Cathy Jo Kirkpatrick - Being Joyful

Need some words of wisdom to cheer you up? You're at the right place.
Here are some of the quotes from Cathy Jo that you'll hear today.
"I want to help people feel joyful."
"Failure isn't really a thing unless you quit."
"I've always wanted to make a difference and make people feel loved and valued."
"My daily question is, who do I get to serve today, to impact? Or share a smile with?"

I hope you feel inspired as you listen to this motivating conversation.

Subscribe to the Women of the Northwest podcast for inspiring stories and adventures.
Find me on my website: jan-johnson.com

Transcript

Links: Facebook as Cathy Jo Kirkpatrick, Instagram at cathy.joyful. email address- smileycj8@yahoo.com

https://susiecrosby.com/ our featured author

 Jan Johnson

Today we have Kathy Jo Kirkpatrick and we're gonna just see what she's all about.

Cathy Jo

Well, thank you for having me. It's just truly an honor to get to be here. How fun.

 Jan Johnson

0:12

Isn't it? It's just a fun way to explore different people or get to know different people that we maybe just know their faces or heard of their names or something but like to go in depth and find out who these people really are. 

Cathy Jo

0:24

Yeah, that's super cool if put this together. Awesome. 

 Jan Johnson

0:28

It is, isn't it? Yesterday, we had a power outage. So that kind of set us back a little bit. I've been working on getting the final touches on a manuscript to submit to an editor. And so, it's like, Wait,

Cathy Jo

0:45

Such as living in the Pacific Northwest with our stormy weather at times.

 Jan Johnson

0:49

Well, tell me about yourself. 

Cathy Jo

0:51

Well, I am 43. I was born and raised in Astoria, Oregon. My mom grew up in Seattle, and my dad grew up in Tacoma. And I think it's an interesting fact that my dad was actually 54 when I was born. They moved down here in the 70s. And I have siblings, my dad had kids from his first marriage. And then my mom had a daughter from her first marriage, but I'm the only one from their marriage. 

 Jan Johnson

1:18

And so he said, What would you think of having another kid together? That's what my husband said to me after we joined families and had seven. 

Cathy Jo

1:27

Yeah, wow. Well, the more interesting thing is, my dad had a vasectomy. So, there I was not planned or anticipated, by any means. 

 Jan Johnson

1:41

Because God had a plan. 

Cathy Jo

1:42

Exactly. So that's pretty much what I've said, my whole life is God wanted me born and that I'm here to make an impact I was born for a reason. I don't want to disappoint him or myself. And so ever since I was a little kid, I just, I don't know, I've just felt this a drive or this just inner part of me of I want to help people feel joyful, I want to help people feel welcome. I want people to feel loved ever since I was little kid. I've always, like when I was little, in second grade actually got held back in the second grade. Because I was also when I was such like stubborn kids. I wanted to do things my way. And so I was that child. I'm sorry, mom and dad. But it's also what shaped me into being so driven, and which makes people so unique. I recognize that in my own son is, that's what makes him so unique. Just because, you know, they're not. Things don't always go so smoothly. That's okay.

 Jan Johnson

2:49

It is okay. And I think sometimes when it's not, it's almost like a reset. Your Google Maps is saying, Okay, we're gonna redirect them figure out a different way to do or get your goal. Or maybe that goal wasn't right, or you didn't,

Cathy Jo

3:04

yeah, you just live and learn from experiences. One of my favorite things to say is that failure isn't really a thing. Unless you quit, or, you know, it's always an opportunity to learn and to grow from. I don't really have any regrets in my life, because I learned from all of them. And there's definitely things that have happened my life that has shaped me more into the person that I am today. But I've always wanted to make a difference. And I've always wanted to make people feel loved and valued and appreciated. I've always had a love for learning. I guess getting held back in second grade made me more driven way back then. Yeah. Like, wait, what I was behind? No, no. From then on, I was driven to be better than I was yesterday, basically. And I wanted to be striving and achieving. And so that got instilled in me at a pretty young age. 

 Jan Johnson

4:01

Tell me, what's your first memory of doing something for somebody else that you

Cathy Jo

4:08

Oh the first memory of doing something for somebody else. I'm just, I mean, being at home, I wanted to make people laugh. If my parents were arguing, or there was some heaviness in the house, like I was the one that was like, people need to laugh in here, you know, me to lighten the environment around here. Okay. I would I did what I could to make people laugh. And then when we had people that moved into our neighborhood, I was that kid that would make them cookies and welcome them to our neighborhood. Or when I was in school, the kids the new kids that came to the classroom or to the school I was that kid on the playground that would go like hey, I'm Cathy Jo. Do you want to play you? and welcome. I wanted people to feel welcomed and I stuck up for people. I think another thing I recognize was my sister that I grew up with in the house, she was seven years older than me, and I have a feeling like she was picked on, or just didn't have a very good experience with school. I would stick up for kids that might have been being picked on or you know, that may not have had the confidence.  I've always, I guess, been a cheerleader for people wanting people to, to know that they can and to know that they're recognized as being important.

 Jan Johnson

5:29

I think the first thing that I ever did was that I can remember really was, I was in brownies. So maybe second grade, and the leader said something about, you know, you can sneak around like a brownie does and do things for other people. And it was kind of like, oh, that's kind of cool.  When my mom was away, then I scrubbed the floors and cleaned up the house and who knows what kind of job it was. But that was one of the first things that I remember really, you know, kind of inspiring me to do something outside of myself.

Cathy Jo

6:08

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I have been a dental hygienist for the last 14 years.  I like to joke that one of the reasons why I chose dental hygiene, I also came from a family of teachers.  My grandparents were teachers. I came from a family of educators, my, one of my aunts was a nurse. And anyways, having that when I was a kid, I grew up watching my dad clean his teeth in a glass.  I never want to clean my teeth and my glass. My parents never had to ask me to like brush my teeth. And I also was unusual because I was organized. I liked things clean and tidy and orderly, because I guess that was something that I had control over. My bedroom was clean, our house was not like my parents were very cluttery. And so that's another thing is learning to be more organized as a kid. But maybe that's why I became a dental hygienist is I wanted to use, I wanted to focus on some sort of specialty. And so that's why I chose dental hygiene so that I could focus on educating people on not only how to care for their teeth, but to care for their health. I really found that as an avenue for me to share health and wellness with people. I did lose my dad when I was in high school to cardiovascular disease. And then then I lost my mom just recently in January, but she had five autoimmune disorders. I grew up watching my parents have immune disorders and health issues. I wanted to know about human physiology, and what can I do to help prevent those genetic cards being dealt to me? How can I prevent that from not just myself, but I wanted to educate other people how they too, could be educated to have better health and wellness? I love dental hygiene.

 Jan Johnson

8:01

Perfect example of how something bad could be turned into good or motivate towards something good. 

Cathy Jo

8:06

Exactly. Yep. And then that leads into as a dental hygienist. I'm doing that for 14 years; I was introduced to a health and wellness company. So now I have another avenue to share her health and wellness with people beyond my dental chair. I've been doing that for a little over four and a half years now. And I mean, how cool is that? Like, I get to educate people. Now, thanks to social media, and podcasts and radio and I have this huge platform to just educate more people to live, to make better choices to live better, to feel well to aid well to live more joyful. And so that's really my mission is just educating people on health and wellness and bringing joy to people's lives making people laugh, lighten it up. Tomorrow is not promised, like we need to live from now and to really enjoy our lives now. It's like what's your current? 

 Jan Johnson

9:02

What's your current passion? 

Cathy Jo

9:03

That is my passion. That is my drive. It wakes me up every day. Literally, I'm not kidding. I wake up every day. I'm like, who do I get to serve today? Who am I going to meet? Who do I get to impact? Even just sharing a smile, especially right now. You're sharing a smile with people making people laugh. Life's been so heavy for so many. It's like we need to know that we're not stuck. We don't have to be living in that place or that space. And so, 

 Jan Johnson

9:33

So, give us some what would be some practical tips for us. Some practical tips like day to day what you can do to help.

Cathy Jo

9:42

Yeah, very first thing my tip is when you get up in the morning is drink 17 ounces of water. Get up have water have a good probiotic. Don't watch the news.  I am all about protecting your energy and having that like positive energy in that pot of positive vibe. The music you listen to the podcast you listen to. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Because we are a combination of the top five people we spend our time with. So, who are we listening to? Who are we letting pour into us? It is so important to be aware of that. So, who's your environment? Who's your top five people? And how are they making you feel? Like, do they light you up?

 Jan Johnson

10:29

Yeah, boy, isn't that the truth too? I think these last few years have been truly years of sorrow. You know, deep sorrow. Just so many people either sick or dying or, and it just doesn't seem like there's an end to it. So yeah, you have to put some other perspective in your life and some of their focus or else you are just going down the tubes with them, right? 

Cathy Jo

10:58

Just yeah. Well, the last year, my mom I mentioned, passed away in January. I stepped away from my career as a dental hygienist. When I was introduced to my company that came at a time it was five years of that month, literally that month, my mom started testing, which we found out was lung cancer She'd never smoked, she'd never drink, she lived a very conservative life. And, but that's what it was. I knew that I needed to do something because I wanted to be there for her. And I didn't know how much longer I was going to have with her. I took action. And I started building my own business. And so fast forward those three and a half years, I was able to step away from my career as a dental hygienist, and I was admiring the moms and the parents that were getting to take their kids to, to get to take them to school to get to pick them up to get to volunteer in the classroom to get to go on the field trip, 

 Jan Johnson

11:57

Bake cookies, 

Cathy Jo

11:58

Yeah, right to have more flexibility. But then, when mom was diagnosed, I just knew I needed to do something, because I didn't want to also put that stress on my employer to ask for time off constantly, because I knew her appointments, were going to just keep increasing. And so I did something about it. 

Jan Johnson

12:19

And it's a season in your life. You could always go back to the office if you want to, right. So, this vision you have for what you're doing now is that you're three years into it. 

Cathy Jo

12:29

So, my business May had been four years. And I've already had a couple promotions in the company, which allowed me to be home with my mom, and which also gave me fulfillment every day while I was home taking care of her. I was getting that nourishment for myself helping other people be educated to be healthy, or to be more well, and to get to take care of my mom, she lives so much longer than anybody ever thought she would. I think because of that richness that love that being able to be there and to make sure.

 Jan Johnson

13:21

And I'm sure that you being there for her in that real way enriched both of your lives. You know, I mean, it just gave her a blessing as well. 

Cathy Jo

13:33

Well, my mom was dealing with so much. She'd been on dialysis for 12 years, she was a diabetic she went through treatments, all of the things. And she didn't complain. Like she had so much grace and grit and she's this tiny little, petite woman, and she just had so much grace about everything like, Oh, what an amazing example. She was for me, you know. And I'm just so grateful. I was able to be there. And yeah, you never get that time back. 

 Jan Johnson

14:06

Yeah. And you know, sometimes it's hard to make a decision. Do I quit my job to be able to do this? And how am I going to make it? What am I going to do? But where's the value? Your biggest value is in relationships. 

Cathy Jo

14:18

And I hear that there's so many people that wish they could or would or did or they feel like they missed out and I didn't want to be in that place. I did something about it. 

 Jan Johnson

14:29

And you can't get that time back. 

Cathy Jo

14:31

Yeah. I cherish every day and the hard days. It doesn't matter. I was there. 

 Jan Johnson

14:39

So what were the steps for stepping into your business? 

Cathy Jo

14:44

Well, I am a believer that everything happens for a reason. And we are introduced to people- people come into our lives and opportunities come into our lives for a reason. If we just live with our eyes wide open and receptive to we not might not know why it's happening? Or why you're being introduced to this person or to this opportunity, but I feel that it leads somewhere. So I'm that yes person-yeah I'm in or, or what is this? What is what is the purpose of this? Like, where is this leading, and so I was actually cleaning my friend's teeth, and she shared a sample with me. You know, I was that person that I brought it home and forgot about it for about four months. But she invited me over to her house. And she's like, you know, you really are in health and wellness. And I think you really might want to take a look at this deeper. So, I went over. And then she didn't say any more than that. But I recognized what this company that I was introduced to what they didn't have in their ingredients, like their integrity, their product integrity. And so that was totally in line with everything that I know about body physiology and living in chemicals and toxins that are life. I knew that was something that I wanted to have for my family. But I am not joking, I was standing in her living room. And it was literally as if God told me, Kathy Jo, this is your future. And I listened, oh my gosh, yeah, I went home, and I told my husband, I'm like, I'm starting a business, I have no idea what I'm doing, or what, but I feel like this is the right thing to do. And, and oh my gosh, I am forever grateful for literally a limitless opportunity for me to get to serve more people and to make a bigger impact. 

Cathy Jo

16:32

And through time and education, and now financially, like being able to give back to our community, I also serve on the board with United Way and giving back. And philanthropy is a huge other passion of mine, like I love to give back. What another way to make a bigger impact in more people that you never meet, you know, right. I just love that growth. I love that possibility. I love just having so much abundance of time, and things that can be coming into your life, because you were introduced to an opportunity, or a person and it just forever impacts your life. And you can create a legacy and a change. I just feel like I'm a better mom, I'm a better wife, I was a better daughter. I just feel like I'm a better person. I'm obsessed with personal development, you know, and just becoming the best version of you and not comparing yourself to anybody else. I feel we just fall into that comparison trap, especially with social media. 

 Jan Johnson

17:37

You just I know.

 Jan Johnson

17:40

It's the best and the worst. Right? Yeah, the best for sharing things. But oh my gosh, she just cannot be looking at somebody else and thinking, whatever. Right? 

Cathy Jo

17:49

Right, you're seeing be that highlight reel, you know, you're not seeing their struggle, you're not seeing their day to day, they're not there. They're not showing you what it's really like. And so, you cannot compare your journey to somebody else's, because everybody's journey is unique and beautiful to themselves. And that is what builds character. That's what builds grit. That's what build who you are. That's what built integrity, trust and, and building relationships.

 Jan Johnson

18:22

I mean, to me, I don't think there's anything higher than building relationships. That's what I do. Or the things I have, or whatever it is like, what is it? Like, I don't think there's a higher calling and, you know, building relationships. 

Cathy Jo

18:38

Exactly. Yeah, there's things are things. They're not things that build memories and that deep bonding connection and knowing that you make a positive impact on somebody or that you were there, or whether it's a hug, or a smile, or you know, 

 Jan Johnson

18:56

A card or a phone call, or just even a quick text I'm thinking about or whatever, right? 

Cathy Jo

19:02

Making people feel heard and valued. That's everything. 

 Jan Johnson

19:06

Yeah. Let's see. So, you got your husband support, to take that step and then did it turn out to be the way you thought it was. The way you expected it was going to be.

Cathy Jo

19:19

What I discovered was, when I was working, I just felt like an inner flame. Like I was finding a way to help take care of people. But it was starting to impact my own health. And it was actually adding stress to my life. And I was starting to get nerve damage. Then I started to wonder like, well, what would I do if I can't do this anymore? Or if I become disabled doing this full time and so then I was like starting to wonder and I was wondering how could I replace that income if I couldn't do this anymore? What if something happened? I started building this and when I discovered what was an amazing community of love, support, uplift people that are cheering you on people that have your back. Like I said, it was a personal development journey. I really invested in becoming a healthier version of me. Leaders are readers. I read every day, I read every night before I go to bed, I listen to podcasts in the car, I listen to uplifting music, but I get to be surrounded with this amazing community that just loves you and supports you. And here comes the tears again, but when just going through what I did with mom, and when it was at the end, they were so supportive, like they were there for me more than anybody else was. They, loved me like family, they love me for who I am. And for what I'm for. Yeah. And the day that my mom passed away, and we were coming home from the hospital, my friend Elisa that I was talking about earlier, she called me she's like, because she had lost her dad. She's like, you're not even going to know what to cook, or I'm coming to your house, right? I'm coming your house, I'm going to cook for you, I'm going to do whatever you need around the house, because you're not gonna know what to do.

 Jan Johnson

21:16

I hope she was right. Okay.

Cathy Jo

21:19

She was not kidding. She was there, like, they're just, she was there. And my friend, Melissa-how she'll just send you something- they just think they get you. And they know what to say. They don't even have to say anything, but they get you or they'll send you a quote or something for you to listen to that just will lift you up and support you where you're at. 

 Jan Johnson

21:42

Don't you find that when somebody does that to you, though, it's even. Okay, yeah, I am going to do that for somebody else, I'm going to be the first one that says hi to somebody, or I'm going to be that one that just sends out of nowhere because you know, the impact that it has on you. And you know that same impact is going to be on that other person as well. 

Cathy Jo

22:04

Right? It's a ripple effect. When you have somebody that is pouring into you, you're able to pour out to other people, but you have to pour in yourself to you know, right, you have to have that discipline. I discovered to just since I started this journey is the importance of your morning routine and how you start your day and the intention that you have for your day. And the importance of affirmations, working out drinking that water, those simple little things making your bed, simple things that just set you up for a more successful or more intentional day and just how you encounter people. And as a mom, like you have more patience, you have less anxiety, you aren't as rushed, like you feel like you're in more control of your time when you have your mental strength reined in. Right?

 Jan Johnson

22:55

What do you do in your typical day? Do you kind of plan your goals out? 

Cathy Jo

23:00

Um, I have my daily routine. I do have weekly goals. I have monthly goals, I have five-year goals 20-year goals, like I have a vision of what I'm creating over the next 90 days. And then on a day to day I just focus on what do I need to do today to get closer to that goal of 90 days. And I know when I get close to that goal in 90 days, I'll get closer to the one that's in a year in two years. And that's in five years. I'm all about your daily routine. And if something falters in that more things crumble or fall off and 

 Jan Johnson

23:33

Which they will do every day like having the power going. 

Cathy Jo

23:37

Yeah, well and then pivoting like okay, 

 Jan Johnson

23:42

Who even knew that word before?

Cathy Jo

23:44

pivoting?

 Jan Johnson

23:45

pivot? Or zoom? What? 

Cathy Jo

23:47

Yeah, right. Oh, my gosh, zoom. I've been zooming for five years. I mean, I use them a lot. We use it every week. I'm very familiar with Zoom. 

 Jan Johnson

23:59

What do you actually do in your job? 

Cathy Jo

24:02

I do virtual presentations, educating people on health and wellness, I do 15-minute presentations, but for my team, just getting to mentor them through, we have a chat that we do. Quotes, music, you know, just being their daily inspiration. But just being connected with people and then every Monday night we have a team connect where we come together, and we are connecting and supporting. So, it's a combination of personal development and skills building and, you know, cheering people on so there's recognition and achievement recognition and so it's just it's very attractive. What community cheers you on to support you, has your back through the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, and then is also your biggest cheerleader. I love that and so I get to do that, alongside other mentors and leaders that I get to work with. And we get to do that as a community. 

Cathy Jo

25:04

But as an individual, you know, you get to be your own creative self and your own creative view, because everybody has their strengths. Like, I'm the cheerleader. I'm not the person that's really good at making graphics. Having all these newsletter thingies, somebody does that. That's not my jam. I love being that voice. I love making people laugh. I love that authenticity. I love being the cheerleader motivator, helping people recognize like, being able to see the potential that's in you. And, and like drawing that out and watching people achieve. It's like watching your baby learn how to walk, it is the coolest thing. I am in love with. I want people to feel like I do. Like, I want people to feel like there's this joy and this inner fire the spark that just got lit a blaze four and a half years ago, and it just keeps growing and building and I want people to feel that. What's your passion? What do you want to pursue? You know, having your own business helps you pursue those passions. Like, what is it? Is it travel? Where do you want to go? Where would you see you? Who would you go visit like my sister-in-law in Australia? Now getting to travel internationally is something that we're going to do every single year. I don't have to wait till I retire. You know, when I'm in my 50s or 60s to do that, like I'm all about living for now. What are you doing right now to do that thing? You know, don't wait and don't look back. 

Cathy Jo

26:34

How do you think as a mom, you're rubbing some of this off on your son? Well, my son gets to hear podcasts in the car. And, my son struggles with school, he struggles with reading, he struggles with math. He gets to have affirmations at night, like getting to bring life and my unbelief in my own son to believe that he can do anything he sets his mind to, to know that he's loved no matter what. To know that he is unique, he has amazing creative skills and, to not make your kids feel entitled but to make them feel strengthened and believing in what they can actually do. 

 Jan Johnson

27:23

And instilling some vision, you know, because you as an adult can see the strengths that your kids have. And so maybe the math or reading the regular kind of school stuff is not going to be their strength, but there's millions of other things that they can do. There's lots of hands-on things. There's lots of other kinds of things that just don't involve as much 

Cathy Jo

27:50

his creativity and his vision to create, like his Legos, oh my gosh, stuff that he just put stuff together. And it's so functional. It's so awesome. And not everybody can do that. Yeah. I mean, he has physical capabilities, and his mechanical capabilities are amazing. And so just having him believe in himself and finding those, whatever is gonna bring him joy, right. And to not be in a cookie cutter type of place where he feels like he has to be a certain way. But he gets to be himself.

 Jan Johnson

28:31

Yeah. And then you continue the legacy. Yeah, because hopefully, he's, he's a kid. That's finding the kid on the playground that needs something to play with. Right? Tie their shoes. 

Cathy Jo

28:43

And yeah, that's cheering them on when they're feeling down. Yeah, for sure. And, you know, I get to hear him when he's playing fortnight for example. And he's leading a group of you know, whatever, they're called. During the game I get to hear him talking about sharing, like, Oh, are you ready to ready up and oh, here, you know, he's been helpful. Oh, good job. Just makes my heart happy to hear that. 

 Jan Johnson

29:18

We have a bunch of sponsored kids in South America. And on one of our trips to Ecuador, there was a gal who was on the trip with us, and she was talking about being a part of 100 Women Who Care. Have you heard of that? Oh, my goodness. It’s like, Okay, I gotta do this. Now, four years later, because we had a little pause here, but I wanted it. So, the idea is, you have I mean, you could do with any number but they the goal would be like 100 women, so they meet four times a year. They each contribute $100, and the group presents three different nonprofits, so that at that each four times a year, you're giving $10,000 to a non-profit. How hard would that be? Yeah, that's 25 bucks a month. For somebody. And I mean, we could pull this off, right, don't I, you and I could pull it off. Just anyway, I just think it's that's doable. In our area, we've got so many people that are givers. I actually shared that with Jennifer Holan. Yes, yeah, my way before. And it's like, yeah, we can make this happen. 

Cathy Jo

30:12

Well, it's super cool working with United Way because they support 14 local agencies, right, like that all the money that's raised. And in fact, it's been a bit of a challenge to raise money with COVID, we haven't for two years in a row, we haven't got to do our largest fundraiser, Iron Chef. I'm trying to think of other ways to help replace that revenue, so that we can still support our agencies who are in more need than ever before. And it's amazing how $10 $20 from people over time, how that can really make a big impact and a contribution. 

 Jan Johnson

31:20

And you probably know that the more you give, the more you get back. It is so true. I am a firm believer what you put out, you get back, you get back and it just like he can't give, you can just keep getting shoved back into your pocket and whatever from this crazy places too. 

Cathy Jo

31:40

Absolutely, that's another one of my affirmations was, you know, my personal financial goals. And I achieved that, like, I am a firm believer of affirmations and what you say and what you put out and that energy will be attracted back to you, and it will happen.

 Jan Johnson

31:57

I would like to put something in the show notes, what you're doing, and you know how somebody could reach you if they wanted to or find out about what you're doing more. 

Cathy Jo

32:05

Right? Well, I am on Facebook as Cathy Jo Kirkpatrick, I am on Instagram at cathy.joyful. And then I have my email address- smileycj8@yahoo.com, which if you want to put my email in the show notes, you can totally do that as well. Yeah, I'd be honored

 Jan Johnson

32:24

Okay, question for you. What do you think people would say about you at your funeral? 

Cathy Jo

32:32

Well, what I hope they would say is that she made a positive impact in my life. She was my friend. She made a positive influence on my life. And I'm gonna miss her. 

 Jan Johnson

32:47

Yeah, Wow. Yeah. All I can say is Yeah, yep. Probably say a lot about your mom too, couldn't you? 

Cathy Jo

32:57

Oh my gosh, to hear what people said about my mom and her grace and how she didn't complain. And you would have never known because she played the piano at church while I was growing up. And she would sit up there and play her music. And she kept to herself, and she just smiled. And if you asked her how she was doing, she’d go I'm fine. You know, and you would never know how she was actually feeling and what she was really battling with physically. She just showed up and did her thing and played music and gave back to people and contributed.

 Jan Johnson

33:17

What a role model.

Cathy Jo

33:31

I know. I know. She was amazing. To hear people recognize that and say that her celebration of life just really made me so proud.

 Jan Johnson

33:42

Yesterday, I went to a memorial service for Chuck Knapp. And it was just that everybody got up. One. He's a godly man, Two. He was all about family. He had a sense of humor. He was encouraging to people. He looked you in the eye and talked to you. And it was like, Yeah, I want people to say that about me, 

Cathy Jo

34:05

Right full of integrity

 Jan Johnson

34:06

That I've been the person of integrity, that I made people laugh, had a sense of humor that I impacted their life in some way, that I was there for them. Anything else you'd like to add? 

Cathy Jo

34:19

Gosh, I just want people to believe that you're not stuck. You know, if you ever feel like you, things just aren't going right for you, or things aren't happening for you. Surround yourself with somebody that believes that you can or that are doing whatever it is that you're wanting to do or something that you have a dream of or start dreaming. I feel like a lot of people, as we get older, we do get stuck, and we stop dreaming. Or we just don't know what's possible or what we're capable of. And seek out those people that are doing whatever it is that you're wanting to do, or what you would like to grow towards surround yourself with those people interview them, and get to know them, like, what did they do to get there? 

 Jan Johnson

35:07

And how do you take the first step? Right, yeah, but vision of something, you know, and I'd like to do something. I think that's the thing that makes the difference between just an ordinary woman and an extraordinary woman, they take the next step they research, they figure out how to make that happen. And they believe that they can make that happen.

Cathy Jo

35:24

Exactly. And then you decide. You have a thought or a vision, and then you interview somebody, you get more information. And then you decide, and then you believe, and then you take action, and you take your eyes off the mountain, whoever, whatever, if you just take that next step, the next step, the next step, and when you fumble and fall, you just get up and put your big girl panties on, and you keep on going. 

 Jan Johnson

35:48

And maybe you try something, and it's for just the season and it doesn't have to be the be all and end all this because you tried something, and it doesn't work. That's okay. You tried it and you learned something from it. So, take that, what you knew and then move on and there's no lack of information. 

Cathy Jo

36:11

There's no reason to not just go for it. Exactly. Yeah, take the lead.

 Jan Johnson

36:17

I would say to our listeners that if you are stuck, or want ideas or whatever, get an email out to Cathy or contact her some way because she's going to give you the inspiration you need to do whatever. And it's not like oh, she's this amazing person, which she is but she's not untouchable. Everybody here is there to help you. So, thank you for listening, and we will see you next week. Thank you