Hello Friends! We are back! In this episode of Superlatively Yes, Jen and I reconnect to discuss the importance of self-acceptance, the power of friendship, and navigating life's challenges. We explore the shift away from traditional New Year's resolutions towards a more compassionate and understanding approach to personal growth. We truly laugh and enjoy our heartfelt conversation, interruptions and all! We talk about the significance of embracing one's current season in life and the necessity of support in achieving personal goals. Also, Jen and I explore the themes of survival mode, self-care, and emotional wellness. We also discuss the challenges of navigating personal and professional changes, the importance of self-compassion, and strategies for managing stress and burnout. There is such a huge need for understanding one's emotional state and the significance of spiritual wellness in maintaining balance and perspective in life. We are so glad to be here with you on this amazing platform and in this precious community. Tanya Superlatively Yes website Superlatively Yes on Patreon Superlatively Yes Instagram Page Superlatively Yes Facebook Page Jasa’s Instagram Jasa’s Facebook Tanya’s Instagram Tanya’s Facebook Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back and New Beginnings 02:05 The Power of Friendship and Support 06:03 Embracing Self-Acceptance 10:07 Navigating Life's Challenges 14:06 Mindset Shifts for Growth 17:50 The Importance of Self-Compassion 23:37 Navigating Change and Respect in Education 26:14 Understanding Survival Mode 31:22 Strategies for Self-Care and Compassion 35:46 The Importance of Spiritual Wellness 39:59 Embracing Change and Moving Forward TRANSCRIPT: Hello listeners. Welcome to Superlatively Yes's seventh season. We are back in this first episode of 2025 and we are so excited to connect with you all and bring some fun, fresh new content. Today I am here with my good friend and yours, Jennifer McCrodden. You know Jen, she's been around since season one. She's an OG. Jasa, our hilarious world traveling friend will be in and out this season. Before you get concerned, everyone and everything is fine. We're fine. We're just like in a super busy season. And this makes a lot of sense to us right now. We're so excited. We're committed to all of you in the SY community, committed to this platform. And we love this opportunity. Okay. Since we last had Jen on the Superlatively Yes podcast, she has become a drum roll please certified life coach. And do you know who has benefited the most from this so far? Me. I love to unwrap topics and conversations with Jen because she has such a wise and unique perspective. I learned something new from her guys every time we have a coaching session or a long lunch at Tacos for Life. Welcome back to the Superlatively, I'm sorry, the Superlatively Yes podcast, Jen. Jen (01:25.08) Thank you, Tanya. And that is so kind of you to say. I have greatly benefited from life coaching as well, and always from having tacos with you and hanging out. So it's a mutual benefit for sure. Tanya N Smith (01:35.535) Tanya N Smith (01:39.867) It really is. Yeah. Okay. So, let's just get right into it. Listen, everybody listen. Jen wrote me this letter and one of our back and forth moments of talking through topics and it absolutely made my day. It made me laugh out loud and that is kind of hard to do. So I want you to hear it. I want you to hear in her sweet voice and then we're going to talk about it right after. Jen (01:44.311) Yes. Jen (02:05.356) All right, a letter to my dear friend Tanya. Dear Tanya, all right, before we begin, a disclaimer. Do you remember when your grandparents used this phrase? If I had a quarter, I think my grandparents said if I had a dime, for every time you, fill in the blank, I'd retire and move away and be rich. Well, sadly, my friend, due to inflation, we are retiring coin money. Tanya N Smith (02:25.235) Mm-hmm. for sure. Jen (02:34.626) And we are only allowed to deal in tens and twenties because I mean, it's spendy out there folks. It's spending. So Tanya, if we had a $10 for every time either one of us has used one of these phrases, we would be podcasting from an island somewhere. And here are the phrases most often used by us. And this is why I can't be in charge. All the time. Here's another one that we use all the time. Tanya N Smith (02:47.667) Mm. Tanya N Smith (02:59.292) every day. Jen (03:03.608) From now on, you are the one making all my decisions. I'm done. I'm done. Why didn't you step in and intervene? Tanya N Smith (03:07.813) every other day. Jen (03:17.476) of For the Love of Nancy Reagan. You let me. Tanya N Smith (03:19.933) For the love. Yes, why did you let me do that? my word. Jen (03:25.42) Yes, and I don't know why Nancy Reagan, that's just who we use. And then here's one of my all-time favorites that we have said multiple times. What would Dolly do? I mean, what would Dolly do? Tanya N Smith (03:36.051) preach that one what would Dolly do? Listen, we know she would put on her heels and put on her makeup and she would look fantastic doing it. Jen (03:43.894) and she would do it, and she would do it well. So listen. Tanya N Smith (03:46.545) I love these. love these. I'm sorry. You have more. Go on, go on. Jen (03:49.484) No, no, listen, I'm not too proud to say it and I know you're not too proud to say it either. We need help, all of the help, in all of the ways, at all of the times. And both of us helping each other and supporting each other, it's been a pillar of our friendship for the past 25 years. The fact that we have either been on the front row of each other's lives or possibly co-piloted one another into some kind of shenanigans. Tanya N Smith (04:06.087) Yeah. Yeah. Jen (04:18.068) situation and the goings-on and the doings, it means that we have historical records. These are receipts, if you will, of all of the things. And so this letter is simply to remind you that there are no takesy-backsies. We've come too far. We're just going to keep moving on. And as such, I was going to make you a promise that I was going to be more chill in 2025. But even as I'm writing this, you and I both know Tanya N Smith (04:23.911) Mm-hmm. Tanya N Smith (04:47.059) You Jen (04:47.296) And I can, I know you're laughing because that's just simply not going to happen. But here's what I'm going to attempt. And by attempt, that means of course you're signed up to support in all the ways I'm going to attempt self acceptance. No wait before you I roll self acceptance does not include the following. We will not be accepting fine lines and wrinkles. Tanya N Smith (05:15.027) Mm-mm. Jen (05:16.856) gray hair, or ugly shoes. Tanya N Smith (05:17.811) No, no, no, ugly shoes and no, absolutely not. Jen (05:22.67) There may be more that we add to this list later, but those are the top three that we will not be accepting in 2025. Tanya N Smith (05:28.453) No fine lines and wrinkles, no gray hair for us. For us, other people it's okay, but for us, we can't do it. Yeah. Right. Jen (05:34.21) You know, some people look amazing in gray hair and I celebrate it, but I'm probably not one of those people. So perhaps you were suspecting that I was going to reach out to you in early 2025 and say, this is the all new improved gin, new year, new me. But alas, no, but also yes, because I think that even though self-acceptance might seem small, It's going to be something that's big. And so part of self-acceptance might be me being OK with being an ambivert, which I can hardly even say. Tanya N Smith (06:05.777) Yeah. Tanya N Smith (06:12.787) Did you say ambivert? Did you say the word ambivert in the first five minutes of our podcast? Jen (06:19.63) Yes, yes I did. Mic drop. I need to be okay with not writing a novel, but enjoy writing all the same. Okay, we're gonna accept that my pie crust will always be classified as rustic. Okay, it's just going to be, that's how it's going to go. I will always be reading at least two books. I... Tanya N Smith (06:30.675) Hmm. Tanya N Smith (06:38.163) Hmm. Jen (06:47.118) Probably have spices in my spice cabinet that are expired. I mean who really needs coriander honestly Tanya N Smith (06:53.331) What is it? No, don't even need to It's okay. I've gone this long. Jen (06:56.162) We can't go down that rabbit hole. Jen (07:00.376) There are pictures of you and me from the 1900s before straightening irons and hair therapy, honestly. And they're going to stay out there. And here's what we need to do. We need to say, she was me. I am her and accept that. So here are marching orders together, dear friend for 2025. God loves us and we love one another. And let's just keep moving on. Tanya N Smith (07:05.871) bless our hearts. Tanya N Smith (07:18.589) Yeah, yeah, Tanya N Smith (07:29.991) I love it. Yay! Do you know how it thrilled me to read this letter? Like it was, okay, first of all, a letter, come on. Who has sent me a letter? I felt like the Blue's Clues guys. Like, yeah, I got a letter. And then I just love everything about it. And here's why it meant so much to me. You and I have been on this roller coaster when it comes to all the things we are supposed to accept or try to forget or. Jen (07:31.107) Love, Jen. Jen (07:36.654) Aww. I know, I was throwing it back old school. Tanya N Smith (07:58.575) work through on our healing journey. I mean, and I'm not downplaying any of that stuff, but isn't it fascinating that we have seen a revolt or maybe a revolution against New Year's resolutions, the New Year, new you mindset. And I wonder, know, friend, like, what does it say about us as a society that we are done? We are done with it always being on a 12 month improvement plan that starts every 12 months. Jen (08:12.792) Right. Jen (08:27.086) Right. Well, first of all, at first I thought it's just
