Welcome back to the third season of 'Midlife at the Mailbox'!  Join our favorite midlife co-hosts, Amy Alexander and Denyse Rabat, who are recording together for the first time to launch the latest season of the podcast on their "podcation" in Scottsdale, Arizona! This season, Amy and Denyse will be going back to the basics with their podcast and focusing on one burning question, "How do I become the maven of my midlife?"  Lucky for the audience, they break it down in to 5 steps over 6 episodes.   Before they share the 5 steps, though, the girls are going to catch you up on what's been going on in their lives since the last episode aired in 2023.   As Amy revisits her poignant "midlife moment" witnessing her son Caleb's first overnight camp, Denyse shares about finding joy in solitude and her empowering solo journey to New York. The episode seamlessly combines personal anecdotes, humor, and valuable advice pertinent for anyone navigating through their midlife years. Listeners can look forward to a season filled with positive energy, motivating tips, and enlightening discussions to aid in their midlife journey. Dive into this episode to join Amy and Denyse, as they traverse through the rich and adventurous terrains of midlife! Every Monday, catch us LIVE on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox, where we share our midlife moments. Be sure to follow our show and add us to your favorites so you never miss any of our content. Before you go, please take a moment to leave us a rating wherever you get your podcasts, and consider sharing our show with your favorite midlife bestie. Positive ratings and shares help more people like you discover our show. Plus check out our show notes for episode highlights and sign up for our email list to receive our exclusive maven guide! We'd love to hear from you, our amazing Mailbox Listeners. Follow our show on Instagram or Facebook @midlifeatthemailbox, or send us a message in our DMs. You can also follow Amy @amplifybya2 and Denyse (that's Denyse with a Y, thanks Mom!) @DenyseRabbat. Your feedback is always appreciated. See you at the Mailbox!

“What would your life be like, you listeners in the mailbox, if you shifted your focus from seeking perfection, to embracing the beauty of progress?”, asks co-host Denyse. One of the best things about midlife is that by now, you likely have a better idea of who you are and a better understanding of what works best for you. Amy and Denyse are no strangers to pivoting when a plan needs to change and leaning into progress over perfection. In today’s special finale episode, co-hosts Denyse and Amy take a page from the 90’s sitcom playbook with a throwback episode that reflects on all the most impactful moments and quotes from Season 2 at the Mailbox.    This season, Denyse and Amy chose to open up the Mailbox to some incredible guests talking about a range of topics from building a business to clearing fears through tapping to networking and building community through social media. In addition to the inspirational guest episodes, they also dove into some midlife moments, sharing what was going on in their personal lives. This led to discussions about caregiving and being in the sandwich generation and reflecting on the American obsession with always being “busy”.    Whether you are an entrepreneur or not, there are many nuggets of wisdom throughout this past season that can help you get the most out of Midlife. We look forward to seeing you back at the Mailbox next season!   Quotes “I came into my own in terms of owning midlife…And if I live to 90 I’ll be a very happy woman.” (10:34-10:54 | Denyse) “We have one life. So you might as well live it and do the things that bring you joy.” (19:28-19:32 | Amy) “What would your life be like, you listeners in the mailbox, if you shifted your focus from seeking perfection, to embracing the beauty of progress?” (27:23-27:33 | Denyse) Links: “You can always change a plan, you can never change an unplan.” - MLM Episode 22: https://www.midlifeatthemailbox.com/episode-22-unlocking-success-the-power-of-asking-for-what-you-want-and-delivering-value-in-your-offer-with-lindsay-pinchuk   “We have one life, we just have this one. And why are you not running like you are on fire towards your wildest dreams?” (29:34-29:42 | Amy) Episode 21: https://www.midlifeatthemailbox.com/newpage   “When something seems stressful and something seems out of reach or just a little bit too hard for what you physically can manage at that moment, how do you break that down in half to be able to take that step to move forward?” (22:07-22:29 | Amy) Episode 15: https://www.midlifeatthemailbox.com/episode-15-mailbox-moments---the-sandwich-generation-caring-for-both-your-own-family-and-a-loved-one   Quotes From our guests: “Your life is your canvas. That's it. We can recreate, we can paint over, and start fresh.” (23:05-23:11 | Beth)   “You really have to find what works for you. What works for me and my personality and how I function isn't going to be the same for someone else.” (30:11-30:19 | Stephanie) Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Your network is your relationships. It's a summary of all of your connections. It's a living organism,” explains co-host Denyse. People often shy away from networking, saying that it is too difficult or that they do not even have a network. In truth, people usually just do not know where to start. Everyone has a network, whether they are actively trying to build one or not. Today, co-hosts Amy and Denyse share three tips for networking like a pro.   The first step to networking is defining your pre-existing network. Write a list of everyone in your network, starting with the lowest hanging fruit or the easiest picks like your family members and closest friends. Even if you have not spoken to someone in 10 years, they can still be a valuable part of your network. Consider reaching out through a text or e-mail to start rebuilding that connection. Once you have your list, figure out what environment allows you to show up as your best self and put yourself into situations where you can really shine.    Your network is a collection of all your connections from both your personal and professional life. It may seem intimidating to put yourself out there and grow your network, but it does not have to be! Not all networking has to be stuffy 9 to 5 coffee meetings. Instead, choose environments that feel most comfortable to you and where you can really present your best self.   Actionable Tips Define your network- create a list of all your connections, starting with the closest personal connections like family and best friends.Put yourself into situations where you can present your best self and really shine.Prepare your story ahead of time and think about how you can contribute value to the conversation. Open conversations with a question about the other person.    Quotes “Your network is your relationships. It's a summary of all of your connections. It's a living organism.” (3:51-3:58 | Denyse)“70 to 80% of people find jobs through their network.” (7:52-7:55 | Denyse) “Nothing is going to happen, whether it's creating business relationships, finding a job, finding a career coaching person, unless you are open to showing up and taking the necessary steps and putting in the work.” (36:28-36:46 | Amy)“Don't wait until you don't have a position or you've opened your business to start networking and trying to connect with people and building the people that surround you. Start it early, so that you're not just drowning before you even have a chance to get started.” (44:59-45:18 | Amy)   Links: Networking Guide & Exercise - Download below: https://www.midlifeatthemailbox.com/networking-guide-and-template   https://www.amazon.com/Helpful-Guide-Life-Careers-Networking/dp/173294590X Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“There is a sense that if I look busy, I must be doing really well,” explains co-host Amy. As a society, Americans especially seem addicted to being or at least seeming, busy. Many wear their busyness as a badge of honor, using it as a source of validation of their worth. This addiction to being busy can lead to spending less time on the important things and can even lead to burnout. Today, co-hosts Amy and Denyse discuss how to break the habit of addiction to busyness.    Just because you are staying busy, does not necessarily mean you are actually being as productive as possible. If you’re distracting yourself with busy-work or staying super busy as a coping mechanism or means to escape from a stressful situation in your life, ultimately you are doing yourself a disservice. In midlife, people tend to be juggling a lot of responsibilities and it can be very easy to get caught up in the societal push for busyness. You owe it to yourself to slow down and better prioritize what you invest your time and energy into.    As with any addiction, being addicted to being busy can be harmful and have negative effects on your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Try time blocking and give yourself permission to say no to anything that does not fit into your desired schedule.   Actionable Tips Busy doesn’t always mean productiveUse time blocking to arrange your schedule Give yourself permission to say no - embrace JOMO (joy of missing out) over FOMO (fear of missing out)In a busy season, take time to check in on your long term goals to ensure you’re not losing sight of the bigger picture when you’re overly busy.   Quotes “We also really enjoy being busy, but the busyness that we were used to were things that brought our family to life.” (7:17-7:29 | Amy)“There is in our society, this addiction to being busy.” (8:09-8:15 | Amy) “Escaping can be a coping mechanism. But if it's going on for a seemingly longer time than it should, that's when to raise concern with that person or yourself.” (21:08-21:18 | Denyse)“There is a sense that if I look busy, I must be doing really well.” (33:02-33:07 | Amy)“If you're a job seeker or just looking to make a change, sometimes less is more.” (36:31-36:36 | Denyse)   Links:   Articles of Research: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/worklife/campus/g15925418/busy-girl-memes/ https://dotcomplicated.co/content/2016/05/11/are-you-addicted-to-being-busy/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/owning-pink/201404/are-you-addicted-being-busy https://www.drchristinahibbert.com/addicted-to-busyness-understanding-6-steps-to-overcome/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2017/07/31/stop-boasting-about-always-being-busy-its-detrimental-to-your-health/?sh=10b26af15131 Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Midlife at the Mailbox S2, E22 - Unlocking Success: The Power of Asking for What You Want and Delivering Value in Your Offer with Lindsay Pinchuk     “Things take time. Success takes time,” explains Lindsay Pinchuk, business marketing consultant, public speaker, social media coach, and host of the podcast, Dear FoundHer. Lindsay’s experiences with founding her businesses and building community have led her to better understand the power of asking for what you want and knowing the value you offer to your clients. Today, Lindsay joins co-hosts Denyse and Amy to talk about capitalizing on the moment, sticking with it even when growth is slow, and showing your value.   Business success does not happen overnight. It happens in all the little moments that you take advantage of along the way. If you don’t ask for and chase what you want, you will never know what could have come from it. Make the most of every moment. Be yourself, stay consistent, and let your value shine through the way you show up every day. The people who recognize your worth will be willing to pay whatever price you set for access to that value.    Don’t undervalue yourself! You have value that only you can offer your clients and it is up to you to let that shine through. Start unlocking success today with these actionable tips from Lindsay.   Actionable Tips Ask clients and customers for testimonials and share themShare your success metricsShare your experiences    Quotes “People often undervalue what we as women bring to the table, and how do we as service businesses break through the value and price conversation so we can convert clients who understand the value that we bring to the role.” (24:32-24:47 | Amy)“Things take time. Success takes time.” (40:06-40:08 | Lindsay)“It is so important to keep going, especially when you are seeing growth.” (40:19-40:25 | Lindsay)“You can always change a plan, you can never change an unplan.” (42:30-42:33 | Denyse)“Your client isn't paying for the advice, they're paying for you.” (45:54-45:57 | Lindsay) “Share your experiences, share metrics, and share testimonials. And that's how you show your value.” (58:02-58:06 | Lindsay) Links:   Connect with Lindsay Pinchuk: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk/ @dearfoundher @lindsaypinchuk Website: https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/ Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment, or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads-up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“We have one life, we just have this one. And why are you not running like you are on fire towards your wildest dreams?,” shares co-host Amy. Life goes so quickly and we only get just this one, so why not find more of what brings you joy? Today, co-hosts Amy and Denyse talk about why you should start writing down your dreams and creating a tangible plan toward making them a reality.   Write down your goals, even if they feel out of reach at the moment. There are always small, actionable steps you can take to start moving toward a goal. Whether it’s a career goal or a personal resolution, don’t keep putting off your joy. Find things that are just for you outside of work, whether that be enjoying a hobby, planning for a vacation, or learning something new. After experiencing the isolation of the last 3 years, it is more apparent than ever that people need connection and opportunities to explore their passions.   By not just making a resolution, but writing down an actionable plan, you are taking a major first step toward prioritizing your own happiness. There are so many reminders each day of how quickly life goes by. So don’t spend any more time missing out on chances for adding more joy to your life.   Quotes “The health of your business is based on the strength of your email list.” (9:19-9:22 | Amy)“It's the small changes, but it's also the resolutions.” (14:05-14:08 | Denyse)“If you're feeling stuck or in a rut or whatever it is, just try to enjoy those micro moments.” (14:18-14:25 | Denyse) “If I write it down, I’ll do it.” (21:48-21:50 | Denyse)“Just because you write it down doesn't mean that you can't change it, but start to put down a tangible plan.” (24:56-25:00 | Amy)“We have one life, we just have this one. And why are you not running like you are on fire towards your wildest dreams?” (29:34-29:42 | Amy)   Links:   Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=atomic+habits+an+easy&hvadid=390244329573&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9031080&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=18123040654087096383&hvtargid=kwd-679783660480&hydadcr=19140_10195819&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_2luhfonj37_e Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“As a parent, as a leader, you have the power to create the atmosphere in your organization, in your team, in your household,” explains Gia Kazarian, executive consultant. The skills needed for quality leadership are the same skills needed for effective parenting. It can be a real challenge to juggle all of the responsibilities between work, marriage, and motherhood, and often moms are so busy taking care of others that they forget to take care of themselves. In today’s episode, Gia joins hosts Denyse and Amy to talk about the top ten leadership skills you can start using today to help you better manage motherhood in midlife.   There is a lot of overlap between the skills of a great leader and a great parent. Gia shares her list of top ten leadership skills including putting your own oxygen mask on first, communicating clearly, making the most of your time, and being your child’s coach. When you get down to it, parents and leaders are just like coaches. They encourage their team members to take accountability for their actions, provide structure and discipline, and set them up for success.    So many of the skills that mothers use every day are the same skills prized by top leaders and coaches. Apply these ten leadership skills to your life and see how they can help you better manage motherhood in midlife. Quotes “Put your oxygen mask on first, and then you can help others.” (11:31-11:34 | Gia)“People think, especially moms, self care is actually selfish. But in fact, it's just the opposite. Self care is necessary for you to take care of others.” (12:02-12:14 | Gia)“As a parent, as a leader, you have the power to create the atmosphere in your organization, in your team, in your household.” (14:36-14:44 | Gia)“My job as a parent is to be my child's coach. They're not me, they're not an extension of me. They're their own little people. But I help coach them to be their own person and for them to be the best of who they are.” (46:12-46:26 | Gia)   Links:   Connect with Gia Kazarian: Instagram: @giakazarianconsulting Web site: www.giakazarian.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giakazarianexecutiveconsultant Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Just showing up and posting increases your visibility, as Instagram favors accounts that post often and engage with their audience,” explains co-host Amy Alexander. It’s easy to underestimate the value of small changes, but sometimes the smallest change can make a huge impact. Many people in midlife have the goal of getting more involved with social media. This can be challenging, especially for midlifers who may be less familiar with platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram. In today’s episode, hosts Denyse and Amy talk about the power of small changes as Amy shares three actionable tips for improving your business’ social media presence.    Amy starts off reading a few excerpts from Atomic Habits, a self-help book by James Clear that discusses the impact of micro habits. She explains that many of her clients desire to be more active on social media, but just don’t know where to begin. Using the concepts of building micro habits and the benefits of small changes over time, Amy and Denyse talk about how to become more comfortable with social media and Amy shares three tips for getting started. These tips are to post consistently, be your authentic self at all times, and interact with your audience.    If you’re looking to use social media to promote yourself or your business, try these three actionable tips to start. Remember that even the smallest 1% change can make a huge difference in the long run. And by making small changes and building micro habits, you can improve your confidence on social media while building trust and relationships with your target audience.   Quotes “Improving by 1% isn't necessarily particularly notable. Sometimes, it isn't even noticeable. But it can be far more meaningful, especially in the long run.” (5:47-5:58 | Amy reading from James Clear’s book Atomic Habits)“Just showing up and posting increases your visibility. And Instagram favors accounts that post often and engage with their audience.” (21:28-21:36 | Amy)“People connect with people. They don't connect with a logo.” (31:43-31:46 | Amy)“Talk to your audience. This is the secret sauce. Make an effort to reply to every comment or DM.” (32:07-32:15 | Amy)“If my clients are stuck, or they don't know what to write, or they're feeling impostor syndrome, repost an article.” (39:30-39:35 | Denyse)    Links:   Think Like Instagram Webinar: https://youtu.be/Ua6bNoV3mlw Think Like Instagram Course: https://www.a2salesandmarketing.com/group-coaching use code Midlife25 at checkout to save $25. Atomic Habits: https://amzn.to/4074NT8 Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“We sabotage ourselves and keep ourselves small all the time, and we're not always super consciously aware. So the tapping helps us get at what the subconscious blocks are getting in our way,” explains Allison Jayne Ewing, EFT tapping practitioner and author of Find Love Again, Learn To Date Like A Goddess. For Allison, tapping has been completely life changing. After wanting for her whole life to write a book, tapping cleared the mental blocks and now she is a published author. In today’s episode, Allison joins hosts Amy and Denyse to talk about the way EFT tapping works and how it can help to clear fears in midlife so that you can start manifesting your dreams.    In EFT, emotional freedom techniques, you override negative emotions by tapping points on your body while processing something intensely emotional. Allison has found that tapping is often successful in a shorter amount of time than traditional talk therapy. EFT is particularly useful for clearing fears ranging from a child’s fear of the dark to an entrepreneur’s fear of social media. It can be used to resolve lingering trauma from your past and to clear the mental blocks keeping you from manifesting the life of your dreams.    Tapping is easy to get started with. All you need is Youtube and your fingers. Seeing a professional EFT practitioner like Allison is a great way to tackle more intense trauma, but you can also use tapping as an in the moment self-help tool. If you have fears that are holding you back, consider giving tapping a try as an alternative or complement to traditional therapies.    Quotes “We cannot hold an intense negative emotional feeling while sending a calming signal and shutting off our amygdala. It's kind of like an on/off switch. We can't be in both places at once. So the tapping will actually override the negative emotion.” (5:33-5:49 | Allison)“When I was getting trained, I tapped with my, at the time, 7 year old son on his fear of the dark. Now he's 16, and it never came back from that first day.” (6:21-6:32 | Allison) “We sabotage ourselves and keep ourselves small all the time. And we're not always super consciously aware of it. So tapping helps us get at what subconscious blocks are getting in our way.” (27:27-27:42 | Allison)“With some of those clients who have had some pretty significant childhood trauma, they will say things to me like, ‘Wow. We just cleared in one session what it would have taken me seven sessions of talk therapy’.” (32:40-32:51 | Allison) Links:   Connect with Allison Jayne Ewing: Instagram: @allison_jayne_goddess.maker Website: https://www.LearnToDateLikeaGoddess.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredLifeTapping/ Podcast Promo: https://www.LearnToDateLikeaGoddess.com/freecopy Amazon Book: https://www.amazon.com/Find-Love-Again-Learn-Goddess/dp/B0BFW6C5LF/ref=sr_1_1 Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“One year from the day I started, I had a piece at the Louvre as a modern art master,” shares Beth Bowen, international abstract artist. Beth was living a comfortable life until everything changed when her mother passed away in 2013. She realized that life was too short to continue letting fear hold her back from living and ended up filing for divorce. She didn’t have a career and was struggling financially, so therapy became too expensive. Not one to give up, Beth decided to use art as therapy instead and began teaching herself to paint from Youtube tutorials. In today’s episode, Beth joins hosts Amy and Denyse to discuss her journey from Youtube artist to international artist and the value of facing your fears.    Beth explains that life is like a canvas, and we can recreate it and start fresh at any time. Once she realized her life was not serving her, it was time to start over with a blank canvas. Even though Beth was uncertain of where the future would lead, she took the leap anyway and doors began to open all around her. When she first started, she did not know anything about the professional art world. But there were many people who stepped up to help along the way. Beth went from living off food stamps in her friend’s guest house to having her art on display in galleries worldwide after just one year. She attributes painting with helping her learn to face her fears, increase her self-confidence, and instill better time management skills.    It can be really intimidating to make a big life change, especially in midlife. Beth was 38 years old when she found herself divorced without a career and no ideas on how she was going to become financially stable. Instead of giving up, she chose to face her fears and the universe rewarded her. When we are willing to make a leap of faith and not let fear hold us back from our dreams, we can achieve anything.  Quotes  “Once you take a jump, a leap of faith, it's like the universe rewards you.” (4:46-4:52 | Beth)“One year from the day I started, I had a piece at the Louvre as a modern art master.” (12:23-12:28 | Beth)“I didn't live my life for me. I lived my life for what I thought people expected from me or how it should be. And then it's like when you go through divorce, you go through death. You just don't care about the bullsh*t anymore.” (13:39-13:51 | Beth)“Changing the mental dialogue was huge to my success.” (18:50-18:55 | Beth)“Your life is your canvas. That's it. We can recreate, we can paint over, and start fresh.” (23:05-23:11 | Beth)    Links:   Connect with Beth Bowen:  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/iambethbowen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethbowenart/   Recent Work To be Displayed in NYC: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jnOgvo4cuI7-x103aX2W0VX9MoDZvLHy6cHTMUP41i0/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR3SYdexu93DjPqef82BFnPqU1RokOtfH4n13X1bRw1UZhrPy5aopGNzPm4 Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Breastfeeding is freaking hard. It may be the most natural thing in the world, but it does not always come naturally,” shares Jessica “Jessy” Cummings, owner and creator of Titty City Designs, a body positivity brand that celebrates new moms and breastfeeding while advocating for breast health. Her experience becoming a mom just before the pandemic shutdowns inspired her to create a community for other women struggling with similar challenges. In today’s episode, Jessy joins hosts Amy and Denyse to talk about her experiences with building community by breaking down social taboos.    Talking about breast health and breastfeeding is unfortunately still taboo, in spite of it being the most natural thing in the world. By speaking openly about breastfeeding difficulty and breast health, we can begin to normalize these topics. Breastfeeding and motherhood in general are so hard and women deserve a community that celebrates and supports their experiences. Jessy’s advice to others looking to spark social movements and build community is to keep showing up consistently and be authentic.    Motherhood is a wonderful, yet challenging journey. Often it is made more difficult because no one openly talks about the struggles involved, especially in regard to breastfeeding. By speaking openly about breast health and the difficulty of breastfeeding, we can begin to break down the severely outdated social taboos around titties.    Quotes “It’s 2023 and it is still so hard for me to believe this is true, but talking about boobs and breastfeeding is still taboo.” (5:59-6:09 | Jessy)“Breastfeeding is freaking hard. It may be the most natural thing in the world, but it does not always come naturally.” (11:27-11:37 | Jessy)“Motherhood is hard. Breastfeeding is hard. And talking about it just needs to be normalized.” (19:43-19:55 | Jessy) “Be authentic. Be yourself. Be you, because that's truly why people are showing up to be there with you.” (55:02-55:13 | Jessy)   Links:   Connect with Jessica "Jessy" Cummings: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tittycitydesign/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicalaurencummings/ Web site: https://tittycitydesign.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T1ttyCityDesign Upcoming Events: https://tittycitydesign.com/blogs/titty-tent-pop-ups-events Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“When something seems stressful, out of reach, or just a little bit too hard for what you physically can manage at that moment, how do you break that down by half to be able to take that step to move forward?”, asks Amy. In today’s episode, your hosts Amy and Denyse have a conversation about being in the sandwich generation, goal setting, and how to break tasks down into more manageable, bite-sized pieces.    If you are in midlife, you may feel like you are in a caregiving sandwich. This comes from caring for not only your own children, but also your aging parents or other adults in your life that you may be supporting. This can be a very stressful situation because you’re needed on both sides and you don’t want to let anyone down. One way to keep up with your own goals and tasks while still caring for your dependents and older family members is time management. By breaking tasks down until they feel easy, you can reduce stress and keep up with your responsibilities.    Midlife can be a difficult time to navigate because you may feel responsible for many people around you, not just your own kids. But the secret to successfully taking care of yourself and meeting your own goals, all comes down to intentional time management.    Quotes “Many of you may have felt if you're in midlife or maybe even before it, feeling like you're a part of the sandwich generation. You're in time in your life when you're in a sandwich and that's really a caregiving sandwich.” (10:39-10:52 | Denyse)“You don't want to let anybody down from your mom, to your dad, to your clients that you're working with, to your husband, to your kids. You want to be able to be everything to everyone.” (19:17-19:30 | Amy) “When something seems stressful and something seems out of reach or just a little bit too hard for what you physically can manage at that moment, how do you break that down by half to be able to take that step to move forward?” (22:07-22:29 | Amy) Links: Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“There are so many people that need my help. They just don't know about me yet,” shares Stephanie German, executive strategist and owner of German Business Consulting. In today’s episode, Stephanie shares how career networking and implementing organizational processes can take your business from ugly to beautiful.   There are community groups for almost everything, you just have to look for them. Find a group where you belong and show up consistently. This will help you to build a referral network within your local community. Then, make sure that you have organizational processes in place to make it possible for you to delegate tasks to employees. Even if you are a solopreneur, you may end up wanting an assistant or social media manager eventually and having your processes written down will help make that transition smoother.   Whether you are a solopreneur or have a larger business, you can benefit from having organizational processes in place that capture leads and enable you to follow up more easily. By building a referral network, you will be able to give back to others and receive genuine leads in return. Tune in to learn more about how networking and organizational processes are the key to taking your business from ugly to beautiful.    Quotes “If I'm not modeling and doing what I'm telling clients to do, then I have no business telling them to do X, Y, and Z because I'm not doing it.” (14:57-15:08 | Stephanie) “There are so many people that need my help. They just don't know about me yet.” (27:20-27:24 | Stephanie) “You really have to find what works for you. What works for me and my personality and how I function isn't going to be the same for someone else.” (30:11-30:19 | Stephanie)“Create a system that captures leads and allows you to follow up.” (43:50-43:55 | Stephanie) Links:   Connect with Stephanie German: So Your Boss Can't Lead: https://www.stephaniegerman.com/so-your-boss-cant-lead/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniegerman/ Website: https://www.stephaniegerman.com/ Amy & Denyse LOVE to network.  Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and personally @AmyLAlex28 and @DenyseRabbat.   Tag yourself listening to our episodes, make us laugh with your midlife moment or share your favorite episode of our show with your friends on Instagram and we will share it back to our community! #midlifemoment   Do you enjoy our podcast? We’d love your help in growing our community. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Midlife at the Mailbox on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!   One last note, both Amy & Denyse offer coaching services. Are you ready to promote your business or yourself? What about just a heads up that we have dropped a new episode? Sign up to receive emails from Midlife at the Mailbox. https://view.flodesk.com/pages/630a92cd2812b898e99a8f06   Thanks for listening, see you at the Mailbox! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

In our first episode, Pursuit of Happiness, we debate whether we are searching for happiness or are we searching for something more? Happiness isn’t static, there are always going to be ebbs and flows. Is it happiness or do we want to feel another way? Recommended book: Everyday Vitality by Samantha Boardman.  During podcast discussions, Amy and Denyse may share a book or product that they recommend to awesome people like you. The links shared are for products they use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, they will earn some podcast money, which will allow them to continue to create funny and insightful podcasts for you to enjoy. Rate and Review our show + Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and share this episode with a friend!

We live in a society filled with game-playing….sports games, video games, mobile games, dating games, and the list goes on…however, when was the last time you played a real board game? Our special guest featured in this episode, Brad Smith, creator of the all-new board game, Talkative, was obsessed with the idea that he wanted to design a board game…but life, as it often does gets in the way. Pull up a chair, let’s meet our guest, why he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial dream in midlife, and what it takes to design and bring to market a board game in 2022.   RESOURCES: You can now find his game on Amazon. Use discount code: 10midlife at checkout and save 10% off of the game, Talkative!  Rate and Review our show + Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and share this episode with a friend!

Harnessing our brain’s efficiencies could be one of the secrets to keeping vital in midlife and beyond.  Some of us might fear that as we age we are “not as sharp” as we were in our teens, 20s, or 30s?!  However, fear no more....the good news is that there is a ton of research now showing that there are proactive ways to “flex” your brain in midlife.  In this new episode, "Staying Sharp in Midlife", we want to share with you our six-part stay sharp plan to be proactive about "flexing" your brain in midlife and beyond!   Resources: Dr. Mark Hyman's Podcast - The Doctor's Farmacy Blue Zones Advice  Eat a whole-food, plant-based dietFoster social connectionsSet up your surroundings so you move every 20 minutes or so Rate and Review our show + Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and share this episode with a friend!

Our Special Guest this week is our very own co-host and marketing guru, Amy Alexander from A2 Sales and Marketing! A2 is a boutique sales & marketing consulting company that helps small business owners navigate the noise of marketing their business to help them tell better stories, through content marketing, social media strategy, website design & email marketing. In today's 10th episode, we discuss WEBSITES with a side of content! Amy & Denyse discuss, what comes first the content or the website in this nugget of wisdom-filled episode.   Visit our website to check out our FREE download.  All you need to do is sign up and away you'll walk with a great document of website wisdom to see if you need to Level Up Your Website! Do you want more time with Amy? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute connection here. Rate and Review our show + Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and share this episode with a friend!

It’s back-to-school time across the country.  For a lot of people that also means thinking about career transitions.  There’s a multitude of reasons why that is: Summer vacation is coming to end (people start to think about ending the year with a new job/career)Parents with young children can focus again on working full-time or part-time now that kids are back in school COVID-19 pandemic seems to be normalizing in schools or some people want to fulfill their new year’s resolutions about career/jobs.  For employers, it also tends to be a busy hiring season as their own teams are back from vacationing (especially in multinational/global teams) and focused on finishing the year strongly.  It never hurts to look at your resume.  In fact, many career coaches recommend updating your resume on a monthly basis to keep it fresh and avoid the stomach-turning feeling of updating your resume before your next job hunt.  However, we realize that most people are not that methodical about it).   If it’s been a while since you updated your resume, here are the top trends in the resume world: 1. Branding Statements Gone are the days of “Objective” statements at the top of your resume!  Branding statements have been around for a while and continue to dominate most modern resume formats.Your branding statement should reflect the role/job and superpower you have in the professional world.  2. Employers are looking for candidates that share their “Whole Self”  It’s now ok to list skills other than your professional industry on your resume.  Ex. Tea Sommelier for a recent candidate as part of our branding statement 3. Your experience section should reflect an accomplishment-driven resume versus task driven resume. Write your resume to appeal for online applications, also known as Application Tracking Systems (ATS).   Utilize free online resources like JobScan If you’re a listener in midlife, here are a few other things to consider for your next resume update: Please limit your work experience on your resume to the last 10-15 years It’s as far back as most employers would like to know, as it’s the most relevant to the job. List any relevant experience more than 15 years old in a separate section called “Additional Experience” if you think it’s important for your current job search.  Remove your home or mailing address - only your city is needed!   There are a lot of reasons for this - privacy, data mining and so much more.   Resources Since the Mailbox community is so special and personal to us, I’m also going to share a resume template in Microsoft Word that you can use if you’re needing a resume overhaul and don’t know where to start.   Schedule a complimentary 15-minute Zoom session with a career transition coach, Denyse RabbatComplimentary Resume Guide & Template from Denyse Rabbat Career CoachingJobScan

YES & NO! It’s probably one of the most common responses to questions in the English language. All day long, we find ourselves responding with one of these words.  There’s power in each one of them, too.   If you answer “no” more than “yes to the former, then this is the episode you’ll want to listen closely to!  We’re going to talk about the power of saying “yes” to the fun and enjoyable things in life.  About saying “yes” to making more memories with your family, friends and loved ones that will make your life more fulfilled, more vital.     https://www.midlifeatthemailbox.com Follow the show:  Facebook @midlifeatthemailbox on Instagram PinterestConnect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com   Resources: Children’s Book - Yes DayNetflix Movie PageForbes Article - 5 Reasons Why Saying Yes Can be the Best Move Of Your CareerShonda Rhimes TED Talk

Midlife can be fun and tiring…and also, sad and downright depressing at times.  The mass shooting in Highland Park has left us feeling shaken, sad, and searching for answers while watching in amazement how the towns surrounding Highland Park have come together to offer solace as their community grapples with how to move forward from the unthinkable. In Episode 7, we took a break from the original schedule of topics to discuss the Highland Park tragedies, which hit too close to home for Amy and Denyse, while also welcoming Julie Iser-Schneider, Licenced Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Amy’s sister as our “feelings” expert to ask her questions we’ve been hearing from concerned parents and community members. https://www.midlifeatthemailbox.com Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeatthemailbox @midlifeatthemailbox on Instagram Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com Resources: I was at the Highland Park Parade, Trauma Resources for you and Me from our friends at Chicago North Shore MomsTips from NorthShore HealthMoms Demand Action - grassroots org built after the Sandy Hook tragedies to advocate for public safety with chapters in every state Gun violence must stop. Here is what we can do to prevent more deaths.Gun Violence PreventionIf you or someone you know is in a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.