Show Notes CYH Episode #53: Getting Through Tough Times with Jennifer Walden
Welcome friend to the podcast closet, today brining you Consider Yourself Hugged Episode 53: Getting Through Tough Times with Jennifer Walden (Click here or pic to listen.).
I’m Dr. Tami West, here every week to bring you tips on living a life that brings you mental and emotional wellbeing.
I hope you’ve had a great week since we were last together. So... coronavirus is affecting me! Well, sorry not THE ACTUAL virus, but shipping. Let me start over! I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that I ordered Consider Yourself Hugged pins – you know the kind you put on a lapel. They say Consider Yourself Hugged. I'm still waiting for them to arrive, so in the meantime I thought I could get your help. The goal of the pins is to give one to someone, and then that person feels hugged. So, the pins will be given on a small card. Here's how you can help:
What do you think the card should say? Let me know here on the show notes or on social media. If I choose yours, I'll send you 10 pins for free! That's a lot of hugs for people in your world!
Now, on to our guest.
It’s funny how you have a relationship with someone for a season, lose touch, and then reconnect. Such is the case with Jennifer. I wish I could find words to express how positive, thoughtful, and wise this woman is! Well, you’ll find out in a sec. As always, I’ll share the Jennifer on paper here, and then you’ll get to hear Jennifer the heart.
About Jennifer Walden:
With degrees in History, Psychology, and Education, Jenn Walden has served in various educational fields for more than twenty years. Her teaching and administrative roles in public, private, and Christian education have afforded her the unique opportunity to work with a wide range of people from varied economic, religious, and social circumstances.
Jenn has been nationally recognized for her design and implementation of programs serving at-risk youth, and currently works with underserved and at-risk populations through volunteering and partnering with local and national non-profit organizations. Her most recent projects specifically focus on influencing and empowering women. Her blog, Jenn’s Closet, is dedicated to inspiring spiritual wholeness in women and transparent communities of faith.
Pouring herself into a teaching career and church ministry brought Jenn a great deal of fulfillment but, meeting her husband Kirk--when she was 33--was an answer to prayer.
As an ovarian cancer survivor, Jenn did not think it was in the cards to have children. Yet, marrying a single dad immediately blessed her with three children, then Jenn and Kirk were surprised by two miracle babies who are now growing into young men.
Today, Jenn enjoys homeschooling their two youngest, while also supporting Kirk as he speaks and writes for non-profit ministries in the U.S. and throughout the world.
Jenn and her husband Kirk live in the suburbs of Nashville, TN with their two youngest children, a cat (“Meatloaf”) and a dog (“Aubie”).
Jenn loves the outdoors and finds escape in gardening, walking, and reading a good book on the back porch.
(Jenn's contact info at the end of the show notes.)
A few nuggets from our time together:
One of the things that happens when someone is diagnosed with cancer is that the people that love you and know you become very afraid. If it can happen to her it can happen to anyone.
How could God let this happen to you? You’re such a good person!
People want to believe that if they’re good, nothing tragic will ever happen in their life.
We tend to think every cancer is the same for every person. It’s not.
I was so sick I had to be bathed. I couldn’t pray. I couldn’t read. But I knew I was going to live!
Jennifer’s strategies if you’re going through struggles:
Make big cards with numbers and pull one off each day! This was hell today but I did it! Wad it up; throw it in the trash!!
Find the humor in your moment. The top 10 benefits of being bald.
What is right about the moment? I’m bald today because I’m trying to save my life; because I have hope! People during the holocaust, that is not why they were bald. They did not have hope!
Surround your space with positivity! Posters of quotes that help you to think positively.
The most powerful lesson from it all?
People! We need to be there for each other.
Being transparent. There is no strength in hiding our challenges.
It really is the little things – a card.
Just start helping!
See, wasn’t she amazing??!! So, truly, sadly, that’s our time for today. I hope you’ll pass along the inspiration to those in your world going through tough times.
Please post on the show notes or Facebook your ideas for the hug pin cards.
As always, Please pass the show link along to a friend or two and subscribe, download, and review wherever you are listening. And head over to tamiwest.com to get info if you’d like me to speak at your next event and also you’ll find the promised links and pictures for Jenn. And I’d love for you to follow me on Facebook and all those other crazy social media outlets including:
Phone: 615-497-7714
Thank you so much for listening and growing our special community!
I pray that each day you remember to love, to serve, to feel worthy, to grow, to connect, to change, and to be the best person you can be for yourself AND for the other humans in your world!
And until next time, Consider Yourself Hugged 😘🤗
Jenn Links:
Visit her at Jenn's Closet.
Connect with her on Facebook
Follow Jenn on Instagram.