BrighterDaze with Sara

Ep. 10: Shelby "Rolling with the Punches" Funk | Friendship, Gratitude & Getting Through the Dark Days

• Sara Dorris • Season 1 • Episode 10

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On this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, Sara catches up with college mate Shelby Funk for a candid conversation about resilience, friendship, gratitude, and choosing to stay through life’s darkest moments.

⚠️ Content note: This episode includes honest conversation about suicide, self-harm, and mental health struggles. Listener discretion advised.

Shelby opens up about three moments when she wanted to give up — and the tools, people, and perspective shifts that helped pull her through.

In this episode:

  • Why Shelby calls her life “preposterous” and rolls with it anyway
  • Building a chosen community and learning who’s earned your trust
  • Being a “safe person” for the people around her
  • Surviving dark moments and what actually helped
  • Leaving a toxic career and rebuilding from scratch
  • What “getting lost in gratitude” really means

If you’re in the middle of a hard season, this episode is a reminder that things can get better — even when you don’t want to hear it yet.

 Follow BrighterDaze with Sara on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok @BrighterDazePodcast, or email ask4brighterdaze@gmail.com to share your own brighter days. 

Content Warning:

This episode includes honest conversation around suicide, self-harm, and moments of deep emotional struggle. Please listen with care, and if this topic is too heavy to listen to right now, it's okay to pause or skip this episode. Your wellbeing comes first.

Sara D.:

Welcome to BrighterDaze with Sara. This is a space where we get lost in gratitude instead of drowning in despair. I'm your host, Sara Dorris, and here we talk to people. We celebrate their victories, and we talk about resilience, gratitude, and daily life motivators. And today, you all, we have a very special guest, as usual, 'cause they're all special. This is someone I went to college with. Her name is Shelby Funk, and she is funny, kind, and just, I don't know, I think very blunt and straightforward. So I'm really looking forward to this conversation to see where it goes. So welcome, Shelby. How are you doing today?

Shelby Funk:

I'm really good. How are you doing, Sara?

Sara D.:

I am doing great. I feel like it's a Saturday. I missed, um, one of my niece's games 'cause it was, like, last minute, so I was like, "Okay, I'm gonna do my podcast interview and I'm gonna see if I can jet over to talk to them or see them before they head back out of town." But yeah, I don't know. I'm, like, really looking forward to today. Do you have any plans for today?

Shelby Funk:

I don't, no. I'm just gonna be chilling in my bed, hanging with my cat, honestly. Those are kind of my favorite days sometimes. Um, yeah. Yeah. Very looking forward. So yeah.

Sara D.:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's cool. That's cool. You are definitely a cat person. That's great.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

Yeah. Okay. Well then let's just dive into it. Like, you know, what is one s- what is one word that describes the season of your life?

Shelby Funk:

Ooh, that is a good one. Um- Honestly, sometimes it just really be preposterous out there honestly. Like, um, yeah, it's not, it's not bad. It's not always fantastic. There's always, there's always some nonsense going on, so it's a little preposterous, but I wouldn't call it, like, a bad thing. There's just, you know, there's always, there's always something to, to deal with, I guess- Yeah … in that sense, yeah.

Sara D.:

Yeah, I get it. So when you say preposterous, is there anything that you could give a little more on that? I don't wanna pry too deep. I don't wanna-

Shelby Funk:

No. No, you're good. Um, yeah, I know it's kind of a goofy word, but it's just, um… I don't know. Like, there's a lot of, a lot of good things that happen. I get a lot of, like, good news, that kind of stuff, and so it'll, you know, be going really great and then there'll be, like, other just, like, kind of left field things that happen, I guess. Just almost, almost goofy if you look at it from, like, a, a wider perspective. Like, of course, of course this would happen to me, too, you know? So, like, I try to, I try to take things in stride, but that would… I would think that's, that'd be a good word to kind of, like, encompass just, like, my, my daily life. I guess my experience.

Sara D.:

Okay. So preposterous. Okay. It's preposterous. So- Yeah preposterous.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

I'm like, I'm trying to think of it like what's that even mean, 'cause I can't remember. I think it means, like, outrageous.

Shelby Funk:

It is- I think … yeah, it is kind of outrageous, yeah. Diabolical maybe would be another good one.

Sara D.:

Yeah, but it sounds like you're very resilient. You're rolling with the punches and just along for the ride.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah. Yeah, I've been rolling with the punches for a while, so I'm pretty, I'm pretty used to it. Yeah. It's not a bad, it's not a bad experience. It's very… I get a lot of, I have a lot of stories, you know, from the craziness that happens.

Sara D.:

Yeah? Wow. I mean, ugh, that just means that when you're old you'll be like this lady that's, like, got all these story. You'll be like- … a old cat grandma with the- Yeah … craziest stories, and they'll be like, "Oh, my Grandma Shelby. She's got- Exactly … this and this," and you'll be like, "Yeah."

Shelby Funk:

She's lived such a preposterous life. Yeah, exactly.

Sara D.:

Yeah, that is funny. Okay. So- What is something about you that doesn't necessarily show up on paper?

Shelby Funk:

Oh, man. Um, I mean, I would just say, kinda like you've mentioned, I do have a very big personality. Um, it doesn't always show right away, though. Like, if you were to meet me for the first time in just a, I guess a general setting, I'm gonna be pretty quiet. I'm gonna be pretty, maybe even a little professional, I guess. You know, just not really show my true colors at all. But yeah, I do definitely have a really big personality. I care a lot about people. But then yeah, I also have my own deep struggles that I have to work through all the time. I'm not always super cheery. Um, so yeah, I guess there's a, there's a lot that you wouldn't see about me initially on paper. But, um, yeah, there's… I, I guess I am a little bit of an open book now, but when you first would meet me, you definitely wouldn't imagine that there's all this other kinda stuff going on inside of my, my brain, you know?

Sara D.:

Yeah.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

I, too, have felt like I come off as very cheery and all of this good stuff, but sometimes things don't go right, and it, and it really kinda brings me down. So how do you manage when you come across that?

Shelby Funk:

When I come across just, like, things that, that bring me down?

Sara D.:

Yeah, like, how do you manage your hard days?

Shelby Funk:

I mean, I definitely lean a lot on friends, I guess, that, that help me out, that bring me up. One thing I really do like to do is, do something really small that I know will make a friend of mine happy because that will also, increase my dopamine, you know, like, seeing them react to it. So, like, if it's a, a snack or something at work, I like, "Oh, they like gummy bears," give that to them real quick, and then we can chat and start laughing with each other. So that's a big thing I do just to relieve stress and, kind of reset myself if I'm having a bad day is just get with a friend, start joking, start laughing. Um, and then usually that'll, that'll pull me out of, out of it.

Sara D.:

Yeah. That- it's, it's interesting that you even noted that you do something nice for someone in your community, 'cause I think usually people are like, "Oh, I call someone and I vent." And your response was like, "Oh, like, I'll hang out with my friends, yes, but sometimes I'll do something nice for them, and then that will make me happy seeing their joy."

Shelby Funk:

It does. Yeah. No, it's something I kinda, I figured out a little while ago kind of accidentally, I guess, but it definitely does make me feel better if I go out of my way to do something small for somebody that I really care about. And you know, it's not like, it doesn't have to be an expensive gift or anything like that. Like I said, I've bought somebody, candy or something when I'm going to see them or something like that, and it definitely does really increase my mood. Even going in, during the drive over there with the candy or whatever it is, I'm like, "Oh my God, they're gonna be so excited," you know? So that'll, like, get me excited knowing. Like, the, the anticipatory excitement will definitely snap me out of it, too.

Sara D.:

Okay. So I hear that your community is an important part of your life, a big part of your life. Have you built this community, or is this community more, like, localized, like family?

Shelby Funk:

Oh, I built it. Yeah. It's, um, it's mostly all friends. I do have a little bit of family here, um, but they're not really the type of … We don't really have the type of relationship that I'd go and, like, vent to them for things. It's more just, like, family fun, hang outs with them. So yeah, the, the community I've built, those are the people that I trust to, you know, vent to and talk about, you know, personal issues, the, the harder things sometimes. Um, but yeah, definitely a really great community that I have.

Sara D.:

Yeah, it sounds like it. And I'm asking because I know personally, I find it really hard to build community. So how did you do it? Please, let us all know.

Shelby Funk:

Um, I, I, I really am just kind of a, a people person. I don't have a lot of trouble kind of like meeting new people and making new friends. I think I just … I don't know. I, I, I don't wanna say, "Oh, it's just easy," but, like, it kind of … I kinda do just, like … I just find it easy to talk to a lot of different types of people, so it's not hard for me to make a lot of different types of friends, um, if that makes sense. I do, of course, like, I have way more acquaintances, you know, like surface level acquaintances than I do close friends. Um, those I do still keep kind of small, I guess. Um, but, but yeah, I just, like, meet a bunch of new people. I kinda, like, select the ones I think are gonna be good friends. I get to know them a little bit better, and then that's eventually how I form those closer relationships. But yeah, in the beginning, I'm kinda just, like, taking everybody in and seeing, seeing who's gonna, who's gonna fit.

Sara D.:

Okay. So what I hear from you is be amazing, pretty much. Be gregarious. Talk to everybody.

Shelby Funk:

Just be amazing. Be yourself. It's really easy. Just do it.

Sara D.:

Nah, that's really cool. Um, I just love that your community is someone that sh- like it's a group of people that you've built because it shows that, you know, you know how to be vulnerable with people when it's time to be vulnerable with people. You know how to not when it's time to not, to be a support. Yeah. I think that's great. Thank you. Okay. Well It's gonna sound like it's coming out of left field. Okay. But uh, what is something that life taught you that you didn't learn the easy way?

Shelby Funk:

Oh my goodness, what hasn't life taught me? Life has taught me a lot of things. Um, well, kind of on the flip side, funny enough, like since my answer is just like how I meet people and trust them and stuff, is don't do that too quickly, right? Um, yeah, there's a lot of people who you will think hung the moon at the beginning, um, and you just cannot imagine them possibly ever doing anything to, to hurt you. Um, and then, and then they do, right? So just kinda when it comes to … I don't wanna give people trust issues obviously, but you know, when it comes to like really being vulnerable with somebody, y- like give it, give it time and make sure you really know that person and their heart and their intentions before, you know, giving more of yourself to that person because that can really, really bite you in the ass and, and it sucks. It's sometimes, sometimes I think that friend breakups hurt just as bad as like romantic breakups honestly 'cause they can, yeah, they can sting. So definitely that'd be my biggest life lesson that I think about all the time is, you know, protect yourself. Protect your mental health against some of these people 'cause not everybody is, you know, not everybody has your best interest in mind unfortunately.

Sara D.:

Yeah.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

Oh my gosh. I feel like you said this and I was like, "She's right." Like if you meet somebody and they automatically come off like trauma this, trauma that. Like I did this. And it's like, "Hey man, hold on. I just said hello."

Shelby Funk:

Hold up.

Sara D.:

Like we have not built this type of intimacy. This is a red flag.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah. I don't get super scared off if somebody is doing it to me, but it, it does like let me know, kind of like you said, that they are kinda willing to like give that to anybody it, so but it, I won't automatically return it though too. Like if somebody starts saying like, "Oh yeah, this is my childhood trauma, like I was born at a very young age and my parents forgot to show up," like that type shit. I'll listen and like nod, you know, but I'm not gonna give it back 'cause yeah, it's, it's dangerous out there. Can, can't trust everybody. Yeah.

Sara D.:

Or even something I've had to learn was, um, even if someone is like a old friend, like let's say you were friends back in school days, like and you reconnect with them as an adult, like I don't know you. Yeah. I have to relearn you 'cause like I- Yeah … made the mistake of like being like very vulnerable with somebody and then I was just kinda like, oh, like we don't have that relationship anymore so I feel like I just wasted this shared intimacy on someone who didn't earn it and it was just like, oh.

Shelby Funk:

Like,

Sara D.:

yeah. Yeah, never again.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah, definitely, um, we are not the same people as we were when we were children, so yeah.

Sara D.:

Right. You just get so caught up like, "Oh my gosh." But it's like, no.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

Okay. So speaking of lessons that you've learned and the things that you've learned to do or not to do, when someone asks who you are, what do you hope they see?

Shelby Funk:

I hope they see somebody who does genuinely care about other people. Um, you know, obviously there's a lot of, you know, bullshit happening in the world right now, right? So I, my biggest goal is, like, people see me and they see, like, my personality and how I, like, talk and treat other people, and they don't have any question on, like, what I stand for and what my morals are. I'm like one of those people that they can automatically tell is a safe person, I would say. That's something I think about all the time, and I try to even, like, dress accordingly, I guess. Like, just try to make it as obvious on the outside, like, what I'm like on the inside so other people can see that about me, um, and feel safer around me too.

Sara D.:

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Okay. That's… I mean, yeah. That's very commendable. So do you know where that comes from necessarily? Like, where it comes from you wanting to be, like, a safe harbor for people, or is it just kinda innate, like you've always been that way?

Shelby Funk:

I, I don't know. I may have always been that way. Um, just kinda looking back on childhood and stuff, like, I've always kind of been, like, a protective person, I guess. Like, I've always just… I've had a lot of empathy for, like, people when I see them, like, upset or something. Like, as a kid, if I saw somebody crying, I would start crying too and, like, not realize why, that kinda stuff. So I think it's always kind of been innate. Um, but yeah, just, like, with the uncertainty of everything and people just feeling in danger all the time, like, I just never want to add to that or even appear to be somebody that might possibly add to that, if that makes sense. So that's kinda where it comes from.

Sara D.:

Yeah. It's who you are. You're a good person, amazing Shelby.

Shelby Funk:

Appreciate

Sara D.:

you. I mean that in the best way, not like a sarcastic way.

Shelby Funk:

No, I know. Yes. I know. Thank you. Oh, man.

Sara D.:

All right.

Shelby Funk:

All right.

Sara D.:

Um, hmm, hmm, hmm. Let me know if, like, this is not okay to ask 'cause I don't… I wanna respect your boundaries and I don't wanna- You're okay. I don't know, I don't have any background information so I'm just asking. You're okay. But was there ever, was there ever a moment in life where you just kinda wanted to give up?

Shelby Funk:

Oh, girl. Um, yeah, there's been, there's been three major moments for me. Um, first one was when I was around 16 and I first started my, you know, mental health struggles. I was a, a child, you know, at that point, so a lot of my thinking and that kind of stuff was very, naive. I was thinking of, permanent solutions for temporary problems that kind of stuff. Um, and somebody else had to get me out of it at that time in my life. Um, second time, it was, like, right after a bre- uh, it was actually around the time we met in college. Um, but um, yeah, I went through a really bad break-up, um, and, you know, 'cause I thought she hung the moon and stars and could have never imagined she would hurt me, right? And then she did. So that one is rough. Um, and I made it through that one, and the th- third time actually was just a few months ago. Um, and it wasn't really that I f- wanted to give up. It was more that the, the mental illness inside of me wanted to, and I had to, you know, come out of that myself. Um, and it definitely was not easy, and it took a long time for me to recover, but I'm finally, you know, on the other side of that now. But yeah, it does, it happens, and when it does, it absolutely sucks, but I'm glad I never did, for sure.

Sara D.:

Okay.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

Well, that's, that's really good. I was gonna ask, like, what are some, some, what are some tools or some, what are… How did you make it through? Like, how did you encourage yourself? How did you pull yourself through? What did you ask for from your support? Like, what did getting out of that look like? 'Cause I think that's what's more important than necessarily detailing every aspect, 'cause that's not, we don't want trauma-

Shelby Funk:

Yeah… Sara D.: being here. Like, yeah. Um, what it looks for me is thinking almost only about family and friends when I'm in those really dark periods, um, because a big thing with my mental illness is if it gets to a certain point, I no longer care about, like, myself and my own wellbeing. And y- so, like, trying to tell myself like, "Oh, but like, it's gonna get better. You're gonna have a better life," like, that doesn't work for me because I don't care in that, in that space. So, um, I need to think about the people that love me, right? Like, if I don't get better, like, this person is going to be devastated. This person's gonna lose this. Like, that's what I repeat. It's hard. Like, it hurts. It makes me cry. But, um- But I know, like realistically, I force myself to think realistically. Like, if I were to give in, like this would be catastrophic to the people that you love, and that will, um, motivate me to get help, to call my psychiatrist, my therapist, you know, get meds fixed if I need to. Um, I haven't needed to be hospitalized yet, but I would absolutely be open, you know, to that if I needed that to happen. So that- that's what I do. It- it's hard and it sucks, but it's the most, you know, efficient way to get me to get my ass moving to start recovery.

Sara D.:

Yeah. Uh, I think that is, that's, that's it. Like, whenever you get to that frame of mind, like sometimes it's not enough. I g- I, I didn't even realize that sometimes for some people that it wasn't enough to say, "Okay, like, I'll experience greater things and my life will get better," but I'm so glad that you just raised the importance of even having that second lifeline to recognize this is going to terribly impact the people that I love and, like, they will never be the same. And even if you think like, "Oh, they don't care," no, they care. They're just probably not good at showing it.

Shelby Funk:

I even… Something I did like this, this last time, a couple people that I cared about when I was telling them what was happening, like they started to cry, and that obviously, you know, it broke my heart, but I like seared that into my memory so then every time I started feeling like I was dipping again, I would like bring up that thought of that loved one of mine crying over like me, like they were upset about me, and it would, again, like just kick me completely out of, you know, whatever, uh, whatever the dark thoughts were that I was thinking of. I'd remember them and continue to push on. So yeah, it's definitely a huge tool that I use.

Sara D.:

Yeah. I mean, you have to. Ooh. I remember when I've been there before and, like, I did have that thought. Like, I was just like, I feel like I was just thinking like, "Oh, I should…" And the thought was like, "You know what? No, like, this is terrible timing for something like this." Timing. Like, it's just such a sick, like like such-

Shelby Funk:

terrible timing is so accurate.

Sara D.:

Right? Like, but there's never the right time.

Shelby Funk:

No. That's, like the dark humor, oh my God, like there's this one. Are we, um, are there any words we're not, like, allowed to say on here?

Sara D.:

Please do not say the F-bomb.

Shelby Funk:

No, no, I was gonna say the F-bomb, but there's a, there's a, um, a TikTok sound, I don't know if you've heard it, but it's just this girl going, "Suicide is cringe. Don't kill yourself." "You'll die anyway. Just wait." And like, it makes me laugh so hard. Like, I know it's dark. It's not fu- suicide is not funny. It's not a joking matter. Yeah. But for people that have been there, like, the dark humor really does help, you know, sometimes. So that's another thing. Like, it just makes me chuckle. Like, I can be sobbing and then I'll, like, hear that sound and I'll just, like, start laughing and like, it, it makes me forget, you know? So- Yeah. That- Yeah, that too.

Sara D.:

Yeah. That, like, oh my gosh. It's just, I don't know, I guess whatever you find on that makes you hold onto life, hold onto it, baby. Yeah. Don't let it go.

Shelby Funk:

Absolutely. 'Cause

Sara D.:

like you said, like, don't, don't make permanent solutions for temporary problems- Mm-hmm … 'cause it's always temporary.

Shelby Funk:

Mm-hmm.

Sara D.:

Um, yeah. That's so real. Speaking about loving family and holding onto life, what is gratitude to you?

Shelby Funk:

I would say, you know, gratitude, you know, we know the obvious definition, you know, being thankful for things. But I would say just being grateful that despite, like, all of the bullshit that's happened to me, that my life is still in a good place right now. Like, it's not perfect. A lot of shit still happens. Um, you know, financially things are a little rocky like most people, but at the same time, like, I'm alive, I'm healthy, my loved ones are alive and healthy for the most part, you know? Um, I have a job. I like my job. I like my boss. You know, there's, there's a lot of good things to, to be grateful for despite all the other, BS that tends to happen. So I'd say I'm just, I'm grateful for the, the battles that I've been through and the things that I've learned so I can be here, where I am today in this tiny two-bedroom shoebox apartment and say, you know, that, yeah. I am, I am grateful for the experiences that I've had.

Sara D.:

Does gratitude come easily to you or have you had to learn how to practice it?

Shelby Funk:

Oh, I've had to learn for sure, um, 'cause I love only looking at the, or remembering I guess, the negative things. If you were to say like, "Have you had a good life?" My first, initial thoughts can be like, "Oh, hell nah," you know? I'm gonna start thinking of all of the shit that's happened, or sorry if I can't say that. All of the stuff that's happened. But yeah, I do kinda have to force myself to rewire that thinking and think about all the good things that I have, the good things that have happened, the ways that I'm blessed in, in any way that anybody wants to take that, the word blessed. And that's, you know, how I feel. So, um, so yeah, I did have to practice, but it does get easier once you like kind of get used to thinking about what you can be grateful for, if that-

Sara D.:

Mm-hmm… Shelby Funk: if Yeah.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

Yeah, I think that You said it does get easier once you realize what you can be grateful for.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah, it does. Um, it, it just does. It takes practice.

Sara D.:

Yeah.

Shelby Funk:

So- I think humans just, I think humans just love to remember the bad things before the good things in general. Our brains might just be wired that way.

Sara D.:

Oh my gosh, yes. Like, I remember at one point, um, I would make videos to myself and I would be talking or whatever, talk, especially going through hard times. And I would look at the video and I would be talking, and then I would cry- … and be confused. And I told my therapist, I was like, "Yeah, like I make these videos to myself and then like I'll watch them back and I'll just be like, 'Oh my gosh, that was so hard.'" And she was like, "Why are you glorifying your, your sad days?"

Shelby Funk:

Oh.

Sara D.:

And I was like, "Oh, I guess I kind of am 'cause I definitely watch them and then I'll tear up again." Oh my God. Like-

Shelby Funk:

Yeah, that was so hard. I hated that. What a horrible day. Yeah.

Sara D.:

She's like, "You should-" What do you think- Oh, go ahead. You're right. She's like, "You should, uh, make them when you're happy as well."

Shelby Funk:

Oh, no.

Sara D.:

I'm like, "Oh, yes."

Shelby Funk:

You got me.

Sara D.:

That is, that is very, uh-

Shelby Funk:

That's hilarious.

Sara D.:

Yeah. I think the thing about gratitude is, for me, I think gratitude and awareness, they go hand-in-hand. Because sometimes you really just don't know, you don't know what you have until you have to stop and really think about it.

Shelby Funk:

Mm-hmm

Sara D.:

The tagline for this show is get lost in gratitude instead of drowning in despair. So what does getting lost in gratitude mean to you?

Shelby Funk:

I would say getting lost in gratitude would mean that we are only focusing on the good things in our life and what there is to be thankful for. So just kind of being overwhelmed, by all of the good things around you thinking like, "Wow, you know, what did I do to deserve this?" This is like, this is so amazing. I'm having such a great time with my family or friend or my beautiful cat, that kind of stuff. I have a great job. Instead of constantly focusing on like my apartment isn't that nice or my job doesn't pay me enough or, that kind of stuff, like always flipping it towards thank goodness I have this instead of I could have better things.

Sara D.:

Yeah.

Shelby Funk:

Or things could be better. Yeah.

Sara D.:

Yeah. And I think the important thing to realize, or like when I say it, is to realize it's not about, like you don't, realistically I don't think anyone will always be lost in gratitude, and I think that might be detrimental. But I think that you need to have moments where you can recognize that you truly are blessed just to be alive.

Shelby Funk:

Mm-hmm. Absolutely.

Sara D.:

What is something that you're grateful for today that you couldn't see in the past?

Shelby Funk:

I would definitely say my current job again just because when I quit teaching, so yeah, I used to be a teacher but I started that career straight out of college. I went from high school to college for early education, and then I became a teacher. So for the first 26 years of my life, I was in a school system somehow and then I stopped, right? So it was terrifying, and I definitely did not see a future outside of some type of childcare for myself. So there was a brief moment during that transition where I was like, "I don't even know what I can do," and, "Do I even have another purpose?" kind of thing. So where I am now, three years later with the company, I definitely would not have seen it coming whatsoever. So I'm really, really grateful that I had the courage to leave that, toxic career, start a brand-new one, and not kinda just give up. Like, I, I kept going, and now I'm really happy where I am. So yeah, if anybody's thinking about leaving a toxic career out there and they're scared, definitely go for it 'cause yeah, it's worth it.

Sara D.:

Yeah. Yeah, it is. It is. Yeah. What do you love most about your job? Um, well, right now what, like, the, the rundown of what it is is, um, we work for different cellphone companies, and we'll sell their, like, service for them. Mm-hmm. I'm a supervisor now though, so my main thing is I'm in a program to assist the agents who aren't performing up to our clients' standards, like people that could potentially lose their job, and we put them in a program to help them succeed. So that's kind of my whole thing right now. I'm actually now in charge of the people who are in charge of the people who help the agents succeed, if that makes sense. So I, I teach the supervisor how to, like, teach the agents, and it's fun. Like, I still get to interact with the agents who are learning, and I interact with the supervisor who's helping them. I'm developing them. Um, I kinda lost my train of thought. Where was I going with this? You were talking about how do you like your job, and you're training supervisors. You're training the supervisors who are training sup- but you were talking about the things that you love about your job.

Shelby Funk:

The things I love about my job, yeah. So I like helping people, right? Like, I like working, um, with a bunch of different people, and I like helping them, and I like watching them get better, so that's probably… It's really close to teaching, honestly. So, um, so I think that's kinda just my niche is, like, I like teaching people new things. Um, but yeah, that's what I like about it. That's the funniest part is that, you know, I was just, like, looking for random things on Indeed when I was trying to find a new job, and I ended up in a position that's very, very similar to teaching. But it's a lot less stressful and actually kinda pays a little bit better, so you know, that's definitely a benefit, too.

Sara D.:

Yeah.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

That's great, and it's funny how it, it's similar, but it's not.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah. Like, I'm still, like, helping teach somebody something new, and I get to enjoy seeing them do better. But I'm not having to worry about them, like, shitting their pants or, sneezing directly into my eyeballs or anything like that. So that's, that's a bonus.

Sara D.:

Oh, children, the world's greatest joy.

Shelby Funk:

Oh, yes, America's future.

Sara D.:

Yes, America's future. What does the brightest day look like for you?

Shelby Funk:

The brightest day, um, I would say it would be hanging out with people I love. Like some of my best friends, one of my best friend's kids for sure. He's, He's two. I'd want him there. Just like having fun, hanging out, going to do anything really. Yeah, I don't think I'd even have a preference of like the activity as long as like I'm just out with people and we're having a good, a good fun time together. That's probably my, yeah, my dream day I guess would be just me and a bunch of people I care about.

Sara D.:

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, I feel that. I feel that. That's so nice when I think about that because, you know, like children, they're so wondrous to, to like be around 'cause they're just so beautiful and so pure and so-

Shelby Funk:

Mm-hmm

Sara D.:

well-intentioned, and you don't always see that in, as an adult around people.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah. Yeah, he's, he's definitely a sweetheart. He's, yeah, full of love and curiosity, and definitely a joy to be around.

Sara D.:

Yeah. Okay. So we're gonna wrap it up, and I just wanna ask a few more questions. What are your words of encouragement to someone who is in the middle of waiting for their brighter day? We hear this all the time, but it does truly get better. It might dip back down after that, but then it's gonna get better again, and that's gonna be the pattern it follows your whole life. It might not sound awesome if you're, like, in the middle of it right now, but the, the better days, they, they do feel a lot better, and you'll be able to, like, look back at the, the old rough days and say, like, "Wow, I'm glad that I got through that so that now I can be here. And maybe later down on the line I'm gonna feel bad again, and I'm just gonna do what I did last time, and I'm gonna get through it, and I'm gonna go on to the, the brighter day after that." I feel that, I feel that. Like, it always, it's always gonna get better Yeah Always gonna get better

Shelby Funk:

And I never wanna hear it. I promise you, I never wanna hear it. Like, when I'm in those places, don't talk to me. Don't, do not tell me it's gonna get better. Shut up. I, like, I'm, I'm bad right now, I do not wanna hear it, but then as soon as I come out of it I was like, "Damn, they were right," like, so.

Sara D.:

Right.

Shelby Funk:

Yeah.

Sara D.:

Like, you know, you think about all the experiences that you've had up to this point and you're like, "Oh, well if I would've made that terrible decision back when I was, like, 19 or 22, like, my li- like I wouldn't know half the people I know now."

Shelby Funk:

Like 16. Yeah, the first time I was 16 years, I was a child. Yeah. Like, it's crazy to think about that. Yeah, so y- yeah. De- it's, yeah, definitely it does, it does get better.

Sara D.:

And that it does.

Shelby Funk:

Mm-hmm.

Sara D.:

Okay. I wanna thank you so much for coming on, and I just really appreciate your time, your cadence, your, your honesty, your openness, and I have just loved talking to you, so I wanna thank you.

Shelby Funk:

Yes. Thank you so much for inviting me. This is a lot of fun.

Sara D.:

Yeah, it really is. All righty, and for everybody listening, I wanna thank you for listening. I want you to reach out, talk to me. Let me know, when you feel down and you don't feel like hearing things will get better, what do you like to hear? Let me know what you're grateful for, or some things that you've accomplished beyond days that you didn't think you would see. I don't know, just talk to me. Let me know what you're grateful for. And if you wanna find me, my Instagram and my Twitter is BrighterDazePodcast. My Facebook is BrighterDaze with Sara, and my email is ask4brighterdaze@gmail.com, and the daze is D-A-Z-E. And yeah, I'm around and I hope that you will be too, and I just hope that you all have a great day. Talk to you later.