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What happens when grief stops you in your tracks? For Diandra Ford Wing, the answer was to completely step away from her career and create space for healing through writing. After losing both her aunt and mother within 14 months, Diandra found herself unable to continue with business as usual. Instead of forcing herself to push through, she made the brave decision to quit her job and focus on processing her overwhelming grief.

The result of this courageous pause was her memoir "Red Bird," which chronicles not only her journey through loss but also explores her experiences with body image issues, mental health struggles, and her time in a mental health facility after a suicide attempt. Through raw, honest storytelling, Diandra transforms her pain into purpose, offering readers a glimpse into how facing our darkest moments can ultimately lead to healing.

Perhaps most powerful is Diandra's central message: give yourself grace. Throughout her life, she battled feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness, only finding peace when she learned to be gentler with herself. "If I hadn't given myself grace at some stage of my life, I would not be where I am today," she reflects. This reminder feels especially poignant in a world that often expects us to process grief quickly and return to productivity.

Whether you're currently navigating grief, supporting someone who is, or simply want to be better prepared for life's inevitable challenges, this episode offers valuable perspective on honoring your needs during difficult seasons. Listen now and discover why sometimes the most healing choice is to pause, breathe, and give yourself permission to process loss in your own way.

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Red Bird, By Diandra F Wing

https://www.booksbydiandra.com/

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The constant juggle of being a working mom sometimes feels like a pressure cooker ready to explode. That morning rush of getting kids to camp while managing work calls, racing to doctor's appointments, and trying not to melt down over forgotten insurance cards—sound familiar? These seemingly small moments stack up until we're ready to burst into tears over what others might view as minor inconveniences.

Why do we struggle so much with letting others care for us? I caught myself telling my children, "I wish someone took care of me as well as I take care of everyone else," revealing a deeper truth about control issues and possibly past trauma that many women share but rarely discuss. This isn't just about being busy—it's about the emotional toll of constantly managing everything and everyone while neglecting our own needs.

Beyond the daily shuffle, I've discovered something truly transformative for my health journey: intermittent fasting. After losing 150 pounds and then regaining 20, I needed a sustainable approach that worked with my busy life. What started as a weight management tool revealed itself as something far more powerful. Harvard and Johns Hopkins research confirms that intermittent fasting reduces insulin levels, increases human growth hormone, activates cellular repair through autophagy, and may even play a role in cancer prevention. Perhaps most fascinating is how fasting complements sleep—when we don't eat late at night, our brains can properly "wash" themselves during deep sleep, removing plaques associated with dementia.

My approach wasn't perfect at first—I bribed myself through the initial fasting periods with promises of treats during my eating windows. Yet even with imperfect implementation, I saw results that eventually led to healthier food choices and a more vegetarian lifestyle. The journey has been transformative, with my doctor recently confirming impressive health metrics that go far beyond the scale.

Have you tried intermittent fasting or found yourself overwhelmed by the invisible load of managing everything? I'd love to hear your experience—message me and let's continue this conversation about finding sustainable approaches to health while navigating the beautiful chaos of life.

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Have you ever felt trapped on the hamster wheel of children's activities, racing from soccer to dance to tutoring with barely a moment to breathe? You're not alone. In this refreshingly honest episode, I share my radical decision to cancel ALL my children's fall extracurricular activities—and why it might be the best parenting move I've made in years.

The "busy badge of honor" that many parents wear has become a status symbol in modern parenting. But at what cost? I reveal how my family's packed schedule left little time for homework, family dinners, or simply being present with my children. The realization hit me: we don't need to fill every moment of our children's lives with structured activities for them to thrive.

Looking back at my own childhood as an '80s kid, I reflect on how different things were—one dance class here, a season of soccer there—yet I turned out perfectly fine. This leads to a deeper conversation about the immense pressure we put on today's children to excel in everything from preschool to college, often pushing them down paths they never chose for themselves. The truth is, many of us with expensive degrees aren't even using them, having made major life decisions at 17 or 18 that didn't align with who we truly became.

What would happen if we stepped back and asked: what truly matters? What if success isn't measured by how many activities we can squeeze into a week, but by finding what genuinely lights us up? This fall, I'm choosing a different path—one with more breathing room, more focus on education, and more time for my family to simply be together.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by your family's schedule or questioning the path you're on, this episode invites you to reconsider what "having it all" really means. Follow me on social media to join upcoming live streams where we'll continue these important conversations about parenting, purpose, and finding your own definition of success.

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When was the last time you truly experienced silence? Not just the absence of conversation, but a complete break from podcasts, music, videos, and scrolling? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore how our society has normalized the overconsumption of media and the profound impact it's having on our mental wellbeing.

The constant barrage of stimulation—listening to podcasts while walking, scrolling through social media in the bathroom, playing music while cooking, watching shows during meals—leaves no breathing space for our minds. This perpetual input correlates with increasing reports of grogginess, demotivation, and disconnection. I share my personal experience staying largely off social media and the internal debate this creates: gaining peace of mind while potentially missing out on being "in the loop."

We also dive into the rarely discussed reality of perimenopause that many women in their early 40s experience. From unpredictable cycles and extreme mood swings to strategies for hormone balancing, this candid conversation acknowledges the challenges while emphasizing you're not alone. The unfiltered sharing of personal experiences creates a space where women can feel understood and validated in their hormonal journeys.

The episode concludes with a gentle challenge: find moments in your day to disconnect completely. Whether it's taking a walk without headphones, eating a meal without watching something, or sitting in silence for five minutes, these small acts of disconnection paradoxically help us reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. Your relationship with silence might feel uncomfortable at first, but it could be the very thing your overtaxed mind is craving.

Ready to transform your relationship with media consumption? Listen now, then take a moment of silence to let it sink in. Share your experience with disconnecting—what challenges did you face, and what benefits did you notice?

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Have you ever realized you haven't sat down for a proper meal all day because you've been too busy taking care of everyone else? That moment of clarity hit me recently, sparking a deeper reflection on how we as women often put our own basic needs last when caring for our families.

Today's episode dives into the delicate balance between self-sacrifice and self-care that many women struggle with daily. I open up about my own habits - standing while eating, forgetting to hydrate properly when my family is home - and how these seemingly small choices reflect larger patterns in how we prioritize ourselves. As our own harshest critics, we frequently beat ourselves up for not doing everything perfectly, when giving ourselves grace is what we truly need.

Beyond personal care routines, I share a heartfelt conversation with my 97-year-old grandmother that challenged me to examine my traditional marriage dynamics. Despite considering myself a feminist, I've chosen a relationship with very traditional gender roles - something that often surprises people who know me through this podcast. My husband and I maintain what I jokingly call a "90s household," with clearly defined responsibilities and boundaries, including his preference that I don't participate in girls' nights out or bar scenes. Contrary to what some might assume, this arrangement has never felt restrictive to me because it aligns perfectly with my own desires after fully enjoying my independent years.

The beauty of womanhood lies in making choices that honor your authentic self, regardless of external expectations or judgment. Whether you thrive in a traditional relationship or prefer modern arrangements, what matters most is that your life reflects your true values rather than societal pressure. Remember, there is no shame in how you're living your life, as long as you're at peace with your choices. We're all writing our own stories - make yours one that brings you genuine fulfillment.

Don't miss our first live episode this Sunday at 9:30 AM streaming across all platforms! Bring your questions, thoughts, and join the conversation as we continue supporting and elevating women's voices together.

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Have you ever caught yourself trying to "fix" something about your child that isn't actually broken? That's exactly what happened when my introverted son wanted to leave a crowded pool party early, triggering a profound parenting realization that stopped me in my tracks.

This deeply personal episode explores the reflexive ways we sometimes pathologize our children's perfectly normal personality traits. As an extrovert who thrives in social settings, I initially struggled when my son withdrew from a boisterous birthday celebration. My immediate instinct was troubling: something must be wrong, this needs correction, therapy might help him "cope better" with crowds. But through reflection and conversation with my husband (who revealed he was exactly the same as a child), I experienced a pivotal parenting awakening.

The truth was blindingly simple yet profound – there was nothing wrong with my son not enjoying large, rowdy gatherings. His ability to recognize his discomfort and clearly communicate his boundaries demonstrated emotional intelligence many adults lack. The real issue wasn't his behavior but my apologetic framing of it to others, as if his personality represented a deficiency rather than a perfectly valid way of experiencing the world.

This episode cuts to the heart of a universal parenting challenge: discerning when to push our children beyond comfort zones versus when to honor their authentic selves. How do we support growth while respecting innate temperament? Where's the line between encouraging social skills and forcing conformity to our own expectations? As we navigate these questions together, I'd love to hear your experiences with similar parenting crossroads. How have you learned to celebrate your child's authentic personality, even when it differs from your own?

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How would you feel if your child suddenly embodied everything about you - your self-talk, how you treat others, your entire essence? Would you be proud? This question serves as a powerful mirror for every parent's journey, forcing us to examine not just how we parent, but how we exist in the world.

The podcast explores several thought-provoking parenting paradoxes we rarely question. Why do we find it perfectly normal for adults to need sleep aids like weighted blankets or the comfort of a partner, yet label infants as "needy" when they require physical closeness to sleep? After spending nine months inside their mothers, we somehow expect these tiny humans to adapt immediately to sleeping alone in dark rooms. This cultural expectation stands in stark contrast to their biological needs for security and connection.

Finding the delicate balance between supporting our children and allowing them to develop problem-solving skills presents another parenting challenge. When should we step in during sibling conflicts, and when should we let them work things out? Personal experiences often color these decisions - my own childhood experiences with a sibling who damaged my self-esteem makes me particularly vigilant about certain dynamics between my children. Yet I recognize the importance of letting them develop their own conflict resolution skills.

The most meaningful indicator that we're doing something right comes when others comment on our children's behavior outside our presence. Those moments of positive feedback suggest that despite the daily struggles and second-guessing, something good is getting through. I'd love to hear how other parents navigate these challenges - how do you decide when to intervene versus when to step back? Share your thoughts and experiences through the link in the description.

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Ever wonder why we repeat behaviors we swore we'd never adopt from our parents? The answer lies in generational trauma – a powerful psychological phenomenon that shapes our responses even when we're consciously trying to break free.

Through the lens of a fascinating flea jar experiment, I explore how limitations learned in one generation mysteriously transfer to the next without any direct experience. Just as fleas stop jumping higher after hitting a lid (even when the lid is removed), humans unconsciously inherit boundaries from our parents' experiences. For many of us born in the 1980s with Baby Boomer parents, we're actively working to recognize and dismantle these inherited limitations.

I get vulnerable about my own journey breaking cycles of physical and emotional abuse, sharing personal stories about my imperfect parenting moments and how I handle them differently than previous generations did. When I slip into old patterns like yelling, I make a conscious choice to apologize to my children and recommit to change. It's beautiful witnessing how they're developing emotional intelligence in response – offering breathing exercises when they see me getting frustrated.

The transformative power of choice stands at the center of this episode. At some point, we must acknowledge that while our childhood experiences weren't fair, continuing harmful patterns is now our responsibility to address. Through practices like meditation, journaling, or mindful walking, we create the space needed to recognize triggers and choose different responses. There will be setbacks, but persistent small steps forward eventually create meaningful change.

Join me in this thoughtful exploration of breaking free from inherited limitations. Text me directly using the function in the description – I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences as we continue building this safe space for women's voices and stories.

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