Episode 2

New Year - Work in Progress

🎙️ New Year – Work in Progress

Episode Summary:

New year, new you? Not so fast! In this episode of The Mirror Project, we’re tackling the pressure to reinvent ourselves every January. From the hustle of self-improvement to embracing progress at your own pace, we’re keeping it real about what personal growth actually looks like.

🔹 The “New Year, New You” Debate – Is the pressure to transform helping or hurting us?

🔹 2024 Reflections & 2025 Goals – We’re looking back on last year’s wins, struggles, and what’s next.

Quick note: This episode was recorded at the end of February, but we’re releasing it in March—because, let’s be real, the ‘new year, new me’ pressure doesn’t stop on January 1st! Growth is a work in progress, and we’re taking it at our own pace.

🔹 Outworking Self-Doubt – Inspired by a powerful quote, we discuss confidence, consistency, and embracing the process.

Growth isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence. Grab your coffee, get comfy, and join the conversation!

🎧 Listen Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform!

 

✨ 2025 Goals – What’s Ahead?

Here’s what we’re focusing on this year:

✔️ Health & Wellness – From therapy to mindful movement, we’re prioritizing balance over burnout.

✔️ Career & Business – Growing at work, expanding our creative projects, and building The Mirror Project!

✔️ Finances & Planning – Budgeting smarter, saving better, and making intentional investments.

✔️ Love & Relationships – Finding joy in dating, meeting new people, and nurturing friendships.

✔️ Hobbies & Creativity – Books, music, tarot, travel—we’re making space for what brings us joy!

What are your 2025 goals? Let’s grow together!

 

📲 Connect With Us!

💬 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube: @mirrorprojectpod

Support us on Buy Me a Coffee: Support Us Here

📩 DM us your questions & topic suggestions – We’d love to hear from you!

👉 Next week’s episode: Navigating the changes in friendships.

Hit that like, follow, and subscribe button, and we’ll see you next time! 🎙️✨

Transcript
Alexandra:

Hey there, and welcome back to The Mirror Project.

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We're your host, Alexandra,

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Christine: And Christine.

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Alexandra: and we're thrilled

to have you with us today.

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We're so excited to kick off the New

Season's first topic and what better

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way to start than with some real talk

about New Year's progress pressure

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and everything else in between.

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This episode is all about that

familiar feeling So many of us

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get around December and January.

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The pressure to reinvent ourselves, you

know the drill, lose weight, hit your

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goals hard, and be a brand new you.

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Well, let's be honest.

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Does that really set us up for SU

success, or does it just leave us feeling

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overwhelmed and down on ourselves?

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Spoiler, we've definitely been there

and we're betting some of you have too.

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In this episode, we'll dive into a

quote that sparks debate on how we

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feel about self progress and the

whole new year, new year clockwork.

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Then we'll get personal reflecting

on our goals from:

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lessons we've learned and what we're

setting our sights on for:

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spoiler alert, there's no

magical reinvention here.

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Just two friends embracing the

messy, beautiful work and progress

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journey as we touch base during

the second month of the year.

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So grab a cup of coffee, settle in,

and let's start the new year with

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some honest, heartfelt conversations.

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Here's to celebrating

growth at your own pace.

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Okay, so what sort of brought

up this conversation between

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us was, Instagram reel of.

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Alex her.

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I hope I'm saying that correctly,

saying you don't become confident by

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shouting affirmations in the mirror,

but by having a stack of undeniable

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proof that you are who you say

you are, outwork your self-doubt.

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So Christine, I know when we

were briefly talking about this

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episode, it certainly started an

interesting conversation for us.

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What are your thoughts on that quote?

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Anything about it?

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Christine: I think when IF first,

when we were first working on the

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outline for the episode and having

you read that out, I was like.

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Yes, but whoa.

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I think just 'cause I know Alex

I've gotten to know him a bit more.

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My boss is a fan of his and consumed some

of his content and he's just like very

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aggressive, energetic personality.

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Like he is intense.

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And I think there's a time

and place for that for sure.

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And I think the heart of what he, what of

what this message is, is I agree with it.

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You know, we, when we first started,

I think when we, first topic

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we ever did for the podcast was

talking about affirmations and, and

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manifesting in those different things.

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And I agree.

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Shouting in the mirror isn't

gonna get you anywhere.

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But I think it's a good first step,

but you also gotta put in the work.

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So to the point of having that

stack of undeniable proof will

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help you when self-doubt creeps in.

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So I think I agree with the sentiment,

but maybe not exactly with how he

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always attacks things, and that's okay.

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I,

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Alexandra: Yeah,

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Christine: I think Alex was like, when

we were talking about this, she was

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like, where are you going, Christina?

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Do you like this or don't you?

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The answer is, I do.

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I just think I would approach things

differently than say and Alex from Mozy.

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Alexandra: so

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Christine: you, Alex?

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Alexandra: I actually don't really

know much about Alex or Melley.

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I think I've seen a few

things pop up on Instagram

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: saying something

and I think it's other accounts

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like sharing snippets and stuff.

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And what I've seen of him, I don't

necessarily disagree with, but I can

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definitely see what you're saying

about the hard hitting in your face.

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Goal oriented, hit it

like nobody's business.

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Drive kind of personality.

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And

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I think part of me gets that.

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I think part of me connects with that.

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Like protect, particularly the

perfectionist part of me is like

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that kind of energy makes sense

even though outwardly I'm not

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really that kind of person, but

certainly an ambition I can be.

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But based on the work that I know

we'll talk about in a little bit

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from 2024, for me, a softer approach

works for reaching my goals.

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But what he's saying specifically in

this quote, you don't become confident

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by shouting affirmations in the mirror.

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I agree with, and I think when we talked

about the affirmations last year, oh

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gosh, I gotta go back in the mental,

you know, library and, you know, filing

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cabinets of what we actually said.

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I, I agree with that.

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In some sense, you can't.

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Hmm.

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I don't believe it's possible to shout

affirmations you don't believe in at

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yourself in the mirror or even say them.

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You don't even have to shout them.

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But to stand in front of a mirror and say,

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trying to think of one,

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I love myself.

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I think my body is great.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: you're somebody who has

struggled with body dysmorphia or you

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currently can't stand your body, and

it just feels so false to say that.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: I do think

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adjusting what you say as your

affirmation or your mantra of like,

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I love that my body works today.

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I love that it carries me places.

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I love that it allows me to do something

maybe more honest and truthful and

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as you said, help you take those

action steps to reach a place where

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you could say, look in the mirror

and say, I love myself, or, you know.

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I am rich.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: that mean?

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So I think if, if an affirmation feels

too far of reach, false, just saying,

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and Amir is not gonna be bring it about,

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Christine: Right.

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Alexandra: but if you scale it to

somewhere where you feel like this

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feels, this is something I can

genuinely say to myself and believe,

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and this is how I'm showing up for

whatever that affirmation is, you will

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begin to build that stack of proof.

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And I'm happy to share an example

as we get into it a little bit

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later of how I've built that proof

for myself over the past year,

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: to outwork yourself doubt.

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And I think that takes a lot of

work and a lot of time to get to

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a place where you're like, I hear

that self, that voice of self-doubt.

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And I'm just saying, Hey, I

recognize that you're there.

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It's not changing what I'm doing.

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I'm gonna keep going.

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It makes me think of when you were reading

it, I was like shouting at the mirror

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and like hoping something will happen.

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Made me think of a, an interesting

sketch I'd seen somewhere mostly

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about like pagan spiritual

spiritualism and like Christianity.

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And it was like somebody who's

particularly Christian was like

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sitting on the ground, like praying,

oh, let, let the ground grow.

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And it was like maybe somebody

who's more metaphysically like

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pagan oriented and it was like, yes,

I'm, please let the grass grow as

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I'm, you know, watering the plants.

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Christine: it.

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Alexandra: You know, it's like you

can do those affirmations and you

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can say, and you can definitely put

your intention and energy into it,

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but also matching that with action.

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I think that's where a lot of amazing

generative power comes from versus

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just saying, oh, I hope it happens.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: So.

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Christine: have to put word,

put action to those words.

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Right.

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Because otherwise they're just words.

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Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

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Christine: and I think a big thing for me

and what was really striking, striking a

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chord with me the other day when we were

were first talking about this, was that

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idea of embracing the fact you are trying

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Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

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Christine: Even a little step forward.

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No.

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No matter how big or small

matters, even if you don't step

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forward, you just stay in place.

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Like I think when I first heard

this and I was picturing him saying

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it, he's such like a big where

he's constantly, constantly driving

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and going and going and going.

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And I respect that.

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Alexandra: That sounds exhausting.

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Christine: props.

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Exactly.

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That to me is a, like a

disaster waiting to happen.

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So embracing the fact that

I, I'm trying every day I

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Alexandra: And you're

doing something every day.

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Christine: something and, and that

will, that will keep adding to

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your stack of undeniable proof.

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It doesn't have to be something major.

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It could be that you wash your

dishes that day, I don't know.

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But

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Alexandra: And I think

staying at Equilibrium is,

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is as much of a step forward.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: know?

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And weirdly, I think sometimes a step

forward looks like a step backwards.

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I don't know if that makes sense,

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: but it

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Christine: maybe, it might feel

like a step backwards, but maybe

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it's like a sidestep or like

you're stepping onto a new path

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Alexandra: mm-hmm.

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Christine: maybe you don't know where it

could lead, but it's moving you somewhere,

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Alexandra: Yeah.

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Christine: so

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Alexandra: I, I think it's a huge, like,

people, you, me, we need to give ourselves

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props for, for trying and, and making a,

a small step, a big step, whatever step

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every day because there's so many people

who do just give up and stop trying.

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So the fact that you are still doing

something that's incredible and worth

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celebrating and worth, you know,

acknowledging that, you know, not every

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day is gonna look like, whether it's like

hitting a personal record in a workout

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or, you know, showing up to a meeting and

getting everything you negotiate, you want

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to negotiate for, like, whatever it is,

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Christine: Yeah.

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Alexandra: know, it's not, it seems to me

unrealistic and unsustainable to expect

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that every single day and, and, and

not be tired or burnt out or exhausted

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: because then how

can you enjoy what you've, what

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you've accomplished and done.

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Christine: right.

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And I think like when, when the new

year comes around, it's, it's, I.

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The image that came to my mind was

like, it's almost like clockwork, right?

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New Year starts and you're just getting

inundated with all of this messaging

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about New Year, new you like getting,

get back in the gym or, you know, set

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all of these goals for yourself for

the year and the pressures of that

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could almost like keep you

from even wanting to start.

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So I think like making sure that you

do embrace that you're trying and

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reflect on what you did last year.

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'cause maybe in, in my case, I

didn't achieve all of my goals.

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I had initially sat down and thought

and wrote down for myself for:

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but I did achieve so much and there was

stuff I didn't even think about that

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Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

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Christine: that became

accomplishments for myself.

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So.

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I think it's, it's really easy

to get overwhelmed and sort of

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discouraged before it even starts, but

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you know, surrounding yourself with like

people who help see how far you've come

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or even like allowing yourself to see it.

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I know it can be hard, but

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Alexandra: Yeah, you're definitely a

good mirror for me to help me see what

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I've, I've certainly accomplished and,

and particularly in moments where I, I

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kind of spiral out going, you know, I

haven't done enough, I haven't, whatever,

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: Yeah, it's quite an insidious,

I think, pressure to around the new year.

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It's it's so much put on.

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The start of a year, right?

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Like, oh, January 1st, whatever

day of the week that all is on.

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It's gonna be, this is it.

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This is when I'm gonna be the newbie.

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And it's like, okay.

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First of all, I'm not sure really

everyone, at least in my experience,

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I set goals and I've never really

thought about the person I want to be.

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I just thought about outwardly what

that would look like or be like

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without really doing the work to,

to be the person I wanted to be, let

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alone figure out who I wanted to be.

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So I think that's already one step of

like, you're, if you're in love and with

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the, the new year, new me kind of thing,

without that anchor, it's very easy for

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those goals and resolutions to fall away.

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So I love that we're having this

conversation in February because

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it's a month, month and a half out.

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Right?

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Well almost the end of February.

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That we're kind of checking in on

again, because like I think people do

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lose steam on New Year's resolutions.

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And then, you know, halfway

through the year, where are we at?

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You know, so

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: is realistic?

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As you said, you didn't

accomplish everything.

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I don't think most people

accomplish everything on their list.

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And if you do, whoa, amazing for you.

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That's awesome.

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Christine: Done.

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Alexandra: but it's not a negative

if you don't accomplish everything.

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So I think this is a really start, a

good start to a, a deep conversation.

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So we're already hitting one of our

podcast goals that we've talked about

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last episode of trying to get deeper.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Absolutely.

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so I think on that note, I'm gonna ha

have Alexandra sort of talk, with us

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have her reflect a little bit on what

her goals from:

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feels about what she accomplished.

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And then we'll each do this exercise.

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It's not just gonna be Alexandra

but then we'll also share our

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goals for, for this, for this year.

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And yeah, why don't, why don't you start?

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Alexandra: Okay.

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Alright, so I know last year we did

about somewhere our goals for:

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I couldn't find my notes for that

episode, so, I'm kind of winging it.

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And Christine, if I'm missing something

that you remember, please, please jump in.

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So a big one last year

for me was education.

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And it was my last calendar year of

my MBA and I can say with all, you

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know, cheeriness and like, oh my

gosh, I've accomplished a huge goal.

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I finished, I finished in

:

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I know I talked, ooh.

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As I hit myself, I know I talked

about it more in last episode,

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so I won't reiterate everything,

but that was a huge undertaking.

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And it really was a, a

push that last semester.

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And kind of in the, the energy that

Christina has described, Alex or

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Mosey, I feel like that was the energy

that I kind of lived in of, and it

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wasn't even about all of my life.

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It was really just about, you know,

my coursework of just like, get

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through this thing, do it, show up,

do it, you know, at the expense of

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maybe a couple of my other goals.

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So I know a goal for me last year was

like romantic romance and relationships.

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A lot of my romance and relationships

were in the books that I read.

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Yeah.

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I don't, I didn't really

jump back into dating.

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I don't know, maybe I've gone out with

a couple people, like coffee dates.

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There was somebody I did talk to over

the summer, which was a really good

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experience for me, kind of getting back

into it and approaching dating in a

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different mindset than I had previously.

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So that was a really great, for lack of a

better word, experience exper experiment.

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That was the word.

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He was a nice guy.

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I just ultimately did not

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see it going further, but it taught me a

lot about how I wanna have conversations

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with people, what I'm expecting.

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And then really wonderful

coworker at work kinda set me

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up with somebody who is in our.

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Work environment.

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I work on a college campus.

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And we had a conversation and I,

you know, he gave me his number and

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I responded, and I had set up like,

Hey, I'd love to, you know, set up a

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time to get coffee and can, like, it

was great to meet you, kind of thing.

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Never heard back.

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And I was like, that is okay.

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I was like, little busy

anyway, but I'm glad I tried.

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Like, I didn't just, when my friend

had said like, Hey, I kind of wanna

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tell, you know, this person that

you're single and dah, dah, dah, dah.

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I was like, I think my first reaction

was to go, no, but like, mm-hmm.

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And I was like, why not?

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This friend knows me,

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put myself out there in a, in a way that's

a little uncomfortable for me, but not,

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that's not so much with like, not so far

out there that it was an immediate no.

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And I went, you know what?

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Hey, it's an opportunity.

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See what happens.

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So, didn't make it really far in there,

but, I'm currently still single, so I

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think that's gonna come back up for 2025.

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But it was, it was fun.

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I read a lot of, a lot of romance books.

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Mm-hmm.

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Mm-hmm.

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: that was fun.

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That was a great way to get my

romance, you know, fixings and hits.

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Anyways, moving on, I think another

big goal for me in:

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And much like the insidious pressure

of New Year's resolutions, it was

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predominantly focused around weight loss.

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And

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I actually did lose a good amount of

weight during the year, I think, not

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the, not the way I had originally

thought it was gonna happen in, you

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know, at the start of last year, I.

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I tend to have sometimes a zero to

60 personality or thought patterns.

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When I set goals for myself, I'm like,

okay, I'm gonna start it and it's

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gonna, results are gonna show up.

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And it really looked different reflecting

back on:

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A lot of that work on losing weight.

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Started seeing a new practice for

medical health you know, medical

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care and approaching my health a

little bit more holistically and like

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internally looking at how, trying to

get my body more into natural rhythms,

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Christine: Mm-hmm.

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Alexandra: Combination with

alternative practices such as

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like reiki and sound healing.

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Obviously chiropractic care, which

is not so much alternative, but

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not necessarily mainstream for most

people's healthcare and acupuncture.

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And a ton of work in therapy.

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I think no, last year I definitely

didn't mention, I thought I had an eating

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disorder when I was a teenager, and so.

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Kind of embarking back on a genuine

concerted effort towards weight

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loss that would be permanent.

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I was concerned about slipping

back into old patterns and habits

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that would ultimately be more

detrimental to my health and helpful.

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And so I, I remember showing up

in my therapist office towards the

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end of 2023, it really, part of

:

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I'm sick of myself, I'm done.

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I've hit my rock bottom of me

and myself and where I'm at.

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I'm over it.

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I'm gonna change.

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We're gonna do the work.

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So I even told her, I was like, do not

let me run away from tough conversations.

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Do not let me run away or hide

behind false surface answers.

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:

We're doing none of that.

363

:

And what really came out of that was

364

:

good, wonderful work on my relationship to

food and exercise and approaching goals.

365

:

And thank not just.

366

:

Weight loss, but most things with a

bit more softness and grace for myself,

367

:

which has led to a much more balanced

and sustained weight loss so far.

368

:

So I think that was not the way I

originally thought it was gonna be.

369

:

And it has taken a long time where

I'm like, you know, I see myself every

370

:

day and I'm like, this isn't working.

371

:

You know, and I had some really low

moments, which Christine was very

372

:

kind enough to walk, walk me through

some of those and be there just as a

373

:

supportive friend during some of them.

374

:

But I had some nice recognition

towards the end of:

375

:

of 20, 25 people, a couple people

saying like, wow, I really have

376

:

noticed the work that you've done.

377

:

And it kind of just gave me a little boost

when I was feeling like maybe I, you know.

378

:

It wasn't really working

to keep going for:

379

:

So that was my reflection on 2024.

380

:

Christine, do you wanna reflect on your

:

381

:

setting our sights on for 2025 or,

382

:

okay

383

:

Christine: let me turn on a light.

384

:

Hang on, because I'm realizing I'm

just disappearing to the abyss.

385

:

Hold on.

386

:

Alexandra: guys, we're, we're

learning with the, the, the

387

:

video thing, so bear with us.

388

:

Hi.

389

:

Christine: Hi.

390

:

Alexandra: Let there be light.

391

:

Christine: Sorry for that brief interlude.

392

:

I know.

393

:

Not in darkness.

394

:

Happy to reflect on my 2024.

395

:

So I set a, you know, last year

was the first year in a long time.

396

:

I made pretty purposeful effort to

think about my goals for the year.

397

:

and there were a lot that I did achieve.

398

:

Some I didn't.

399

:

But I'm really happy that I'm not like

beating myself up over that because

400

:

if there's one thing I've learned is

that there's, there's no destination

401

:

to this life journey we're on.

402

:

Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

403

:

Christine: You just gotta keep trying.

404

:

I set a couple of different financial

goals for myself last year, I would say.

405

:

I didn't necessarily do a whole

lot, but I started the conversation

406

:

and I started figuring out what

I might wanna do for myself.

407

:

So I feel like that has set me up

well for this year because I'll

408

:

actually do some of those things

that I talked about, explored.

409

:

I'm very lucky to have many people in

my life who are more knowledgeable in

410

:

this field than I am and are more than

willing to sit down and talk me through.

411

:

so, you know, the, the idea around

that was I wanted to save for my 30th

412

:

birthday trip that were gonna go on.

413

:

amongst other things like saving

for the future and things like that.

414

:

Additionally, some personal things that I

had set for myself was travel, and I did

415

:

Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

416

:

Christine: of travel.

417

:

I mentioned in last week's episode that

I went down and visit, Alexandra at

418

:

the end of the year, which was a great

way to end the year, but I actually

419

:

started the year traveling as well.

420

:

I was on a trip up to Newport, one

of my favorite places in the world.

421

:

My family and I love it so much.

422

:

and who knows, we're maybe

gonna plan a trip with our moms,

423

:

Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

424

:

Christine: later, maybe

sometime over the summer.

425

:

So, though, what a way to start

and end the year, but I also

426

:

went on a family trip to Ireland.

427

:

We were there for a week.

428

:

I had never been before, and

it was absolutely spectacular.

429

:

I had the so much.

430

:

Fun.

431

:

it's beautiful there and it was a

great introduction to the country

432

:

and there's still so much to see.

433

:

so maybe we'll dive into

that on a future episode.

434

:

But we were in Dublin, we

went, I saw the ring of Carrie.

435

:

We went to Blarney Castle.

436

:

yeah, it, it was, it

was truly spectacular.

437

:

I, it's one, been one of my favorite

trips that I've ever been on so far.

438

:

and who knows, maybe we'll top it

this year with our Europe excursion.

439

:

Alexandra: Would topic, it would just

be something that's also really great,

440

:

Christine: You never know.

441

:

I mean, I,

442

:

Alexandra: individually on

their own amazing experiences.

443

:

Christine: True.

444

:

Let's not, let's not

set ourselves up there.

445

:

Let, let's, let's not

set the bar too high.

446

:

I get what you're saying.

447

:

I get where you're coming from.

448

:

and went to the beach.

449

:

I love the beach.

450

:

Like doing little, little

little trips, little excursions.

451

:

Definitely help break up how crazy life

can get and give you a moment to sort

452

:

of take a breath and ground yourself.

453

:

I, there's something so sacred

almost to me about the, the ocean

454

:

and going down there and it's such

a grounding, experience for myself.

455

:

And I think there is something too, like

seeing water in motion like helps you.

456

:

On like a DA on a level you might not

even realize, but I, it's truly healing

457

:

and it's something that I value and go

outta my way to make sure I those moments.

458

:

another big, big accomplishment on, on

my goals was to get my first tattoo.

459

:

I did do that.

460

:

That happened I think back in June.

461

:

wanna say.

462

:

Alexandra: I wanna say it's also

perfectly on brand for who you

463

:

are and the name of your birthday.

464

:

Christine: I know, it's so funny how

it all happened, so I kind of reached

465

:

a point where like, I just wanted to

break the ice and I've had been dreaming

466

:

up these ideas in my head of different

designs I wanna do, which I still wanna

467

:

do, but I was, it was almost like the

anti, the anticipation was building too

468

:

much around it, and I hadn't really.

469

:

Thought something that's just,

for me, a lot of, like, when I was

470

:

thinking of different pieces I wanna

get done, they're always in honor of

471

:

someone that's really important to me.

472

:

But there was this event that was

happening at a shop that I've been

473

:

following pretty closely for over a year,

and they do these different flash events

474

:

and they release their flash sheets.

475

:

And there were a couple of

designs on them that like, I was

476

:

like, oh, that'd be really cool.

477

:

I, you know, there, there doesn't always

need to be like a major story behind

478

:

a tattoo as long as it means something

to you or whatever the case may be.

479

:

Alexandra: Hope if you're gonna put it on

your body, that it means something to you.

480

:

But I, I get what you mean.

481

:

It doesn't have to be

some, like profound story.

482

:

It just has to be something you, you love.

483

:

Christine: Exactly.

484

:

So there were, there were two

designs in particular that I was

485

:

really leaning towards, but I

wasn't sure on what the size was.

486

:

So I had my friends, some of my

best friends come with me, and, I

487

:

ended up getting a martini glass.

488

:

if you listened to the last episode, you

would've heard I turned 30 this, this

489

:

year, or this past year, I should say.

490

:

And I wanted to celebrate, in a way

that I've never really done before.

491

:

I love planning a party, but I don't

always like to be the center of attention.

492

:

but for this, for this occasion,

I was like, you know what?

493

:

Hell yeah, I wanna do this for myself.

494

:

and so I, my party was

themed a teeny bit older.

495

:

I love a dirty martini.

496

:

My nickname, my, that my

family calls me is teeny.

497

:

So it just.

498

:

It was like a full circle moment.

499

:

And I think like a beautiful little,

this tattoo is just like a, a, it's for

500

:

me, like just something cute and silly,

but sort of embodies my me in a way.

501

:

So I was super to have

finally just done it.

502

:

And now I'm like, okay, here we go.

503

:

Let's, let's do this next.

504

:

Let's get these next ones going.

505

:

So I hope to get another one this

year, maybe even a third, who knows?

506

:

But, was really, really,

really happy to have done that.

507

:

And one thing I didn't get to,

and there were you know, several

508

:

reasons why I just didn't work out.

509

:

I didn't, I have not yet adopted a furry

friend of my own, but my life is not them.

510

:

My parents have a beautiful, Dog.

511

:

His name is Bo.

512

:

He is now two,

513

:

Alexandra: Oh, wow.

514

:

Christine: I know.

515

:

And when I go down and visit with

Alex and her family, there's Piper.

516

:

She's just a love bug.

517

:

so, and I have friends who have

cats, and so I, I know where I can

518

:

go to get my fix of a furry friend.

519

:

and that's still a goal.

520

:

I, I definitely want to adopt my

own, but I just don't know quite

521

:

yet how that's gonna play out.

522

:

Alexandra: Do you know for

sure if you want a cat or you

523

:

leaning definitely towards a dog,

524

:

Christine: So I'm leaning towards a dog.

525

:

I love cats, but if I ever want

my mother to come visit me,

526

:

Alexandra: right?

527

:

Right.

528

:

Christine: shouldn't have a

cat because she's so allergic.

529

:

And we had a cat when I was a kid.

530

:

Her name was Emmy, and she was a

sweetheart, but my poor mother was

531

:

just suffering in silence for the few,

the, the several years we had her.

532

:

So she was re-homed and I'm

sure lived out her life with

533

:

lots of love surrounding her.

534

:

But yes, I've made the, I i, I know pretty

well that I wanna, I wanna be a dog mom.

535

:

So, and I wanna go the route of adopting,

I think first, because there's so

536

:

many, so many dogs out there who need

love and a home enjoy their life.

537

:

and I hope to, to offer that.

538

:

Who knows, maybe I'll

start by fostering first.

539

:

I, I have to figure out how I

want to go about it because my

540

:

building does allow for pets.

541

:

I don't know how much longer I'm

gonna stay there, and I don't know

542

:

how moving would be with a pet.

543

:

So lots of questions.

544

:

not, I'm not saying no for, for this

year, but I'm also not gonna force it,

545

:

Alexandra: Kind of like

if the right dog, the

546

:

Christine: Yes,

547

:

Alexandra: comes up, then definite

yes, but not gonna make it happen

548

:

if it's not lining up kind of thing.

549

:

Right.

550

:

Christine: Yes.

551

:

Exactly.

552

:

Alexandra: That makes sense.

553

:

Christine: Yeah.

554

:

Yeah.

555

:

So

556

:

Alexandra: probably a better round all

experience for you and the the puppy or

557

:

Christine: think,

558

:

Alexandra: older dog, but I think all

dogs, no matter how old they are, puppies.

559

:

Christine: puppies.

560

:

Yes.

561

:

They're all they are.

562

:

and then I'll end on like

Alex did with, the romance.

563

:

My, my loved life.

564

:

Let's see.

565

:

I, so

566

:

Alexandra: You made strides last year.

567

:

You made

568

:

Christine: did,

569

:

Alexandra: strides.

570

:

Christine: I did, I did.

571

:

I, got myself on a dating app.

572

:

I went on some dates.

573

:

I learned a lot.

574

:

but I think ultimately, like, I wanna

find a way to have more fun with it.

575

:

So I think I've figured out what

I'm looking for, which is big,

576

:

which I know what I ultimately want,

but for the time being, I don't

577

:

necessarily wanna settle down into

a serious relationship right away.

578

:

I wanna meet new people.

579

:

but I, I did make strides.

580

:

I did put myself out there and definitely

is on the goal list for, for:

581

:

so yeah, that's, that's.

582

:

When I was reflecting on my, my year,

I, I'm really happy with how far, what

583

:

I accomplished, how far I've come,

and they're, and to roll over some

584

:

of these goals for this coming year.

585

:

Alexandra: Nice.

586

:

Alright, so Christine, do you wanna

lead in with your goals for:

587

:

Do you want me to kick off?

588

:

Christine: sure.

589

:

Let me, let me stick with it here.

590

:

So, as I mentioned, dating's

still on the, the list.

591

:

for, for goals for this year, I, and I

wanna find a way to have fun with it.

592

:

You know, like, I wanna, like,

sometimes I, I feel like I can end

593

:

up taking myself too seriously.

594

:

but I strive to, like, I dunno.

595

:

Alexandra: I was gonna say, I think

that's kind of both of who we are and

596

:

that's probably why we were so much

as friends is like, we can be very

597

:

serious, but you are, are a lot of fun.

598

:

You, you bring a lot of levity, I think.

599

:

But I know as we talked about in

one of our episodes last year,

600

:

overthinkers Anonymous, it's very

easy to get caught up in our own head.

601

:

Christine: Yeah, sure.

602

:

so yeah, when it comes to dating, still

wanna, I think I just gotta keep trying.

603

:

Alexandra: Yeah.

604

:

Christine: and sometimes it's not, not

always, it is definitely not always gonna

605

:

be easy and I think like allowing myself

to take breaks from it is important.

606

:

Like that's what I ended up doing,

towards the end of the year.

607

:

I just sort of took a step

back from it focused my energy

608

:

elsewhere, but it's still something

that's really important to me.

609

:

I think I also wanna approach it

maybe a little differently, maybe.

610

:

Put myself out there a little more, go

outta my, get outta my comfort zone, just

611

:

a little, and attend some singles events

612

:

Alexandra: Okay.

613

:

Christine: I don't

614

:

Alexandra: I'm gonna ask you how

you were gonna do that, so that

615

:

that sounds like it would be fun.

616

:

Christine: Yeah, I think like in the

past, that's how I've enjoyed the

617

:

experience the most is like when I've

met somebody and we really hit it off

618

:

and then we, you know, go from there.

619

:

but you know, the dating

app scene, it is what it is.

620

:

I think I've learned some, some tricks

of how I wanna move forward with things.

621

:

So if, like, I feel like there's a

connection there, to meet up with

622

:

that person fairly soon into making

that first initial connection.

623

:

Just to maybe like, take the

pressure off of like, if you talk

624

:

with somebody over text for a

really long time, it could like.

625

:

Build the anticipation a little too high.

626

:

but, you know.

627

:

aside from relationships, I also,

just wanna try and make new friends.

628

:

One of the things we talked

about the other day was how

629

:

hard it is to make friends as an

adult for a myriad of reasons.

630

:

Alexandra: And it's definitely going

to be an upcoming podcast episode, so.

631

:

Christine: yes.

632

:

Yes.

633

:

And in particular, recently I heard

something, a clip from an interview

634

:

with Mel Robbins, which we'll share

maybe when we do that episode.

635

:

But it's just, life's so

different when you're an adult.

636

:

I think a lot of us tend

to fall back on how.

637

:

How easy it was to make friends as a kid.

638

:

And so like, it's not always,

639

:

I certainly have not found it

easy to make friends as an adult.

640

:

So I wanna try and do

more of that this year.

641

:

Meet new people, try new things.

642

:

also just knowing like we're, we are

adults and we have busy lives, so

643

:

you have to like set the expectations

a little differently, than life

644

:

was when you were in school or just

around people your own age 24 7.

645

:

and then one other like creative

goal for myself that I, I've kind of.

646

:

Came to rather recently was, I

really wanna pick up piano again.

647

:

Alexandra: Okay,

648

:

Christine: like,

649

:

Alexandra: cool.

650

:

Christine: I'm not like, maybe ready

to jump into doing lessons, but just

651

:

like brushing up on my skills, getting

a keyboard for my apartment, and

652

:

just like trying to practice, again

and find my way back to my love of

653

:

singing, because I might have mentioned

last year I used to be a, a singer.

654

:

and I absolutely loved it.

655

:

And, I really miss it.

656

:

And I think a, a a lot of who I am is

wrapped up in the musician that I was

657

:

at one time, and I wanna find her again.

658

:

So, yeah,

659

:

Alexandra: She's not lost.

660

:

Christine: she's

661

:

Alexandra: She just

662

:

Christine: She's,

663

:

Alexandra: hasn't used her voice recently.

664

:

Christine: has took, taken a little break,

665

:

Alexandra: Right.

666

:

Kind of like we did.

667

:

Christine: Yeah, exactly.

668

:

So I wanna try and find her again.

669

:

But yeah,

670

:

Alexandra: So, any other, any other big

goals that you have for:

671

:

Do you have any small goals for 2025

outside of what you've already mentioned?

672

:

Christine: I definitely wanna

get my body moving again.

673

:

I have found a buddy to sort of

keep me accountable for working out.

674

:

and so I'm gonna try and bring

that back into my routine.

675

:

I'm gonna want, I'm work, I wanna

work up to three times a week,

676

:

maybe do even more in the future,

but just get my body moving.

677

:

cause I feel so much clearer and I feel I

sleep better and like all these different

678

:

things help, if I just move my body.

679

:

Alexandra: Can I say how?

680

:

I love that you said I want to work

my way up to three times a week and

681

:

even more like particularly on topic

of this theme and like what we've

682

:

already talked about, the pressure to.

683

:

To hit New Year's and stay up with

it of going to like the gym every

684

:

day or like five times a week and

this is a really hard routine or

685

:

like, that's a lot of the expectation

I think, around that kind of goal.

686

:

I love that.

687

:

The way that you're talking about,

it seems like to me you're setting

688

:

up a permanent habit and one

that's flexible with your life.

689

:

Christine: exactly.

690

:

I think where I've got, where

things have kind of gone awry in

691

:

the past is I feel like it has

to be like an immediate switch,

692

:

Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

693

:

Christine: that's

694

:

Alexandra: I get that.

695

:

Christine: So it's, you

gotta like work towards it.

696

:

and each day do a little something to

work towards what your end goal is.

697

:

So that's definitely.

698

:

I mean, like, I, I, I don't necessarily

at the moment have any sort of big goals,

699

:

but as just to your point of some little

goals, just working out, again, that

700

:

back into my routine is definitely, a, a

little goal of mine that, you know, week

701

:

to week might look a little different.

702

:

let's see, what else,

what else, what else?

703

:

I, every year set a reading goal

for myself which I was very happy

704

:

to have met last year, so let's

see if I can do that this year.

705

:

I've, you know, I, I, I set

a conservative number, I will

706

:

say, 'cause I know I'll hit it.

707

:

But I always sort of set like another,

another goal that isn't maybe in

708

:

writing I track, I track on good reads.

709

:

So that's like how I visibly

see, My goal being met.

710

:

So for, for 2025, I've

set a goal of 25 books.

711

:

but

712

:

Alexandra: I like that.

713

:

25, 25.

714

:

Christine: exactly.

715

:

Last year was 24, so this year's 25.

716

:

and we'll see.

717

:

I, I kind of wanna see if

I can maybe reach 50, but,

718

:

Alexandra: Definitely.

719

:

Christine: we'll see.

720

:

We'll see.

721

:

It's something to work towards,

but I know I have my, my

722

:

immediate goal that I wanna reach.

723

:

I've already read six books

so far this year, which is

724

:

Alexandra: Wow.

725

:

Check you're, you're

gonna hit that well, yeah.

726

:

Christine: fingers crossed, I, I

definitely in like a reading mode

727

:

sometimes that comes and goes.

728

:

Alexandra: Yeah.

729

:

I know that we had that conversation

earlier this week where I've kind of hit a

730

:

little bit of like, you've read a lot and

then you kind of hit that slump of like,

731

:

Christine: yeah.

732

:

Alexandra: so I, I definitely get that.

733

:

That's so cool though.

734

:

And what a great way to start the year.

735

:

Like, wow,

736

:

Christine: Mm-hmm.

737

:

Alexandra: you are like hitting this hard,

738

:

Christine: So,

739

:

Alexandra: and that's something you love.

740

:

Christine: I do love it.

741

:

I do love it.

742

:

yeah, I'm sure there's other things, but

those are the things I wanna touch on.

743

:

So

744

:

Alexandra: Okay.

745

:

Christine: what about you, my dear?

746

:

What's the goals for this year?

747

:

Alexandra: Okay, so let me start

with the continuations of last year.

748

:

So kinda like you started off with

the romance, so I'll, I'll do that.

749

:

Romance and relationships.

750

:

I have a note saying like,

this is back on the list.

751

:

so, a mentor of mine had talked I

was talking to her about some stuff

752

:

and she was like, well, spend more

time doing the things that you like

753

:

to do, like your hobbies and stuff.

754

:

And I was like, okay.

755

:

Yeah.

756

:

But some of my hobbies are like

singular activities, like individual.

757

:

But there's, as, I'm sure there's

ways I could incorporate doing this

758

:

in a public place somewhere where

I'm more available, more open.

759

:

So that is something I

would like to invest in.

760

:

Maybe I.

761

:

And particularly as I expand my circle

of friends as a conversation we'll

762

:

have, like finding friends and finding

friends that you don't happen to just

763

:

fall into, but like making the choice

to have those friendships that maybe

764

:

I'll meet somebody through them.

765

:

Which brings me to my second point

of how I'm gonna do this a little bit

766

:

differently this year, is using my network

of friends and people letting them know

767

:

that I am open and single and available.

768

:

And if they know anyone,

I'm happy to talk.

769

:

'cause I like that was a interesting

experience that I had in:

770

:

Didn't really work out, but it was a,

it kind of took some of the pressure

771

:

of like dating online, dating.

772

:

I might dig back into online dating

and funny enough, earlier today when

773

:

I was on Instagram, I saw a snippet

of a TED Talk and unfortunately

774

:

I don't know who the speaker was.

775

:

I.

776

:

And maybe one of our listeners has

heard it and can, can share with

777

:

us on social media, who it was.

778

:

But she had talked about how she had

approached online dating differently in

779

:

the sense of, she was like, I treated

it like a sales funnel and you know,

780

:

of like who I was gonna get to and

like who, you know, marketing wise,

781

:

sales wise, who are you gonna target?

782

:

And like there's the taco

and like the middle one.

783

:

And then the bottom one.

784

:

It was like, the first criteria was

must use full sentences and complete

785

:

grammar didn't look like it was copy

and pasted between a bunch of people.

786

:

And if they met that criteria, then they

had to meet the second criteria, which

787

:

was reference something in her profile.

788

:

And then I was like, okay, that's cool.

789

:

And the third criteria, absolutely no.

790

:

Like dick pics, no like

overly sexual content.

791

:

And then.

792

:

Right out the gate, I was like, wow,

that's some really good criteria to hit.

793

:

That will filter out quite a lot.

794

:

I think out the get go and to not

treat it so much as a numbers game,

795

:

as a, just a, you know, thing.

796

:

'cause I think

797

:

that was sort of a disillusion I

fell into last time I was really

798

:

using a dating app was just like,

it felt so much like a numbers name.

799

:

So maybe if I approach it differently,

I'll treat it differently.

800

:

It's a different, it's a tool.

801

:

It's a tool in which to, to meet people.

802

:

And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

803

:

And then she had I really

wish I knew who this speaker

804

:

was, an idea of the zero date.

805

:

So after the person met all three

criteria, then it was time to get off

806

:

the app and meet in person quickly.

807

:

And this came up with the zero date.

808

:

So she said it was one drink, one hour.

809

:

No pressure.

810

:

And if it, if you like the person, then

you could actually plan to go on a date.

811

:

And she said she had done this with

somebody and had done a zero date.

812

:

She's like, within three minutes, I

knew it was not gonna be going anywhere,

813

:

but she's like, which was great because

then you weren't sitting through dinner

814

:

with somebody or coffee, whatever.

815

:

It was like, you're not sitting with

somebody doing event that you're like,

816

:

oh my gosh, this is gonna go nowhere.

817

:

And she said that, that one of the next

people she had done that was a great

818

:

guy, and it's like two or three years

later at that point that she gave the

819

:

talk and you know, they have a washing

machine and then some pick plants.

820

:

I was like, I love that.

821

:

So maybe trying that kind of

mindset mentality and like you said,

822

:

Christine, like getting off the app.

823

:

So maybe like we can test out the

zero date theory for ourselves.

824

:

Christine: Yeah.

825

:

Alexandra: So that's, that's

one that's back on the list.

826

:

Health, a continuation of 2024.

827

:

Not a new goal, but again, a

continuation as a, a mental

828

:

cue to, to keep working on it.

829

:

So still doing my work in therapy.

830

:

And I'll say one thing my

therapist has said recently.

831

:

She's like, I love that I have not

heard you, and about six or eight

832

:

months to say that you've given

up on a, that you're just gonna

833

:

give up, that you, you keep going.

834

:

And she's like, even if it's had a bad

day, bad moment, you say like, wow, this

835

:

is a bad moment, but you show up for

yourself the next time, the next day.

836

:

And that's great because again,

particularly when my eating disorder was

837

:

at the strongest and I have an inclination

to go, it's not working like that.

838

:

That's not who I wanna be in life.

839

:

So I'm also looking at this as like,

who do I wanna be in life and how

840

:

do I show up to be that person?

841

:

And I don't wanna give up on

things that are genuinely to me.

842

:

So continuing to work on my

relationship with making sure that's.

843

:

My body.

844

:

And I think that's a huge thing for

me and something I wanna make sure I'm

845

:

continuing to check in on is like, I'm

not using exercise in the food as a

846

:

balancing scale of like I can or can't.

847

:

I'm trying to, food is good or

bad, exercise is good or bad.

848

:

I'm trying to be softer in my

approach, which has worked for me.

849

:

That may not work for everyone.

850

:

So everyone, if you have a different

plan that works for you, do it.

851

:

But like Kristin said, like

finding ways to move your body.

852

:

I have a coworker at work and we pretty

much walk most days that we can at work

853

:

for 30 minutes at lunch, which helps.

854

:

There's been some times where we can't,

we have a couple friends who join us and

855

:

she has been making me walk in the cold

and I say making me, but we like it.

856

:

And certainly brisk it makes

you wake up for the afternoon.

857

:

So that's really, it's great.

858

:

And then if I get home and I

don't feel like hopping on the

859

:

bike or working out, then I.

860

:

I go, Hey, today I have moved my body

and that is what I intended to do.

861

:

This year, exercise wise, I want

to, I had a little more variety.

862

:

I have mentioned before, I have

a Peloton and I'd like to make

863

:

more use of all the content.

864

:

So I actually, the past couple

days have tried some of their

865

:

cardio dance, 10 minute cardio

866

:

Christine: Oh.

867

:

Alexandra: dance.

868

:

So I have an issue where

I take not an issue.

869

:

I tend to take myself very seriously

and it's hard to like have some levity.

870

:

So I'm trying to use that as levity.

871

:

I'm like using a 10 minute dance cardio

as a warmup before I hop on or do a

872

:

different thing and really try to have

fun and be silly and make mistakes,

873

:

but it does get your heart rate up.

874

:

So, kind of a two-pronged use of that.

875

:

So I love that.

876

:

But yeah, so do that.

877

:

Things I think I may have done last year,

but I don't know, business wise, I wanna

878

:

continue to show up at work and be the

best version of myself during my day job.

879

:

I'd like to put more energy into

growing my other business which

880

:

has, I think we've mentioned is

in psychic services and reading.

881

:

So maybe like to expand my

offerings, really grow my client

882

:

roster and take advantage of any

opportunities to work on my business.

883

:

And a couple things have already

come up this year that I'm not quite

884

:

ready to talk about on the podcast.

885

:

But that I'm super excited for and a

few things that I'm waiting to hear on.

886

:

So I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.

887

:

And I'm trying to, to be softer, flexible

with those that if I don't make something

888

:

happen right away, like, like Christine

said earlier, I'm still trying, I'm

889

:

still putting effort to, it's a step.

890

:

Continuing to approach my

health holistically from the

891

:

work I'm doing with the medical

practitioners and alternative work.

892

:

This year I actually did already get

my Reiki three certification, so I'm a

893

:

master reiki master and so I'm going to

continue to do reiki on myself, maybe do

894

:

some for my friends, kind of build that

confidence and that practice on other

895

:

people more than in 2024 I was able to

do and try to shoot for another similar

896

:

amount of weight loss that I did in 2024.

897

:

Consistent, reliable.

898

:

But yeah, I think that's the

health goals and finance.

899

:

I think I mentioned it last year,

but I didn't really put a whole lot

900

:

of effort into, I really wanna grow

my financial literacy investing

901

:

and maybe setting up myself a more.

902

:

Conscious budget.

903

:

You know, we talked about our trip,

which I'm, we had originally talked about

904

:

going in the spring, and I'm kind of

grateful that we're gonna go in the fall.

905

:

It gives me a little more

time to plan and save.

906

:

So I've had some unexpected car expenses

907

:

Christine: Yes.

908

:

Alexandra: have been heavy hitting,

so I'd like to really set myself up

909

:

for success to save for our trip.

910

:

But like Christine said, also some

other long-term goals, potentially

911

:

a new car in the next year or two.

912

:

' cause I love my car and I'm just hoping

this is a, like a, a crazy couple months.

913

:

But travel is another thing, so we're

definitely gonna hit part of that.

914

:

We've talked about maybe doing a

trip up to Newport, Rhode Island.

915

:

I'm gonna see Christine

again later this year.

916

:

She's gonna come down and maybe try

and take some trips to cities, I

917

:

don't know, so well in my own state.

918

:

So I think that'll be fun.

919

:

I've got some friends to explore that

with here who also like adventures,

920

:

which is similar to Christine.

921

:

So sometimes I need friends to help

pitch me outside my comfort zone.

922

:

And I think that might brings me

to my last kind of goals, which

923

:

are like friends and hobbies.

924

:

So I wanna spend more

time with my friends.

925

:

and one thing that Christina and I have

done, we saw on Instagram, people doing

926

:

that Wednesday Waffle sending the videos.

927

:

So I haven't quite gotten to the

videos as, as you guys will come to

928

:

realize video part, not my Forte.

929

:

So the fact that we're doing this now,

also on YouTube, you get to see all

930

:

the awkwardness and learning curve,

but we have started sending each other

931

:

voice memos back and forth and that has

been such a fun way to stay connected.

932

:

'cause we do chat on the phone a lot and

those will be like out long conversations,

933

:

but sometimes like it's nice to kind

of just ramble on a voice memo in a way

934

:

that's a little bit quicker than a text.

935

:

Or easier to flow from one

thing to the next thing.

936

:

It's just nice to get to hear

a friend, particularly with

937

:

long distance friendships.

938

:

And with some friends I've made here

trying to plan that when we hang,

939

:

when I hang out, we plan our next

hangout before we both leave or

940

:

go our separate ways for the day.

941

:

So I feel like that's a way to

hold myself accountable of like

942

:

investing time and energy into the

relationships that I wanna have.

943

:

I would like to do some research,

not some research, really put effort

944

:

and research into writing a book.

945

:

So that'll be fun.

946

:

So I think I'll, I'll do some,

hit some of my reading goals with,

947

:

with the research books, but we'll,

we'll see more on that later.

948

:

And lastly, kind of two Okay.

949

:

Few more things and

then I'll stop talking.

950

:

I'm sure this has been a

long episode for people, but.

951

:

Clearing the clutter outta my

lives and my lives, my life,

952

:

clearing the clutter outta my life.

953

:

And so, really, I mean, by clearing the

clutter outta my physical space, as

954

:

Christine was when she was down here,

she, she helped me rearrange my bookshelf,

955

:

which maybe I'll take a picture of at

a later time and we can share that.

956

:

Cause when moved into this place, I

had just thrown everything up there and

957

:

I was like, I'll deal with it later.

958

:

Well later happened to be when my MBA

finished because I just never got to it.

959

:

And so when Christine was here,

I was like, Hey, how do you feel

960

:

about helping me, like, make this

look more function, like nicer?

961

:

And she was like, Ooh,

styling a bookshelf.

962

:

I love to do that.

963

:

I was like, okay.

964

:

Love the confidence, love the energy.

965

:

And we, we took all the, the books

and decks and everything I've got off

966

:

and, style didn't clean the shelves.

967

:

And when I was looking and

cleaning the stuff, I was like,

968

:

oh, I feel so accomplished.

969

:

Then I turned around and then

I was like, the panic set in

970

:

the entire floor was covered.

971

:

Christine was sitting in the middle

of it, and I think she saw my eyes

972

:

going like, oh no, what have we done?

973

:

But she really took the lead and

helped me get it all back on the shelf.

974

:

'cause at some point I

was like, I, I don't know.

975

:

I don't care.

976

:

I just, it just needs

to get off the floor.

977

:

And she's like, okay, but I need

you to actually make some decisions.

978

:

And I was like, okay, okay.

979

:

This, this, I used together, this here.

980

:

Yeah.

981

:

So, she was so great.

982

:

But to continue on that, I would

like to like clear out some of

983

:

my closet and really develop

what kind of style clothing wise.

984

:

So that's kind of a.

985

:

Hopefully a smaller goal and something I'm

not going to try and tackle all at once.

986

:

Clearing out clutter and

everything and even refreshing.

987

:

I'd like to pick up book binding this

year or book rebinding of books I like.

988

:

That might be a little bit further

out in the year, but that's something

989

:

I got really interested in towards

the end of:

990

:

book binding videos on Instagram.

991

:

And so I watched a lot of videos

on how to do it and I just need

992

:

to get some tools and practice.

993

:

Christine: yeah.

994

:

They're so satisfying to watch.

995

:

They're,

996

:

Alexandra: They are, they are,

997

:

Christine: very excited

that you're gonna that.

998

:

Alexandra: it seems like the biggest

expense for that to invest in

999

:

is, like a vinyl cutting machine

:

00:52:57,953 --> 00:52:58,073

Christine: Hmm.

:

00:52:58,338 --> 00:53:03,218

Alexandra: and and then getting a couple

like thrifted books to just practice on.

:

00:53:03,218 --> 00:53:05,858

'cause I've heard that sometimes the

first time ripping off a cover is

:

00:53:05,858 --> 00:53:07,838

a little, a little nerve wracking.

:

00:53:08,438 --> 00:53:09,488

Christine: What have I done?

:

00:53:09,578 --> 00:53:09,818

Alexandra: Yeah.

:

00:53:09,818 --> 00:53:10,538

You're like, oh shit.

:

00:53:11,813 --> 00:53:13,838

You like, well, there's no going back now.

:

00:53:14,138 --> 00:53:17,018

So yeah, I think those are book finding.

:

00:53:17,018 --> 00:53:19,208

And then there's a couple like

projects around the house that

:

00:53:19,208 --> 00:53:21,518

I'd like to maybe bigger projects.

:

00:53:21,518 --> 00:53:24,758

I'd like to be creative

and invest in and do

:

00:53:24,788 --> 00:53:25,418

Christine: Yeah.

:

00:53:25,688 --> 00:53:26,468

Alexandra: so, yeah.

:

00:53:26,948 --> 00:53:27,098

Christine: Mm-hmm.

:

00:53:27,248 --> 00:53:27,518

Alexandra: Yeah.

:

00:53:28,568 --> 00:53:29,318

Christine: Excellent.

:

00:53:29,828 --> 00:53:32,318

Alexandra: but also pretty

and more bookshelves

:

00:53:33,038 --> 00:53:33,248

Christine: Mm-hmm.

:

00:53:34,478 --> 00:53:36,548

Alexandra: because I'm outgrowing

this bookshelf already.

:

00:53:37,508 --> 00:53:40,958

Christine: Well, we know that there's

potential for you to take the back

:

00:53:40,958 --> 00:53:46,298

off of your bookshelf because how it's

situated in her room is it's basically

:

00:53:46,388 --> 00:53:48,308

separating her office from her bedroom.

:

00:53:48,668 --> 00:53:53,348

So taking the back will give you

essentially another bookshelf more light.

:

00:53:54,128 --> 00:53:57,488

like, you know, you can

display things on both sides.

:

00:53:57,523 --> 00:53:57,743

Alexandra: Yes.

:

00:53:58,388 --> 00:54:00,098

Christine: it's kind of

like another bookshelf.

:

00:54:00,728 --> 00:54:03,188

Alexandra: It's kind of like

another bookshelf, but I also

:

00:54:03,188 --> 00:54:04,208

still need more bookshelves.

:

00:54:04,743 --> 00:54:04,963

Christine: Yes.

:

00:54:04,968 --> 00:54:05,168

Yes.

:

00:54:05,873 --> 00:54:06,363

Very true.

:

00:54:06,873 --> 00:54:09,693

Alexandra: And I will say if anyone has

friends that they're, they wanna stay in

:

00:54:09,693 --> 00:54:11,943

contact with it in a maybe long distance.

:

00:54:11,943 --> 00:54:13,443

Friendships or friends you

don't get to see as often.

:

00:54:13,503 --> 00:54:15,263

We do really like the the voice memos.

:

00:54:15,293 --> 00:54:19,823

It's also really fun 'cause we read a lot

and so giving each other reading updates.

:

00:54:19,923 --> 00:54:24,423

She sent me a couple at way

too late in the night for me,

:

00:54:24,513 --> 00:54:24,516

Christine: Way too late.

:

00:54:24,703 --> 00:54:26,863

Alexandra: And she's like, I really

hope you're not up right now.

:

00:54:26,863 --> 00:54:31,183

But like, I just had to share my

thoughts and I was like, when I

:

00:54:31,183 --> 00:54:33,253

listened to it in the morning, I

was like, I was definitely not.

:

00:54:34,753 --> 00:54:36,033

But it's a really fun way.

:

00:54:36,093 --> 00:54:36,633

So

:

00:54:36,718 --> 00:54:37,008

Christine: Yeah.

:

00:54:37,023 --> 00:54:41,626

Alexandra: yeah, I think this is gonna be

a great year and I think, I love how, I

:

00:54:41,626 --> 00:54:45,916

think separately we both kind of came to

this of like, we were just dissatisfied

:

00:54:45,916 --> 00:54:50,551

with the whole New Year New mean New

Year's resolution thing that we had.

:

00:54:50,761 --> 00:54:51,051

Christine: Yeah.

:

00:54:51,191 --> 00:54:51,311

Alexandra: I.

:

00:54:51,746 --> 00:54:52,316

Previously

:

00:54:52,511 --> 00:54:52,931

Christine: Mm-hmm.

:

00:54:53,006 --> 00:54:54,026

Alexandra: last comment, I swear.

:

00:54:54,336 --> 00:54:58,566

If, if you're jumping on the gym train,

which absolutely rock on, have fun.

:

00:54:58,866 --> 00:55:02,376

I think the best advert I'd ever

seen for a gym, I think it was on,

:

00:55:02,376 --> 00:55:06,276

running around on social media,

and it was a woman who was doing

:

00:55:06,606 --> 00:55:08,376

like, had trouble opening a door.

:

00:55:08,376 --> 00:55:12,456

So then she was at the gym or whoever

that gym was advertising for and like

:

00:55:12,456 --> 00:55:14,976

working on like rows and pulling.

:

00:55:14,976 --> 00:55:17,916

And so the next time she came to door,

it was like she could pull it nicely

:

00:55:18,246 --> 00:55:21,816

or like picking up her groceries,

so like working on bicep curl.

:

00:55:22,026 --> 00:55:27,576

And I thought that was such a

wonderful way for a gym to advertise

:

00:55:27,576 --> 00:55:31,776

and also maybe to encourage people

because it's not so, it ties it

:

00:55:31,776 --> 00:55:33,186

back to something very practical.

:

00:55:33,546 --> 00:55:33,786

Christine: Mm-hmm.

:

00:55:33,936 --> 00:55:37,776

Alexandra: not just to get the gym to

get fit or whatever your, your goals are.

:

00:55:37,776 --> 00:55:42,431

It's it to be able to do life

and move through life with,

:

00:55:42,666 --> 00:55:43,716

Christine: Exactly.

:

00:55:44,016 --> 00:55:45,876

Alexandra: without hurting

yourself and loved it.

:

00:55:46,536 --> 00:55:47,766

I was like, this is great.

:

00:55:48,216 --> 00:55:51,306

Christine: Yeah, I feel like

sometimes that gets lost with,

:

00:55:51,951 --> 00:55:52,431

Alexandra: Yeah,

:

00:55:53,136 --> 00:55:56,406

Christine: so that's very,

that's that's awesome.

:

00:55:56,466 --> 00:55:58,206

Good on that gym where whoever it was.

:

00:55:58,776 --> 00:56:00,501

Alexandra: I don't, I don't

if I ever run across it again,

:

00:56:00,501 --> 00:56:01,551

I'll have to send it to you, but

:

00:56:01,626 --> 00:56:02,256

Christine: Yeah,

:

00:56:02,331 --> 00:56:03,051

Alexandra: this is great.

:

00:56:03,981 --> 00:56:04,791

Lovely idea.

:

00:56:04,836 --> 00:56:05,646

Christine: that is great.

:

00:56:05,646 --> 00:56:06,456

I love that.

:

00:56:06,586 --> 00:56:07,126

That's true.

:

00:56:07,126 --> 00:56:07,726

It's like

:

00:56:09,766 --> 00:56:13,786

you relating it back to

something practical, I think

:

00:56:13,786 --> 00:56:15,616

makes it more approachable.

:

00:56:15,616 --> 00:56:16,036

Alexandra: Mm-hmm.

:

00:56:16,276 --> 00:56:16,816

Christine: So yeah.

:

00:56:16,996 --> 00:56:17,746

Awesome.

:

00:56:17,761 --> 00:56:21,110

Alexandra: it gives it people a, a

tangible reason to, to do it, you know?

:

00:56:21,695 --> 00:56:22,235

Christine: exactly.

:

00:56:22,445 --> 00:56:23,135

Exactly.

:

00:56:23,405 --> 00:56:23,795

Yeah.

:

00:56:24,575 --> 00:56:28,535

Alright, well this has been so fun.

:

00:56:28,535 --> 00:56:30,305

I've really enjoyed this one.

:

00:56:30,557 --> 00:56:32,866

this conversation's

been a lot of fun, but.

:

00:56:33,901 --> 00:56:35,401

Don't be too heartbroken.

:

00:56:35,641 --> 00:56:37,081

It is a wrap on this one.

:

00:56:37,081 --> 00:56:42,031

Guys, we hope our reflections of

on:

:

00:56:42,031 --> 00:56:46,621

have sparked some inspiration or

at least a reminder that it's okay

:

00:56:46,621 --> 00:56:48,151

to take things one step at a time.

:

00:56:49,381 --> 00:56:51,691

doesn't have to be perfect,

and neither do you.

:

00:56:52,081 --> 00:56:53,071

I certainly am not.

:

00:56:54,130 --> 00:56:55,210

Thank you for joining us.

:

00:56:55,210 --> 00:56:59,350

And remember, every day is an opportunity

to grow, not a deadline to transform.

:

00:56:59,830 --> 00:57:02,830

We're so excited for what's ahead

this year, and we can't wait to

:

00:57:02,830 --> 00:57:04,480

hear what's on the horizon for you.

:

00:57:05,380 --> 00:57:09,070

next time, keep reflecting, keep

growing, and we'll see you very soon.

:

00:57:10,120 --> 00:57:11,020

Bye guys.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Mirror Project
The Mirror Project

About your hosts

Profile picture for Christine Borowsky

Christine Borowsky

Introducing our enchanting co-host Christine, a nostalgic soul with a creative spark and an infectious optimism. A devourer of books, a music aficionado, and a film buff, she's immersed in the art of storytelling. Nature is her sanctuary, from forests to oceans. Eager for adventure, she's a perpetual learner, finding growth in every experience. Family and friends provide her comfort and joy. Unafraid of uncomfortable conversations, she navigates them with humor, believing they're vital for understanding and growth. Join her and Alexandra on this podcast where creativity meets curiosity, and laughter blends with wisdom.
Profile picture for Alexandra Montross

Alexandra Montross

Meet Alexandra, the spirited co-host of this captivating podcast, where everyday topics transform into enchanting conversations. With an old soul and a knack for the eclectic, she weaves a unique blend of organization and quirky charm into each discussion. Alexandra's passions span from wellness to metaphysics and dive into the thrilling world of entrepreneurship. Tune in for her lively perspective and insightful takes, adding a touch of magic to every episode alongside Christine. Get ready for a journey where Alexandra's vibrant energy and depth of knowledge create an unforgettable podcast experience.