THE AMBER WEITZER PODCAST SILHOUETTES OF SUCCESS
EPISODE 41
SILHOUETTE OF SUCCESS | SORORITY SESSION
In this Sorority Session:
It may take a Village, but sometimes you are in the wrong Village!
Let’s review the Conversation Highlights:
CONNECTIONS | MINDFUL | THICK SKIN
Silhouettes, did you catch the last Episode #41 with Erin McDermott Peterson? She was fantastic…my brain is still soaking in all the greatness she shared. It can seem overwhelming sometimes when I go back to pull one topic or lesson out of these amazing Silhouette of Success stories, and then there are times where it’s so evident what I focus on. Part of the mission and purpose of the podcast is to bring you real life success stories of their journey to help uplift, motivate or spark something that might help you…while each journey is wildly unique to the Silhouettes, we seem to be able to find commonalities or relatable situations to our lives. Perhaps the human experience and connection, coincidence…I think not. In Erin’s episode she spoke about growing up with her Mother being a single parent (her father died when she was young) and when she mentioned that he Mother realized their “environment” needed to change she moved Erin and her sisters. That story stuck a solid chord with me. Erin talks about the courage and bravery it took for her Mother to pick up and move to a town where they would have better education and place to grow up. I remember receiving a phone call from my daughter’s Principle when she was in Kindergarten to come pick her up. She wasn’t sick, rather she wasn’t staying on task and was distracting the other students. Kindergarten. I was a single Mother, working at a new job in the 30-day pre-employment probationary period proving timeframe, making $5.50 per hour, minimum wage…and I had to leave to go pick her up. I arrived that winter day to find my little girl all bundled up in her pink winter coat with the white faux fur trimmed hood up, backpack on sitting in the heated Principal’s office, alone slumped over asleep on the massive desk. They had her suited up in all of her going home gear that entire time from the time they called me. She got so hot that she drifted asleep. No one was in the office with her, just her. In that absolute moment, which I still see clear as if it happened today-I knew we were leaving that school. In addition, that was also the school that insisted she be put on medication. Once again as a single Mother, I know they frowned upon me/her…it was very clear. They would turn her desk to the walls, put her in a corner and that’s what only what I found out about. I was requested to have a conference with the school Nurse, Counselor, Teacher and Principal…so, I brought my dad, stepdad and her other Grandfather with me. Again, fully knowing it was time to go but I had to figure out where and how. I did, we moved! Interestingly enough, this is partly how our family ended up in Texas, 1980’s economic distresses moved us from Michigan to Texas for better opportunities…and it was a blessing for the four children! Regardless of the current situation, we are still responsible for the choices, actions and our paths but in many ways a small shift in ones environment or a big move all together can open up new opportunities. The options are all around us, whether it’s within the same office, school but switching classrooms or work groups…or transferring out, moving one town over, different states or countries! Change can be scary, intimidating or thrilling…it’s a journey so make it count! One of my favorite movies is Chocolat (circa 2000) with Juliette Binoche…so relatable! They say it takes a Village to raise a child…sometimes you might just be in the wrong Village!
Environment. Such a crucial factor for all ages. Can you relate? Is there something about your current environment that could or should change? What is it? Do you have a plan-if not, make one! Is there a support network in your life that can help you create a plan? Sometimes we think that we are alone but if you are willing to ask for help, many people are willing to share their ideas and surprisingly similar experiences…the human connection is powerful!
