In Episode 32 of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes her dear friend Sabrina Johnson, MDiv, for a heartfelt conversation about friendship, faith, food, resilience, and finding your place at the table.

Sabrina shares her journey of leaving Los Angeles during COVID-19, rebuilding her life in Prescott, Arizona, and facing a devastating accident that taught her how to receive the same love and care she had so freely given to others. She also tells the touching story of the small heart her surgeon created from the cement used to repair her broken femur—a beautiful symbol of compassion and healing.

Throughout her recovery, Sabrina discovered healing through qigong classes, water walking, and artwork—practices that helped strengthen her body, nurture her creativity, and renew her spirit.

Sometimes we are afraid of what we are walking away from—and equally afraid of what we are walking toward. But when we learn to trust, the gifts are revealed, enriching our lives in ways we never dreamed possible.

Sabrina is the author of How to Sit & Stay with Compassionate Meditation, host of Listen In, Listen Up with Sabrina Johnson, and Spiritual Director at Unity of Flagstaff. She earned her Master of Divinity in 2021, and is continuing her path toward ordination as a Unity minister.

Join Peggy and Sabrina for a warm, funny, and deeply personal conversation about beginning again—and moving forward with grace and hope.

CONNECT WITH SABRINA

Unity of Flagstaff: https://www.unityofflagstaff.org/

Watch Sabrina Johnson at Unity of Flagstaff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=himGYv_1kfA

Purchase How to Sit & Stay with Compassionate Meditation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944177760

Learn more about Peggy’s books, journals, podcast, and speaking engagements: https://peggysweeneymcdonald.com

#resilience #foodstories #LifeInTheAZone #sabrinajohnson #friendship #spirituality #beginningagain #lifeafter60 #trustthejourney #graceandhope #compassionatemeditation #healing #artforhealing #recoveryjourney #spirituality #womensstories #qigong #journaling

How do we continue to embrace life while caring for the people we love?

In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes longtime friend, film industry professional, and creative inspiration Lisa Annitti for a conversation about friendship, caregiving, creativity, and choosing joy.

Lisa shares her funny food story, A Coconut Pie and a Bottle of Wine" that inspired Peggy's show and book, Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde...Life Stories About Food.

Together, Peggy and Lisa discuss caring for aging parents, the importance of caregiving advocates, and Lisa's experience supporting her 94-year-old mother from across the country. They also explore why caregivers shouldn't put their own dreams on hold, including Lisa's decision to take a solo long weekend to Paris—a beautiful reminder that we all deserve moments of adventure, renewal, and joy.

Lisa's message is simple but powerful: "Go. Don't stop yourself from doing the things that bring you joy."

• The true story behind Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde...
• How Lisa's coconut pie and a bottle of wine story inspired Peggy's live show and book
• The power of lifelong friendship
• Navigating long-distance caregiving for aging parents
• Why caregiving advocates can make all the difference
• Finding the courage to keep traveling, dreaming, and living while caregiving
• How to find joy—even in life's "meanwhile" moments

#friendship #foodstories #solotravel #paris #caregiving #agingparents #roadtrips #findingjoy #family #assistedliving #creativity #author #caregiversupport #podcast #beignets #lifeintheazone #meanwhilebackatcafedumonde #cafedumonde #pinkcloudmoments

In this episode of Life in the A-Zone, I sit down with author, podcaster, and caregiving advocate Jennifer Fink for a heartfelt conversation about the realities of long-term caregiving. Together, we discuss balancing work and family responsibilities, navigating the caregiving fog that so many caregivers experience, advocating for loved ones, and the importance of caring for ourselves along the way.

We also explore the often-overlooked season that follows caregiving—the healing, rediscovery, and adjustment that come after our loved ones are gone. Jennifer shares wisdom gained through years of caregiving experience, offering practical insights, encouragement, and hope for anyone walking this journey.

Whether you are currently caring for a loved one, supporting a caregiver, or finding your footing after loss, this conversation reminds us that we are not alone.

Connect with Jennifer Fink:

• Dementia Decoded Substack
• Dementia Decoded Podcast (Apple & Spotify)
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

#dementia #alzheimers #caregiving #caregivingjourney #brainhealth #griefandloss #podcasthost #agingparents #alzheimerssupport #familycaregiver #JenniferFink #dementiadecoded #memorycare #lifeintheAzone #dementia #dogstory #author