Unimaginable Wellness For Aspiring Mom NonFiction Writers Melissa Llarena

This is episode 170. I’m your host Melissa Llarena. I’ve been attending SXSW out here in Austin,TX and also volunteering on the Comedy Crew team these last days and weeks. I decided to tune into topics that hovered around imagination + wellness + women and here’s what I realized about what was being discussed vs. not being discussed in these three buckets:
Wellness - stigma, sector-specific nuances, and what’s in our locus of control vs. not – Xanax (more mental wellness was discussed than physical and nutritional wellness)
Imagination - The band New Order really made it clear that their educational experiences were not really invested in the use of their imagination. Makes me wonder if ours has evolved. I also say this having attended some SXSW EDU events the week prior.
Women - Black women. Corporate working women. Startup women. The conversation about being a mom was covered but driven more by the panelists as an afterthought OR to cover medical procedures to freeze eggs. Again, I didn't go to all talks BUT I did see the list of events every single day and I can't say there were many discussions where motherhood or being a mom was the headline. I wish there were more talks relevant to moms. How's that SXSW relevant? Don't we deserve technology, music, and film relevant to our lives as moms? Am I the only person thinking that when a movie is directed by a working mom with a kid in toe she should get extra credit for that Herculean effort? Perhaps, I can change that in 2024. TBD.
Now, why are these ideas important to you a mom who wants to create her desired form of art from a company to a book or screenplay?
There are panel picker polls out there that signify what will be popular or what is on the mind of SXSW attendees. The panelists, topics, themes as chosen by the people. So why aren’t more people interested in innovation to help us moms become better moms? Where are the mom movies? I mean I did see Furies about a mom who was hella pissed about her family being killed and it showed how maniacal we can get if someone touches our babies but I'm not sure if any other films talked about motherhood or were put together by moms. What if we could pull out our mom identity and use that alongside our workplace identity? Imagine how many conversations this fact when placed on a badge could strike up? What are our role + sector-specific insights? I sat on a mental health talk related to artists who go on the road BUT what about pulling out the ones who do so with kids?
It feels like the roles we get “credit for” are ones that guys can have too in top-tier festivals…but as moms, we are always playing the mom role and the job-related-role. These roles are what impact our wellness uniquely, stretch our imagination quite a bit, and in my own life…has been a bonus to being a woman…I get to choose if I want to play the role of a mom. Why can't that role be held in as high of a regard as the global head of design for a credit card company? I'd co-sign the same deal for dads too.
What about mental health for working moms? For start-up moms? For moms in tech? For moms who are veterinarians?
What about imagination as represented by mom directors? What about mom screenwriters? What of mom talent agents?  
What about calling out working moms on stage and on name tags saying you are a mom. You can opt-in but why not have our mom titles alongside our professional titles?
So this week has been bonkers! I’ve learned a lot and I’m so ready to return to my consistent meditation practice! Any other tired or uncentered or scatterbrained moms out there? P.S. I was you these last two weeks working and attending SXSW. I see you! I love you. Let's be compassionate to each other....
If this resonates then YOU are so invited to grab a FREE gift of 12 mediation prompts specifically tailored for moms!  You are also invited to participate in my FREE webinar for moms who want to get back to meditation and be consistent a

Have you ever fantasized about relocating your family and yourself to Europe? What about Australia? Or are you the mom who is being whisked away abroad because your partner was just granted a VISA? This is for you, my fellow globetrotter! 
Today, we have Jenna Davis, who relocated to Germany for a boy, got married, and now has two children. Originally from Canada, Jenna has gone from ex-pat to immigrant in Dusseldorf, Germany. In this conversation, we discuss what you can do in a foreign country (launch an online business, get a Ph.D., etc.), how ex-pats bring a unique perspective to foreign countries, and how you too can make this work assignment the perfect time to reset your own professional identity.
When Jenna came to Germany, her yoga pants and her messy bun didn’t quite fit in with Dusseldorf’s excess of Prada shoes and Gucci bags. Moving to Düsseldorf was like that first day of Kindergarten… 24/7. She didn’t know anyone and the Germans looked at her funny. This is also when she turned her career in marketing and tourism into something bigger. And what started as a small local ex-pat blog in Düsseldorf has now grown into an expert-led online relocation course, a YouTube channel with more than 40K subscribers, and multiple Facebook communities growing strong. 
At the end of the day, the most important takeaway we can learn from all this is that life is too short. What if the thing you’ve been wanting to do is actually going to be the best decision you will ever make? Hopefully, this episode will inspire you to take a leap as well!
In this episode, you will hear:
Life expectations before having kids vs. being in a whole different place decades later Expat vs. being an immigrant How living in a new country can change you? European vs. North American lifestyles Living in a place where you don’t know the language Giving birth in a foreign country and what that was like for Jenna German healthcare vs. Canadian maternity healthcare insurance A funny chat about pelvis floors because you need to laugh What is the unique perspective of being an ex-pat or foreigner in a new country? Marketing to travel blogger to expert of a specific area What if you go on an ex-pat assignment with your family? How can you use that time to advance or experiment with your own career? Raising kids in a different culture What if you are scared to launch your own business? Pros and cons of being a mom with a flexible business Ways to start exploring whether self-employment is right for you and your family How to launch a business in a foreign country? Does fear ever go away from being in a new country or being a business owner? What if you want to relocate to Germany? First steps for families SHARE this episode with a mom who daydreams or is packing up for a foreign country. 
Similar episodes:
How To Turn Life’s Silliness Into Your Brand Featuring Squidinki Co-Founder Max Mendez, Episode 136
The SECRET to SUCCESS Behind Australia’s Chocolatier Rebecca Knights, Episode 135
Supporting Resources:
Website: www.lifeinduesseldorf.com & www.lifeingermany.com
Instagram: @lifeingermany_
Twitter: @lifeindus
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeindus, https://www.facebook.com/lifeindus, https://www.facebook.com/lifeingermanyofficial
Subscribe and Review
Have you subscribed to my podcast for moms who read and want to write a nonfiction book? I’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 
I’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. 
DOWNLOAD FIVE JOURNAL PROMPTS + A WACKY TRUE STORY FROM MY UPCOMING BOOK MOM LIFE RESCRIPTED TO GET YOU STARTED ON ADDING MORE PLAYFULNESS INTO YOUR LIFE
https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ 
Not feeling like the

How to restart your meditation practice now as a new mom or mom to school-age kids (be sure to sign-up for a LIVE and FREE mom-friendly meditation session too!)
This is episode 168. I’m your host Melissa Llarena. Last week I participated in a 6-day silent retreat at home. My three sons are 9,9, and 11. I am also married. I’ll let you in on my inner thoughts during that time when all I could do was write post-its to communicate with the world. I want to also let you off the hook my fellow mom who doesn’t have a meditation pillow, time to think on her toilet alone, or a clue how to stay put for 45 minutes without falling asleep. My focus in this snack bite episode will be on one new mom who also participated in this silent retreat and what I heard from someone who once did have all of that stuff and time to meditate like a well-rested 20-year-old goddess.
 
I felt embarrassed telling people I was doing a silent meditation – trader joe’s I felt like I had to cover my ass and tell them I was still doing mom things – responded to my beta readers….it was not a vacation I felt like I was going against the narrative that as a mom to three, I should be knee-deep in dirty laundry and it should be impossible for me to have zen moments but the truth is... I wasn’t the only mom with kids in her area on that silent retreat
Let’s pull out one very specific example:
1) There was a sleepless new mom with a baby…she wanted to know if she was doing it right or what to do….in that Zombie state
2) Then there’s that former 20-year-old…she hadn’t considered that the bar was too freakin high. You could meditate in a shower. You can meditate at the supermarket. You can meditate with your babies in their bedrooms.
So here is a specific action step you can take today to start realizing the benefits of meditating as a mom….
Lower the standard of what meditating should or must look like Find a way to introduce a heightened sense of awareness to an everyday activity that you do right now Brushing your teeth Making coffee Nursing Use that slice of time to pay attention to your breathe OR Use that time to tell yourself something you wish the world would be telling you…as a new mom….such as You got this. You are doing a great job.
Now, I want to invite you to DOWNLOAD 12 easy and proven meditation prompts today. I wrote out the ones that have gotten me through my motherhood journey thus far. You will also have an opportunity to join me and other new moms on a free meditation experience on Sunday, March 26th, at 8 am CST. You can sign-up for the free prompts and join me LIVE on March 26th for one-hour (babies can come) to learn more about creating a ritual that fits your mom needs and schedule. Sign-up today and instantly grab my meditation prompts to get centered in two-minutes or fewer flat!
https://bit.ly/mindmom
SHARE this episode with a mom who enjoys reading nonfiction and/or is writing her own. 
Similar Episodes:
Kuniatsu “Coonie” Suzuki, Buddhist Monk, Talks About Meditation, His Buddhist Teachings, and Building Courage, Episode 26
https://www.melissallarena.com/kuniatsu-coonie-suzuki-talks-about-meditation-buddhist-teachings-and-building-courage-episode26/
20-Minute Heart-Centered Meditation For Moms Experiencing A Holiday Shitstorm
https://melissallarena.substack.com/p/20-minute-heart-centered-meditation
Subscribe and Review
Have you subscribed to my podcast for moms who read and want to write a nonfiction book? I’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 
I’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.
Grab your FREE chapter (complete with 5 game-changing journal prompts for moms) of my upcoming book entitled: Mom Life Re

This is episode 167 and I am your host Melissa Llarena. Today’s listener question comes from a coaching client a mom in academia and she asked what is the ONE new wellness habit you've incorporated into your mom life that has had the largest positive impact?
The habit is to be okay with declining food from my family and other people when it’s not in my best interest from a wellness perspective. This may sound rude or downright ungrateful to some of us especially if you are from a culture where food = love like us Latinos. However, this has been a choice for which I have zero regrets.
I believe that for you and for me we need to give our imagination its best shot possible to work for us --- whether it’s to help you come up with a new idea for a book or to figure out how to navigate the logistics necessary to make the time to do anything for yourself.
You need to think clearly (not be scatterbrained) and to innovate at the drop of a dime and for that reason alone wellness to me requires full ownership and discernment over what we eat. This habit was extremely important especially if you have been known to be a people pleaser or avoid confrontations.
Imagine if every time your loved one told you: don’t worry it’s only a cookie or come on what are you on a diet or look I made apple pie and we have cheesecake you decided that you didn’t want to cause a fuss or look ungrateful or cause an issue or rife? This is something that to me matters a ton and honestly as it related to my client choosing to appease a family member meant forgoing her weight loss goals. So how does this affect her ability to create the best work of her life? In this very specific way, energy and also self-trust. You eat sugar or turkey or don’t work out then you feel lethargic. You won’t have the energy to work after hours to launch your side hustle. Self-trust when it comes to self-trust you just undermined yourself to yourself and although no one outside of you hears that its you and this creates a slippery slope…you start accepting that lying to yourself is okay….this is in the wellness category but spills into other life areas too.
This habit of declining food that does not nourish you is so important because this is really hard and can undo a ton of effort. You are a mom. You need to operate on all of your cylinders. This is not about being ungrateful. It’s about standing up for yourself. You need to nourish yourself to give your imagination the opportunity to wake up, you need to have energy to want to reintroduce playfulness into your life, and you need to have clarity of mind to stretch your thinking when it comes to living life on your terms.
I am writing a book on this very topic and it would mean the world if you asked me your questions around the use of your imagination.  Have you ever felt like the least creative person you knew? Have you ever felt totally stuck and unsure what to do when it came to pressing reset on your life? What is stopping you (really) from bringing your most imaginative, fun, and encouraging self to fulfill your biggest dreams? Do you have a big dream? Have you stopped dreaming for yourself?
So now, I want to hear from you…what’s on your mind when it comes to achieving the kind of unimaginable wellness that can help you achieve your personal growth or professional ambitions as a woman with several talents and skills. What question would you like me to answer for you on a ten-minute or under podcast episode?
Catch me on Instagram @melissallarena 
 

Whether your kids are two or twelve, today’s guest, Ashley Kegley-Whitehead, a social impact entrepreneur and mom of two girls, has decided to redefine chores for kids. She has built tools you can use to entice your kids to do chores and turn them into responsible human beings.
Ashley is on a mission to build self-reliant, compassionate, and confident kids. She believes small things can have a big impact, and that the messages and stories we tell our children today will shape their imagination and outlook tomorrow. Ashley knows first-hand and understands the importance of how values and ideals show up in our communities, workplaces, and households. 
As parents, it's important that we're able to have bolder conversations with our kids about this topic – and start them young. Chores are cool as well as raising kids with confidence. We've got to start thinking about how we can introduce to them, at an early age, things that would really grow with them, providing them with that constant healthy support system. 
In this episode, you will hear:
How we can turn around how our kids think about chores
Why chores are important and can predict future success
Having a checklist and keeping the score
Discussing chores with a three-year-old and other tips
Giving your kid tools to take responsibility
A new definition of “chores” 
How to build lifelong habits that stretch our kids
There are intangible benefits to doing chores
The power of sideways listening and conversation starters you can use
Using chores as a time to have richer conversations with kiddos 
Ways to think about using a book as a wellspring of other product ideas
Self-publishing, hybrid, and traditional publishing as options for entrepreneurs
Key questions to ask yourself as you consider how to write and publish a book
What are some benefits of building a business and sharing the journey with your kids
Celebrating our kids’ wins – big and small
Integrating what you do and who you are
SHARE this episode with a mom who enjoys reading nonfiction and/or is writing her own. 
Similar Episodes:
Chad Romzek, Entrepreneur and Inventor of the Kick Ash Basket Talks About Career Transitions and Taking a Leap of Faith, Episode 39
https://www.melissallarena.com/chad-romzek-entrepreneur-and-inventor-talks-about-career-transitions-and-taking-a-leap-of-faith-episode-39/ 
How Ex-Corporate Mom Jo Dodd Went From Leaving Corporate America to Living in Jotopia, Episode 123
https://www.melissallarena.com/how-ex-corporate-mom-jo-dodd-went-from-leaving-corporate-america-to-living-in-jotopia-episode-123/
Supporting Resources:
Website: www.bigherimpact.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlelift.bigimpact/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlelift.bigimpact 
Ripple Reads 
https://ripplereads.com/
Girls Empowerment Network
https://www.girlsempowermentnetwork.org/ 
Subscribe and Review
Have you subscribed to my podcast for moms who read and want to write a nonfiction book? I’d love for you to subscribe if you haven’t yet. 
I’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.
Grab your FREE chapter of my upcoming book entitled: Mom Life Rescripted: Reawaken your imagination, reintroduce playfulness into your life, and stretch your thinking.
In the FREE chapter, you will instantly receive, get ready to:
See how I rewrote the “mom scripts” I inherited as a second-generation Latina who was raised to assume that becoming a mom was akin to a dream death sentence; can you relate?
Be taken back to the days when you were free to be whoever the heck you wished to be; watch how I relived my glory days so you can do the same without having to ru

Thank you for listening to this episode from my archives. Stay tuned for my brand new 10-minute Q&A episodes, new creative guests, and even news on my upcoming book! Send me a DM on Instagram @melissallarena – I would love to hear your thoughts on this “best of episode.”
Do you believe in marriage? Do you feel left out this Valentine’s Day? Where do you stand on this “need” to even have a partner on Valentine’s Day or forever? 
This week’s guest is my husband, Jesus Diaz, Jr., whom I met 25 years ago, and we’ve been married for 18 years. Some of our Valentine’s Days have been remarkable, and others we can’t even remember. 
This is Jesus’ second time on this podcast and he’s back due to popular demand. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone or with a partner, tune in to this conversation as Jesus shares his thoughts on loving ourselves and others too. This is not a gushy conversation between two married couples who feel like we have to recruit the world to follow our path. 
We both believe you should spend Valentine’s Day however you choose because you are the only person who best knows what your greatest expression of love is. You know what you need this “love season” more than the idealities that you see about love. 
In this episode, Jesus and I cover a lot of ground including whether marriage can be easy, the thought that divorce could be healthy, and how anyone can learn how to be a better recipient of love. 
Share this conversation with someone wondering if they did something wrong for not having the love of their life this Valentine’s Day. This episode might be what they need to feel adored. About Jesus Diaz, Jr.
A kind and gentle husband for almost 18 years and the father of my three sons – these are the roles that he has taken since we met back in 199. Jesus was 20 when we began dating back at NYU, where he was a computer science major at that time. It was when his Latino fraternity put together a dance called Caliente Jam where it all began.
Jesus and I have grown together, sharing our deepest secrets with each other. We dated for six years and then got married in a side chapel of his Jamaica, NY hometown church. Jesus has gone from boyfriend to fiancée to husband to co-parent through the years. He has played every role with a sincere desire to make things easy for us. 
Meanwhile, I’ve always wondered if “easy marriage” was just a fantasy or truly possible. It turns out I’ve essentially been the one to benefit the most from his ease. He may not admit it, but Jesus is a romance expert. Because of his talents, I have learned to be more receptive to love through the years. 
Side note: Jesus is actually the reason I launched this podcast back in 2017. He was the one who told me to take GaryVee (episode 10) and James Altucher (episode 5) on their dare, which was to start a podcast and they would appear as guests. 
Two similar episodes you may enjoy too:
How To Be A Present Father And Raise Gentlemen Who Will Pursue Bigger Dreams Than Can Possibly Fit Into Any Box, Meet Jesus Diaz, Jr. An Incredible Dad, Episode 79
Should You Say What You Are Really Thinking? Dating Coach Connell Barrett Reveals What Works When You Want To Make A Romantic Connection, Episode 75
Highlights:
Creativity: Be creative this Valentine’s day in a way that manifests your greatest expression of love.
Curiosity: Always ask yourself why you want something and that includes a partner.
Courage: Both marriage and divorce take courage. It’s not for us to judge.  
Love and Marriage: Love and marriage are two separate things. You could be married, but not in love and in love, but not married. 
Easy: Jesus has always thought that marriage seems to be very easy, growing up with his parents who love and support each other, giving him an example of what marriage looks like. 
Simple: With any two different brains coming together, there's oftentimes going to be disagree