Life Notes from Chair 17

Embracing Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy. We talked about it back in Episode 20 with our good friend Nathan, but we never thought we'd end up embracing it on our own. Join CH this week as she discusses her personal journey into yoga therapy, finding solace and healing through a tailored program, and how a personalized approach can create a supportive container for both body and mind. Whether a seasoned yoga practitioner or new to the concept of how yoga therapy differs from just doing yoga, this episode offers perspectives on integrating yoga into life for a holistic sense of well-being, and its dual benefits for physical and mental health.
 
Show Notes
CH is currently working with good friend and Share the Chair (Episode 20) guest, Nathan Waldvogel, for her yoga therapy program.
For those interested in learning more about the practice of yoga therapy you can visit Nathan's Web site: YogaHausNW.com.
Information on some of the different styles of yoga, including the definition of yoga therapy, can be found on Nathan's Web site under the Yoga Styles section.

Sitting on the Bench

Have you ever showed up for a friend who was really going through it and just sat with them as if you were on a park bench? You didn’t offer advice or guidance, you just simply saw them, heard them and comforted them in their moment of struggle. Join CH this week as she recounts the story of when her friend, Sarah, offered this powerful form of friendship and support, and how that has further shaped CH's approach to being there for someone - without the need for words or advice - where a quiet, non-judgmental presence can make a world of difference during tough times.
 
Show Notes
For those who may not be familiar with the term toxic positivity, you can learn more about it on VeryWellMind.com.

Ok Not Being Ok

Sometimes, we.are.just.not.ok. No matter the day, the month, or the year. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, join CH this week as she recounts a key time in her life where prioritizing her mental well-being took precedence over celebrating a holiday, and how that moment further shaped her approach to prioritizing mental wellness on the whole not only for herself but in support of others.
 
Show Notes
May is Mental Health Awareness month in the United States, which has been observed since 1949 (Wikipedia).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. Visit the official site for more information and for a wide array of mental health and substance abuse resources.
The quote CH references is from the 1991 film 'Friend Green Tomatoes,' which starred Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary Louise Parker, Kathy Bates and the late Jessica Tandy.

Share the Chair: Jackie Yeaney

Be kind. Be brave. Be you. Three solid life tenets from this week's Share the Chair guest, Jackie Yeaney. Having retired from official Chief Marketing Officer duties after spending over 20 years in the C-Suite space, she joins CH this week to talk all things life journey and experience - from her beginnings in the United States Air Force, to her ascendence into executive marketing leadership, to her passion and advocacy for people and possibilities. It’s a great hour of conversation covering both work/life insights and wisdoms from an executive leader who ALSO has a knack of leading through her own life.
 
Show Notes
Jackie is actively a part of the following organizations:
Talkspace (Non Executive Director)
CMO Collaborative (Co-Founder)
Plan International USA (Board Member)
Foundation Fighting Blindness (Marketing Committee)
Iridium (Non Executive Director)
Jackie's LinkedIn profile is here (note: you will need a LinkedIn account to see her full profile and be able to follow her).
Jackie and her husband, Eric, started Blind Ambition Fitness.
The condition Eric has is called CACD - a rare form of macular degeneration (Central Areolar Choroidal Dystrophy).
The Maya Angelou quote Jackie consistently leans into is: "People will forget what you did. People will forget what you said. But people will never forget how you made them feel."
More information on the discussion CH and Jackie were having regarding different leadership styles as defined by distinct colors (e.g., Red, Yellow, Blue, Green) can be found on a number of Web sites and through various organizations. You can try a Google search of "What are the 4 leadership colors" if you'd like to learn more.
James Lipton's Inside the Actor's Studio questionnaire, and the original Bernard Pivot/Marcel Proust versions that inspired it, can be found here. Our C17 version is our own take on these two famous questionnaires.

Parental Guidance

The parentals. The 'rents (a.k.a. parents). It often seems it is just a matter of time before we catch ourselves doing something those who raised us used to do. Or may even still do. And that may (or may not) always be the best for us. Join CH this week for a thoughtful discussion on developing a sense of our own self, and being encouraged to forge our own path of actions and behaviors, which may differ from that set down by parental figures.
 
Show Notes
The viral video clip CH discusses in this episode, called "Cranky kid goes viral for telling it like it is," can be viewed here via YouTube shorts.

30 Going on 30

Anyone have a time machine? No ...? Well, darn. As we hit our 30th episode, we've taken a moment to reflect on the things we might go back and point out to our 30-year-old selves ... and we put it in another Top 10 list! Join CH as she rolls through the 10 key things she’d point out (and double down on) to her then self if there was a DeLorean time machine with a flux capacitor nearby (“Back  to the Future,” anyone?). And no, winning lottery numbers did not make the list.
 
Show Notes
For those who may not be familiar with what was the nightly Top 10 List on "The Late Show with David Letterman", check out the Wikipedia summary.
In the film series, "Back to the Future", a DeLorean served as the time machine in which various characters traveled both back in time AND into the future.

I'll Take a Lesson

“Hey, I can teach you that!” Ah … the well-intentioned friend or partner who wants to help us learn the new thing we want to learn. But is that really the best way to help us be successful - whether it be a sport, a skill, an instrument? Join CH this week as she discusses the importance of finding the right environment - and teacher - to help us feel comfortable and confident in taking on a new adventure.
 
Show Notes
CH's tips for taking on something new:
Do not be afraid to turn down the offer from a friend or partner who wants to be the teacher; sometimes, learning from someone we are close to doesn't always provide the best learning environment or set us up for the right level of success.
See if there is a workshop, a class, a clinic, etc. that is local to your area to enroll or participate in person; if not in person, see if is there a virtual option.
If unsure about the level of skill or pre-requisites that may be required, reach out to the organization and ask so you can feel comfortable enrolling or participating; this may also include asking about a given instructor.
Give yourself permission to learn at your pace; if you don't get it right away, don't get discouraged; keep at it in a way that makes you feel comfortable and successful.

Working Through Friendships

Have you ever found yourself no longer as close to those you once worked with? Even when you thought they might be part of your life posse? Join CH this week as she discusses how some workplace friendships can - and will -  stand the test of time; the importance of defining camaraderie and connection on our own; and, coming to terms when the friendship exits stage left once the consistent interaction provided by the work environment is gone.
 
Show Notes
The article CH references is on Business Insider, as told by Sylvia Duran Chen (a former Google employee), discussing how everything - including friendships - became tied to the company.

Share the Chair: Ellie Cornell

Actor. Painter. Businesswoman. All around creative spirit. In this very special Share the Chair episode, CH chats with one of her longtime inspirations, Ellie Cornell. Some might know Ellie from her portrayal of Rachel Carruthers in 'Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers' (it's our fave scary movie, what can we say.) But Ellie's artist journey has evolved to include her passion for painting. Join us as she reflects on her days as a working television and film actor (including being taken under Bill Murray's wing ... yes, that Bill Murray); her lifelong love of painting (and from her front porch, no less); connecting to Nantucket Island's spirit of place (we also share that sentiment); and, always finding a way to honor and stay true to one's creative callings (because, as she says, there is a place for all of us).
 
Show Notes
Ellie's full list of film, television and producing credits can be found on her IMDb profile.
The theatre company she had previously been a part of is  Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts.
She also has participated in productions put on by the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket located on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
Front Porch Studio is the online home of Ellie's paintings and home goods that are inspired by her long time affiliation and love of Nantucket.
The book Ellie references that she reads daily is 'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo.
Those interested in learning more about Nantucket, Massachusetts can visit the town/county official Web site.
The Nantucket lighthouses CH mentions are: Brant Point, Sankaty and Great Point (a.k.a. Nantucket Light).
Young's Bicycle Shop is where CH rented both car and bike during her visits; she also stayed at Brant Point Courtyard.
The Ship's Inn is the Bed & Breakfast establishment that Ellie was a  part of for over 20 years.
James Lipton's Inside the Actor's Studio questionnaire, and the original Bernard Pivot/Marcel Proust versions that inspired it, can be found here. Our C17 version is our own take on these two famous questionnaires.

Halfway to One

26 weeks. 26 episodes. We’ve reached the midpoint of our first year, so we’re celebrating our half-birthday with a thank you to all of you who are - and continuing - to tune in. Join CH as she reflects on returning to her storytelling roots, what her time as a journalism major in the Office of Communications at the University of Oregon taught her, and why really at the end of the day we just like to tell - and share - good stories as we navigate this thing called life.
 
Show Notes
CH's alma mater is the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.
The quote CH references is from Sixth Officer James P. Moody, which was said in a letter a few years before his assignment to the RMS Titanic : "What a lot has happened since then, and what a distance I have covered." (1908)