your contact information in this group as well. And I wanna say thank you so much for spending your Monday afternoon with me for really thinking your questions through and just for being such a support to the Kindling Project. We appreciate you so much. Truly.
[00:57:18] Monica: Always! Happy to do it. Thank you.
[00:57:20] Amy: Thank you so much.