#36- Let's talk about being "PRESENT". Taking care of your mental health, RIP, Twitch.

This is the crazy time of year! Where we run around trying to make the holidays magical for everyone, meanwhile you're running yourself to the ground. Let's talk about important it is to be "present." How can we really enjoy these special times and take care of each other?
What memories do you hold tight in your heart? I share one of my favorite Christmas memories. I would do anything to have one more Christmas Eve at my grandma's house. If only I knew then how precious each and every year was. Don't take any moment for granted.
Stop, and take a minute to appreciate what you've created for your family.
You are a ROCKSTAR!!

To all of Twitch's family & friends, may you celebrate his life and what he brought to the dance community. You will be missed Sir Twitch alot. Sending prayers to your family. XO
#twitch

Transcript

 Hello. Hello my friends. I am Jenny Lynn and this is my show. I am a wife and mom of two crazy kiddos. I have struggled many years with chronic illness and pain. I have a passion to find out as much as I can while navigating through life, not always feeling 100%. I have realized that having a positive mindset is a must in today's crazy.

You deserve to live this life showing up as your best self, and I can help you get there. If you've been feeling lost after becoming a mom, you're not alone. I know that incredible woman is still in there just begging to be found. I am here to create a safe, non-judgmental space for like-minded women.

Let's empower each other. I am so happy you're here. Now let's jump into the 1 23 Mom Squad podcast with. Jenny Lynn.


Hello, anybody. Today you get me. Just me lit a little me. Uh, Jenny Lynn. Hey, listen. Um, today I just wanted to do a short little podcast coming to you straight after I had a little procedure done. I had an endoscopy done this morning. Just checking everything, making sure I'm okay. I just had a little bit of pain in my abdomen area, but I'm good. 

Everything is essentially normal, just waiting on some pathology reports. So if my voice is a little bit raspy, that is why. I want to cover. Especially now during the year, how important it is for us to be present. What is it that you think that word actually means? It can mean a lot of different things to different people. 

But. In my. In my head present means. To be absolutely. In the moment. In the moment, wherever it is, whatever it is you're doing, wherever it is that you are whatever environment that you're in. Who is around you. You're in that moment, you are fully focusing on what is happening at that moment. And I think nowadays. 

So many of us. Are just so distracted because we live busy, hectic, chaotic lives. That tend to run our lives. With these little social media computers, smartphones at the end of our fingertips, we literally have computers at the end of our hands. And I literally just seen a commercial, the other, not at commercials, some sort of article where they're implanting like little chips under people's skin now. So you can like pay with a credit card under your skin. 

Oh for heaven sakes. Come on. Why? Who thinks that that's a good idea. Why would you want to put something foreign like that in your body? I just, I don't get it. I'm sorry. I understand the convenience and all, but we have to draw a line somewhere and that to me is way. Who way out of line and which is not something I would ever think about putting in my body, my children's body. 

No. No, thank you. So. During the holidays. I know the holidays can bring memories, traditions, all sorts of emotions to a lot of people. And sometimes it can bring sadness. If we have lost a loved one around this time, or we're missing them. I'm especially missing my grandmother. Who made Christmas? 

Very special to me ever since birth. I would always spend Christmas Eve at her house with my mom's side of the family, and we have a Polish background. So she would make all of the Polish food, which is something that I don't make from my family, because. A, I don't think my family would eat it. Um, and B a lot of it is very time-consuming. Um, so it was nice to get to, you know, eat that at least once a year. And she was always the best cook. You know, you walked in the house and. 

Even though the house smelled like onions and sauerkraut, it was, you know, the best smell ever because it reminded me of Christmas time. And my uncles and my cousins, we would get together and, you know, just hang out with each other because you get so busy and preoccupied during the year. That. You know that it was only one. 

One time a year that you knew everybody was actually going to be there. And you were able to just enjoy each other's company. And I wish I knew as I was growing up, how important every single year really was. To me, um, just because you don't really get that when you're young you're so in the moment and. 

I know, it sounds like I'm on the verge of crying. I'm not, but I mean, I guess I could. Um, I, again, my voice is just, I'm a little sore, but. I would do anything to go back, to get one more Christmas Eve with my family and my grandmother, because ever since she passed, we have not gotten together. And it's, um, 

It's sad. And she was like the glue that held our family together. We drive by the house or I'll drive by the house once in a while, just to kind of bring back that memory, you know, just walking in and, and, and smelling the food and going down in the basement. And she had twinkled colored twinkle lights around. 

The top of the ceiling and her little Christmas tree that I would help her decorate. And, um, You know, just the same decorations that we would take out every year that really held a memory. And those things are very, very hard to let go of, especially when you're a sentimental person as I am, because I tend to. 

Keep things or hang on to things. Everything has a memory. Everything holds a memory. Uh, whether it's a piece of paper or a drawing, or just a small little trinket or an artifact, I'm sure you can relate to that. And, you know, it's okay if you hold onto those things, don't let anybody. Make you feel guilty that it's ever time to give them up? 

Because they're yours, they're your memories. And if it makes you feel safe and comfortable, Then you do you do you that's yours and don't let anybody take that away from you. It's so very important. I have a bottle of perfume that I have, that my grandma used to wear a lot of Estee Lauder and, um, 

A, she used to use a lot of it. So whenever she got into a car ride, um, you know, or like, Ooh, grandma, You know, go a little easy on the perfume, but of course they don't either don't smell it. But again, I would do anything to, to just have that fragrance, smell my car again. And I, I. I have a bottle of perfume on my, um, on one of my. 

Oh, goodness. On my furniture in my bedroom. Just once in a while, I'll open the cap and I'll take a sniff and it takes me down memory lane and it kind of just makes me feel safe because she always made me feel safe. I feel like she was my person other than my mom, who I would always turn to, to talk to about things. She was the next person that was always there for me. 

You know, when things get hard at home or you're a teenager and you're like, I'm going to run away from home, but I'm going to grandma's house. Um, So just back to being present. When you're in these moments and you know that they might not last or you know, that they may be. You know, nearing the end of a specific tradition or a specific time period. 

I just encourage you to kind of. If you would take a snapshot in time, pretend that somebody is taking out a polar right. Oh, good. Old fashioned Polaroid camera. Have you. And you've got a smile on your face and you're loving every second of it. And I want you to capture that Polaroid. And I want you to keep that Polaroid tucked deep inside your soul and deep inside your memory banks. 

And I just want you to keep it, keep it forever. And go back to that place. When ever you feel. Uneasy or you feel overwhelmed or anxious? These are the moments that get us from one. You know, one crazy moment to the next, our lives aren't filled with just happy moments. It is the uncomfortable moments and the sad moments and the moments that, you know, we feel like we want to rip our hair out of our heads. That really take us to the next happy moment. 

So do what you have to do to get through that moment. I last year in one of my episodes, I was explaining how important it is. Two. Not try to have the mindset of getting over something. You don't. I want to really have that mindset of ever trying to say, oh, I just, why can't I get over it? Well, you know what. 

If you have that mindset of ever getting over it, you're never going to technically. Put that behind you, because we have to work through things. We have to work through them. We can't work over them. And as much as sometimes we want such instantaneous results with anything in our lives that we may be struggling with. 

Um, whether it be, you know, some type of mental, mental illness or emotional struggles or any type of pain or illness in our family and ourselves, we want so fast to just. Oh, my gosh. I need to get over this period. But. We need to actually work through it. It's the moments that we. We know that. Okay. Let's just. 

Kind of internalize what is happening and why it is that you feel the way that you do. And what is happening around our lives that is making us feel this way, and then let's work through those moments. And if there's a moment in time where there's somebody that can help you do that. Then, then reach out to that person and don't ever be afraid to do that. We all, we all need help and we all need support. 

And this is why I wanted to create this, this podcast and these episodes to let people know that there is support out there. And just because you're struggling, whatever it may be. There is people out there. And. This just brings me into today. On December 14th, I learned that Twitch, um, took his own life and. 

If you are a member of the dance community, you will know who search, which a lot is. Um, the member of the boss, family. He was on he's on the Ellen DeGeneres show. He's a DJ and, um, was always full of life, energy. Hip hop dancer. Um, he used to do dance conventions that I used to go to with my daughter, a 24 7. That was the name of the dance convention. 

And we had the wonderful opportunity of knowing this special human being. And you never know what is, what, when anybody is struggling. And even though pain and like a chronic illness, you, you can see when people are in physical pain. But you can't always see when people are in pain mentally and what it is that they are internalizing. 

He puts on a smile, he's dancing and jumping around. And yet. We're so blinded. I'm so blinded by. What is what is going on? Inside that is so difficult for them that they can't think that they. Can't get through whatever it is that they're feeling. And whatever it was that he was struggling with was obviously too much. 

So right now, I just take a moment to, um, think about the dance community and twitches young family, or especially around the holiday times. Um, this is definitely a difficult time going to be for his family. So. I just sending prayers out to, um, his family and the dance community right now. 

So during this holiday season, Whether you're missing somebody, whether you're missing a past version of yourself. Maybe you've, you know, you just, oh, I wish I had that part of my life back and we all move on. Life moves on it's the circle of life. And it's something that we all. Are going through together. So it's just very important to really enjoy the time that we're in now in the present moment. 

And whatever life is handing you at this point. You're going to get through it. I promise you, you're going to get through it. And if you don't think that you can please just reach out to somebody, it doesn't even have to be anybody that, you know, There are lots of support groups out there and the number. 

Uh, nine, eight, eight, you can call 9, 8, 8. That is now the, um, suicide crisis hotline, please. Please just check that out. If you're ever having thoughts of, you know, doing something detrimental with your life, please don't do it. You're here for a reason. God has put you on this earth for a reason. And whether you believe that or not. It's true. 

You're here and you're touching people's hearts and you're touching people's souls. And your beautiful soul. And I just want you to know that I appreciate you. Even for you for listening to this. Thank you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, we all struggle. I'm telling you, we all struggle in it. 

Wouldn't be for my constant persistence and determination to really get my messages across to those out there that do struggle. Especially with a chronic illness or mental illness these days that is becoming kind of like a new pandemic. And I just, um, I'm here, please. Uh, feel free to reach out to me. You can email me, you can send me a DM I'm on every single platform. Even if you just search 1, 2, 3 moms squad. 

Um, you'll find me. And also on 1, 2, 3 moms squad.com. I just updated my website. So there's some new tabs there. I don't know if some of you know that I published my first children's book, it's called the adventures of spiky and alien.  

These are two characters that I was drawing since I've been nine years old, they have been a part of my life ever since. So it's been over 33 years. I have been drawing these characters. And they've been a big part of my life. They are. My friends and they are just like a part of me. Like they've literally become like a brand of who I am. I would sign every greeting card note, you know, paper notes that your friends that you would pass in school. 

Post-it you name it? My close family and friends know these characters. Well, And I'm so glad that they finally got out into the world, so you can totally check them out on Amazon. Um, the adventures of spiky and alien, or you can go straight to the. Um, publisher's website. I can link everything in the show notes for you. The book is $10 on the publisher's website and 1499 on Amazon. 

But the book is all about friendship. And encouragement. And just fun adventures that these two characters are going to be having it. It will be a series and I am currently working on the second book as we speak. So I really hope that you'll check it out. I think that kids so far have really been giving me positive feedback on them. 

I've been doing some readings in some local schools, and I'm trying to currently get it into some local bookstores as well. So I hope that you can check it out and I hope that they make you smile as they have been doing for myself and my family for decades. So. Listen, I'm going to leave this with a short, positive note. 

Anytime you're feeling overwhelmed for the rest of the month. Up until the new year. I want you to literally pause, pretend that somebody has that camera in front of you. And be like, Hey. Say cheese. Say Kaka duty. Whatever is that's going to make you smile. Take a deep breath, look around you and snapshot that moment in time. 

Because you will not get that moment back. I promise you that these moments are going by and they go by super fast. My kids are now 12 and 13 and my Christmas magic has. Run its course in my house. I am still doing everything that I normally do because I love Christmas and Christmas magic will always forever be in my heart. It's a special time of year. 

And I'm going to keep it alive as long as I can and continue to do what I'm going to do and keep our family traditions alive and well. And I hope that you will do the same. Go do something fun with your kids. Go grab a family or family member. Go drive by and look at some Christmas lights. Listening to some Christmas carols. 

If you have some snow go and build a snowman. Go do something fun. All right. Go make a memory today. It's so important. Just keep those memories alive and in your heart. And please be present. Look around you and just smile at those that you love and care for. And. Maybe somebody that you haven't really reached out to in a while, scroll through your phone book and be like, Hey, I just want to send a, a Christmas message to them and just, or if you're not celebrating Christmas or your, you. 

You celebrate Hanukkah, just seasons greetings. How you doing my friend? I just checking up on you thinking about you. I'm sending, uh, sending a friendly snowman, wave over to you and wishing you well, and you know, just lots of luck in the new year. And that we're all here for each other. For the same reason, we all want to live our lives and we all want to live the best lives that we can. 

And a happy and healthy life. 

If you have anything that you'd like me to address, please feel free to also send me a message, email DM. I am open to all of your inquiries and I look forward to. Getting some more messages out there. Don't forget to follow me on social media and check out my YouTube channel. It is 1, 2, 3 bomb squad with Jenny Lynn. All of my guest interviews are uploaded there. So you can see me speaking to directly to my guests. 

And, um, you know, you can subscribe there. I've been putting some more. Some more videos and shorts up there. . I hope that this was helpful for you guys. So just really be present.  

Yesterday as a memory today is the present. That's why they call it a gift. I believe that's how the quote went. I also want to read to you just a couple of quick quotes. That. I heard and that I love that. I just want to share with you guys 

All right. This quote is sometimes you think that you want to disappear, but all you really want is to be found. That hit me in a different light. You know, And sometimes that's it that's truth, right? It's like we all want to sometimes just disappear. But in the meantime, we all just really are looking to be found and to really reach into our truest self. So I hope that that, um, that makes you think and pay attention to yourself. You're awesome. You, no matter if you're imperfect, 

You're giving, give yourself what you need, including everything that you want and love in your life. You will love yourself for taking care of yourself. Don't forget to take care of yourself. Again, this is the holiday season. We are all rushing around to make these days the best for our families and friends. 

But we tend to neglect ourselves. So maybe while you're out shopping for somebody else, grab yourself your favorite beverage and soak in that moment and celebrate yourself. All right. I am leaving you with that. My friends. 

Until next time. I love you. And I hope you have an amazing holiday season. And. Take care of my beautiful, healthy friends.

 Thank you all for being here. I am so glad we found each other. See you next time. Have an incredible day. My beautiful friends.