Your Empty Nest Coach
You are a mother of a high school student, and you are freaking out about the empty nest ahead? Together we will channel your freaking out energy into freaking awesome energy! You will THRIVE as your child(ren) prepares, heads off to, and experiences college. ~ Christine, Your Empty Nest Coach
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Episode 37: Laughing Through the Empty Nest Transition with Jenn Musselman
Hello, my ah-mazing empty nest friend!
My guest, today, Jenn Musselman, is so much fun. She's a closet coach, a certified professional life coach with a niche in closet coaching (more about that in the episode), and also manages one of my favorite places to hang out – and get my hair done – Reveal Salon, located in Chester Springs, PA. One visit there and you'll know why I think of it so fondly.
Jenn chose to be open and honest with us in sharing some of the thoughts she's had as her youngest heads off to college. She surprised herself with a couple of them and one she even had herself questioning, "where did this thought come from?" Now, if you have listened to a few of my episodes or more, you know I view observing and questioning your thoughts as healthy.
A special thanks to Jenn for joining me and for opening up to us in this way. May you find some comfort in what she shares. Take a moment to follow her on Instagram or Facebook while you are here. Links are below!
Take a listen or read the full transcript below.
⇓⇓⇓ More goodies below, too! Scroll all the way down ⇓ so you don't miss anything! ⇓⇓⇓
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What You Will Learn in this Episode:
An introduction to Jenn Musselman
The freedom in laughing at your thoughts
How your thoughts may be a bit more unusual than what you are used to
To consider talking about your emotions and thoughts
What Jenn offers as a closet coach
What Jenn is addicted to
Episode Questions for You To Consider
What is the wildest thought you have had leading up to or going through the empty nest transition?
Do you think Jenn should do stand-up because I think she'd be great!
Where to Find Jenn
Follow Jenn on Facebook
Visit Jenn's website
My program, The Empty Nest: First Steps Toward Success, is now available!
Join me in an upcoming retreat! GPS Reset Weekend: Unplugged and Charged Up
This episode – and every episode – is brought to you by my Free Program: The Empty Nest: A Guide to Uncovering My Future
Share your life wins with me via my contact form, email (christine at youremptynestcoach.com ) or audio message
Join the Green Popsicle Sticks on FB!
Episode Resources
Reveal Salon
Jenn's Reading: *Everything's Okay by Alesia Ellen Shute
Episode #13. Future You Has All The Power
Episode #17: Green Popsicle Sticks Community
Christine: You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, with Coach Christine, episode number 37: Laughing Through the Empty Nest Transition With Jenn Musselman. … Well, my listener, today is a real treat. I'm lucky enough to know Jenn in my life. She's a certified professional life coach, who has a particularly fun niche, or niche, however you say that, which is closet coaching. You may be wondering what exactly that is. I'm going to let Jenn tell you herself, shortly. …
Christine: You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, with Coach Christine, episode number 37: Laughing Through the Empty Nest Transition With Jenn Musselman. This podcast is for you, a mother who years ago walked away from a career to raise your child. Sure, you've been busy volunteering, car pools, maybe part-time work and taking care of everyone. But your main gig, that has been your child. Now, that they are in their later years of high school, the empty nest looms ahead for you and it is freaking you out. I've been there and I get it. Together, we'll turn our freaking out energy into freaking awesome energy.
Hello, my future empty nest friend. Before I get started, I have a request. My team and I are planning on taking some time off over the holiday season, and rather than going completely silent for that time, we thought we would share listener favorite episodes, or snippets. That means that we are looking for your submissions for one of two things, something you learned from the podcast that has helped you, or you're favorite episode. For both of these, explain what they mean to you, and tell us what episode number it is from. You may email your recorded submission with your phone audio recorder or type it out. Send your submissions to podcast AT youremptynestcoach.com. We look forward to hearing from you, and thanks for your assistance.
As always, a quick reminder that all of my episodes are brought to you by my free seven-day program, "The Empty Nest: A Guide to Uncovering My Future." To be clear, we are talking about your future, not mine. Hop on over to my website, youremptynestcoach.com and sign up today. Look for the link that says "Uncover Your Future."
Well, my listener, today is a real treat. I'm lucky enough to know Jenn in my life. She's a certified professional life coach, who has a particularly fun niche, or niche, however you say that, which is closet coaching. You may be wondering what exactly that is. I'm going to let Jenn tell you herself, shortly. She also is the manager of Reveal Salon, one of my absolute, most favorite places in the world, and I do not say this lightly, and I don't say it about many things either. In the last two visits to the salon, Jenn and I have checked in with one another on how we are doing in this empty nest journey. With Jenn's youngest starting college, she is in it, and the way she tells it, she might just have you laughing as much as she had me laughing.
Look, this empty nest stuff is no joke, or maybe it should be. The emotions we need to go through are no joke. But checking our thoughts about it, as you know, are everything. What if we choose to make it all funny? I hope my short conversation with Jenn will remind you of this. Welcome to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, Jenn.
Jenn: Thank you so much. I'm so excited that you asked me to join you. It's a big privilege.
Christine: I just saw you on Saturday, and I get to see you again. I'm thrilled to have you here today. Jenn, thanks for being open and honest enough to share your tough times through your current empty nest transition. I know I keep telling you this, but I do think you need to do some stand-up comedy around. I would love it, if for today, you would start by telling us a little bit about yourself, your family and where you are currently on your empty nest journey?
Jenn: Okay. Sure. I have been married for over 26 years. We have two boys, 22 and 18, and both of them, right now, one's starting grad school, and my youngest started a summer session up at Penn State. So, we are right on the cusp of being complete empty nesters come the fall. It will just be my husband and I. So, growing up, or should I say, going through this life with an entire family of men, or boys, or children, that's probably where I got my humor, because it was either that or drink heavily, so I decided, you know, go with the humor to try to get through this because no one is very serious in my family. You know, a lot of bodily noises and functions, around the dinner table, still, even at this age. So, that's kind of where I am with this whole empty nest thing. With my youngest son going, it definitely caught me off-guard. I thought I was seasoned. A seasoned send-your-child-off-to-school, but I still was not prepared for the emotional toll.
Christine: Right. It's a big deal.
Jenn: Yeah.
Christine: Yes. So, I'm not going to try to make this sound like a therapy session, which is easy, since I'm not a therapist. But there are at least three stories you've shared with me recently, that I believe my listener would enjoy hearing. Are you willing to indulge us?
Jenn: Oh, absolutely. Let's embarrass me. Yes.
Christine: Okay. Yes. You once shared with me about smelling pillows, which actually I have looked, and there is something on this, on "Psychology Today." Do you know that?
Jenn: Oh, no. No.
Christine: So, you're not alone. But please, share.
Jenn: Okay. So, I'm Italian Catholic, so you know, we are very emotional beings, and we worry a lot and we're filled with guilt, but when my first son went away to college, I'm not even sure how this started, but I just missed him a lot, so every morning and then every evening, I'd go to open his blinds, or close his blinds in the room, for the day, or the night, and then I would end up smelling his pillow on his bed, trying to get some little scent of him. So, don't change your kids' sheets. That's my advice. So, now, I'm doing it in both kids' rooms. Like my husband said, "Thank God we didn't have six or seven kids," because my morning or night routine would take an hour. I feel like I have to do it. It now has become a routine, like having my coffee in the morning. I just smell, and I talk to them, have a nice day, good night. If any of my neighbors are watching, yeah, that's me.
Christine: Maybe some will be like, "Hey, I do that, too." I think that's what we'll find. Has anyone mistakenly washed them, or do you do all the laundry?
Jenn: No, I do all the laundry. They'll come home, or I'll say, "Okay, I'm losing your scent. It's time for you to come home, because I cannot find your scent on the pillow any more." Then, they'll come home and I wash them, and then, you know. I don't know. It's just in my head. It makes me feel better.
Christine: It's nice though. I'm wondering what's wrong with me, that I have not wanted to smell pillows. Then there was this out-of-body experience that you recently had. Are you willing to share this one, too?
Jenn: Okay. Why not. Okay. My youngest virtually graduated, he went to Senior Week, and we had about a week before, then he was leaving to go to summer session. I don't know, something with that last week, it's kind of like the countdown, "Oh, my last Monday. My last Tuesday." That's what I tend to do in my head. He had told me him and his girlfriend were going to go out to breakfast. I went to the grocery store. I came home, he was helping me unload groceries, and all of a sudden, I see her vehicle pull up in my driveway. I literally started to hyperventilate, because I thought I had more time with him in the morning. I wear everything on my face, my expressions, you know, as everyone can read me, and she looked at me and she's like, "Oh, oh. I don't have to go out to breakfast with him." I just started sobbing. I felt myself like, out of my body, looking at me, going, "Oh my gosh, you have totally lost it, woman." It was nothing to do with his girlfriend. I adore her. It was just I thought I had more time, whatever that meant. I clearly felt I was outside my body, watching myself, just shaking my head, going, "Oh, what has this come down to?" Yeah, and she's hugging me. I had to apologize and assure her it had nothing to do with her. It was completely me, and a little breakdown.
Christine: It is no joke, though. Really. It's funny that you share this and the out-of-body part, but seriously, it just is.
Jenn: I think it just comes out of nowhere.
Christine: It does.
Jenn: I'm going about my day, it's fine, and then, all of a sudden.
Christine: Oh, my gosh. Okay. Then, wanting to sleep with your son, but don't worry my listener, nothing weird here.
Jenn: Yes. As weird as that sounds. I think everyone can relate when our kids were younger that you could cuddle with them, and you could smell their hair, when they did smell good, before they went through puberty, and just that closeness, that as they age, they don't really want any more. Something's with the week before they leave for school. I said to my youngest, would it be okay if I just slept with you, like, not in any sexual way, just cuddled with you. It's okay, with dad. Like I got that, and he looked me, and he's like, "You have totally lost it." But I was just like, just cuddle for a couple minutes even. No, I got nothing.
Christine: Nothing?
Jenn: Not even two seconds. Yeah. Nothing.
Christine: Not even like a show or a movie?
Jenn: I got a hug. I got tons of hugs, that's about as — yeah. Lots of hugs, but not anywhere near the bedroom. So, yeah.
Christine: This isn't limited to you, from what I understand. There's some things going on with hubby, and do you want to share there?
Jenn: Sure. I didn't realize, as the boys have gotten older, their relationship with my husband, obviously, has evolved. My husband's actually digressed in age, and is trying to be more like a fraternity brother when the boys come home. I just realized, literally, the other day, I was doing dishes, and somebody came in, one of the boys, and he just totally changes. He reverts to a college kid, like a 51-year-old trying to act like he's 18, and I was saying in my head, "Oh, my God, I think he is bipolar." Nothing wrong with that, but I think we need to address this, and then, I said to him, "When they come home, you're totally different than when it's just you and I." Then, I was like, "Oh my gosh, you're bi-son. Like, bi-son, and then when you're with me, you're bi-me." He is two totally different people. He can totally relate to them and connect with them, on a very immature basis. When it's just him and I, I have my husband back.
Christine: He grows up?
Jenn: Yeah. Yeah. Now, it's a big joke, when they come home, they're like, "Oh, we're with our best friend." You know, and I'm the third, fourth wheel.
Christine: I'm wondering if I do that to my husband.
Jenn: Yeah. Right. Exactly.
Christine: Have no doubts. Sorry, honey, not that you listen, but sorry. What's interesting is, I know your son headed off early for, is it rugby camp, before?
Jenn: It's a summer session. Yeah.
Christine: He was recently home, was it for his graduation party?
Jenn: Yep. It was like a dual graduation party for both of our kids.
Christine: Oh, that's great. What a big year for you. Oh, my goodness.
Jenn: Right.
Christine: How did things change? Did they change at all? Did you feel differently?
Jenn: He's only been gone three weeks, to me, it's felt like six months. I was so looking forward to him coming home, and having this ideal little short weekend together. Yeah. Okay. There was more attitude than my house could contain. My name is now Dude. It's no longer Mom. Everything, even moreso, revolves around him first, and then the rest of us. I love him with all my heart, but I was like, "Oh, gosh, when is it that you're going back? When is it, that you're going back, because –?" Yeah. He's like, "I'm definitely one of the pack," and he has his new tribe now. It's a different dynamic. Now, my older son did point out that he said I felt the same way when he first came home.
Christine: Did you?
Jenn: Yeah. He said his language had changed a bit, and he had to kind of find his own way, and that I didn't have a bunch of patience for it.
Christine: I think it's this huge transition for all of us, and every time we come together, we've all changed in different ways.
Jenn: Right. Absolutely.
Christine: We don't know what to expect. I know in my house, there's a lot of it is language. The language my daughter uses at school is not remotely acceptable to my husband. She's fine, but then, every once in a while, a friend will pop over, and she'll revert to that and everyone trying to figure out where they are in their new place, and where we all stand, it's a lot.
Christine: Just when you think you get it, then something else has changed.
Jenn: Right. Just when you think, I guess, I have to stop having any little ideas in my head on how things are going to go, because there's always something new that comes up, and it's like, "Okay." We are a happy family but, yeah, we are all different, trying to survive together.
Christine: It's tricky, us humans trying to work together, in any dynamic.
Jenn: Right. Exactly.
Christine: It's a lot more fun to just laugh through it, and notice it, and find it interesting.
Jenn: Right. Right. Exactly.
Christine: Go with that attitude than like, holy heck.
Jenn: Yeah. I just have to laugh.
Christine: I wanted to say more, but I'm going to keep the explicit off. All right. Jenn, what is one piece of advice you would like to give to future empty nest women, like where you are right now?
Jenn: I guess my one piece of advice that I have found amazing through this journey, is that, and this is so wonderful that you have created this podcast, because people don't talk about it. We talk about what to expect when you're expecting, or we do, "Oh, you should walk by the time you're one."
Christine: Sure.
Jenn: Or you know, like potty training and all this, but all of a sudden, we get to this spot, and no one really talks about it, and even how emotional it is regardless of what your relationship is with your child, because we're also in a place we're getting older and even coming to find out what does this mean to us? We're no longer a full-time mom, knowing every single move that they're making, or even responsible for that. It's just talk about it. Find a friend. I might be open because I make a joke out of it, but it's something I feel like you're kind of walking along the street and it comes around the corner and just hits you, and no one really talks about it. We're very proud of them, but there's also this emotional part of it, that we all have to as women, especially, just learn and grown through together. It's okay to cry. It's okay to not cry. It's okay to smell pillows. It's okay to not know really what you're role is now, you know, in life.
Christine: Yeah. Yes. It is okay, and it's a lot. Yes. Talk about it. That's great. Great advice. Thank you. I was so thrown by how awesome that was, Jenn.
Jenn: What you're doing is awesome, because no one talks about it, and sometimes you just feel like you're losing your mind. Like, you don't know where to put all the emotions.
Christine: It's true. It does. You're right. It hits you at the strangest, strangest moment.
Jenn: Yes.
Christine: Like you think you have all your stuff together.
Christine: You're like, "I've got this," and it's just something dumb. Like you get in the car and you're used to having a conversation with them in the car, at a certain time.
Christine: Or the first week, I find is traumatic with all these random things because you go home and you think you're going to talk to them about stuff.
Jenn: Right. Even talking over the phone or texts, I mean, we have great communication, but it's just still different. I want to see, and smell you, and touch you, and know everything.
Christine: Yes. You don't have it inherently any more.
Jenn: Right. Right.
Christine: It is tough. Okay. As I mentioned earlier, you are a closet coach, which I love. My empty nest friend, Jenn always, and I mean always, looks like she just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. You do, like 100 percent. Jenn, if I hired you for closet coaching, what is that? What would it look like?
Jenn: Okay. It kind of came organically out of me doing life coaching. One of my life coaching clients just liked the way I dressed and asked if I could help her and then said, "You have got to do this." It's just really having you utilize what's in your closet, but making you look and feel your best. Maybe mixing and matching something, or maybe something that you've been kind of hiding behind or holding onto, if you're not really happy, maybe, with your midsection, but what you've been wearing is actually drawing attention to that area, when you're trying to hide it. It's just really having you come away with a better sense of your style, not spending a whole bunch of money, because I'm not into that at all, but utilizing what you have, maybe adding a few key pieces and then, when you feel good about yourself, you look a little bit better, you stand taller, you hold your head taller. You don't have to be out of fashion magazine, but just to be the best you in what you have in your closet.
Christine: Yes. It's so valuable. At this stage of our life, I think it helps, too. I mean, it helps in any stage.
Christine: Right now, there's so much going on with our family, I mean, as mom's we don't think about ourselves anyway.
Christine: But especially like clothes. It's either your therapy and you have a ton of clothes, and they might not work for you.
Christine: Or you just haven't thought about clothes in so long.
Jenn: Right. Forever.
Christine: What a valuable gift you're giving people. That's great.
Christine: Awesome.
Jenn: It's tons of fun.
Christine: I can imagine. You're good at it. Is there anything else you would like to share with my amazing future empty nest friend?
Jenn: No, I think that's all. Just be real. Just be true to yourself, and be ready for those moments where you can't be ready but know it's okay. If it comes out of nowhere, that you're driving to work and all of sudden, you're crying and you don't know why, or you know, picking tomatoes or weeds in your garden, and something overcomes you, you're normal. You're like the rest of us. I guess, I just can't stress that enough. If not, hopefully, my stories will make you feel more normal, or you'll look at me like I'm crazy, so it will put you in a better place.
Christine: I think there's going to be more people getting it, than not getting it. I really do. Before you go, I have four questions that I ask every guest of mine. First is waffles or pancakes?
Jenn: Pancakes.
Christine: Excellent. Any reason?
Jenn: No. No. No reason. I just like pancakes better.
Christine: What is one item you can't live without and why?
Jenn: Lip gloss. I can't live without it. I'm just addicted to lip gloss. I have no idea, but it has been a part of my life. When I was in corporate, I would hide it in my pocket. Hide it behind my mouse. There's no reason, just I have to have lip gloss.
Christine: You're doing a stash?
Jenn: Yes. I have a little bit of a lip gloss. Yeah.
Christine: Are you loyal to one?
Jenn: No, absolutely not. No. Nope. No. No. It's subtle, but yeah.
Christine: Excellent. You're all time favorite movie and any particular reason?
Jenn: "Sound of Music," everything, everything about it I feel like I have great memories of watching it with the kids and just singing and everything, the landscape, the story-line.
Christine: That's a beautiful movie. You have one hour of alone time, no one will bother you, what is your go to thing to do?
Jenn: Read. Just read. Read a novel. Read fiction.
Christine: Excellent. What are you reading now?
Jenn: "Everything is Okay…" I can't remember the rest of the title.
Christine: I'll have to look it up. We'll put it in the show notes. Do you like it?
Jenn: Yes. I really do.
Christine: Okay. Great.
Jenn: It's very different. Yeah. It's very different.
Christine: Fun. Awesome. Okay. My empty nest friend, don't forget to follow Jenn. I will have her contact information in this episodes full show notes on my website, youremptynestcoach.com. She's on Facebook at Jenn.closet.coaching. Did I get that right?
Jenn: You got it.
Christine: All right. She's also a life coach, so you can visit her page there, too. Does it link over?
Jenn: Yes. It does.
Christine: I'll put them both in my show notes so you have them. Jenn, thanks for being brave enough to share your stories and your laughter with us.
Jenn: Thank you.
Christine: I am thrilled you joined me today. Thanks for being here.
Jenn: Thank you, Hon. I appreciated it.
Christine: Psst…my empty nest friend, did you hear? I have an online program, "The Empty Nest: First Steps Towards Success." I also, now offer GPS Reset Weekend Retreats, and I am available for speaking events. Seriously! What are you waiting for? Visit my website, or see this episodes full show notes.
Please don't hesitate to fly on over to our Facebook group. Our name is Green Popsicle Sticks. Want to know why? Listen to episode number 17, or head to my website, youremptynestcoach.com/community for links to join our flock. Why should you join our group? The adjustment to not having your kiddos at home full-time isn't always easy, but it sure can be a ton more fun with a flock of friends. We look forward to seeing you there.
If you are ready to begin the journey to find future you, and use her as your GPS, definitely sign up for my free program, "The Empty Nest: A Guide to Uncovering My Future." Episode number 13 covers the high-level concepts of that program, if you would like to check it out. To dive deep into the concepts, definitely take my free program, as I provide videos and worksheets to assist you on your journey.
The questions I have for you in this episode are: what is the wildest thought you have had, leading up to, or going through the empty nest transition? This is a very important question, my second question: do you think Jenn should do stand-up? Because I think she'd be great. As always, I provide content to make you think, my empty nest friend. My hope is that I am able to provide you with thoughts that positively impact your life. You'll find the show notes for this and every episode on my website. My next episode is my final special guest episode, Michele will be with us, and we'll be covering some serious topics. I hope you find her as inspiring as I do.
Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast. It is free and you'll be notified when I post a new episode every Friday. If my show has helped you in any way, please share it with one other person you think it will help, too. You'll be giving them a free gift. Thanks for your time and energy with that, and thanks so much for listening, my empty nest friend. Remember, you are amazing!
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🎙🎙🎙 New episode!🎙🎙🎙 Hello, my Empty Nest Friend! My guest, today, Jenn Musselman, is so much fun. She's a closet coach, a certified professional life coach with a niche in closet coaching (more about that in the episode), and also manages one of my favorite places to hang out – and get my hair done – Reveal Salon, located in Chester Springs, PA. One visit there and you'll know why I think of it so fondly. Jenn chose to be open and honest with us in sharing some of the thoughts she's had as her youngest heads off to college. She surprised herself with a couple of them and one she even had herself questioning, "where did this thought come from?" Now, if you have listened to a few of my episodes or more, you know I view observing and questioning your thoughts as healthy. A special thanks to Jenn for joining me and for opening up to us in this way. May you find some comfort in what she shares. Take a moment to follow her on Instagram or Facebook while you are here. Links are below! Take a listen, or read full transcript, found on my website (link in bio). https://youremptynestcoach.com/p37/ . 🐦What You Will Learn in this Episode: 🎙An introduction to Jenn Musselman 🎙The freedom in laughing at your thoughts 🎙How your thoughts may be a bit more unusual than what you are used to 🎙To consider talking about your emotions and thoughts 🎙What Jenn offers as a closet coach 🎙What Jenn is addicted to 🎙And more! 🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦 #EmptyNest #NewEpisode #GreenPopsicleSticks #Quote #EmptyNestPrep #YourEmptyNestCoach #EmptyNestCoach #FridayThoughts #Humor #Laughing #CollegeParent #newemptynest
A post shared by Coach Christine (@emptynestcoach) on Aug 23, 2019 at 3:03am PDT
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You are preparing for the empty nest ahead as your child(ren) prepares, heads off to, and experiences college.
Episode 36: Walking Through the Empty Nest Transition with Jo Davies
I am thrilled to bring this episode to you.
I enjoy scrolling through Instagram and making new connections on that platform. One account that always makes me smile is Midlife Highway, which is run by the ever so funny, Jo Davies.
Jo has supremely fresh and funny posts and is highly engaged on the platform. She shared a few photos and Insta stories about her walk on the Camino de Santiago this year. The stories piqued my interest, and a few thoughts arrived in my head: I would like to know more about this walk, and I would like to know more about Jo. I bet some of her other followers would like to know more, too. I'm going to invite her to be a guest on my podcast.
And she said, "Yes!"
Not only that, she took the interview call while she was on holiday/vacation, and stayed up late! She's got the amazing thing figured out!
This conversation, along with my recent camping trip, simmered together to inspire me to create my GPS Reset Weekend: Unplugged and Charged Up retreats. A shout out to Jo for being a vital part of that recipe!
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed speaking with her.
An introduction to Jo Davies
What inspired Jo to walk the Camino de Santiago
The impact of the walk in her life and why she has made it an annual walk
Jo's advice to future empty nesters
Have you ever done a long walk such as the ones Jo has completed?
Would you ever consider doing a walk like this?
Where to Find Jo
Follow Jo on Instagram
Visit Jo's website
Camino de Santiago – Wikipedia
A random video done about a short portion of the Camino
Christine: You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, with Coach Christine, episode number 36: Walking Through the Empty Nest Transition With Jo Davies. …. My wonderful listener, if you are on Instagram and you aren't already following Jo Davies on her Midlife Highway account, you need to change that. Let me read to you her current Instagram bio. …
Christine: You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, with Coach Christine, episode number 36: Walking Through the Empty Nest Transition With Jo Davies. This podcast is for you, a mother who years ago walked away from a career to raise your child. Sure, you've been busy volunteering, car pools, maybe part-time work and taking care of everyone. But your main gig, that has been your child. Now, that they are in their later years of high school, the empty nest looms ahead for you and it is freaking you out. I've been there and I get it. Together, we'll turn our freaking out energy into freaking awesome energy.
Hello, my future empty nest friend. Before I get started today, I have a request. My team and I are planning on taking some time off over the holiday season, and rather than going completely silent for that time, we thought we would share listener favorite episodes, or snippets. That means that we are looking for your submissions for one of two things, something you learned from the podcast that has helped you, or you're favorite episode. For both of these, explain what they mean to you, and tell us what episode number it is from. You may email your recorded submission with your phone audio recorder or type it out. Send your submissions to podcast AT youremptynestcoach.com. We look forward to hearing from you, and thanks for your assistance.
My wonderful listener, if you are on Instagram and you aren't already following Jo Davies on her Midlife Highway account, you need to change that. Let me read to you her current Instagram bio. Midlife Highway/Jo Davies, Great Britain, Living, learning and laughing, hoping to inspire positivity and happiness. Just being me, cake-lover, ever so slightly — slight bonkers." I'm slightly bonkers. How can you not love her? One of my favorite periodic posts of Jo's is titled, "Getting My Goat This Week," where she shares real life in an amusing fashion and ends each post with, "As usual, if anything has got your goat this week, do share. It's a great way of making everyone else laugh at your misfortune."
Christine: Welcome to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, Jo.
Jo: Thank you very much. I'm delighted to be here. I think what you do is absolutely fantastic, Christine. I think more people should be doing it.
Christine: Right. We all should. We need to talk about all this stuff.
Jo: We do. We do.
Christine: I love finding more of us. Just keep talking. It's so great, because it makes more people talk. It's just awesome. I'm so thrilled to have you here today, Jo. You are one the Instagram accounts that continually entertains me, and I have found myself wanting to know more about your life. So, first of all, thanks for being open enough to join me today, and for sharing part of your life with us. I would love it if you would start by telling us a little bit about yourself, your family and where you currently are on the empty nest journey?
Jo: I'd be happy to. I am 50 for one more week. Next week, I will be 51.
Christine: Happy birthday!
Jo: I'm hanging on to being 50. Thank you. I have been married for 24 years, to John, who is a property developer in the Cotswolds, in Dag Gloucestershire, where I live, in the U.K. I have three children. I have a son who has just left university after four years, and I have another son who is in his second year at university, so he's 20. My older son is 22, and my daughter is about to go to university, and she is 18. In terms of empty nesting, it was very interesting, because I was thinking about it, because my children all went to boarding school from quite a young age. So, the whole kind of empty nest thing, as your children leaving home, it doesn't apply to me in quite the same way. For me, empty nesting is getting to that point in your life, where suddenly, your children just don't need you in the same way.
Christine: Yes.
Jo: You'll always be wanted and needed by them, but they've got their own lives, and suddenly it's like, "Oh, hang on." So, it's not so much the physical thing of not having them at home, because they've never been, from a young age, as I said, since they were away at school. So, they've never been constantly at home. It's more the sort of mental side of that massive role you've had for such a long time is suddenly diminished.
Jo: That's really where I feel.
Christine: That's really interesting. Now, did they go to boarding school all along, or did they start somewhere — I don't know how that works, actually.
Jo: People might suddenly turn off, and start hating me.
Christine: No. Don't you dare turn off.
Jo: All three of my children went to boarding school at eight years old.
Christine: Oh, great.
Jo: So did I, and so did my husband. My boys loved it. For them it was just like a big sleepover. They played sport all the time. I mean, I saw them every Wednesday afternoon. They came home a lot of weekends. It's not like you send them off and you don't see them again. My daughter was less happy, for the first year. It's just what they did. It's much more common here, obviously. I mean, not so much at eight now, but it's much more common to send your children away to school in the U.K., than I think it is in the States. But they went from very young, and actually, I was a better parent for it. I'm a better parent on holidays than I would have been everyday.
Christine: I can understand a lot of that. It's really interesting. I don't know if you know, my daughter went to college four years early.
Jo: No.
Christine: So, people can't relate to me.
Jo: We're weird.
Christine: Because at 14, she went to college. People would say why didn't she go to boarding school. A lot of that was financial for us.
Jo: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine: So, I understand a lot of that, actually. It does make sense. She's so independent, and always was.
Jo: That's the thing.
Christine: But I think it just helps move it along, because she can't just run to me every second.
Jo: Yeah. Exactly. I mean, it's not for everybody. It's really not, but it worked for us, and actually, our kids are great.
Christine: Awesome. That's wonderful. What caught my eye online, were, in particular, among many things, was your walking pilgrimages.
Christine: I know you recently had a walking trip, and it looks like you began with a six-week, 500-mile pilgrimage across Spain, back in 2016? Do I have that correct?
Jo: Yup. That's right.
Christine: What inspired you to do that journey?
Jo: Well, it was interesting, because as I said, my children had always been away at school, and my son, age 18, finished school and went off to university. Even though he, as I said, had not been at home, I found it sort of deeply shocking. I thought where have 18 years gone? How have I suddenly got this grownup? I slightly fell back on well, what have I done? Everyone says, "Oh, you've produced this wonderful child, and you've done this beautiful job of being a mother." I'm like, "Yeah, but what else?"
Christine: Right.
Jo: I mean, 18 years of my life have gone past, and if I got hit by a bus tomorrow, I'm not sure I'd have anything else to sort of say for myself. Again, that's fine for some people, but it suddenly wasn't for me. I decided that I would go off and do this walk. Someone had told me about it. I didn't give a moment's thought. All I thought was I was going to get really fit, and really brown.
Christine: I love it.
Jo: Super tan, and super fit, too, and I love a challenge. I literally didn't give it much thought. I packed my rucksack. I started with a girlfriend, she did the first two weeks with me. It was life-changing. I mean, truly, extraordinary, and not because of the walking, which was great, but it was more the people and the fact that once my friend left, nobody knew me. I wasn't anybody's wife. I wasn't anybody's mother. They find out that you're married and that you've got kids, but they're not interested in that. All they're interested in where you walked yesterday, who you met, where you're staying, what you ate. They don't care about where your kids went to school, it's just not part of the experience. I suddenly just sort of felt completely free. I felt like the person I was before I got married, before I had kids. I was just like, I'm funny, and I'm bright, and I can sleep in the dormitory with 60 people I don't know in bunk beds, next to some strange snoring man, who stinks to high heaven. But I can do this, and it was real identity, sort of, readjustment for me. It was just like, there is still that person. You lose that person in years of motherhood.
Christine: Yeah.
Jo: If you don't work, and even if you work to a certain extent, you lose all of that. You just become this wife and mother. Like I said, Christine, there are lots of people for whom that's the dream, and I admire them hugely. I'm envious in a way, but it was never enough. I gave up my career to bring up my children, and then, spent most of my time since, trying to fill that void. The walking for me was just a chance just to be me, and it was so liberating. I could bore on about it for months, because I can't emphasize enough, how freeing it was. I became totally immersed in just the walking, and getting up every day, and only having to think about myself. I carried my own rucksack, so everything I needed was on my back, so it was nothing, a couple of pairs of trousers, a couple tops. Because everything you have, you have to carry. You don't want to be carrying endless makeup and whatnot. I came back, and the adjustment was huge. Because I came back, and I'm like, I'm going to be this super human person. I'm going to do this, I'm going to get out there and slowly, you get sucked back in to the role you had. So, each year, just before I get completely immersed, I go off again, just to remind myself. Chatter, chatter, chatter.
Christine: Love it.
Jo: You can tell how much I love it. I don't shut up.
Christine: It sounds so nice. So many questions.
Jo: It's so good.
Christine: Why six weeks on your first one?
Jo: I didn't really give it much thought. Of course, I could have never done six weeks on my second one, because my husband would have got wise to the fact. He actually found it quite challenging. I actually, to be honest, we were having dinner with some friends, and he had just walked to the North Pole, and I said, if you were going to do a challenge that wasn't actually going to endanger my life, what would you do?
Jo: He said, "I think I'd walk the Pyrenees." When I got home, I just Googled walk the Pyrenees, and because you start by walking over the Pyrenees on the Camino De Santiago, that's what image came up on my Google search. You can do it in stages. You can do a week, and then, go back and do another week. My husband has done a week. My daughter is actually going off on the 4th of August to do the whole six weeks.
Christine: Oh, wow!
Jo: Yeah. That's how long it takes roughly to do the whole thing. It never crossed my mind not to do the whole thing, and of course, I don't think my husband sort of realized. He was really thrilled for me to do it, because he knew it was important. But I don't think he realized how long six weeks was going to feel to him.
Jo: I mean six weeks felt like nothing to me, but six weeks felt like a very long time to him. But that's how long that walk was going to take, and as I said, it never crossed my mind not to do the whole thing.
Jo: I'm not sure I'd be able to six weeks again.
Christine: Maybe your ten year anniversary of your first walk?
Jo: Yes.
Christine: I'm plugging for that.
Jo: It's interesting because actually I have a friend who's just done it, and he only did a couple of weeks, two or three weeks, and then, his ankles and his knees and stuff gave in. I hope my daughter does the whole thing, but it is hard. It's a long time. I think, as I said, for me it was so liberating, and I felt so sort of free, that I don't want to give up that feeling, but of course, my daughter's not going to get that feeling. It could be harder for her to find the thing that makes her keep walking.
Jo: You know, that's what made me keep walking, and for her, she won't necessarily have that, because life's a breeze for them, isn't it?
Christine: Yeah. Right.
Jo: They don't have a care in the world.
Christine: They think they do.
Jo: Yeah. Of everything.
Christine: In their mind, they do.
Jo: Everything's a nightmare and a disaster.
Christine: True.
Jo: I always walk with my friend who started the Camino with me, and actually, the reason we went to Portugal was because she never finished. She did two weeks, and then, she left. She didn't do the second four weeks with me. The walk in to Santiago to Compostela is the sort of climax to the trip. The Portuguese one only being two weeks, she sort of got to finish a Camino without having to take such a long time.
Christine: That's lovely. Her family's good with her being away for two weeks?
Jo: Yeah. Actually, her children are grown up and her kids are away at school, too. Actually, two weeks is nothing really.
Christine: I guess this is not an expensive thing?
Jo: Gosh, it's cheap. Do you know what? That is the thing. It is cheap. If you carry your pack, and if you're prepared to stay at hostels, and some of the hostels are pretty basic. You are sleeping in a dormitory with 50 other people in bunk beds. It stinks. The snoring is indescribable, but you're tired, and the showers and everything. You think my post about the loos was bad. Some of those showers are indescribable. Even that is just, you know, I can do this. I can sleep in these places. I can be uncomfortable and I'm good with that.
Christine: That's fantastic. What's the hardest thing when you would come back to adjust to? Is there one thing or not?
Jo: Yeah. I described it when I came back as I felt like a square peg, it's classically, a square peg in a round hole, and everybody has a hammer. Everybody wants you to be back in your role as quickly as possible. Nothing has changed for them. My husband's amazing, so I'm being a bit harsh, but mentally, he's thinking, "Thank God, she can do the washing, she can do the cooking, she can do the shopping, she can organize my life." They want you to do that the morning after you get back. They want it just straight back. It's very difficult to adjust because everything feels so, what's the word, spoiled. You feel so indulged. Just being able to turn on taps and have lovely hot clean water come out, and open my cupboard and think, "Oh, my God, what am I going to wear today?" When before, I'd just be like, "Oh, those old trousers again, and that old shirt again."
Jo: It's that adjustment to the richness of your life, in a way. It's becomes a bit, grotesque is too harsh a word, but you become a bit judgmental because you've lived such a basic simple life, and you look at your life, and think this is unnecessary, and that's unnecessary, get rid of my car.
Christine: I can see that.
Jo: That doesn't last long. But that's the hardest thing. The hardest thing is that you've had this massive change for a few weeks, and everybody else's life is exactly the same, so they don't see that, and they don't experience it. Actually, my husband, I was so awful when I came back from my first one, that my husband went and did a week because he said, "I'm going to go and see what is making you feel so kind of –"
Christine: That's really sweet, actually.
Jo: I know, Bless him. I know, but do you know what? There's that classic thing we do, us women, part of me is like, "Oh, that's so lovely," and part of it's, "Oh, that's my thing. It's mine."
Christine: I know. I know.
Jo: He's stolen my thing.
Christine: He only went for one week, though.
Jo: Yes. He didn't do the whole thing.
Christine: He didn't.
Jo: You know, it was important because, and he said, "I get it." You know, he said, "I found I was the life and soul." He said, "I'm really funny." I went, "I know, but we don't laugh like we used to because there's too much life stuff going on." It's good to just get that back.
Christine: That's really great. Oh, my goodness. You'd think you'd be in sensory overload, when you come back?
Jo: Totally. Yeah. Totally. I mean, Bless him, when I came back we have this amazing Chelsea Flower Show, which is a flower show in London. It's one of the biggest in the world, and it's absolutely amazing. We try to go every year. You have to get tickets, and he had booked tickets for that, and he booked for us to stay in a really nice hotel, and go out for dinner at our favorite restaurant, and I was just so overwhelmed by the whole thing, and I walked into this amazing hotel room, and all I could think was, "You could fit 50 people in here." You could fit 20 bunks easy, and all of that just is very overwhelming. You really do have to adjust in a very strange way.
Christine: How great. It's wonderful
Jo: Everyone should be able to go.
Christine: Really. I know. I'm like, "Okay, are you leading a group next?"
Jo: Yes. I would. Do you know? I would. Although, it's weird because part of the thing that amazing is that I met and walked with six people, but the whole of my second walk, the four weeks I was on my own, same people, every day, 24 hours a day. You're sharing, you're washing each other's socks, it's one of the very accelerated relationships, and you become incredibly close to these people and incredibly reliant on these people. It's really hard when you leave, because they become like your family. That's another one of the really hard things when you come back, is that you want to speak to them all the time, because you know, you've shared this amazing experience with them. I met some really wonderful people. Who I still keep in touch with.
Christine: That's great. I was going to say —
Jo: From all over, but they're all Americans. They get everywhere.
Christine: Were you the entertainer?
Jo: Do you know, no, I wasn't, because there were moments when you feel actually motherly, you can't ever get rid of that. I'm like, "have you got sunscreen on?" You know? "Have you got enough water," that slightly motherly thing. I didn't have to be Jo Davies, wife, mother, I could just be anybody.
Christine: That's wonderful.
Jo: Yeah. It was great.
Christine: Now that my listener wants to go. Actually, we have the Appalachian Trail in the east coast here, that's really long.
Jo: Yes, you do.
Christine: It's like months and months.
Jo: Yes, months and months, and that's really hard core, isn't it? Because that's camping.
Christine: It is.
Jo: That's really hard core. Yeah.
Christine: I forget what they call it. Actually, a friend of mine's daughter is doing it, and she just made it to the halfway point.
Jo: I do think it doesn't have to be, you know, some massive thing. I think it's just time out.
Jo: It can be a week, but you just have to do something completely different, and actually, not with a group. Interestingly, I would never, much as my husband would like to go back and do the walk, and I would like to go back and do it again, I wouldn't do it with him, because I would just be his wife the whole way. The point about it is to have this unique experience on your own. Actually, I'll do other things with him, but this, this is different. To fully experience, if you're going to do that walk, particularly, or any of those Caminos. One of the people I walked with on my own, went back and did it with his wife and brother and sister, and stuff, and he said it was good, but it's different. You know? He went and just did a two weeks or something, but it's just different. It's a different experience, and it sort of stops me going back as well, because I had such a unique time, and met such amazing people. I think if I went back and did it again, I might be disappointed.
Christine: You'll just meet different amazing people.
Jo: Yeah. Do you know what? I genuinely think I was lucky. I genuinely think I just met a really great group. Because the guy I was talking about, after he'd been there a week, he sent me a message saying, "What's wrong with me? Why haven't I made more friends?" I think I was lucky. But it was great. It was amazing, amazing.
Christine: So sweet. I love it. All right. We'll move on, because I think I can talk for an hour.
Jo: Because otherwise, I won't shut up.
Christine: I know, we'll just talk forever. Okay. So, if you would so indulge me, and my listener, I would love to have you read one of my favorite posts of yours. It's so real-life, and I think hearing it in your voice, would be completely amazing.
Jo: I will read it to you, but it's just I do this, because there's a little bit of me that thinks sometimes Instagram and all these social media things, it's all a bit too lovely and glossy, and let's face it, every single week, there is something. I was just saying today, every time I get in the car, and one of my husband or my children, you know the visor thing you bring down to stop the sun?
Jo: When they don't put that up, every single time I get into their cars, and I bash my head on it, I literally want to punch them. When I get back on Instagram, that's going to be number one. The sun visor being down and bumping my head.
Christine: I think that's why I like your account so much, like your posts, because they're just so honest, and we all can relate. It's real.
Jo: The thing that's a bit tricky about it, is that I don't have a niche. You know? I think that's why my followers grow so slowly, is because I'm not posting endless pictures of fashion, and people go, "I like her style," and then, everybody follows. I don't have a sort of specific thing. I'm just, "Oo, this is annoying today," or, "This is great today." My life is amazing, but it's not glossy. It's just real. I think sometimes you need to see that. It's not just our children who look at social media and go, "Oh, I'm too fat," or, "I'm too ugly," or, "My hair isn't the right –" You know, there are grownups out there, adults out there, doing the same. You need the old dose of [inaudible] to balance it out.
Christine: You do. I think when we all present the perfection and that's all we present, I mean, in life in general, we tend to think that it's not supposed to have sucky moments. Thinking life's supposed to be perfect causes more anxiety, than if you're like, "Okay, this is a sucky thing for today, let me just get through it.
Jo: Yeah. I do think that's true, and I'm a great believer in that every day ends and every day the sun will come up, and it's just a new start. There is a chance you may have things hanging over from the day before, but you can address them differently, or go about it differently. It is just a chance to just start again, every day.
Christine: Yes. Yes.
Jo: With the same rubbish.
Christine: Exactly.
Jo: The same annoying rubbish.
Christine: Same or different sucky things.
Jo: Yeah. I'm very conscious of the fact that I talk very fast. When you come back to look at this, you're going say, "Oh, this all hopeless. I can't understand a word."
Christine: No.
Jo: Hopefully not. Okay. This was after a few days of traveling for three days around the countryside, with my husband, and stopping at quite a lot of Motorway Service Stations, and it struck me that there was a recurring theme when using the public toilets, and here it is. You get in to find the door won't latch. You would hang your bag on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't, so you drape it around your neck, definitely not on the floor. Then you assume the stance. The stance which is that awful squatting position for anyone who can't imagine it. In this position, you're aging toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly haven't taken time to wipe the seat, or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold the stance. Take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday, the one that's still in your bag. That will have to do. You crumble it into the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail. Someone pushes your door open, because the latch doesn't work. You reach forward to push the door shut, at which point your thighs decide you've had enough, topple backwards against the tank of the toilet, dropping your precious tissue in a puddle on the floor, and sit down on the wet seat. You bolt up knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and lifeform. The automatic sensor on the back of the toilet senses your back and flushes, (inaudible) stream of water, like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist all over your bottom. At this point, you give up, pull your pants up over your wet bottom, open the door with your elbow, no more germs, try and wash your hands in the sink, where none of the dispensers work, unlike the one in the toilet. No water coming out of the taps, soapy hands. Leaving the bathroom, you invariably find your husband impatiently waiting outside going, "What took you so long?" in a very cheery voice. That's actually the most annoying part.
Christine: I don't know which is worse of all it. But it's so true.
Jo: The worse for me, is that annoying thing when you lean back too far, and the sensor behind you goes flush. Yeah. All of it.
Christine: There was a period, when my daughter was little, was afraid of them, because they're so loud.
Jo: Yeah.
Christine: They would go off and I guess she wouldn't hit the part where it would look. If you put a sticky note over it, it won't go off.
Jo: That is an idea.
Christine: I've stopped doing that, but I think I need to try it again, because it's happening again.
Jo: Yeah. Let's face it, if we can't remember the tissue in our bag, we're never going to remember a Post-it note just to cover the sensor.
Christine: This is true. I know. This was my younger mom days.
Jo: Yeah. When you had your bag full of that stuff.
Christine: Exactly. It's great. Thank you for sharing that.
Jo: That's all right.
Christine: Jo, what is one piece of advice you would like to give future empty nest women?
Jo: I think I have bored on about it now, but oddly enough, one of the things, actually, I can't remember if I was going to do this one. Anyway, one of the most important things is to remember who you were before you became the wife and mother. I think it's so important. I think it's the big answer to the empty nest question. Because the empty nest question is who am I now, and I think you can answer that by who was I before, because that person is still there. That person, if you remember, could do anything. The world was your oyster before you became a wife, before you became a mother, for most people. I look at my 22-year-old son now, and he was looking for a job. It just doesn't cross his mind he's not going to get one. It doesn't cross his mind he's not going to find a great flat, and have just the best time. We were all like that, and that's the person you need to remember that, instead of sort of thinking what am I going to do, help, what's my purpose? If you remember who you were and how you felt, that should just give you that sort of confidence to just start again. Just reinvent yourself all over again. You've got a whole another half of your life, at least.
Christine: I know. We have so much. It's so funny.
Christine: Fifty is not, like, come on, it's like nothing.
Christine: Really. I talk to people who are early fifties, and they're like, "Okay, my kid's gone, I guess I'm done." I'm like, "What?! No, you're just starting!"
Jo: But I think if your only identity or the only part of you that you can identify with is the mother part, then that is how you feel, because if you no longer have that, what are you? That's exactly how I felt. I just thought to myself, God, 18 years of my life have gone past, and what's left? What's left for me and what am I, and who am I now? As I said, I never expected the walk to do this, but it just said, "This is who you are."
Christine: That's awesome.
Jo: "This is what you're capable of, and you are still capable of doing all of that," and that's what I would say to everyone. You don't have to go off and do a walk to find it. Lots of people know exactly who they are, and go, them. But for those people who don't, you've just got to find something that makes you remember who you were.
Christine: I love it. Great advice. Great advice.
Jo: I know. Most rare. I'd better write that down, actually.
Christine: It will be in the transcript, and I'll do an Audiogram of it, so you'll be all over the place.
Jo: Yes. I'll have to write that down. I've never been so insightful.
Christine: That's very good. I always say, our old me is there, it's just like–
Jo: Yeah. That's the trouble.
Christine: We're so used to putting that on hold for everyone else, that it's just like we've pushed it down for those 18 years.
Jo: Yeah. Exactly.
Christine: We have to make the effort, like a walk, or whatever it is for you, to try to find her.
Jo: Yeah. Because she's in there.
Christine: She is, totally, and she is awesome. Is there anything else you'd like to share with my amazing future empty nest friend?
Jo: The only other thing, funny enough, I was thinking about was, because I think this is really important. My mother's favorite expression was always, "If you can't be with the ones you love, love the ones you're with." While that's generally about people, it made me sort of think you could apply that to your life, because one of the things when I came back, I hated my life as role, but I felt so confined by my life, I thought there's a whole world out there, that I want to go and explore, and there's all these amazing people I want to meet, but it's not practical. I can't go and walk for six weeks every year, so I take my two weeks. You just scale it back. We can't all live our best lives and have our every one of our dreams come true. We can just scale them back a bit, and just be happy with the ones we can make work, rather then permanently striving for the things we can't. You can't have everything that you want, be happy with what you've got.
Christine: Well said. Another gem!
Jo: I'm going to have to lie down. I'm exhausted. My brain's so old. Actually, anyone who follows me on Instagram regularly, listens to this, they'll go, "Oh, well, it's not her. There's no way that's her."
Christine: I have video to prove it.
Jo: Yes. Good point. Let me see.
Christine: I won't delete it now. Okay. Before you go, I have four questions that I ask every guest of mine. The first is very important. Waffles or pancakes?
Jo: Pancakes.
Christine: Yes? Any reason?
Jo: Definitely pancakes. I just don't know. It's too much, the waffly — and also, waffles are a bit dry.
Christine: They can be. Yes.
Jo: Yeah. They can be. Yes.
Christine: What do you put on your pancakes?
Jo: We're a traditional lemon and sugar girl. Is that not traditional with you guys?
Christine: Lemon and sugar? Is that what you said?
Christine: No. You do call them pancakes, or are they called something else?
Jo: No, they're called pancakes. But yours are just sort of small round fat ones, aren't they?
Christine: They are. What are yours?
Jo: Ours are the size of a dinner plate and they're much thinner.
Christine: Oh. Look what we're learning today.
Jo: Did you know, we had a long discussion at lunch today, about prawns and shrimps, because somebody said, "Oh, those are prawns," and when asked what's the difference, because in America we say that's a shrimp.
Jo: No. It is pancakes.
Christine: Got it. We'll leave it there. What is one item you can't live without and why?
Jo: It's not really an item, but coffee. I know it's not really an item, but actually, I have a really strong willpower. I have drunk nothing but juice for 28 days. I can give up things in a heartbeat. If anyone even suggests I give up coffee, I'm like, "Nah." It's just my thing.
Christine: Do you have that on your walks?
Jo: Oh, yeah, and I take sachets so that if I'm in danger of missing a coffee stop, I have some.
Jo: But you know what? I don't even mind that it's decaf. It's a total habit thing.
Jo: Actually, I don't drink, not that I have a problem, I have to just emphasize that. But I just gave up drinking about 13 years ago, just out of choice. I just thought it actually doesn't suit me. It doesn't make me feel good. I don't smoke, so that's my vice. My coffee.
Christine: That's a good answer. I love coffee. A few weeks ago, I gave it up, that lasted two days and it was awful.
Jo: I just kind of think, I don't drink a huge amount. I just think why give it up? I love it. I don't want to give it up. I don't want to.
Christine: It's good stuff. All time favorite movie and any particular reason?
Jo: Can I have two? I'm very quick.
Jo: "True Romance" the Quentin Tarantino film. Have you ever seen it?
Christine: No, I have not.
Jo: Okay. Quentin Tarantino is not known for soft films, so that's my word of warning. There's some proper violence in that, but the cast is unbelievable, absolutely fantastic cast. One of the best cinematic scenes of all time has got to be the scene with Dennis Hopper and Christoper Walken. You're now going to have to go and watch it, so you know what I mean.
Christine: I will. Yes.
Jo: The cast is just extraordinary. Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, half of the cast of "Sopranos". And, "The Last of the Mohicans," just because it's beautiful and cinematic and wonderful, romantic and dramatic. I love it.
Christine: Excellent. Yeah. I'm getting good movie recommendations.
Jo: Yes. Have you not seen "Last of the Mohicans" either?
Christine: I think I have, but I'm one of those people where I'll see movies, and I'll be like, I think I liked that. Except for a very few, that I've watched over and over.
Christine: It's interesting that I picked this question to ask everyone.
Jo: You've done it secretly, haven't you? You're going to get lots of recommendations for films. Yeah?
Christine: I think that's it. I just had a plan, I just didn't know it.
Jo: But do watch "True Romance." Take it with a pinch of salt, but it's just awesome.
Christine: Sounds awesome. Great. You have an hour of alone time, no one will bother you, what is your go-to thing to do?
Jo: Read. Every time. Read, read, read. I love books. I don't care what it is. I will plow my way through rubbish. I will plow my way through the classics. The films, books, it's that whole escapism thing. Actually, I so involve myself in it that there's some books which some people rave about and I'm like, if I don't like the characters, or if I don't feel anything for the characters, I'm not going to really care what happens to be. Reading. I just love it. Absolutely love it.
Christine: What are you currently reading?
Jo: I am currently reading a book called, "All the Light We Cannot See." Do you know what? You're going to ask me who the author is, and the awful thing is because it's on my Kindle, I just don't know. I just don't remember.
Christine: That's okay. I'll look it up, and put it in the show notes. I have somebody who transcribes it for me. Thank you, Beth.
Jo: Yes. Perfect. If she thinks of something a bit more intellectual, put that in as well. The Bible. She's reading the Bible. Complete Works of Shakespeare, actually.
Christine: I'll have all my Amazon affiliate links below. That's great.
Jo: But, yes, that's good. I'm loving it.
Christine: Wonderful. My empty nest friend, don't forget to follow Jo on Instagram at Midlife Highway, or visit her website, MidlifeHighway.com. I will have her contact information in this episodes full show notes, on my website, youremptynestcoach.com. Jo, thanks for opening up your life to us. Thanks for all you do to entertain all of us. I am thrilled you joined me today. Thanks for being here.
Jo: Thanks, Christine. It's been a great pleasure.
Christine: It's been so much fun. Awesome.
Jo: Thank you.
Christine: Please don't hesitate to fly on over to our Facebook group. Our name is Green Popsicle Sticks. Want to know why? Listen to episode number 17, or head to my website, youremptynestcoach.com/community for links to join our flock. Why should you join our group? The adjustment to not having your kiddos at home full-time isn't always easy, but it sure can be a ton more fun with a flock of friends. We look forward to seeing you there.
The questions I have for you in this episode are: number one, Have you ever done a long walk, such as the ones Jo has completed? And, would you ever consider doing a walk like this? As always, I provide content to make you think, my empty nest friend. My hope is that I am able to provide you with thoughts that positively impact your life. You'll find the show notes for this and every episode on my website.
Oh, my goodness, did you hear? I have an online program, "The Empty Nest: First Steps Toward Success." I now offer GPS Reset Weekend Retreats, Unplugged and Charged Up, and I am available for speaking events. Seriously! What are you waiting for? Visit my website or see this episode's full show notes.
My next episode is another guest episode, Jenn Musselman, who is going to be about as real as can be when it comes to sharing thoughts about her son heading off to college.
🎙🎙🎙 New episode!🎙🎙🎙 Hello, my Empty Nest Friend! I am thrilled to bring this episode to you. I enjoy scrolling through Instagram and making new connections on that platform. One account that always makes me smile is Midlife Highway (@midlifehighway) which is run by the ever so funny, Jo Davies. Jo has supremely fresh and funny posts and is highly engaged on the platform. She shared a few photos and Insta stories about her walk on the Camino de Santiago this year. The stories piqued my interest, and a few thoughts arrived in my head: I would like to know more about this walk, and I would like to know more about Jo. I bet some of her other followers would like to know more, too. I'm going to invite her to be a guest on my podcast. I did. And she said, "Yes!" Not only that, she took the interview call while she was on holiday/vacation, and stayed up late! She's got the amazing thing figured out! Take a listen wherever you listen to podcasts or listen and read the full transcript, found on my website (link in bio). https://youremptynestcoach.com/p36/ . 🐦What You Will Learn in this Episode: 🎙 An introduction to Jo Davies 🎙 What inspired Jo to walk the Camino de Santiago 🎙 The impact of the walk in her life and why she has made it an annual walk 🎙 Jo's advice to future empty nesters 🎙 And more! 🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦 #EmptyNest #NewEpisode #GreenPopsicleSticks #CaminodeSantiago #NatureReset #LongWalk #MidLifeHighway #JoDavies #CoachChristine #YourEmptyNestCoach #emptynestcoach
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