WEBVTT - Checking In with Christmas Blues 

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Checking In with Michelle Williams, a production of

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<v Speaker 1>iHeartRadio and The Black Effect. Hey, are you wondering what

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<v Speaker 1>to do for the holiday season? Do you want to

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<v Speaker 1>do anything? Should you feel bad for not wanting to

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<v Speaker 1>do anything? Or are you a person like don't don't

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<v Speaker 1>don't be a Debbie downer on my holiday season? Do

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<v Speaker 1>what do people say? Don't be trying to yuck my

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<v Speaker 1>I love holiday season. Well, this episode is for you.

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<v Speaker 1>Stay tuned. Hey, what's up? How y'all doing? Welcome back

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<v Speaker 1>to Checking In. I love when y'all check in with me.

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<v Speaker 1>You hear me? I just love it. I was sharing

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<v Speaker 1>with a friend of mine that according to quarter three,

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<v Speaker 1>we are at over one hundred thousand downloads of this

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<v Speaker 1>season of Checking In, and I am delighted about that

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<v Speaker 1>because I know I took some time off and I'm thankful.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm really thankful. I'm also thankful because I had a

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<v Speaker 1>goal of the Checking In Instagram page of just like

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<v Speaker 1>three thousand people. It's like, now we're close to four

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<v Speaker 1>thousand people and the all day ones, thank you so much.

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<v Speaker 1>We've got some things that I'm excited to do with

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<v Speaker 1>that page. I started to go Live the other day,

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<v Speaker 1>and I will, I will, I want to address it.

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<v Speaker 1>Seems like I had the Internet in a little tizzy

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<v Speaker 1>of a few things, and then we're gonna get to

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<v Speaker 1>what this episode is about. Because it is the holiday season,

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<v Speaker 1>and I always, I always try to do and make

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<v Speaker 1>sure that I check in with my folks regarding this

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<v Speaker 1>holiday season because I don't want y'all to let this

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<v Speaker 1>holiday season stress you out. I'm not letting me. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>not letting it stress me out, that's for sure. But

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<v Speaker 1>oh my gosh, the Internet was going crazy because I

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<v Speaker 1>saw Life, the movie Life and the movie Dead Presidents

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<v Speaker 1>for the first time while I was on vacation, and

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<v Speaker 1>people were like, how Destiny's Child has a song on

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<v Speaker 1>the Life soundtrack, and I'm like, I wasn't in the

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<v Speaker 1>group at that time. Today, December sixteenth, is my first

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<v Speaker 1>time hearing that song on the Life soundtrack by Desky's Child.

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<v Speaker 1>It's called Stimulate Me. I gotta have a talk with

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<v Speaker 1>them about that. Moving on, So me making that confession,

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<v Speaker 1>it seemed to open up the door for other people

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<v Speaker 1>because I thought I was gonna get roasted, partially canceled,

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<v Speaker 1>like talked about real bad. But some of y'all made

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<v Speaker 1>my confession be like, Okay, I'm glad I could open

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<v Speaker 1>up the door for people to confess that they hadn't

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<v Speaker 1>seen the color purple yet. Some of y'all haven't seen Dreamgirls.

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<v Speaker 1>Some of y'all haven't seen Love Jones. Some of y'all

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<v Speaker 1>even confess that you haven't seen Life or Dead Presidents yet.

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<v Speaker 1>I saw one or two people that said you hadn't

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<v Speaker 1>seen coming to America, Like how you ain't seen coming

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<v Speaker 1>to America? Like that's crazy. So, yeah, I'm trying to

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<v Speaker 1>figure out why I what was I doing Dead President's.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm trying to figure out why I couldn't why I

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<v Speaker 1>didn't get into debt Presidents until now. I don't know.

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<v Speaker 1>I need to maybe what Dead Presidents came out in

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<v Speaker 1>like nineteen ninety five, I believe, and then Life came

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<v Speaker 1>out in nineteen ninety nine. So in nineteen ninety five,

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<v Speaker 1>depending on when that came out, I was like a

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<v Speaker 1>freshman in high school, so it's not like I could

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<v Speaker 1>It's not like I was too young to see it. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know why. Maybe maybe the artwork scared me

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<v Speaker 1>or something. Maybe, but I loved it. I loved both

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<v Speaker 1>of those movies. I can't wait to see them again.

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<v Speaker 1>So I'm gonna make sure that over the holidays, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>gonna watch them again, and I'm gonna try to watch

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<v Speaker 1>some other classics that I probably haven't seen. Number two

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<v Speaker 1>child the way some of y'all cut up about me mentioning,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I'm not even gonna talk about it because

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<v Speaker 1>it'll be it'll be a SoundBite, and that's not what

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<v Speaker 1>I want. But some of y'all was doing some unnecessary

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<v Speaker 1>chatter about it, and me and my sisters we are fine,

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<v Speaker 1>like it's been a conversation. Because so that's all I'm

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<v Speaker 1>gonna say. Maybe for some of your day winners, maybe

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<v Speaker 1>I'll let you in on it. But yeah, folks, was

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<v Speaker 1>doing the absolute most. You hear me, just say you

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<v Speaker 1>don't have dope friends without saying you don't have dope friends.

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<v Speaker 1>Just say that, just okay, I will say, call on

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<v Speaker 1>your people, use your people. I want to make a directory,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, of dope people in my life and put

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<v Speaker 1>it on Instagram so that people can utilize them, and

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<v Speaker 1>so that way I can do a better job at

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<v Speaker 1>also utilizing amazing people in my life. Sometimes we are,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, you think people are busy or they wouldn't

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<v Speaker 1>want to or all the things. So yeah, use your friends,

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<v Speaker 1>use your family, utilize them. So some people are waiting

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<v Speaker 1>on you to, you know, collaborate. Yeah, so do that.

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<v Speaker 1>That would be amazing, It would be absolutely amazing. Next

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<v Speaker 1>thing on the docket is about the holiday season. And

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<v Speaker 1>I think I have said to y'all before that I

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<v Speaker 1>don't this is my personal opinion. Now. As a child,

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<v Speaker 1>I've actually loved certain experiences. I loved seeing the Christmas lights.

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<v Speaker 1>I loved the Christmas tree being put up and how

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<v Speaker 1>we could help, you know, decorate the tree. I loved

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<v Speaker 1>my grandmother. She would put up the Nativity, her Nativity

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<v Speaker 1>scene outside and it would be lit up. She'd actually

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<v Speaker 1>like do the manger. There'd behave like my grandmother would

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<v Speaker 1>really do it up for Christmas. I loved seeing the

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<v Speaker 1>displays at Marshall Field downtown Chicago, and how you could

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<v Speaker 1>just go on Michigan Avenue downtown Chicago and on State

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<v Speaker 1>Street and just see all the windows of the stores,

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<v Speaker 1>the decoration just of the holiday season period. And whether

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<v Speaker 1>you celebrate Christmas or not, you cannot deny the fact

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<v Speaker 1>that at least the decord was cool. The lights and

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<v Speaker 1>all the ribbon and all the things was great. I

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<v Speaker 1>liked that part. So those are the memories. I loved

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<v Speaker 1>hot chocolate. Mm yes, and I love dipping buttered toast

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<v Speaker 1>in hot chocolate. Matter of fact, I'm gonna get some chocolate.

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<v Speaker 1>I already got some bread and get some butter. Yep.

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<v Speaker 1>It was something just those memories, the memories of my

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<v Speaker 1>grandmother baking all of these amazing treats, cream cheese, brownies,

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<v Speaker 1>lemon bars, pecan sandys, the cookies with the hershey kissed

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<v Speaker 1>smack dad bit the middle of it, zucchini bread, cranberry cookies,

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<v Speaker 1>chocolate chip cookies. She would dip peanut, she would dip

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<v Speaker 1>peanut butter, and rice crispies she would roll at together

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<v Speaker 1>and she would like somehow dip it in like chocolate. Ooh.

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<v Speaker 1>Those are the things that I like. I loved going

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<v Speaker 1>to relatives how houses for the food. But it's something

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<v Speaker 1>about the pressure that I've seen Christmas put on people.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't like seeing to me what I felt like

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<v Speaker 1>my parents my mother made sure that we would have

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<v Speaker 1>a good Christmas. And then I just remember at a

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<v Speaker 1>time where if my dad wasn't working and if he

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<v Speaker 1>felt like he didn't necessarily contribute to all the gifts,

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<v Speaker 1>but my mother made sure that the tag would say

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<v Speaker 1>from Santa or Mom and dad. Right, And when you're married,

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<v Speaker 1>you're basically one. You're one. But I also think my father,

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<v Speaker 1>I wish he were alive. I kind of think we're

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<v Speaker 1>one and the same. Where we want like experiences or

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<v Speaker 1>presents beyond presents, right, presence over perfection, you know, choosing

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<v Speaker 1>intentional activities that your loved ones will truly cherish. The

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<v Speaker 1>rush to the mall at the last minute. Maybe you're

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<v Speaker 1>maybe you got a last minute check that was deposited

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<v Speaker 1>into your accounting and you're like, oh, I can finally

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<v Speaker 1>go buy my kids gifts. And it's just my I

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<v Speaker 1>just it's the pressure of finances for people for the holidays.

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<v Speaker 1>That's why I do love, you know, when I see

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<v Speaker 1>toy drives and I don't know announce all my charitable things,

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<v Speaker 1>but I love giving for toy drives because you know, children,

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<v Speaker 1>especially if they know what the season is about, and

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<v Speaker 1>they might see other kids talking about what they're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>get for Christmas. You gonna want something for Christmas? Right,

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<v Speaker 1>And I appreciate my parents making sure, like I don't

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<v Speaker 1>know how, year after year, the Christmas tree would be stacked,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, presents on presents, on presents on presents. My

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<v Speaker 1>mother would take the time to wrap the gifts so

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<v Speaker 1>like so like you know when scripture talks about being

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<v Speaker 1>fearfully and wonderfully made, and that means you were made

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<v Speaker 1>and you were paid attention to and great detail. She

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<v Speaker 1>paid attention to that wrapping paper with great detail, honey decreases.

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<v Speaker 1>See when I wrap your gift, you're gonna be like, girl,

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<v Speaker 1>you use too much wrapping paper, you know what I'm saying.

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<v Speaker 1>So I really, really, you know, appreciate that. But my

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<v Speaker 1>heart just I have a place in my heart for

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<v Speaker 1>people that are like I can't do that. I don't

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<v Speaker 1>like the pressure that certain holidays does for people, and

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<v Speaker 1>I'm going to stand on that year after year. I've

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<v Speaker 1>talked about this, so I am just hoping that you're

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<v Speaker 1>able to. I don't know if you've got pressure. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>I've got a few cool ideas of maybe like curating

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<v Speaker 1>unforgettable experiences, you know, like moving beyond physical gifts, right

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<v Speaker 1>to create memories that last far longer than anything material.

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<v Speaker 1>Like a creative outing some type of adventure, mystery adventure. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>because I'm nosy, don't take me on no mystery adventure.

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<v Speaker 1>I want where are you taking me? Where am I going?

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<v Speaker 1>What is this treasure hunt about? You know? I want

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<v Speaker 1>good food? I was telling I want. I want to

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<v Speaker 1>be able to just take a nice trip and then

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<v Speaker 1>one day round up all the kids and just you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we go to Hawaii while everybody is cold in New

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<v Speaker 1>York or Chicago, like you know what I mean, and

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<v Speaker 1>you know, focusing on memory making traditions, and you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I just I don't know. I just maybe it's because

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<v Speaker 1>I'm older. I don't care about all that stuff. And

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<v Speaker 1>if I'm being honest, I once I got once you

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<v Speaker 1>get past a certain age. And that's not my love

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<v Speaker 1>language either. Gifts is not a love language for me.

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<v Speaker 1>I actually love to give gifts, but quality time, physical touch, ah,

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<v Speaker 1>words of affrobation them. I love languages. Now, if the

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<v Speaker 1>Lord puts it on your heart to give me something,

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<v Speaker 1>you don't, don't miss your blessing. You bless me. Now.

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<v Speaker 1>If he tell you to give me something, you can okay,

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<v Speaker 1>just hoping everybody is, you know, doing what you can

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<v Speaker 1>to eliminate stress. You know, your spirits got to be good,

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<v Speaker 1>especially going into a new year financial peace making sure

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<v Speaker 1>you now if you if you do want to splurge,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, still set a budget to avoid the holiday

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<v Speaker 1>debt that often causes postseason stress. All right, and what

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<v Speaker 1>are you doing for downtime during the season again, downtime

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<v Speaker 1>with your loved ones or downtime just by yourself with yourself.

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<v Speaker 1>I think that is absolutely incredible. I also, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>every now and then, and I'm not, like I said,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not anti gifts, you know, but I don't know,

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<v Speaker 1>like do you remember all the gifts you got? But

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<v Speaker 1>for some reason, you'll remember an experience, an outing, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>just like I told you. I remember my parents taking

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<v Speaker 1>us downtown Chicago from we would drive from Rockford, Illinois

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<v Speaker 1>to downtown Chicago. I remember that now. I do remember

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<v Speaker 1>getting to Sega Genesis. Did we ever get that easy

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<v Speaker 1>bake oven? I'm an ask. I think my sister got

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<v Speaker 1>an easy bake oven, but I don't think we ever

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<v Speaker 1>were able to use it because somehow, I think the

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<v Speaker 1>spatchelor got stuck. I don't know, you know what I

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<v Speaker 1>let me go in here. I think I want to

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<v Speaker 1>order an easy bake oven if they still make it.

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<v Speaker 1>Were those cakes and stuff? Good? Y'all remember them easy

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<v Speaker 1>bake ovens? So listen, I just want us to just really, really,

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<v Speaker 1>really really take care of ourselves this season. And also,

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<v Speaker 1>y'all already no family, what y'all doing? Who's ainty coming in?

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<v Speaker 1>We talked about this for Thanksgiving? Who's coming in your house?

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<v Speaker 1>Whose house? Do you not want to go over? And

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<v Speaker 1>guess what you don't have to? I'm going to go

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<v Speaker 1>back to every year. You know, I love this post.

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<v Speaker 1>It to me, it is timeless, it is ageless, and

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<v Speaker 1>it says check in this holiday season setting emotional and

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<v Speaker 1>financial boundaries. So we already kind of talked about that

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit of how to ease stressors and maybe

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<v Speaker 1>this year, if it's not too late, just think about

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<v Speaker 1>cool experiences that you can curate, but you know, do

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<v Speaker 1>what's best for you. You might have already, you might

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<v Speaker 1>have saved up for this time and you're like, you

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<v Speaker 1>know what, I'm going all out for my loved ones.

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<v Speaker 1>You should absolutely do it. But I'm talking to those

0:18:48.560 --> 0:18:52.160
<v Speaker 1>who feel like you don't have it, and I don't

0:18:52.200 --> 0:18:58.000
<v Speaker 1>want you to stress yourself out going into debt. You know, honey,

0:18:58.040 --> 0:19:02.040
<v Speaker 1>I love pound cake. You can bake me up, you know, like,

0:19:02.200 --> 0:19:07.400
<v Speaker 1>don't uh uh, do not again, Do not stress yourself

0:19:07.440 --> 0:19:11.560
<v Speaker 1>out this holiday season. This is about joy and laughter

0:19:11.680 --> 0:19:13.520
<v Speaker 1>and all the things. And I hope you can just

0:19:14.359 --> 0:19:24.320
<v Speaker 1>be around emotionally safe people this holiday season. How do

0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:29.480
<v Speaker 1>you know that you are around emotionally safe people? It's

0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:32.920
<v Speaker 1>how you feel when you're around them. Do you tense up?

0:19:33.320 --> 0:19:35.560
<v Speaker 1>Do you have a panic attack at the thought of

0:19:35.680 --> 0:19:39.840
<v Speaker 1>having to be around somebody? Are you replaying a conversation

0:19:40.119 --> 0:19:43.679
<v Speaker 1>that you know they have not apologized for saying some

0:19:43.800 --> 0:19:48.040
<v Speaker 1>foul things. Maybe this holiday season, maybe it could be

0:19:48.080 --> 0:19:51.840
<v Speaker 1>a time to be like patch things up, having conversations

0:19:51.880 --> 0:19:55.639
<v Speaker 1>with your loved ones, because listen, I mean time, life

0:19:55.720 --> 0:20:00.800
<v Speaker 1>is short. Now, I'm not saying having the conversation means

0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:05.560
<v Speaker 1>that person has access to you again. Now that's up

0:20:05.600 --> 0:20:08.000
<v Speaker 1>to you to discern. That's up to you to decide,

0:20:08.680 --> 0:20:12.080
<v Speaker 1>you know, because with an apology there should be some

0:20:12.200 --> 0:20:16.880
<v Speaker 1>changed behaviors, you know, And now after a person apologizing,

0:20:17.000 --> 0:20:21.040
<v Speaker 1>there is a pattern of the same thing, then hey,

0:20:21.200 --> 0:20:24.440
<v Speaker 1>I don't you know they I don't know if that's

0:20:24.600 --> 0:20:28.080
<v Speaker 1>considered safe A safe person. So I just want you

0:20:28.200 --> 0:20:33.480
<v Speaker 1>to make sure that you are good, you feel loved, protected, scene,

0:20:33.640 --> 0:20:38.399
<v Speaker 1>and taken care of. I also want you to give

0:20:38.480 --> 0:20:45.400
<v Speaker 1>yourself grace. Give yourself grace if you went over budget.

0:20:46.800 --> 0:20:51.359
<v Speaker 1>Give yourself grace if you didn't have it. Give yourself

0:20:51.400 --> 0:20:57.760
<v Speaker 1>grace for over committing to the holiday parties. Give your

0:20:57.800 --> 0:21:04.199
<v Speaker 1>self grace for changing your mind and saying it's okay.

0:21:04.359 --> 0:21:09.720
<v Speaker 1>Give other people grace this holiday season as well. Give

0:21:09.760 --> 0:21:15.119
<v Speaker 1>other people grace. People might be stressed out. People also

0:21:16.600 --> 0:21:22.840
<v Speaker 1>might be grieving. So what you take as an attitude,

0:21:23.560 --> 0:21:28.040
<v Speaker 1>maybe check and see what lost their grieving. I know

0:21:28.080 --> 0:21:30.960
<v Speaker 1>in the next four days, you know, it will be

0:21:33.160 --> 0:21:40.920
<v Speaker 1>you know, the fifth anniversary of my father's passing. Are

0:21:40.920 --> 0:21:52.680
<v Speaker 1>we going into five years? Yeah, December twentieth, twenty twenty.

0:21:52.840 --> 0:22:01.880
<v Speaker 1>I believe my father passed child. Yeah it was twenty twenty. Right,

0:22:05.320 --> 0:22:16.200
<v Speaker 1>time just time just goes so fast. I can't even

0:22:16.320 --> 0:22:20.520
<v Speaker 1>keep up. Now, I gotta go look at my pictures

0:22:21.480 --> 0:22:29.080
<v Speaker 1>to see I have a problem with making sure that

0:22:29.119 --> 0:22:32.720
<v Speaker 1>I'm accurate because I'm just in disbelief that I'm like,

0:22:32.800 --> 0:22:35.280
<v Speaker 1>oh my god, yeah it was twenty twenty, because we

0:22:37.200 --> 0:22:39.800
<v Speaker 1>it was COVID and I remember a lot of people

0:22:39.800 --> 0:22:43.080
<v Speaker 1>couldn't come to the funeral. We couldn't even have a

0:22:43.119 --> 0:22:47.199
<v Speaker 1>repast all. Anyway, that's next, that's not that's not what

0:22:47.240 --> 0:22:50.640
<v Speaker 1>we're talking about. But yeah, I'm saying give people grace

0:22:50.680 --> 0:22:54.720
<v Speaker 1>because somebody might might be grieving a loss of a

0:22:54.760 --> 0:22:57.440
<v Speaker 1>loved one, somebody might have just been laid off from

0:22:57.480 --> 0:23:04.439
<v Speaker 1>their job. Give yourself grace and give others grace. Be

0:23:04.600 --> 0:23:10.480
<v Speaker 1>honest about where you are. Be honest about where you are,

0:23:12.119 --> 0:23:18.880
<v Speaker 1>because it's okay to not have it, and the one

0:23:18.920 --> 0:23:22.720
<v Speaker 1>I love it's okay to not go. Now. I'm the

0:23:22.760 --> 0:23:27.760
<v Speaker 1>type of person where at least invite me. I might

0:23:27.800 --> 0:23:31.640
<v Speaker 1>not go, but at least invite me, and y'all, I'm

0:23:31.640 --> 0:23:33.320
<v Speaker 1>going to work on that. I'm going to work on

0:23:33.680 --> 0:23:36.679
<v Speaker 1>being outside a little more because I realize that when

0:23:36.760 --> 0:23:41.639
<v Speaker 1>I do go outside, I actually have a good time.

0:23:43.800 --> 0:23:46.320
<v Speaker 1>Be honest about where you are, and you don't have

0:23:46.359 --> 0:23:48.520
<v Speaker 1>to open up to everybody, but be honest and just

0:23:48.560 --> 0:23:50.560
<v Speaker 1>tell people, hey, I don't have it this year, I

0:23:50.600 --> 0:23:54.679
<v Speaker 1>don't have it, I don't have the mental capacity, my

0:23:54.840 --> 0:23:58.520
<v Speaker 1>finances are. You know, you can tell people, hey, things

0:23:58.560 --> 0:24:03.719
<v Speaker 1>are different from me right now, and it's okay. Or

0:24:04.119 --> 0:24:08.840
<v Speaker 1>you don't gotta tell nobody nothing, but if you do,

0:24:09.240 --> 0:24:17.320
<v Speaker 1>be honest about where you are. A lot of people

0:24:17.359 --> 0:24:25.960
<v Speaker 1>are experiencing, as we said, holiday grief. Oh, like I said,

0:24:26.000 --> 0:24:28.480
<v Speaker 1>going back to my father's passing, he passed away five

0:24:28.640 --> 0:24:33.760
<v Speaker 1>days before Christmas, and that was probably strategic because like

0:24:33.800 --> 0:24:36.080
<v Speaker 1>my like I said, I don't know if my dad

0:24:36.160 --> 0:24:40.960
<v Speaker 1>really liked the hustle and bustle of being outside for Christmas,

0:24:41.920 --> 0:24:45.199
<v Speaker 1>and he was probably like and I don't want he was.

0:24:45.320 --> 0:24:47.159
<v Speaker 1>He probably didn't want to us worried about him or

0:24:47.200 --> 0:24:48.760
<v Speaker 1>what to get him. I don't know why he slipped

0:24:48.760 --> 0:24:51.160
<v Speaker 1>out of here the way he did. It was very gangsta,

0:24:51.240 --> 0:24:55.080
<v Speaker 1>the way he slipped out of here. But for those

0:24:55.080 --> 0:24:57.919
<v Speaker 1>that are dealing with holiday grief, one of the hardest things,

0:24:58.720 --> 0:25:02.639
<v Speaker 1>mind you, this has taken from some of my social

0:25:02.680 --> 0:25:05.600
<v Speaker 1>media posts throughout the years. One of the hardest things

0:25:05.640 --> 0:25:08.879
<v Speaker 1>about no longer having someone in your life is doing

0:25:08.960 --> 0:25:12.440
<v Speaker 1>things that you used to do with them and now

0:25:12.480 --> 0:25:16.800
<v Speaker 1>you got to do with them without them. But the

0:25:16.840 --> 0:25:19.840
<v Speaker 1>things that you used to do with them, still do

0:25:19.920 --> 0:25:23.719
<v Speaker 1>that because it's one of the best ways to honor

0:25:23.760 --> 0:25:30.800
<v Speaker 1>the memories. So do what they loved, do what they loved.

0:25:32.920 --> 0:25:37.399
<v Speaker 1>Tip two. Reflect It may not be easy now, but

0:25:37.520 --> 0:25:41.399
<v Speaker 1>all the things you did with someone were to create memories.

0:25:43.920 --> 0:25:47.960
<v Speaker 1>In those moments you both were happy. Lean on that.

0:25:48.680 --> 0:25:54.520
<v Speaker 1>Reflect on the memories. It really is okay to reflect

0:25:54.560 --> 0:26:00.920
<v Speaker 1>on the memories. Tip three. Set boundaries with that ord again,

0:26:02.320 --> 0:26:06.320
<v Speaker 1>the holiday season is a beautiful, joyous time of year.

0:26:06.440 --> 0:26:12.800
<v Speaker 1>It is, however, that does not negate feelings of sadness, grief,

0:26:13.240 --> 0:26:18.200
<v Speaker 1>or even anger. Be okay with not being around everyone,

0:26:18.320 --> 0:26:22.800
<v Speaker 1>no matter how happy they are. Check in with you.

0:26:25.480 --> 0:26:27.560
<v Speaker 1>This had nothing to do with the holiday seasons. But

0:26:27.640 --> 0:26:31.000
<v Speaker 1>I remember when I was this was what two thousand

0:26:31.040 --> 0:26:38.000
<v Speaker 1>and nineteen ish, and you know, was kind of walking

0:26:38.119 --> 0:26:47.560
<v Speaker 1>through that era, that disaster, and I remember not wanting

0:26:47.680 --> 0:26:50.879
<v Speaker 1>to be around people because I didn't want my I

0:26:50.920 --> 0:26:53.720
<v Speaker 1>didn't want my aura or my I knew my heart,

0:26:54.359 --> 0:26:57.080
<v Speaker 1>I knew I was depressed, and I just knew I

0:26:57.200 --> 0:27:02.080
<v Speaker 1>wasn't right. And I have been intentional and like, no,

0:27:02.160 --> 0:27:05.840
<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna go back upstairs because I'm not I'm not right.

0:27:05.880 --> 0:27:08.800
<v Speaker 1>I thought I was okay, but I'm not. Or you know,

0:27:09.119 --> 0:27:18.480
<v Speaker 1>I just I didn't want to I don't know, taint

0:27:18.760 --> 0:27:22.840
<v Speaker 1>someone else's experience or their joy right. I'm not hating

0:27:22.880 --> 0:27:25.879
<v Speaker 1>because you happy. I'm just not happy right now, you know.

0:27:26.000 --> 0:27:29.800
<v Speaker 1>And sometimes you think like being around other happy people

0:27:29.960 --> 0:27:34.560
<v Speaker 1>should make you happy, But it depends on the level

0:27:34.680 --> 0:27:39.399
<v Speaker 1>of emotional turmoil that you're walking through. It really does.

0:27:39.600 --> 0:27:48.720
<v Speaker 1>And this season brings about depression and a lot of people. So,

0:27:48.920 --> 0:27:51.959
<v Speaker 1>like I said, even if you're one of them who

0:27:52.200 --> 0:28:00.240
<v Speaker 1>is depressed right now, give yourself grace and I'm bring

0:28:00.480 --> 0:28:05.800
<v Speaker 1>that between now and the New Year's something happens that

0:28:06.000 --> 0:28:09.080
<v Speaker 1>lifts your spirits up. I pray that something happens where

0:28:09.080 --> 0:28:14.399
<v Speaker 1>you're like, Okay, I can finally see the light. Even

0:28:14.440 --> 0:28:19.199
<v Speaker 1>if it's a glimmer of light, it's showing you that

0:28:19.280 --> 0:28:26.280
<v Speaker 1>there's hope. It's showing you that weeping may endure for

0:28:26.560 --> 0:28:32.640
<v Speaker 1>a night, but joy really does come in the morning.

0:28:35.280 --> 0:28:40.200
<v Speaker 1>So I really really hope that y'all lean in make

0:28:40.560 --> 0:28:48.240
<v Speaker 1>unforgettable moments and experiences with your loved ones this holiday season.

0:28:51.040 --> 0:28:55.920
<v Speaker 1>Hold people tight, love on people, and do what you

0:28:56.000 --> 0:29:00.480
<v Speaker 1>gotta do. If there's you know, some strife going on.

0:29:01.520 --> 0:29:06.440
<v Speaker 1>There's the whole talk of no contact that's been a

0:29:06.560 --> 0:29:11.800
<v Speaker 1>topic as of late. Do what you gotta do, do

0:29:11.880 --> 0:29:17.800
<v Speaker 1>what you have to do. And y'all know I go

0:29:17.880 --> 0:29:20.840
<v Speaker 1>to the Scripture in all thy ways and knowledge him,

0:29:20.880 --> 0:29:24.959
<v Speaker 1>and he will direct your path, even as it relates

0:29:25.160 --> 0:29:30.720
<v Speaker 1>to what to do this holiday season, what to say

0:29:30.800 --> 0:29:33.800
<v Speaker 1>to a loved one that may have caused an offense

0:29:35.440 --> 0:29:38.960
<v Speaker 1>that they have yet to apologize for. Whatever it is,

0:29:39.480 --> 0:29:43.200
<v Speaker 1>pray about it, meditate on it, do whatever you gotta

0:29:43.240 --> 0:29:48.000
<v Speaker 1>do to get clarity. I pray nothing but joy for

0:29:48.240 --> 0:29:55.920
<v Speaker 1>you this week, and we'll check in next week. But

0:29:56.000 --> 0:29:58.840
<v Speaker 1>I wanted to do this episode this week because this

0:29:58.920 --> 0:30:03.160
<v Speaker 1>week is a big week for the holiday, the shoppers

0:30:03.200 --> 0:30:06.960
<v Speaker 1>and you know, going to the malls or to the plazas,

0:30:07.080 --> 0:30:10.680
<v Speaker 1>you trying to get stuff shipped. Still, you know, trying

0:30:10.680 --> 0:30:14.200
<v Speaker 1>to get stuff shipped at the last minute. So even

0:30:14.240 --> 0:30:18.200
<v Speaker 1>I gotta go online and grab a couple of things

0:30:18.280 --> 0:30:24.120
<v Speaker 1>for people. So but yeah, I wanted to make sure

0:30:24.160 --> 0:30:27.480
<v Speaker 1>that y'all had this episode this week and then that

0:30:27.840 --> 0:30:36.120
<v Speaker 1>next week. Next week is Christmas. Next week Thursday our holiday.

0:30:36.160 --> 0:30:41.200
<v Speaker 1>See our holiday schedule and depth becomes serve is craze. See,

0:30:42.000 --> 0:30:45.200
<v Speaker 1>but we will get through it. Look out for me.

0:30:45.280 --> 0:30:47.280
<v Speaker 1>By the way, on New Year's Eve, I believe I'm

0:30:47.320 --> 0:30:52.120
<v Speaker 1>doing Anderson Cooper's New year's Eves special Anderson Cooper and

0:30:52.120 --> 0:30:55.360
<v Speaker 1>Andy Cohen. That should be a key. That should be

0:30:55.360 --> 0:30:58.400
<v Speaker 1>a key. We're gonna have so much fun. And just

0:30:58.480 --> 0:31:01.800
<v Speaker 1>know that I'm always thinking about you all. And thank

0:31:01.840 --> 0:31:08.560
<v Speaker 1>you guys for downloading the episode and any topics or

0:31:08.600 --> 0:31:13.800
<v Speaker 1>any guests that you would love to see on the podcast,

0:31:13.840 --> 0:31:17.040
<v Speaker 1>shoot me a message I would love to hear from you,

0:31:17.840 --> 0:31:22.480
<v Speaker 1>all right, take care, Hey, thanks for tuning in to

0:31:23.040 --> 0:31:28.000
<v Speaker 1>checking in. Make sure if you can continue to subscribe

0:31:28.160 --> 0:31:33.520
<v Speaker 1>and download and just tell people about checking in. I

0:31:33.600 --> 0:31:35.320
<v Speaker 1>really really appreciate the love.