Season 2: Episode 35 - Beauty from the Ashes

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Welcome to the Joy-Inspired Podcast. I'm Mickey Cruz, and I'm thrilled to explore with you what it means to walk in a faith-infused business. This is your space to find powerful tools and insights, to build with resilience, and to create impact through your unique purpose. Discovering a joy that only God can provide. Together, let's embrace a business journey anchored in faith and empowered by joy. Let's jump in. Well, hey hey, folks, welcome back to the Joy Inspired podcast. And I am so glad that you've tuned in to us this week. You know, isn't it amazing how so much can happen and be going on, and yet when we intentionally choose something like joy, it shows up. So here we are. Here we are for today. And if you're wondering who this crazy lady is, my name is Nikki Cruz, also known as the Joy Junkie, total Jesus freak. And I am your greatest cheerleader, your cheerleader for bringing God into your business, God into your life, into every area of it, because that is where you find joy. And it's the joy that gets you over the challenges. But today I have a real treat for you. I have an incredible guest today, and I get to introduce this amazing woman. Her name is Anne-Marie Maloney. And she's the host of About This Life podcast. So you get to go and look that one up, and we'll probably tag it in the comments here for you. And when we met, I just felt this connection. I felt the peace. I felt that this was something divine, and I've certainly seen it. And she shared on one of our past summits, and I just felt the peace flowing from her. But you know what, folks? That peace doesn't just suddenly arrive overnight. That peace comes from a place of surrender. And today, as I talk to her, I hope you are going to realize and learn so much. This isn't just about hearing a testimony. This is about being equipped by that testimony. So grab your pen and papers, unless you're driving. If you're driving, catch the replay. Make sure you've got your coffee. And, you know, I'm sure that just from what I've said, you know why I wanted to hold this conversation with her. These are subjects near and dear to my heart because I think, particularly as women, we carry so many responsibilities around our businesses. So many cuts that they end up covering our eyes and nobody can see us. And you know what else? We can't see anyone else. And we wander, we wander around quietly wondering whether we're doing enough or being enough. And this is Anne Marie's story and testimony that you get to hear, to hear that you are enough. But tell us, Anne Marie, first of all, welcome. Thank you so much for giving us your time, your energy, and your peace.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

Thank you, Nikki. What a beautiful introduction. What a beautiful reminder as well.

SPEAKER_00 3:48

You know, you're always so filled with joy, and very often people think joy is bubbling all over the top. Just because I'm high energy joy doesn't mean everybody is. Joy is not about the energy, joy is about the heart. You know, happiness can come up anywhere. Happiness shows up at a birthday party, but it can go away just as quickly. Your heart doesn't change that quickly. And I love the energy that you bring. And you cannot have that joy when you don't feel like you're enough. And you know, before we get into the things that you do, as I said, tell us a little bit about the woman behind the work. What brings you joy these days?

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Okay, well, thank you for uh leading up to that. I I want to say something about joy, that joy is intentional. Because joy as a constant state, I have not arrived there just yet. Because there are moments and and there are times, uh just like everyone, we are worried, we are concerned, we have loved ones that are going through. But I was listening to my pastor's sermon this morning, Howard John Wesley uh of Alfred Street Baptist Church, and this very just this past weekend, he preached on peace and about being intentional and the idea of be anxious for nothing. And through prayer and supplication, let the peace of God, let the peace of God stay with you. And I bring that up because my joy when I fall off or I find myself in a different mood, and um I'm maybe I'm irritable. I said, have I prayed today? Have I sat with God today? Or if I can be real, how many days has it been since I've sat with sat with God? And so the returning uh to joy comes through that relationship with being with him, and I get to sit with him and have conversation. And my favorite part is getting to him just listening. What do you have to tell me today?

SPEAKER_00 6:26

And it's so easy, yeah. You know, and I'm having a giggle as you say that because I wasn't watching my clock this morning, and suddenly it was, oh, I'm connecting with Anne Marie just now, I'm running late. And my husband said to me, Okay, you how can I help? And I said, I'm not starting my day like that. And I paused and I put worship music on, and it is about how we address it, and it's easy when you choose that peace from God. You don't have to go, God doesn't want us to work hard for it, because there are moments when our joy is clouded, and it's not about striving to get it back, it's about hearing why it's not shouting loud, and it that's when because it's cloudy, it's cloudy, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 7:23

I uh you asked about the woman and and who I am, and one of my favorite things in the whole wild world is hand dance. And if you don't know what hand dance is, um think of it as salsa, um maybe you salsa but at a slower beat. And it's called hand dance because the leader, his hand, he does certain things with his hand, your partner, and then you know whether to turn, whether to walk forward, go backward, so on and so forth. But anyway, my hand dance instructor, um it's always nerve-wracking, right? When the instructor uses you as a model in class, and they said and everybody, all the eyes are looking at you because he's about to demonstrate something he wants you to do. And so I'm tense, I'm nervous, I'm like, you know, in my head, I'm going, don't let me mess this step up. And and and then he looked at me and he said, Change your energy. Those three words, change your energy, and so when uh our joy gets clouded, as you noted, or we get nervous or we can concerned when we're rushing in our mornings to get to an appointment, I said, you know what, stop, breathe, and change your energy, and that's how that's how I appear to you as calm, Joy.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

That's how I arrive.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

And and you know, that's the same for me. It's I could have got up and rushed and done things. And have you ever noticed how when you're rushing, nothing seems to work out? And I heard an excellent comment the other day that hurry and happy don't go together.

SPEAKER_02 9:26

And that is so true.

SPEAKER_00 9:28

That is so true, and uh we get to be aware of it because we live in a world and a culture where it's just you know it's become the norm. Move on to the next thing, move on to the next thing, to the extent that we don't actually even notice who we are in that moment. And I know from from listening to you talk, from listening to some of your podcasts, and from the talk you did on the summit that you go into this deep place of peace that wells out. So, you know, tell us about how you got to finding that place of peace.

SPEAKER_02 10:13

How I got to it, I have to say, part of my testimony, joy, joy, and finding joy, and where it comes from is I was in distress. So uh Nikki, like many people um in our culture, um went through a divorce, and it was one of those things that it was, I always thought this will never happen to me. This will, you know, I married my forever love and it's gonna be a lifetime. And you know, I'm made from old stock. And what I mean by old stock is you know, it's not someone who's gonna walk out at at the hint of trouble, um, understanding that this life that we live has its valleys and its mountains, and and and you work through it. But then when I learned boundaries to be set and fast forward the divorce happens, it becomes who am I? Where do I go from here? I've been with the same person for over 25 years. Where what do I do? And I found myself on autopilot, had to be, survival mode, and that's how the brain protects itself, by the way. Our nervous system, fight, flight, or fight mode, and it forces us to make decisions. So I know I have to go to work because I have to pay the bills, I have to keep that going, but I'm on autopilot, and in some ways, I'm numb inside, and in some ways that was a good place to be because if I wasn't numb, I would be a wreck and falling apart, and I couldn't do that and and still perform my job effectively, and so my joy came and I started to adopt patterns and small habits, even before I knew what inner child healing was, and and we can talk about that later if you want, even before, you know, I've been on and off with talk therapy, uh, even before eliminating some of the things that the body stores, the patterns I started to adopt is I would find a reason to go for a walk. I needed to be outside. There was something about being outside that helps. I would find uh I belong to a gym, and so I would get in the pool. And the constant thread that runs through the hand dance that runs through the pool and walking is movement. I had to move, and it is through that movement that I felt that I started to release some things inside of me, and I didn't have words for what I was feeling just yet, but I needed to release the tension and the stress. So exercise in in this season of my life is not just about staying healthy and losing weight and all those wonderful things we want to do. Exercise actually is about finding peace and finding the joy in what we do. And another thing that I started to do that I didn't understand in concept until I experienced it is thinking about the little girl. Because after a while, and the little girl I'm talking about is the one on the inside, okay? After a while, um I said, there are patterns in your life that continue and it's grounded. And you want to know what's funny. Anytime you go see a therapist, they always ask you, uh, tell me about your childhood. And I remember the first time um with one particular therapist, and they asked me that question. Like, why are you even gonna know my my childhood? Brothers, sisters, mom and dad, you know, in terms of what has that got to do with me? Okay, I'm here from me, not for them and this is about me.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

I don't want to talk about those help me solve the problem, and that's part of, I think that's part of what happens. The journey you're talking about. People think, okay, if I go for a walk, everything will be solved. No. Going for a walk is part of it, but it's what that does with finding the peace. We're too quick to look for quick fixes, you know, like you want to go to the therapist and you want them to, you don't want to pull because we don't like pills these days, but we want them to give us the solution and fix it, and we want them to fix it.

SPEAKER_02 15:43

We want them to fix it, and guess what? The lie. Here's the lie. I had to come to an awareness and understanding. You think if you fix the problem, it's fixed for good. That's a lie, you know.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Being there done that. Not the t-shirt. No, I need to get a new t-shirt that says I'm back. I think that's quite a good one.

SPEAKER_02 16:12

Let me tell you.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

Oh, yeah. You know, let me tell you, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:17

When you go back and you talk to the inner child and you find out what did she need that maybe she didn't receive, what did she feel um in within the family unit or lack thereof? What did she experience? And now you as the adult can go back and be the parent that that inner child needed and wanted that he or she did not have at that age, but now you're wiser and you can make different decisions regarding that. And I have come into that practice where I'm in conversation or relationship with my inner child, and that happens organically through things like journaling and also sitting still, and because Nikki, because we are faithful people, of course, I have to make the triangle in a child, grown me and Holy Spirit, right? Holy Spirit, what you're trying to tell me? What are you trying to tell us? How does that resonate? Okay, I'm listening.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Oh, yeah. And I mean, I know you talked us through a session that I was on through that talking to the inner child, and you could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was over Zoom, folks, and just the way that you ushered that in. But now here's an interesting point. This was all a tough situation for you, and I know you talk about ashes for beauty often. Yes, and beauty for ashes. Thank you. Thank you. Beauty for ashes. Okay, we'll edit that. You talk about beauty for ashes often, and God is a god of renewal and restoration, but at what point did you realize that you had walked a journey? It was personal to you. This was something that could help other people. When did you realize that your ashes could be beauty not just for you, but for others?

SPEAKER_02 18:54

You know, it's interesting. If you see me looking down, that is the very scripture that I opened up when um I knew I was going to speak with you this morning. And it says, He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion, bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. The negative qualities in that passage from Isaiah 61, reading 2 and 3, is the idea that I was in a period of mourning in terms of grief. I was in a period where I just wanted someone to come help save me, come help me to work it out. Fix it. And I read and I read enough self-help books and went to enough workshops, webinars, uh, sister circles, oh my god, the multitude of them all, um, and trying to find healing. And they didn't fix me or they didn't make me whole, they were part of my journey that brought me to a place where I understood somebody can't empower you. And so if you find a practitioner that uses that word, I want to empower you, somebody else can't do it for you. You have to do it from the inside out. And because God being God, um, what does he do? What does he say? You can't hold this for yourself. It's like the parable of the talents. You know, you can't just bury this and hold on to it and go on your merry way. You have to be able, you being me or anybody who's gifted and in this and wants to do this work, you have to go out and help the person who is struggling the same way that you did. And that's the way he speaks to me. And um you have to go back because there's a person who's walking a similar journey, maybe the details are different, but they're feeling that same sense of isolation, of despair, of mourning. And if you can show them how life can be different and how they themselves have the power to be part. of their own healing then that is the purpose I have for you.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

That is that is so true and so powerful and there are so many nuggets of wisdom in there folks. And I want to encourage you don't don't sit in a place and say this is too big. Because often when we're in that and it feels heavy we think I can't do this. But remember you're not alone folks you have God. God is with you and whether you feel it or not that is fact that is truth. So I would encourage you if you're in that place this is where you find somebody who can relate to you. And if God has brought you to this podcast and you are feeling that nudge please do connect with Anne Marie. All of her details are below in the chat maybe she gets to connect you with someone else. Maybe something on one of her podcasts speaks to you. But you are here because the Holy Spirit has brought a connection for a reason. Do not let that go unnoticed. And it's not often I stop and say this in the middle of one of our podcasts but I do believe God is calling out right now and touching somebody who's listening in whatever place and saying this is where I've brought you so that you can begin to empower yourself. And I often say I empower people and that I agree with you is it's incorrect. I can give people the tools to empower themselves I cannot empower them. Nobody can do it for you but that doesn't mean it can't be done. It means you just need the right connections and I I think it's absolutely beautiful the way you bring it forward and what was your journey and your pain has turned into the most beautiful purpose but in a different way to the way other people do it. And I think every time you share your story the peace that flows from you brings healing to people and you have learned so much.

SPEAKER_02 24:27

Tell us more thank you Nikki and uh forgive me for cutting you off. That's okay I I was so eager um to speak to this you mentioned that word tools and you don't get fixed in an instant in a moment it's a lifelong process and it's a lifelong process of reflection introspection and working on yourself. One of the tools um I'm a writer I've always been an uh educator and guess what I teach I I teach writing I I teach reading language arts at least until June I I just literally retired recently um took an early option um because just a different season but I wrote a book and the title of the book is It's Soon Come Poems and Letters on Becoming Enough they are just a small section a small segment of the things that I would journal and as I was curating what goes into the book I was looking from the place where I was in terms of in a hard place um questioning self and the arc that moved me through what pulled me through to a place where I'm now at a place where I can rejoice I'm now at a place where I'm filled with joy. So I started with the pain I was experiencing and I moved through to how is it that you can find joy after everything that you go through.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

And that is a tool for your listeners that you would be surprised at what is revealed when you write when you are sit down and you just let the words flow and let the Holy Spirit just take over and before you know it an idea pops in your mind I'm like I had forgotten about that and and you know Anne Marie mentioned that is a gift for you she is very generously going to give you access to that it is a journaling tool and you'll get it when you go to her website. The link is down in the comments so for those of you who are driving don't try and grab a pen and write I would much rather you stayed in the peace of what God's doing here. I feel the Holy Spirit moving so don't rush off to write down things right now. Let what God is saying penetrate. Because just as the same as when you write those words down on paper the Holy Spirit begins to work through you. So he works through when you listen but sometimes when you hear something you relate to it feels a little bit uncomfortable. I'm sure that people in that place right now hearing you talk about this you know that there might be a few that are feeling a bit uncomfortable because that's what they really want.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

They're seeking after it if you are feeling uncomfortable don't run sit be in peace because one of the patterns that you've probably built up is running away because something didn't work and I know you talk a lot about old patterns to renewed life and new patterns so talk to us about moving from dark places to light places to the renewal so that what encouragement can you give that person who's listening and just ready to hit the the next button because it's calling to them and it's a solution that there's a hesitance to step into the first thing I did is stop I'm I'm gonna I will use the word blame stop blaming other people and if blaming is a strong word maybe you're saying to yourself I don't blame anyone but you know this is what they did and that's the reality of it um the first thing that I started to do was look at myself what did I do what did I allow and then that took me to why did I allow it? Why what is there about me that allowed this situation to come into my life and then I said oh this is interesting so have I gone from blaming the other person to blaming myself and I said no no no no judgment no judgment at all it's just the unpacking of the thing it is just I accepted something in my life because I did not have a boundary and when I don't have boundaries there are spirits and there are sit and there are circumstances and people do things and I accept it because I want to be a people pleaser or because I don't want to abandon myself and I'm afraid of being abandoned and if you can acknowledge what you are afraid of afraid of being alone afraid of someone leaving afraid of love going out the door you're afraid um that you're not enough afraid that as you look at other people around you seemingly successful and you're not there yet afraid that you're left behind or maybe you're someone that feels that you're not good enough you know have all these wonderful ideas but who am I to share who am I to speak to it who am I to deliver this message and and and you know the focus really needs to be God because God picked you that's the secret tell us God picked you God gave you the voice and so when you when you start to sit with those questions and you are listening to God and and listening to your spirit it will come it will come and then you will have a fuller understanding of yourself.

SPEAKER_00 31:43

You will and it's it like you said you know that's the answer it's God. There is no scientific formula there's no anything else the same as it will come that's how God works you know his ways are higher than ours he doesn't give us the A B C D E this is how it works. And it does take a bit of faith it takes just surrender and trust and you know when we talk about all of this it's a deep seated thing but there's joy on the other side and as you said you know I are you afraid of rejection because you don't believe you're enough a lot of this is about enoughness and that is a lot of what you focus on Anne Marie and you've you her you do so many things you're a writer I didn't know you'd recently retired congratulations you're a podcast host you're a coach you're a speaker you are a woman who wears many hats but they are not weighed down and blinding you and you know I know that you talk about the things that get people down like imposter syndrome I could have a whole series of podcasts with you you know you talk about hesitation being an excuse well maybe you don't say it but hesitation is an excuse for not being obedient you know I'll pray about it when God's already said to you go and do it oh that's it that's one of the favorite things I hear you know you know God has told somebody to do it they've even told you and then they say well I'll go and pray about it. It's like that doesn't make too much sense. But all of it comes down to having confidence in who you are and in who you are in Christ but you now went through this whole renewal and began to build different businesses and even that was part of your journey and you mentioned that even building your offer was an important part of your journey you know how did you find words for the work that you felt called to do because I know there are many people out there and folks I loved what Anne Marie said earlier you're never done with it.

SPEAKER_02 34:11

So she hasn't now gone through the healing journey now she's ready to do what God called her to do he called her and he worked with her in tandem don't wait till you're ready it'll never come it will never come and do it scared yes so that that's the phrase from the culture do it scared and how did you find the words for the work that God called you to do so let me share just a little bit of one of the poems in the book okay let me bring the book in the screen show us the front cover there we go it soon come um and this one comes from someone needs who I am becoming again the title of the poem is Someone Needs Who I Am Becoming Someone needs who I am becoming not the version I apologize for not the shadow I've been shrinking into but this woman rising like dawn after a long sleep still learning her own light someone needs the strength I'm cultivating the voice I'm learning to trust the boundaries I'm brave enough to draw the laughter I'm reclaiming from silence someone needs to see me stumble and stand again to witness how I tend my own wounds how I speak to myself with the kindness I once reserved only for others someone needs this love overflowing like a river my rhythm calm sprinkled with harmony someone's peace someone's finally the poem goes on but I read that out loud to you because I'm always a proponent I am on social media a lot uh because of the podcast the podcast is about this life and when I look on social media I look at these people with apparently seemingly perfect lives I am smart enough wise enough mature enough to understand that what I'm seeing is not the reality what is being presented to me is uh a perspective that you can live this glamorous life um as being shown and so I am always speaking about there's a balance that I'm perfectly imperfect I am perfectly imperfect and and and that's to say what you see comes with ease for one person is not necessarily so and so when I talk with people when I listen to people when I work with people it's always what's behind the image that they want to project and when you can tap into that you can let go of the imposter syndrome you can let go of oh comparing your life to theirs everybody's going through something oh yeah now you accept the reality yes yes and I don't know if I answered your question though yes well yeah you did but everybody's going through something and don't forget that in every circumstance there is a gift every circumstance every situation no matter how challenging there is a gift it might be what you learned it might be how you grow it might be that you learn not to do the same thing again look at the gift because then you're looking at it positively rather than seeing only negative but now tell me you mentioned about this life this is your podcast and you are an eloquent and wonderful podcast hope you say it helped you find your voice tell us about your podcast first okay so Nikki before I tell you about the podcast I want to say what you just said that's where you find your joy literally what you just said you look for the gift yes you look for the gift you look for the lesson learned that's that is where joy lives okay so that's add that to your toolbox everybody um about this life um the genesis of it just very quickly I was on medical leave because I had knee replacement surgery and all my friends are at work I'm at home started it I'm just like why not there's something to do here I am a couple of years later and about this life what I love in terms of the stories because everybody has a voice everybody has something that they have been through and it is about vulnerable conversations following a transformation so if you are someone that you're still sitting in your wounds you're not quite there yet in in terms of um being on being on the show but you can benefit from listening to the show because the guests who come on have come through trauma uh and they have found a way I mean the trauma is everything in terms of physical um I had a uh gentleman he had amputation after uh a horrendous motorcycle accident he lost his leg and um and I remember talking to you Pedro Gonzalez and I said to him you are alive you are here when he was describing the accident um and I had the stories of someone who was raised um she was raised on the east coast of the US and she goes through this experience in her youth where there's a dysfunctional family and she's talking about all of the dysfunction and now she's an attorney and she's turned back to help people and to mediate uh for people who come from that dysfunctional process. So that's what I mean by transformation. There's something that's changed I I just recently recorded an episode with a firefighter and a paramedic and Darren um haven't released it yet but Darren speaks to he he said he made a comment on the show he said healers don't expect a healer to come to them let me say that again healers don't expect a healer to come to them so many of the first responders are closed off because they're supposed to be the strong ones the the ones who tough it out but they see some horrendous things and you know unfortunately alcoholism and other types of um coping mechanisms drop in so the show is about the issues of life and how do we get through the issues of life so they bring stories and the stories uh the word that goes alongside joy would be hope.

SPEAKER_00 42:17

Yes it's not a hopeless situation things can change for you hope is what comes out from about this life oh I love that I love that so here we have this amazing woman who has now offered you the opportunity to listen to her podcast she's offered you her free journaling tool for meditation but you know what let's hear about what she does. I'd love to hear how all this comes together in the work that you offer because I believe that this is a link God is putting together for someone out there.

SPEAKER_02 43:01

What does it look like when a woman begins to work with you let me um just say this one of the things in terms of my journey is that as an educator I've often um saw just something emerge as I taught students and in this case youth and I teach them how to write and specifically when I get to the section on spoken word there is something special that comes through in terms of that light because analytical writing comes from the head poetry comes from the heart baby it comes from the heart it comes from it comes from who you are so the woman working with me or groups of women in a sense that writing is my modality See, writing is what I know. Writing is what's in my wheelhouse. I also I'm not a certified in meditation and all of that, but people say I have a common voice. And I use what I know worked for me. And that does include meditation, but there are a lot of somatic exercises, for example. What I am is an arts integration master teacher as well. I do have that. And so I bring drama and I bring music, I bring visual art into the experience. And when you do that and open the senses with the body, then we are creating an environment to write. And we're creating an environment, not just spoken word, which can double as affirmations, if you would. Okay, so you write to your inner child. So it's the balance of two writing poems, writing letters, and bringing in uh, you know, the meditation, somatic exercise, and so on and so forth. And one of the things I want to do, probably in 2027, is um I would love to bring in a sound healer um and just collaborate with the person who does that. I don't have that skill, but I would love to collaborate with someone who does and and make it maybe a half day or full-day retreat. So continuously building.

SPEAKER_00 45:45

Wow, absolutely, absolutely. And you know, there is so much that we get to do, we get to step into if God's nudging you, please do connect with Anne-Marie, because I believe that there is a there is a different intention when you are feeling like you need to pull back and you press beyond that to move forward. That is your first step to having the transformation you are seeking because you have taken the action to do it. And not everybody gets to step into every space, but if you are feeling it, please be obedient. And then absolutely you know, we are here together talking about this because we get to all work together to do things because nothing works on its own, people cannot be supported only by one person. You know what? It takes a village, and it always takes a village. And what does it mean to you, Anne-Marie, to have a village?

SPEAKER_02 46:58

Um connection with the community is everything. Uh the connection is what makes this life wonderful. Uh, because when you are isolated or you are feeling that you are by yourself, feeling alone, that is the gateway to depression, and that is the gateway to other negative things. So to be in community with others, to be connected to the source, and to the source this way as well. That's what as human beings we are created for, and God promises that he will never leave you nor forsake you. And who are we to question God on that part?

SPEAKER_00 47:56

Absolutely, and you know, when you look to God at your as your source as well, you realize that you can do this because he's the source. You're not doing this in your own, on your own bat. That's why, folks, it's so important to acknowledge and recognize that God is with you in this. God isn't standing up there saying, Well, you got that wrong, you got that wrong, you got that wrong. God isn't even saying you took too long. There is nothing negative about what God is saying. You know what He is saying? Take my hand, let's walk this together.

SPEAKER_02 48:36

Yes, let's walk this together. And, you know, going back to your question in terms of people connecting with me, uh, Nikki, one of the things that I can do, um, you know, one of the things we do in the business is we stack our shows and we roll them out the different weeks. But uh in terms of if people are interested, I would I would do like an online virtual workshop, let's say up to maybe 12 or or 15, no more than 15 people. So we can spend an hour, hour and a half together just going through some of the writing processes that I'm speaking of and that I shared today. So I'm willing to offer that to your audience in terms of people, yeah, people connected with me.

SPEAKER_00 49:34

Yeah, we will drop that in the chat so that you can connect. That that is a huge gift. That is a huge gift. Thank you. Thank you for that. Because people go, I know how to write. You ain't heard the way Anne-Marie talks you through this.

SPEAKER_02 49:51

I'm not a poet, you know. That's the first thing people say, I'm not a poet. Uh you you have a thought, you're a poet.

SPEAKER_00 49:59

Yeah, it's like people say to me, I'm not a speaker. I go, how old are you? 50? Okay, so you've probably been speaking for 48 years. Yes, it's just a different perspective on it, and yes, it is such a powerful healing tool. So take us up on that.

SPEAKER_02 50:20

Yes, and I'll connect with you and set a date, and so we will do that.

SPEAKER_00 50:25

Absolutely, and that's exciting. But do you feel the peace from this lady, folks? And yet, do you see the joy that shines through her? And that's what makes you know. So, Anne-Marie, before we go, any last words for our audience before I have a few giggles with you?

SPEAKER_02 50:48

My last word is to tell the person listening that you are already enough. You are already enough, and maybe you can't see your way through. Maybe you have a lot of questions that you're asking, and sometimes we just need somebody to come alongside us and help us find our way so we can go to the next part of our journey. But you are enough.

SPEAKER_00 51:24

Thank you for that. Okay, coffee or tea? Tea. What book would you recommend every everyone read?

SPEAKER_02 51:43

Wow. This summer I read um a book, The Seven Daughters of Dupree. Love the book, The Seven Daughters of Dupree, D-U-P-R-E-E. Loved it, fascinated. Favorite dessert, apple pie and ice cream.

SPEAKER_00 52:04

The hot and the cool got me going, girl. Well, there you have it. We'll end on that sweet note. And remember, folks, if you enjoyed this episode, subscribe. If you got touched by this and you know somebody else who this could benefit from hearing, who might just see this, you know, it's not just me. This is actually normal. Other people go through this. Please share the link with them. Share the link with them. Don't keep it to yourself because there is joy, even if you don't recognize that it's there right now. It is there. It's just being silenced by all the clouds of other things. And as Anne-Marie has shown us, those things can be brought out in the journaling, in the writing. Give them the tools that we've spoken about. So share this episode. And Anne Marie, what always a pleasure to have you here. Thank you so much. And thank you for who you are. Thank you for the joy that you bring and everything you do. And I look forward to that workshop.

SPEAKER_02 53:13

Thank you, Nikki. I appreciate you. And thank you for the opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 53:19

You are welcome. So, folks, remember that joy isn't the bonus that you get at the end, joy is the strategy that gets you to the end. Because as we were saying earlier, you find it in the moments that you look for the gift in the difficult situations. So I declare blessing and abundance over you. I declare joy in every circumstance. Now go out, enjoy, and peace. And may the trees of the fields clap their hands and you recognize God's goodness. We'll see you all in the next episode. Blessings all. Bye. Bye-bye. Thank you so much for joining me on the Joy Inspired Podcast at www.joinspiedpodcast.com. Make sure you hit that subscribe button so that you can get this in every other episode that comes out. We have lots of great stuff coming, and you don't want to miss it. So make sure to hit that subscribe. I'm so grateful for all the reviews and comments, and I look forward to serving you in next week's episode.