Structuring Chaotic Minds
Welcome to Structuring Chaotic Minds: A Show Focused on Balancing Mental Wellness & Life. Created for individuals just like you and me who struggle with anxiety, being overwhelmed, and balancing life due to mental health. I'm your host Melissa Franklin. I am a leadership and development coach who suffers from the amazing combo of Bipolar I disorder and ADHD. And yes, some people think I’m crazy, but I'm still crushing my goals. So, I'm on a mission to amplify the voices about our situations, share critical knowledge and information with our family & friends, and help remove the social BS about mental health and mindsets. Join me and my expert guests as we venture through our wonderful world of well…EVERYTHING! Between careers, finances, and even physical health, all the way down to your own personal self-care support groups and mental health. Let's go!
Structuring Chaotic Minds
Transforming Lives with the Power of Structured Support
In this compelling episode of "Structuring Chaotic Minds," we dive deep into the transformative journeys of individuals who have navigated significant personal and professional changes through the programs offered by Structured Innovations. Our co-host, Alyssa Freeney, engages in candid conversations with host, Melissa Franklin, and guest(s): Edith Pina, and Nancy Llanos, uncovering the impactful narratives of growth, empowerment, and self-discovery.
Starting with technical hiccups and lighthearted banter, the episode quickly evolves into a profound exploration of personal development and empowerment. Melissa Franklin shares her insights on the structured and smiling programs, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, time management, and personal growth. Edith Pina and Nancy Llanos recount their transformative experiences, highlighting how Structured Innovations helped them overcome obstacles and redefine their life paths.
Listeners will be treated to a rich tapestry of stories ranging from Edith's journey of self-reflection and empowerment to Nancy's career pivot and newfound confidence. The discussions illuminate the core mission of Structured Innovations: to foster a supportive community where individuals can learn, grow, and thrive.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in personal development, career transitions, and the power of supportive communities in fostering growth and happiness.
Join the "Structuring Chaotic Minds" Family
Connect with Us:
- Facebook: Follow us on Facebook for updates, inspirational quotes.
- Instagram: Follow Melissa on Instagram for life stories, behind-the-scenes, episode highlights.
- Pinterest: Follow us on Pinterest for motivational content, episode pins.
Subscribe to Our Community:
- Don’t miss out on the conversation! Subscribe to our community to stay updated, share your thoughts, and connect with like-minded individuals.
Be a Part of the Conversation:
- Your voice matters! Join the conversation on our social media channels, share your journey, and find support in our community.
Start Your Journey Today:
- Your path to better mental health and life balance begins with "Structuring Chaotic Minds." Follow us, subscribe to our community, and take the first step towards a more balanced life today.
Welcome to Structuring Chaotic Minds, a show focused on balancing mental wellness and life. If you're just like me, then you likely enjoy crushing your goals, but it's also possible that right now, you're struggling with anxiety, being overwhelmed or balancing life due to mental health. I'm here to help. I'm your host, Melissa Franklin.
Alyssa Freeney:I'm a leadership and personal development coach on a mission to amplify the fellow voices about our situations, share critical information and knowledge with our family and friends and, at the same time, help remove the social BS about mental wellness and mindsets through personalized coaching and help clients discover their strengths, their weaknesses and overcome any obstacles that come into their personal or professional lives, and to help them achieve the goals that they set and not feel discouraged about their way of life right now. And our vision is to become a leading force in the personal and professional development is to become a leading force in personal and professional development. That means creating a global community, as our saying is, growing tomorrow's leaders one day at a time, and we are trying to empower individuals with the access to support each other and give them resources that they need to foster growth and well-being, whether it's mental health or education, recreation. All of these tools are what we strive to give each and every one of our clients. So for our agenda, we'll be going over the programs and we're going to be going through the insights of the Foundations Program with Edith and also her experience in the Balanced Professional Pathways, as well as with that transition completely going over to the Balanced Professional Pathways with Nancy, and then we're going to have some questions and if anybody has questions they can come on for the panel discussion and Q&A and we're going to be closing off with our remarks and gratitude. So for the Foundations program. I, alongside Dominic, who was unable to attend today, we will be the program facilitators for this program. It's our mission is to lay groundwork for young adults and individuals who are transforming into different chapters of their lives, whether it be your transforming from middle school to high school, from high school to college or from college to a job.
Alyssa Freeney:So me, I work in basically the high school area, so I help kids who want to achieve their goals and handle their classwork at the same time. I technically help students with that. I juggle four AP classes. I used to do almost every extracurricular you could think possible, still make time for myself and still be sane. So I want to be able to teach other people how to do this, and my little technique and trick is that I like using technology to my advantage. We are on our phones, as kids are on our phones all day. We never think about how we can use these phones to actually benefit our lives and to make our tasks a lot less tasks, more so, just easy work. And Dominic, he is in the college level right now. He's going through PT school and such like that. So he is going to be helping people understand how to handle their classwork at the college level and, as well, managing their recreation and their lives outside of school without feeling overwhelmed or that they have no time for themselves and that it's all associated around school.
Alyssa Freeney:Our focus on the fundamental life skills to prepare for adult life, whether these be like. Are you taking care of yourself, like recreation, mental wellness? Are you having fun or you're just constantly working? You don't want to overwhelm yourself to the point where you have no energy at the end of the day. Are you keeping in touch with people that are most close to you? You want to keep those relationships tight. And are you actually handling everything you're supposed to, because if you're having all the fun, nothing's going to get done. Have no idea what you want to do with your life, or you are pretty sure what you want to do, you just have no idea how to navigate through. We're here to help you.
Alyssa Freeney:For me, I've been going through. I want to do technology, but I want to do hands-on work. I had no real center connection until I ended up going through this program and understanding what's my personal brand as myself and what would I do, as in my professional life, and how would the things I enjoy actually help me pick the career of my choice and for personal growth. Like I said, mentioned personal brand what are your hobbies, what are the things you like to do? These things? You can represent them and like if you were to ask a family member, a friend oh, what do you think represents me? What do you expect them to say? And like. If you feel like man, that's not me, then it's like self-discovery and to help you grow into the person you want to be and for everyone else to see.
Melissa Franklin:I love that she shares that. I think it comes down to a lot of times it's hard for us to be able to figure out what we're going to focus on. I do love how she highlights that the foundations program in particular is highlighted towards young adults. She highlights that the foundations program in particular is highlighted towards young adults. So you might have heard the terminology structured and smiling through that program. That is literally the pathways to personal growth. So it's all built off of our book the pathways to personal growth. And for those of you who have participated in the foundations program or the structured and smiling programs, you would have already learned about emotional intelligence, time management, balancing different things. There's so many different categories that come through in our coaching programs that we want to make sure that people get the best out of it in the group sessions. So we did start the structured and smiling programs a while back, but we saw the most success out of it from our students who were coming back in, and so we just decided that it made the most sense to start a foundations program with both Alyssa and Dominic, because they're more relatable to those kids, while the kids will show up and they will talk and they'll be like yeah, that was great, ms Franklin, they're not really going to talk to me the same way that they'll talk to Dominic and Alyssa, so it just made more sense for them to be the ones leading and facilitating this particular one. I'm going to talk about the next program next and then we'll start piggybacking off of the other things that we've seen from other programs. So, aside from the Structured and Smiling programs, we have our Balanced Professional Pathways.
Melissa Franklin:So Structured and Smiling is more about balancing life and helping to find that sense of happiness, because unfortunately, not all of us can be happy. If you're like me, you're bipolar and things are actually regulated a certain way based on chemical releases. However, we can trick those chemical releases and get little gold stars and checkpoints to release dopamine in our bodies and actually trigger things to help make us happier. I've learned that and that's helped me with other individuals who don't have mental wellness issues towards like hey, you know what this worked for me and this helped actually put me in a happy mood. Maybe you should try it, see what goes from there, and almost 100% of the time it works for these individuals. Other individuals will come to me and say nope, actually I'm bipolar, I just didn't share it, those types of things. And it's so funny because it makes us more relatable and when they realize, hey, melissa is actually bipolar, she could do it, then maybe I can do it and it just makes it that much more of a safe space.
Melissa Franklin:So the foundations program was really an evolution from our structured and smiling programs. Structured and smiling means you're facing every single wheel or every single category in the wheel of life in a structured approach so we can build that happiness through smiling and releasing of dopamine. That's where the Structured and Smiling programs came from. We eventually developed into a foundations program that's been started by Alyssa and Dominic and in the spring fall probably late fall depending how long it takes but we will be starting the um balanced, I'm sorry the structured and smiling program for Latina moms, so that one will be starting later in the fall. Hopefully Nancy joins on too so there can be like a whole group for all these moms and such. But that is definitely our next steps. No pressure, pressure, but it's fine.
Melissa Franklin:The next program we end up having, because I always end up having individuals that come to me and nine times out of 10, it's like I want to quit my job, great, but is it the right time to quit your job? Or are you even in the right job? Maybe that is the right job, but you got the wrong boss. Balanced professional pathways is more about finding where you're supposed to be on your career path. It could be entrepreneurship. It could be a better job. It could be I'm going to quit my job and start something different. Don't know. What I do know is every single person who signed up for this program this last one at least ended up getting a promotion, at least ended up getting something. They said that they wouldn't, or at least move towards that next layer, to where there's at least an understanding as to why.
Melissa Franklin:I really do want to highlight Annabelle. Annabelle is one of our clients who came into this, but seriously dealing with depression, and I was even doubting myself. I was like I don't know. I know what the program's going to do, but I also know if I can't convince you on mindset and we can't get aligned, I don't know if this is going to work, but she embraced it and we went spot on. We talked about energies, we did our check-ins. She was consistent, she made sure she did all of her work.
Melissa Franklin:I still remember her crying to me about five weeks in saying I've done all the stuff we've said, I've gone to all the interviews, I've put in all the applications and no one's calling me back. And then I started asking her well, being bipolar, sometimes we don't know how our face comes off. Are you sure you're not doing no RBF? Like, are you positive? We're not doing those type of things? During the interviews and she started processing things. She's like where energy or where the focus goes, the energy flows. That's exactly what it is. So what do you think kind of vibes you're giving off. She switched it. She was so proud the next week to say like you know what I just feel like those these last interviews went well. Something tells me it's not enough, so I'm going to go do more applications, like you said. But something said it wasn't enough.
Melissa Franklin:So she got more interviews and she kept getting a final interviews but they were jobs that she truly didn't want. I just told her. I was like hey, the energy is working, keep doing what you're supposed to do, just keep doing it, keep doing it. She calls me and she says guess what I got the job and guess when it starts. And I'm like when she's like on your birthday. I'm like no freaking way.
Melissa Franklin:So she has a job that is 100% remote. She has that income stability. She's going to be able to retire with the hubby in three years. That was the plan. Like, how can we build it? Most women come to me and they don't even know what they want to do for recreation. They're like spend time with my kids. I'm like stop lying to yourself. But at this point, like with this woman, she knew I want to send my children off to college, I want to retire with my husband and I want to travel the world, just us. I was like how are we going to make that happen? The point is this girl is 100% it's not a thousand percent on track.
Melissa Franklin:She started her first day full-time. She started training on Monday, tuesday, but her first day fully remote was yesterday, on my birthday, and I cannot tell you how much of a gift that was to me, knowing that I helped her focus on what she was supposed to focus on and she got what she wanted out of it. She didn't believe that she could have it. She really didn't. It took a lot of conversations, mindset resets, but it got there.
Melissa Franklin:I will say this too this program can be kind of intense. You'll see people dodging you. You'll be like hey, bye. I know I paid for the program and I'm not coming back. Why? Because it's a lot of work they don't want to do. I cannot tell you how many people have come through these programs and have even paid for it and just said I'm out and then later say it didn't work for me.
Melissa Franklin:Interesting, because it seemed to work for every single person who actually showed up. So are you going to show up or what's going on? And nine times out of 10, they would say the same thing You're not wrong. Well, I have my camera on, but I'm not really paying attention. Or I'm there, but I'm not really there. Good. So if we step back and we change and adjust that, what would happen?
Melissa Franklin:100%, though, what I can say is everybody who paid, everybody who showed up, everybody who did the work got the results that they didn't expect to get, like in a tenfold. It was like how did it go so fast? Because they followed the expectations, they did what they said they were going to do. So they got what they wanted out of it, and I've doubted myself so much, so like is this even possible? So I finally got to the point where I was like you know what? I'm going to stop giving it away for free. I'm going to actually charge people what I said I was going to charge people and go figure it's working. So at this point, now we're building out those next steps, now we're building out those professionals and now I want to highlight Edith because Edith, oh my goodness, I love this lady.
Melissa Franklin:She is so amazing and I think sometimes my big words intimidate her, but her gorgeous like I show up to everything on point has always intimidated me and I had her son as a student at one point and when she joined our programs I was honored. I was like you need our help? Sure, whatever you want, like that's perfectly fine. But I think the funniest thing is, even through all this, she's done her side businesses, she's done the other stuff and she was still looking for something else and recently got a promotion to where now she's in charge of other people.
Melissa Franklin:So we definitely have to highlight and talk about those things as we talk about Edith and her background. So it's Edith Peña, but it's also González, so let's throw that part out too. We got to talk about her insights because I had her son as a student and she's followed the journey. I still remember when she was asking me what is life coaching and what does that even mean? She's definitely a mom who has navigated those ups and downs alongside with Dominic and we have watched her evolve as well as him throughout the years and she's actually attended both programs and she's now going to be launching the next one for Latina Moms, but that don't come until August. The point is, she has a plethora of knowledge, experience and has gone through it herself, so we would love to highlight her. I'm going to stop talking and let Alyssa do her part and interview Edith for her questions, and let's go ahead and switch over.
Alyssa Freeney:Thank you so much for that. All right, and, um, like adding on to what she said, edith is one of the most amazing people you'll ever meet. Going through the programs with edith, I have noticed that beforehand she was really reserved, didn't talk too much kind of to herself, but the more and more she ended up attending the meeting she ended up being more lively, like a little firecracker, and was always giving input and her two cents and her quotes, her amazing quotes every now and then, and I think that it was really inspiring to know that somebody who probably at first didn't feel as comfortable coming on and off the camera showing her face and all that other stuff now is going to end up being one of our coaches. I think that it's really a big step. I have a few questions for you and I wanted to say for you, edith, as Dominic's mom and a participant for both of our programs, could you share your journey from where you were beforehand and then why Structure Innovations began and helped you evolve over time?
Edith Gonzalez:Okay, so, first of all, I met Ms Franklin. I actually still have her on my phone as Ms Franklin. Uh, when Dominic was in seventh grade, um, he would always talk about oh, ms Franklin, this was Franklin. I didn't even know who she was, you know. Um, I ended up meeting her because I I'm photographer as one of my side things that I do. So I ended up meeting her and we ended up just, you know, vibing, I guess, keeping in touch with each other.
Edith Gonzalez:She had messaged me around the time that Dominic graduated, told me about Structure Innovations. I really it was more like a conversation, it was not like a business thing, it was just friends catching up. But at the moment that I spoke to her, I felt like, you know, you just have to have one conversation with her and you're, you're like, mind blown. You're like, you know, you're, you're motivated, you're like I want to do this, I want to do that. And you know, you, she, she helps you see things in yourself that you didn't see so fast forward to when Dominic graduated. That's when, um, she messaged me about the foundations program I know, it is for, um, young adults and she ended up asking me like, oh, do you mind joining, you know, and I was like what am I gonna do with young adults? But it was actually a very, very good program for me myself and I highly recommend it.
Edith Gonzalez:I think that even at my age I'm like man. I wish I had somebody that when I was Dom's age, when I was Alyssa's age, you know, would have helped me to see things that I didn't see myself, or to tell me things that are out there that we don't know about, especially living in South Texas. Like you don't see a lot of that, you know. You just see, oh, you have to go to work and you know you don't figure out who you are. So I think this program helped me do that, even at my age.
Alyssa Freeney:It's like that worker's mindset that is growing up from the valley. It's just not, um, as uh talked about, so being able to say, hey, you can control your own future, you don't have to go with the masses. It's a little different. And, adding on to what you said, when you met miss franklin, my mom and, like you were seeing dominic talk all about her what have you seen? Like how have you seen him evolve from the seventh grade student to our uh community mentors? Like how has that changed y'all's relationship? Or like helped enhance it? And like what did that do to y'all's family dynamic?
Edith Gonzalez:Okay, and one thing, and I know you say I'm famous for my quotes, but this is for Ms Franklin. Just let you know you don't have to be famous, you just have to be impactful. You know, and that's something that I mean, from seventh grade all the way to senior year, he was like oh remember when Miss at school. So everybody remembers Dom. But in regards to seeing his growth, I think that he always has had a good head on his shoulders. He just needed to learn how to be more open to new ideas or be able to express those ideas that he had in his head, you know, but especially him being, not because I'm his mom, but you know, especially him hosting. You know the, the foundations program.
Edith Gonzalez:I think that even kids at church they tell me I talk to him more than I talk to my brother, you know, because they, they see something in him, you know, and he's understanding, he's caring. So I feel like, in regards to family, he has two siblings and they look up to him. You know the conversations that he has with you guys or the conversations that we had in the foundations program, has open conversations at home, you know he'll, he'll like text me something now that he's in college, you know, or we'll be on facetime and we'll have conversations, or I tell him like um, I, I have a question, or I have something going on. I'm like I'm gonna call dom, you know, because I've seen him grow a lot. So yeah, that's. I hope I answered your question. I feel like I have some. I talk too much.
Alyssa Freeney:So, you're, ok, we need like your. What are you thinking when it comes to this program? Because I've seen as like from a bystander, I've seen y'all's relationship and how y'all back and forth, like you know, be like, hey, tag team mom, tag team Dom, you know, and I always think that it's really cool, fascinating, because it reminds me of me and my mom. So it's like, okay, I need like somebody to talk to. Oh, I'll talk to my best friend, my mom, you know. So I can see how that relates and it's like gives me a warm feeling in my heart, like, hey, there's more people that are comfortable with talking to their kids, comfortable talking to their parents and ways of seeking guidance, but also getting guidance from each other and not feeling like it's one-sided. So, adding onto that, what could you say? Your reflections were Like? Having experienced both of the programs, what significant growth or changes have you noticed in yourself? More or less what you've noticed in Dom?
Edith Gonzalez:been, um, that person that is, um, I figure things out, you know I, I don't let things bring me down like it can be things that are, you know a lot of people can can probably say, oh, this is the end of the world for me. My character is, I will figure it out and I'll worry about it later, you know. So I think that this program just helped me turn that into something positive. It's just self-reflection, a lot of self-reflection, and I actually I was telling Ms Franklin the other day one of the things that helped me self-reflect was my personal narrative. During this one of the programs, we wrote our personal narrative. It's pretty much a letter to yourself or a letter about you, and, um, it was like therapeutical, you know, for me.
Edith Gonzalez:I feel like I'm always like on the go, go, go, and I don't get that from a lot of people, or, or maybe it's, it's my culture, um, you don't get a lot of, you know, from your parents saying I'm proud of you, you're doing good, or just because you're the person that that's doing good and your siblings are the ones that need more help, your parents kind of put you on the on the side. You know it. Now I've reflected that it's good to hear it, but I don't need to hear it as long as I tell myself, I reflect, and it's like, hey, you know you're, you're a badass, you know that yourself, that, and just piggybacking on that, on what Melissa talking about the Hispanic moms, latina moms, is what she called it I had Dominic when I was 19 years old, you know, and I feel like I never let that bring me down. It was kind of like you know what? This is just another, another thing I'm going to navigate through life and it's just something that I'm going to overcome. And look looking at me now, like she mentioned, I recently got a promotion and I had been in a job before where I was there for like 1314 years.
Edith Gonzalez:But I feel like I, even though they'll be like, oh, you're a great employee and stuff, but if you don't invest in yourself, how do you expect people to invest in you? You know, so I, through this program, I invested in myself and I went through both programs. I invested in myself and now I don't know, people see in others what I didn't see in myself at times. So I don't know. I think it's kind of like she said, and whenever you know, you grow. People see it. So I mean I can't say I'm a changed person, but I think I'm more of a confident person now and people see that. So I guess that's what led me to where I'm, where I'm at now, and people see that.
Alyssa Freeney:So I guess that's what led me to where I'm at now. I love that and, yeah, you have grown to be a lot more confident. Like I mentioned earlier, you weren't really reserved in the beginning, so now that you're able to fully express yourself without feeling like you can't and like how you say, hey, I talk on and on and on beforehand you never really did talk, so I think that's a good thing, and I really do think that is a good thing. What about you, mom? What do you think like seeing her in the program? How do you think she's evolved or transformed? My turn.
Melissa Franklin:I'm just joking. So I have loved watching her over the years. I will honestly say I think you know this as my child your friends, other students have always been like you should be friends with my mom. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's nice. I don't really like people, I'm sorry.
Nancy Llanos:I can only tolerate some people.
Melissa Franklin:I don't know. I think I've come to the point to where I've accepted that the inner circle is really supposed to be people that are willing to work and challenge and push you towards that other element. Unfortunately, the society that we live in is very enabling, I think. As Latina moms, we usually get pressured and put into. We don't do it because everybody else says and, as Hispanics, it's often like, oh, I'll save money when I have it, and it's a validation, like we like telling ourselves that we're poorer than we really are. But it's like, yeah, we're poor because we're staying poor. We don't need to go to that restaurant that we cannot afford right now. We can hold off that stuff for three, four months and actually invest and put some of that stuff into a property or something that's gonna bring us back money. Oh, but the uncertainty of in-between and we don't wanna fit in with the rest of the people and stand out make it seem like we're failing in the meantime. So no, no, no, we're gonna go eat because we deserve it. Dude, we all deserve happiness. We truly all deserve happiness. But were we really given the knowledge that we needed?
Melissa Franklin:And for me as a kid, ever since I was little, I admired individuals who had college degrees only because I saw that as the only financial resource. As I got older, I started realizing dang, some of these people who make bank have no degree. But are they consistent and do they stick with that plan, and are they so stubborn that they're not going to give it up and they're not going to throw in the towel, that it's going to get done? That's what it is. It's the consistency when nobody else is rooting you on, when nobody else is cheering you on and be like you're awesome, yay, and everybody's expecting you to fall that you keep going.
Melissa Franklin:I'm doing more. You'll hear other people I often heard, and my mom's in here. So forgive me, I'm sorry, but I often heard my stepdad getting mad at me at a very early age. Like you work all the time. You do all this other stuff. She never spends time with the family. And then later I was resentful as I had to pay for medical bills because it turned into well, at least you have the money now. Like you spent all that time working.
Melissa Franklin:It was an angry state for me because I had to realize I couldn't relate to certain people because I was now at a different level and the only reason I was at that level was because I did. I made a choice sometime back to do work that others didn't. And I bring that up because later my stepdad's family almost his entire family was reaching out to Lee and they were asking for help in fitness and different things and they were like, if Melissa could do it and she could fix her life and do those things, then I can do it. I was like, well, that's great, all of you saw me struggling, all of you saw the journey, but none of you saw the work. None of you really saw those other things and were given the permission.
Melissa Franklin:So I can say, like for Nancy, for Edith, even Annalisa she's not even a mom, but I've asked each and every single one of them what do you love? And it's like cricket. All of them are either telling me what their parents love or what their children love, but they wouldn't highlight what they love. So what I will say is, as Edith has gone through this journey, it's been amazing to finally see her embrace Edith, because there are some students who are awesome and there are some students like can I just replicate that kid in every freaking class, and Dominic is definitely one of them. Alyssa, you're definitely one of them too, and I've heard that before as well. But when I think of Dominic and thinking of who he is as a kiddo, it's like you know he came from good stock you know mommy made him and she's not going to take credit for it.
Melissa Franklin:She's going to say, oh it's all dumb like, but you greeted that, you created that mindset, you molded it, you nurtured it. You there, take credit for some of the good stuff you did, because he is amazing and students like that come very small. So his journey is really a testament to his mom and her journey is more a testament. She never knew how badass she was. She really didn't. She thought she was like small potatoes. And then it's funny because she tells me I use all these sophisticated words, so I got to use fancy words, but you look gorgeous every time you show up. But okay, whatever, and I guess that's what I'm getting at.
Melissa Franklin:We all overthink our own shit because we're worried about what do they think of me? Think of me, what do they think of me? And it's so beautiful to watch Edith come out of her element, step into her stuff. I've watched her over the last few years too. As people have tried to highlight, she got a new BMW SUV recently and no like, maybe two years ago, a year ago, two years, whatever. And the comment that pissed me off the most was people highlighting oh, it must be nice that Hadi got all that for you and she was able to literally point out to everybody I got it with my own money and it was true, because she went through that journey herself. But everybody automatically assumed it's because she married a good man. No, it's because she married a good man.
Melissa Franklin:You're not wrong. So he was willing to support her journey and her dreams in doing what she was supposed to do and she got it done. So they moved to the next level and now I'm trying to convince them to get to generational wealth and those type of things. We'll see what happens, but Dom's definitely going to accomplish it Like we're there and that's still a ripple effect. So it goes into what Edith and Javi have placed and planted and what's getting repeated. But I think everybody's right when they say sometimes as a society we're shamed or we're told one thing and we're made to feel a certain way because of what our parents were taught and because of what their parents were taught. It doesn't make it wrong, it just makes it the norm. So it makes it easier to understand why everybody else is telling you why are you doing that, why are you focusing on that, when honestly that's what you're supposed to focus on.
Edith Gonzalez:Dominic actually gave me a book for Christmas and out of the whole book I just remember one sentence that said caring for yourself, finding yourself, is not an instead of. You know, spending all your time and your kids and your husband is not self. It's not self, I'm sorry. So it says, if you spend all your time on your kids and that self abandonment, you know it's not selfish to take care of yourself. So that's one of the books that he bought me for Christmas. I was like that's the thing that I remember, you know, and there's some times where you know I work full-time job and kids have all these practices and stuff like that, and I still want to work out, but I'm like, oh, but I have to do this, I have to do that. You know it's self-abandonment comes back. I don't want to go back to that. So that's, that's something that, as moms or as dads, we have to think about. That.
Melissa Franklin:I do have to say that, while I feel less in my element because I don't feel like so much of a badass, the money's not pouring in consistently every single month. Rather than some months it floods in and other months it's like a trickle. I'm like dang, what's happening. The systems and procedures aren't quite there yet, but there's definitely enough stability to where I am allowed to at least play with this and see what happens, cool. But as I move forward with all those things, I think the sense of security really comes from. I built something that's needed.
Melissa Franklin:I actually learned where I want to be and I'm giving myself the permission to show up the way I want to show up every day, rather than the way I've been expected to show up in previous years. And I cannot tell you how calming that is and how amazing it is that I don't cry when the doorbell rings anymore and I don't feel overwhelmed when they ask me a Burger King like what do you want to order? I don't know, I really don't. Like you can ask Lee, I literally couldn't order French fries at Wendy's anymore because I was done making decisions. I was done being asked to pick and choose to make the rest of the world and society happy, and I will say, like everybody else who's in here is definitely had that conversation at one point or another with me.
Melissa Franklin:So I do have to point out, as moms, we tend to focus so much on our babies and what everybody else is thinking of us as a good mom that we forget about ourselves and we do not focus on ourselves. So thank you so much, ladies, for allowing me to be a part of that and forcing you to light a fire under your ass to go focus on yourself. Thank you, cause that means it does work, and I don't know about you, but I do know that my kids have told me I show up as a better mom when I focus on myself. I don't know if your husbands are happier or if your kids are happier, but they probably are. Can you talk about that, eden?
Edith Gonzalez:In regards to that, I think that I mean Dom is very nonchalant, so he would only tell you bits and pieces, but the fact that you know he'll call me all the time, you know, and his friends at school are like, why are you talking to your mom? You know, but the I see that you know, as he he can, he can depend on me to to give him good advice. He can, you know, it's relatable. We have a relationship and I know some moms are like oh, I miss my son. I only speak to him on Sundays.
Edith Gonzalez:I'm like on Sundays like I have to like decline his call sometimes because I'm working, but it's just, I don't know. I feel like if you take care of yourself and it sparks up conversations, it's motivational that even it attracts your children to what you have to say. Um, some of my daughters in sports and a lot of the the girls there they're, they're like always attracted to the relationship that her and I have and they're like oh, you're my mom too, you know, and I'm cheering for them and I'm doing this. So on my birthday they send me all these things that they remember. You know, I remember the time that I got hurt and you were there for me. I remember what you told me at the beginning of a game, you know. So I think it's very important to know who you are, have confidence and then share that with others Because, like I said, you don't have to be famous, you just have to be impactful. In order for you to be impactful, you need to know who you are and what you bring to the table.
Alyssa Freeney:I love that, I love that. That's like amazing.
Edith Gonzalez:And one thing, sorry one thing I told Dom, because I tell him, as a majority of you guys know, know he wants to be a PT, his goals and dreams are to have his own practice. And I told him there's this, another quote that we came across and said. I wrote it down Help a man climb the mountain and then you will realize that you're in the top with him. Help a man climb the mountain and then you will realize that you're in the top with him. You know so I, I tell him I'm not here to be um, you know that that parent to be putting you down or say your dreams are too big. You know. I tell him, like, I'm here for you. If you need something, I'm going to be there, support you and at the end of the, we're going to be on the top together. You know.
Edith Gonzalez:So, to me, one of the things that they say, you know, imagine something great is like. To me, something great is seeing my children succeed. So that's good enough for me. It's not about the money, it's not about what you have, it's not, it's just that your seed is growing. So I think that, as moms, it's extremely important for us to know who we are to be able to enjoy our kids and be able to be an influence to them as well.
Melissa Franklin:I love that. Thank you so much for sharing. All right, we're gonna go over to the next program and how it influenced our other. Oh, it's on your screen, alyssa, you need that, okay, so now we'd be talking about our balanced professional pathways program. Well, edith did point out that she's gone through both because she started in the structured and smiling program through foundations to see how it worked for the young adults and such.
Melissa Franklin:She was asked to come in as a mom and just kind of monitor Dom. Funny thing is she jumped right in and was like cool, let's take over, like it's fine and it worked and I love it. That's why it's like let's make a program now for Latina moms, because she would continue to post things about herself and be the amazing person that she is and not even realize everybody's watching her, even realize everybody's watching her. Miss Nancy was watching her and following her entire path and Nancy was so inspired by her that she eventually joined our Balanced Professional Pathways program and what I can say is Structure Innovations struggles with marketing but does not struggle with referrals because of the impact that it's had for other individuals. So that is awesome. I will give us that and be like, yay, it works, but how do we get other people to understand how it can work for them? So now I want Nancy to share as a mom who was in law enforcement but just wasn't quite happy with where she was at.
Melissa Franklin:Edith was very happy with where she was at but didn't know who she wanted to meet. Nancy came into the program and was not happy with where she was at. She was also very serious. She was like so I tend to just be mad at the world and I feel like I come off mean to people and I'm like actually very kind to me.
Melissa Franklin:But okay, so I'm so curious as to what is going on and she seemed so sweet and like this demeanor about herself that she just wanted to be accepted and I couldn't wrap my head around it because I'm like how do you not realize a lot of people already love you and are following you and thinking of you? But okay, whatever, whatever you want. I think it's amazing. As she's gone through our programs she's flipped from being a police officer into I don't want to know. I don't know what I want to do. I maybe want to go into counseling and to now fully going into entrepreneurship and now coaching with us, super excited to see where she goes with those next steps, but even more honored that she's allowed us to be a part of that journey. I would like Nancy to kind of share her insights and I'm going to let Alyssa start the questions.
Alyssa Freeney:All right. So, adding on to what mom said, you ended up joining the Structure Innovations team. Through Edith's referrals and her active presence on Instagram, I want to ask you what specifically caught your attention and made you decide to join our program.
Nancy Llanos:So it was several things. Most of them is her famous quotes, her post on Facebook or social media, her post on on Facebook or social media. I, I guess the way I met Edith was through her site other site job, which was photographing. She took several family pictures and stuff like that. So after that I started following her on social media, ended up becoming a police officer and I was in in, I guess, in a in my way of thinking, I could not see positivity or I could not. I was surrounded with negativity that I just couldn't see. Beyond that, however, I would go, you know, on social media and you know some of these posts were on there, some you know positive quotes that she would post, or just even just her presence. You know you'll feel the vibe. She's I've always said it she's very humble, easygoing, so you know you connect with her as well, just as well as Melissa.
Nancy Llanos:So something ended up just catching my eye when she posted about Structure Innovations. So I was like, okay, what's this? I went on into Structure Innovations and started, you know, reading and kind of researching who they were, and then I reached out to Edith and she told me a little bit more about it and I was like, okay, I really need, you know, a change. I just can't do this on my own, like I've tried, and I just can't. So I'm like this is the moment to like reach out. Um, I'll be honest, I was hesitant because I hadn't spoken with Adith in a lot, like a long time. I was like, okay, but it seems like this is so positive, like I'm sure she's not going to be judgy, like, so I just did, and I'm glad I did, because now I'm here.
Alyssa Freeney:I love that and um, going into that, when you had first clicked on structural innovations and then coming into the program, what was your initial expectations? Like I know you were talking about, hey, something positive. But how did you initially come into the program and was the reality of your experience what you had hoped or how did it come to be in your mind?
Nancy Llanos:Um, I actually think it surpassed my expectations. I was looking for somebody I guess that I can speak with and not be judged, or if I had any emotional, which I obviously did emotional, you know, traumas that we carry and that we don't even know how to deal with them, and these can be from, like you know. Well, I didn't know this, but, you know, talking to Melissa and going through the program, I found out that, yes, you know, we have traumas that we carry as a child and we don't know about it and it comes out to once you're an adult. All of these things, you know, either trigger you or you know you end up in a situation because you know of those certain traumas that you try to kind of replicate or follow for whatever reason. And so those are the things that I was looking to fix, I guess, to to work on um, just, you know, trying to become more of a positive person, because I do have two boys, um, and he's mentally um and I had no, uh, the way I would see it is like I have no way of reaching out to my family, because I just felt like everybody had the same issue, like everybody has, um, you know, the same anger, problems or the same emotions as I do and I'm like, well, who do I reach to? Who can give me the best advice?
Nancy Llanos:You know, that's something that that I was looking for but ended up, you know, switching my career and my goals. And I'm like now it's like you know, I'm so glad I ended up reaching out to to you all because I really didn't change, you know, and I've I've continued to change because, of course, like you know, we're not perfect, so we continue to change and stuff like that and work on myself. Like you know, we're not perfect, so we continue to to change and stuff like that and work on myself, mainly that you know. Now I know, um, not to feel guilty to work on myself. You know that it's not selfish, um, not because, you know, sometimes Latinos or Latinas, you know we, we have a certain expectation of this is who you are and this is who you should be, and those expectations end up coming, you know, and messing with our thinking, our thoughts and just the way you are, and stuff like that.
Alyssa Freeney:It's like that fixed mindset that we're taught as a child and it's not like on purpose, but that's what you think and you're like, well, there's no way out, because that's all I know. So for you having to reach out, it was probably a big step, but you were like I need help and within my family, as much as I love them, they can't really help me right now because they're all dealing with the same stuff. So and when you said that you were helping shift, can you share like a pivotal moment or insight from the program that helped you shift and like it impacted your personal or professional life, or both?
Nancy Llanos:so I started gaining a lot more confidence. Um, I started seeing, uh, I could navigate, you know, throughout my day without feeling either, you know, be negative, or just without feeling like upset at someone or at something, versus understanding, maybe, you know, ignorance, or just even not knowing how to control emotions, you know, and that that was the main, the main part. I guess that helped me, the main thing, because I just thought that getting mad was, I guess, my the way I would resolve everything. It was just like, okay, I'm gonna get upset, and that's it, you know. And then I'm mad at the whole world, and that's it, you know, upset, and that's it, you know. And then I'm mad at the whole world, and that's it, you know.
Nancy Llanos:Learning how to deal with my emotions was the big one. And then, you know, just because of that, I ended up creating a routine alongside with Melissa. She kind of pushed me to create a routine that would help me because, unfortunately, you know, being a law enforcement officer, you don't. You work shift, therefore you don't have a balanced schedule, and sometimes you need some sort of good routine to push you into that positive mindset and then that that in turn, you know, leads you to a whole day of more positivity and learning, you know, just trying to be better. And that's where I think that's where everything started changing, because I started creating a routine, I started to become, or I was able to deal with my emotions a lot more, I guess, more efficient, in a better way. I started journalizing my emotions versus just, you know, speaking to the world, speaking to the world what I wanted to say.
Nancy Llanos:Sometimes I just had to, you know, control myself, and that in itself now has gave me, you know, confidence. I'm, I'm, I feel I'm, a lot better person now. I don't try to judge people anymore, as I did. I just try to kind of understand them and, and you know, because I was once there, but, but this has helped me a lot, like this program is just, it's amazing.
Nancy Llanos:You know, just dealing with, with my emotions was my first goal and it ended up being, you know, completely different, because I ended up changing careers, you know, and I feel a lot more confident. I'm, like, I just feel that now I will be successful, like I am sure of that, like I can say I'm not afraid of, you know, failure, because that's part of life and I don't need that steady job that I thought I need needed. I've always had the support of my husband, which I, you know, I continue to do but I just kind of like in my mind thought, no, I need to be here because I need this steady job or whatnot. But this program has given me confidence.
Alyssa Freeney:I love that, making me tear up a little bit. I like seeing people who felt like they were at a loss or like they're stuck end up climbing their way out of that hole because, whether you could be the happiest person, the most positive person ever or the most you know upset person, you can always change and, like you know, end up getting more fulfillment out of your life. And, speaking of fulfillment, what do you think on that, mom?
Melissa Franklin:if she's in here. Funny because she was probably the sweetest client I've ever had. That came on and said she was mad at the world. Your version of mad I agree, you can't hurt a fly and my version of mad seems like everybody better hide the planet's gonna blow up.
Alyssa Freeney:That's her version of mad.
Melissa Franklin:I'm so serious, but she's like I'm mad at people Like you don't look mad. You don't look mad at all.
Nancy Llanos:What are you talking about?
Melissa Franklin:But I did see it in her check-ins and as she would show up, there was a different. And as she would show up, there was a different.
Alyssa Freeney:The mad version was the Latina who can't speak up and admit that she's upset and I have to say I didn't figure that out till I was in my early 20s, talking about like the upset and stuff. Like I remember mom me, like this one client that I have, she's super sweet, but she is like stuck and I was like what do you mean? He's like she's a police officer and then she always feels like she has to be strict and serious and then like she can't really express herself as fully as she wants and I was like, oh, so it's more like a chapped voice and no way to actually, like you know, get it out, like get out the emotion that is chapped and she's like, yeah, definitely, that's pretty much what it is. But, like I said, she's really sweet and there's nothing like you can't see it on the exterior, but you can like empathize in the interior, if that makes any sense.
Alyssa Freeney:So it is a a good thing that um, now, um, nancy's a lot more talkative about her emotions, because I remember her joining the program the first time and I had seen like her face, and like her face she was very serious, but when she would speak it was like really friendly. So I was like, huh, okay, it's like different, but like it, um, I could understand how she was like I'm mad at people and I don't want to scare people off because her face was extremely serious, but her tone and demeanor was more like happy and like very approachable, so like now when we see um, edith and Nancy. Nancy, I wanted to ask you, when you saw Edith's transformation, how did it influence you to take on or approach personal development and mentoring?
Nancy Llanos:Just so. Basically, like I mentioned before, when I met Edith was more. You know, she was a photographer, we't really hide I was just in and out of her life, I guess, because I would call her up for these sessions. Other than that, I just felt like social media should be, I guess, in my eyes, my perspective. I saw her a lot, posting a lot more positive stuff, and even just the way she looked looked different from the last time I remembered her. Just, you know, she looked more vibrant, I guess. I mean, I'm not sure what it was it was just something about her that was different and a lot more like okay, she's must be doing something because, you know, she, she looks different and that itself made, made me, I guess it gave me that hope to like, hey, there's hope out there, there's help out there there. You know you're gonna, you're gonna find it and and you're gonna reach your goals.
Nancy Llanos:But at the moment that I, I guess, in the, in the career one that I was in, and plus in my, in my level of emotions that I was carrying, and in my life, at that point, you know, just being a mom trying to juggle work, you know, being a mother, being a wife. It. I just felt overwhelmed. But then I'm like, okay, wait a minute. Like she's also home and I knew she worked and I knew she had a side business. So I'm like, wait a minute, like this is not an excuse. You know what I mean. So that was one of the things it's like. But then again we go back to the same thing. Like being Latina, it's like you can't just say like, oh, I'm going to, you know, just go do something for myself, because then it's selfish. You know, that's at least what most of us think it's. You know, how can you, how dare you go out and do your hair, how dare you do you know your nails, without taking your children with you? Like, how can you have?
Nancy Llanos:a day off.
Nancy Llanos:You know, you're a mom that that's your job, that's your full time job, should you know? So those things is what I think ended up getting to me. But seeing her and putting that into perspective, it was more like okay, she can do it, I can do it. You know, it's more of the mindset and um, and that's why now it's kind of like I just kind of look and see like okay, poor girl, now I'm kind of feeling like man, um, just vibes that you feel. Now it's different, the demeanor of other people. You're like she must be going through something, she must, you know. You, it's not that you start judging, but it's just like you start understanding, you know a lot more, and you start thinking like, okay, how can I help? You know, how can I help her? Or because I was once there, and you know, and I just felt hopeless, until there was that little, you know, spark in social media that came along and and, and I ended up here.
Alyssa Freeney:I see, I see exactly what you mean and like being able to like, understand and empathize with somebody without really having to communicate also helps a lot with like getting comfortable and actually being able to speak up. That also reminds me of miss esther, if she does want to come on and explain some of her own. You know stories about being able to talk to other people and setting boundaries because she was also very like can't really do stuff for myself, has to just be work. And then it's more like no, you're allowed to take a break, you're allowed to treat yourself, because the more and more you work, the more you're going to get overwhelmed and the less energy you'll have to take care of yourself. So if you would like to come on, ms Esther, you are welcome to.
Analisa Esther:Sure Can everyone hear me. Yes, awesome. So yeah, just to kind of piggyback off that just a little bit, I would like to say I used to be 100% that way, but you know old habits do die hard. But going through the program those habits have been kicked in about 90% of the way. So it's not a hundred percent. It's still like an ongoing process, but the program definitely did help. But I've definitely been a person of like no work, work don't stop, we're going to work.
Analisa Esther:Treating myself is it is a treat and that treat should be earned. But treating myself shouldn't be like a last resort, like I still come first in, like the world is still my oyster because it's me. But I don't necessarily be selfish. It's not a selfish thing to care about myself. So that's just something I learned. And like listening to like Nancy, listening to edith and all the quotes and all the fantastic stories over the last, like few weeks, few months, it's just like all right, let's go get it together, let's do this I know exactly what you mean, especially when we're talking about the gym.
Alyssa Freeney:Edith is like, oh, I need to go to the gym. Me when I hear the gym is like, ah, I have stuff to do, but I do need to take care of my health. You know I need to go and do these things, but like in the back of my mind is like, do I have to? Like you know, it's kind of like maybe, yeah, exactly like it's not, um, it's not mandatory, but it's also like a luxury to be able to go out and take care of yourself.
Alyssa Freeney:And a lot of people see the gym possibly as work and avoid it, but then realize that being able to keep your body healthy will also benefit your personal life just as much as being able to take yourself out to get tacos and munch on those Awesome. Speaking of health, is Lee still here? I think he is. I know for you, you're really good on saying how people can still enjoy their lives but eat the things that actually will benefit their health. So if you would like to come on about that and explain how you've also taught people through programs and like development and how you mentored other people to keep their bodies the way they want, but still enjoy and indulge in the foods that they like to eat.
Lee Agbohlah:Yeah, I think the thing we think about and I know we kind of talked a little bit about you know the gym and how people maybe look at it, or you know it's a lot of things where it may seem stressful at first, because we all have a lot going on in our lives within raising kids, working, building a business so it feels stressful a lot of times to say, ok, I have to make these changes within my eating, I have to make these changes within my fitness, and it's usually we're putting more extreme things on our plate that don't need to be done. So one thing I've always done as a coach is to simplify. It's really about making sure that we're simplifying these things. We all have these different goals that we want to have happen and with the people, the clients I'm working with, comes through weight loss. We want to make these things happen and the key is to not only get to that point, but it's also to understand that we're not playing the short game, we're playing the long game. Many times we think about these changes like short sighted, like, hey, I want to do this, you know, within three months, six months, and the thing is, our lifestyle that we really want is going to be a lot longer than that. So why not choose a lifestyle that allows you to eat the way that you want, but understanding of how to do it within the habits that keep you to where you want to be within your lifestyle? And the thing for me is, if I don't live that lifestyle, I wouldn't want my clients to do the same, because I enjoy being able to eat the things I want to eat.
Lee Agbohlah:I think in life, if I had to be restrictive and I couldn't do certain things, then why is that a life living? So I just always have put in those methods and helping clients understand how they can still enjoy those certain foods that other people would think that you know that's bad for you, why are you eating that, and that you can't eat that and you have to only eat these few. You know foods that are quote unquote healthy and that's just really not the case. So it's just understanding the balance, just like with anything in life. We work hard, but we still want to enjoy our vacations, right, we still want to enjoy our leisure time and spend our quality time, and it works the same way within what you're doing with your eating and fitness. So just putting that together to build a habit. So the more the focus on building the habits and not just on the outcome that you want.
Alyssa Freeney:I love that and, adding on to that, it's like the recreation part, like we had said, being able to balance that and your work life in general. Anybody that's in here for somebody who is barely joining either the foundations or a professional pathways group, what would you tell them? Based on your experience and like changes you've seen in our community? Like what would you suggest or give advice to a newcomer?
Edith Gonzalez:I would. Um, and I thought about this earlier, you know it is an expense that needs to be, not that needs to be made right, but, for example, my daughter's 14. So I see, you know all these people planning big sweet 16, 15 parties, you know, spending thousands and thousands of dollars but they're not willing to invest in their children's education, they're not willing to invest in these type of programs. So it's like what is more important to me personally? And I and I tell, I, tell my husband that to me, more is more important to be able to provide for them an education, to put them in a program like this. You know, people hear, oh, x amount of money, oh, no, that's too expensive, you know, but yet they are buying all these stuff. That is, it's not going to be beneficial to your kids. So, as a mom, I think that it's, it's an investment because, again, if you don't invest in yourself, then how do you expect others to do so on you?
Alyssa Freeney:I love that because you're you're not wrong. We see these other expenses, like people have these new cars, these new um, you know technology systems, they have all these other things, but that's a one-time expense that really isn't going to benefit them long term and those expenses are made to where they will eventually give out. So you have to buy another expense and it's a cycle of consumerism that people just keep using and they don't realize that this could be invested into something else, into an education, into a property or something else that I could do. And I think that it's really beneficial for other people to go through and understand and talking about expenses and such like, that you can also like this will go through for recreation and all these other things and all these other things. Going back to Lee, what kind of change have you seen throughout these people, as you were in the program yourself? Like what would you give advice? What would your advice be to newcomers as you are in the program?
Lee Agbohlah:I think the great thing is what we've heard from everyone here tonight is that they have seen growth. And that's really what you are wanting to have in life is to grow and to be able to see the changes in yourself. I think the key from everyone is they were open to it and you have to be open to it. If you come in and you're closed, you can't grow. You have to be open to it. It's going to be uncomfortable, which is something that's hard for us I mean, nobody likes to be vulnerable. It can be hard to admit some of the things that we need to work on, but the thing is, as long as you embrace it and you have the right energy, you will see growth, because the program is set up to do it and everyone that has gone through it or that has opened their mind to it has seen that happen. And that's really what this program is for to help people grow and where they want to be at in life where they want to be at in life Exactly.
Alyssa Freeney:And I want to add on to that, as we're getting ready to start closing Change people aren't really like fond of change. They don't like it. So when we're telling people to change their habits or to change the way, they think're probably at first gonna get defensive, like what I'm doing is fine, but are you really happy? Are you really fulfilled? Do you think that there's more that you need? Or is there habits that you know you should change? You just don't know how. It's a mix of all these things that give people a sense of uncertainty, yet they don't want to do anything about it. So it's kind of contradictory, because you're stuck, yet you keep digging down into the hole. So, um, we are running a little short on time, though, but is there any other like comments or um questions any of you would have like, because y'all's conversation, just in general, is amazing.
Edith Gonzalez:I can't see anybody, so I don't know if y'all are saying yes or no. I don't have any questions. Does anybody have a question?
Alyssa Freeney:for me? Um, I don't really think so. Uh, no, not really. But I do know that if you do feel like the program did benefit you in a way which, from what I'm hearing, you did and if there's somebody that you know or that you would think would benefit from the programs, either program you should send them our way, or, if you want to keep in touch, we'd love to have you.
Alyssa Freeney:This community as a whole is like a one big family. We all have different areas of our lives that need tweaking. We all come from different backgrounds, yet all similar, tweaking. We all come from different backgrounds, yet all similar, and we're all dealing with our own thing, yet we all come together as a community to say we can all grow and we can all be better than what we were yesterday. So I'd like to say that I love being able to watch everybody transform, because it also helps me transform myself, seeing like hey, this is a similarity that we have.
Alyssa Freeney:I used to struggle with not being able to speak up. I used to struggle with not having confidence. I used to struggle with being super happy, yet still not feeling like I fulfilled anything, doing everything that I do for school and such, but still not feeling like it's as fulfilling as it should. So I do want to say thank you everyone for being here. I appreciate your willingness to share your stories and everything was perfect. I love the fact that you all were able to be vulnerable and let your walls down and share how, even in your lowest points, how you felt that this program, or just our community in general, helps you get back on track, and now you're living what you didn't think was possible. So if you do, have anything what?
Theresa Grimaldo :what was that? Can I say something? Can I say something? Of course, I want to say that I'm very proud of you because, knowing you as taking care of you since you were a baby, all the time, um, and you were a toddler like, uh, well on, well, I used to say I go, how she do, she goes. Oh no, she was over there introducing herself to everybody and hello, my name is alyssa renee freeney. Hello, and this was as a not even like a two-year-old. She goes. This little girl's running for president, so she's going to be big someday.
Theresa Grimaldo :So you're there, you have the confidence. I don't know why you don't think you do, but it's there, it's always been there. You always have this. Uh, everybody's always saying how you have, your a strong presence and you make a difference. And they, you know, even Yolanda over here says that niña is gonna make you know, you know, be something special someday. And there you go, you're always been special. So very proud of all of you and everybody that's coming in and what you do.
Theresa Grimaldo :I've got the pleasure of meeting Lee, knowing everything that he's doing, and the young ladies that came in from being police officer, and the other one with the new job, and everything too. I mean it's amazing and I'm glad it's helping everybody succeed and do what they need to do. I myself are on my verge to hopefully retire soon, so that would have been great later. Like they said, it's very different when I grew up. I'm glad the women are where they're at right now, at this day and age, because you're going to have a lot more opportunities and able to go and be more successful. So I wish all of you the best of luck, and you too, lee and Allie Mel. I'm very proud of you all. So I need to go, cause I gotta go meet Nina Ho.
Alyssa Freeney:Of course. So thank you so much for sticking around and, like everybody else, I do appreciate you coming on. Your stories and your journeys have been nothing short of inspiring, and I am very honored to say that I was a part of this community and I appreciate everything that you all have brought to the table. So thank you all so much.
Melissa Franklin:Thank you so much for joining me for today's episode. To catch up on the rest of the season, visit structureandchaoticmindscom or take a quick browse on your current app to see which episodes resonate with you. If you struggle with your own mental wellness or even just balancing life, we have a team of individuals at our site who can help. You can visit StructureInnovationscom and find a coach or mentor fit for you. Thank you for joining me once again, Melissa Franklin, on this episode of Structuring Chaotic Minds. Stay structured and smiling.