I’m excited to speak a little Spanish (and one line of Portuguese) in today’s episode.
I’m all fired up because I just learned that more than three people are listening to my podcast.
Downloads are up by the thousands. YAY!
After seven years of work at an expensive creative outlet, my PEEPS (you!?) are starting to show up! Thank you.
There must be something about my story that struck a chord. I’m like the Bad News Bears and the total underdog right now, metaphorically moving from
CEO ——-> unemployed
Big house——-> “couch-surfing” (not homeless, but without really knowing where I live)
Married ——-> on the way to a divorce
Magical Mama ——-> estranged from my daughter and her life
I am also sick, “old,” appear to have “no life” (except for my dogs) AND…
…It’s possible that everyone thinks I’m crazy.
My fantasy on Fantasy Island will be to continue my inner journey to heal my life.
And so what if I am…crazy.
If you feel like dancing check out this music video by Lost Frequencies & Zonderling (Crazy). I WANT TO LEARN TO DANCE LIKE THAT!
I’m also happy to dance like Shakira (Hips Don’t Lie, after all), and I inadvertently referred to one of her 1998 songs, Ciega, Sordomuda.
Which means BTW, “Blind Deafmute.”
Now, I’m going to go into DANGEROUS TERRITORY. I ask if many of the men in Gen X are CIEGO SORDOMUDA.
I talk about an old friend I ran into and how her Gen X husband was unfaithful to her.
I’ve seen too many of my friends get dumped by Gen X men. These women tell me that their men did not see them, hear them, understand them, or fairly judge them.
Ring true?
In my case, my husband is also being unfaithful to me by breaking his vows. If I remember correctly, we both said these things to each other over 25 years ago:
(I will love, honor, and cherish you)
“in sickness and in health” and
“till death do us part.”
How does that make me feel???? Like Frau Farbissina from Austin Powers!
I’m not saying ALL Gen X men are like this, and I can think of exceptions as I write this. What do you think?
People want the truth, right? Is there anything that the Gen X women are doing that is particularly upsetting to the Gen X men?
Shakira turns the tables in Ciego, Sordomudo to talk about the feminine, singing:
Bruta, ciega, sordomuda
Torpe, traste y testadura (Clumsy, fret and stubborn? Is that what I’m being as a woman?)
I conjure up more Shakira music, this comes to mind: “Donde Estas Corazon.” (Where are you, my heart?)
People, what is happening here in these Gen X relationships?
It’s like we are all at crossroads where we have to make an important decision. I believe it ties into generational trauma, too!
Thus the “X” in Gen X. A symbol for the crossroads we are at.
You might ask, what is happening at the crossroads?
I THINK I know what that decision is, but I’m not going to say what rings true for me until I hear what rings true for you.
Calling all Gen Xers, would you please comment on what is happening with relationships in our generation today? I have a comment section on my website for my podcast, which is one place to comment. Or use TikTok or Instgram. I want to hear what you think.
Why? Cause I’m trying to be authentic and vulnerable, and I’m trying to help people. I’m taking some bullets here, and I want to start a conversation.
HELP ME HELP YOU!
In this episode, I talk about clearing ancestral trauma.
Here are the three Midwest Mantras from the show:
1. Don’t create new trauma in your life (pause before you respond).
2. Get to know your parents and your ancestors*.
What lessons did they learn, and what can they pass on to you?
*This mantra references the same song I featured in episode 127, Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen. I put the lyrics to this song below. Deep thoughts. Good stuff.
3. Be Brave.
During the show, I check my “I Am” app and get the following affirmation: I know difficult situations are only temporary.
Then comes the best part! I do affirmations with Sara, La Cucaracha, from TikTok.
I hope you enjoy the show and follow Sara and me on TikTok, please!
Song: La Chula by Mana
Lyrics for Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen
Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’99
Wear sunscreen
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it
A long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists
Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
Than my own meandering experience, I will dispense this advice now
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth, oh, never mind
You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth
Until they’ve faded, but trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back
At photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now
How much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked
You are not as fat as you imagine
Don’t worry about the future
Or worry, but know that worrying
Is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum
The real troubles in your life
Are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind
The kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday
Do one thing every day that scares you
Saying, don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts
Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours
Floss
Don’t waste your time on jealousy
Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind
The race is long and in the end, it’s only with yourself
Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements
Stretch
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life
The most interesting people I know
Didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t
Get plenty of calcium
Be kind to your knees
You’ll miss them when they’re gone
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t
Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t
Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the ‘Funky Chicken’
On your 75th wedding anniversary
Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much
Or berate yourself either
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can
Don’t be afraid of it or what other people think of it
It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your own living room
Read the directions even if you don’t follow them
Do not read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good
Be nice to your siblings, they’re your best link to your past
And the people most likely to stick with you in the future
Understand that friends come and go
But a precious few, who should hold on
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle
For as the older you get
The more you need the people you knew when you were young
Live in New York City once but leave before it makes you hard
Live in northern California once but leave before it makes you soft
Travel
Accept certain inalienable truths
Prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too, will get old
And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young
Prices were reasonable, politicians were noble
And children respected their elders
Respect your elders
Don’t expect anyone else to support you
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse
But you never know when either one might run out
Don’t mess too much with your hair
Or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85
Be careful whose advice you buy but be patient with those who supply it
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past
From the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts
And recycling it for more than it’s worth
But trust me on the sunscreen
