WEBVTT - Checking In: A Special Holiday Message 0:00:00.120 --> 0:00:03.000 Welcome to Checking In with Michelle Williams, a production of 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:19.920 iHeartRadio and The Black Effect. Hey, Hey, Hey, what's up 0:00:19.960 --> 0:00:24.040 to my Checking in family? How y'all doing? Y'all doing 0:00:24.079 --> 0:00:27.680 all right this holiday season? I hope you're doing well. 0:00:28.120 --> 0:00:30.760 If not, let me know if there's anything I can do. 0:00:31.400 --> 0:00:35.360 I can share a positive word with you. Don't be 0:00:35.600 --> 0:00:39.960 hesitant to reach out to me in my DMS. Okay, 0:00:40.640 --> 0:00:43.960 or just shoot me a comment in my comment section 0:00:44.520 --> 0:00:48.559 and let me know how you're doing this holiday season. 0:00:49.200 --> 0:00:54.360 Lots of people you know to me, I noticed, I 0:00:54.360 --> 0:00:59.320 feel like it's real quiet this holiday season. I expected 0:00:59.320 --> 0:01:03.160 to see more or holiday decor I know I don't 0:01:03.200 --> 0:01:08.039 have any decorations. I'll be in Dallas at Gateway Church. 0:01:08.640 --> 0:01:12.600 I'm doing all six of their holiday services. So there 0:01:12.600 --> 0:01:15.600 are three services on the twenty third, three services on 0:01:15.640 --> 0:01:19.960 the twenty fourth, So if you are in the Dallas area, 0:01:20.160 --> 0:01:23.920 I would love to see you. And then Christmas Day, 0:01:24.480 --> 0:01:28.480 I believe I will be home in Illinois with my 0:01:28.640 --> 0:01:31.560 family or I might have to run it back to Atlanta, 0:01:31.760 --> 0:01:36.959 depending on this weather. For New Year's I'm excited I 0:01:37.040 --> 0:01:41.520 will be opening up the Rolls Bowl Parade. I'm so 0:01:41.640 --> 0:01:44.840 excited about that. I want to get y'all all the 0:01:45.000 --> 0:01:49.560 information for that. I got approached about doing the Rose 0:01:49.600 --> 0:01:55.000 Bowl Parade from a longtime friend of mine in choreographer. 0:01:55.040 --> 0:02:00.600 His name is Kevin Wilson. Kevin Wilson has danced for Brittneys, 0:02:01.560 --> 0:02:04.920 Christina Aguilera, him and his brother Kevin and Marcel Wilson. 0:02:05.560 --> 0:02:09.880 Janet Jackson share for some of everybody, and we were 0:02:09.960 --> 0:02:13.200 childhood friends and they were in the arts for a 0:02:13.240 --> 0:02:16.400 long time. And I'll never forget when I joined Destiny's 0:02:16.480 --> 0:02:19.720 Child and we did some shows with Christina Aguilera. It 0:02:19.800 --> 0:02:22.760 was so amazing to see my friends that I grew 0:02:22.840 --> 0:02:25.040 up in church with friends that I grew up in 0:02:25.120 --> 0:02:28.200 school with. We were on the road together and so 0:02:28.320 --> 0:02:32.440 Kevin Wilson reached out to me about this Rose Bowl performance. 0:02:32.440 --> 0:02:34.440 So we were kicking off the one hundred and thirty 0:02:34.440 --> 0:02:39.320 fifth Rose Parade. I will be with David Archiletta, Cassidy Pope, 0:02:39.440 --> 0:02:44.480 and Rush Davis. So I'm excited. They're revamping the Rose 0:02:44.520 --> 0:02:48.880 Bowl Parade. So I'm excited to be a part of history. 0:02:49.560 --> 0:02:52.560 I'm excited. I'm excited. I'm not excited about the call time, 0:02:53.520 --> 0:02:58.040 but it's going to be amazing again. That's the Rose 0:02:58.080 --> 0:03:01.120 Bowl Parade on January first. But let me run it 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:05.000 back to Christmas services in the Dallas area. If you 0:03:05.440 --> 0:03:09.960 are down, I want to see you at one of 0:03:10.080 --> 0:03:12.280 six services, or if you want to be with me 0:03:12.400 --> 0:03:17.480 for all six services, you are welcome in Dallas. Show 0:03:17.600 --> 0:03:21.359 up for your girl at Gateway Church. I'm doing two 0:03:21.520 --> 0:03:25.280 songs and I'm very excited about the song selections. So 0:03:25.440 --> 0:03:27.480 just come and hang out with your girl again. I 0:03:27.520 --> 0:03:31.920 will be at Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas. So if 0:03:31.919 --> 0:03:34.680 you in Dallas and you love me, you don't have 0:03:34.720 --> 0:03:38.960 no excuse to not show up. All right, Okay, great? 0:03:39.600 --> 0:03:44.400 So have y' all been shopping? I haven't bought a ting. 0:03:45.200 --> 0:03:48.560 I'm just gonna do gift cards. I'm going to do 0:03:48.640 --> 0:03:52.640 gift cards. There are a couple friends that I'm going 0:03:52.720 --> 0:03:56.760 to send some items to. Other than that, the rest 0:03:56.800 --> 0:04:00.000 of folks is getting gift cards or you're getting a hook. 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:03.320 That's all I got, you know. I feel like saying 0:04:03.360 --> 0:04:06.640 a year round, I'm tapped out. I'm tapped out. It's 0:04:06.680 --> 0:04:09.280 like what y'all get in me? All right? I want 0:04:09.320 --> 0:04:12.200 to hear somebody say tee what you want for Christmas. 0:04:12.760 --> 0:04:15.960 I'm waiting, I'm waiting. I'm waiting. But it's a blessing. 0:04:16.040 --> 0:04:18.360 It's a blessing. It's a blessing. This is going to 0:04:18.400 --> 0:04:22.320 be a great holiday season. I had to run something 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:27.919 back that I posted on the ground, and that is 0:04:28.080 --> 0:04:33.719 checking in this holiday season. You know, we talk about 0:04:33.960 --> 0:04:38.760 setting emotional and financial boundaries. If you ain't got it, 0:04:38.880 --> 0:04:43.039 you ain't got it. That's emotionally and financial. Listen, if 0:04:43.080 --> 0:04:49.000 you don't have the emotional capacity or bandwidth to be 0:04:49.160 --> 0:04:52.440 around people, if you're tired, you do know you can 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:55.599 take this time to rest. You know that, right, and 0:04:55.640 --> 0:04:59.320 it's your business. As our good sister Tabitha Brown says, Now, 0:04:59.400 --> 0:05:05.000 unless you have children, resting during the holiday season could 0:05:05.040 --> 0:05:10.160 be close to impossible. You know, you got the kids. 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:13.479 You know they're wondering what they're getting for Christmas. They 0:05:13.560 --> 0:05:19.719 won't sanna that, this, that, or But for that parent, 0:05:19.800 --> 0:05:23.360 you might be stressed because maybe right now, maybe it's 0:05:23.440 --> 0:05:26.000 tough for you financially. Maybe you're like, I want to 0:05:26.040 --> 0:05:29.240 get my children's stuff for Christmas, I just don't have 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:33.680 the financial means. So how are you going to show 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:37.520 up for your family? This holiday season when you're stressed 0:05:37.560 --> 0:05:40.040 out about what you're going to be able to get. 0:05:40.839 --> 0:05:45.719 So the real meaning behind the holiday season, whatever that 0:05:45.800 --> 0:05:49.520 means for you, You know, the holiday season has to 0:05:49.560 --> 0:05:55.120 be about family and connection, Okay, And I feel like 0:05:55.160 --> 0:05:56.719 some of these kids won't. No child, if you go 0:05:56.760 --> 0:06:00.480 to Family, Dollar, Dollar, General, Dollar Tree and Honey, spend 0:06:00.560 --> 0:06:04.080 five dollars and get them five toys, they won't even know. 0:06:04.640 --> 0:06:09.719 They just these kids just want something to unwrap, y'all. 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:11.839 I didn't care. I don't think I cared where my 0:06:11.880 --> 0:06:15.200 gifts came from. Now, when I got to a certain age, 0:06:15.240 --> 0:06:17.240 I kind of knew if something was cheap or not. 0:06:17.960 --> 0:06:20.600 But for the most part, I didn't know where these 0:06:20.640 --> 0:06:24.640 gifts came from. I just wanted something to open. So 0:06:24.760 --> 0:06:29.400 parents are stressing out about gifts for their children. Y'all 0:06:29.400 --> 0:06:33.000 know how we are now As I was a child too. 0:06:34.040 --> 0:06:37.479 You play with that toy that you wanted all year, 0:06:37.520 --> 0:06:40.760 you finally get it for Christmas, you unwrap it, you 0:06:40.880 --> 0:06:44.520 play with it for one day, maybe two days. Then 0:06:44.560 --> 0:06:46.800 you're all playing with some old mangy toy that you 0:06:46.839 --> 0:06:49.560 didn't have the past seven eight years. You don't even 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:53.200 So we all out here spending money for these children 0:06:53.800 --> 0:06:58.600 and they don't even Don't stress yourself out, mother, don't 0:06:58.600 --> 0:07:03.279 stress yourself out. Don't you do it. But at the 0:07:03.279 --> 0:07:08.560 same time, I'm not a parent, but I'm putting myself 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.119 in your shoes. If you are in the place where 0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:14.400 you do want your children to have presents under the trees, 0:07:14.480 --> 0:07:17.080 but you feel like you just can't do it, and 0:07:17.120 --> 0:07:22.320 so I understand, I totally understand. But you still have 0:07:22.360 --> 0:07:26.480 to set emotional and financial boundaries. Do not go bankrupt 0:07:27.200 --> 0:07:32.560 because of one day out of a year. Two Be 0:07:32.800 --> 0:07:38.600 around emotionally safe people. Shall you know the folks that 0:07:38.640 --> 0:07:42.520 wear you out, the folks that all always got something 0:07:42.560 --> 0:07:46.600 to say about how you dress or how you cooked 0:07:46.680 --> 0:07:52.320 the greens? Why the chicken ain't crispy enough? Who told 0:07:52.360 --> 0:07:58.840 you to make dark chocolate brownies? I won't regular milk chocolate. 0:07:58.920 --> 0:08:01.800 I don't like dark child like if somebody always got 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:06.160 something to say, why you ain't married yet, or why 0:08:06.240 --> 0:08:09.280 you and your husband didn't work it out. Why did 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:13.080 you cheat on your girlfriend? Why you got fold baby daddies? 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:20.880 Why be around emotionally safe people. Being around emotionally safe people, 0:08:21.000 --> 0:08:24.560 or when you walk in the house, it's love ain't 0:08:24.560 --> 0:08:29.080 nobody finna bring up no drama, Like, don't use the 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:33.800 holidays to bring up drama. There are three hundred and 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:37.000 sixty four other days out of the year, But when 0:08:37.160 --> 0:08:40.480 Christmas or the Thanksgivings or the New Year's come for 0:08:40.520 --> 0:08:43.600 some reason, that's the day people like to use to 0:08:43.640 --> 0:08:50.080 be foolish. No, be around emotionally safe people. Be around 0:08:50.160 --> 0:08:53.360 emotionally safe people. Where if you say, I just I'm 0:08:53.400 --> 0:08:57.160 just I'm just tapped out this year, who still welcome 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:00.280 you with open arms? Who say, sis, bro, I don't 0:09:00.280 --> 0:09:03.760 want anything from you. You're still welcome over here. Just 0:09:03.760 --> 0:09:06.199 come and put your feet up. Let's let's watch the game, 0:09:06.320 --> 0:09:09.480 let's watch something new on TV. You know what I mean. 0:09:09.600 --> 0:09:15.720 So being around emotionally safe people, give yourself grace. So 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:19.360 when I said set emotional and financial financial boundaries and 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:23.160 be around emotionally safe people, you give yourself grace. If 0:09:23.200 --> 0:09:28.240 you feel like you're not meeting people's expectations, give your 0:09:28.280 --> 0:09:30.640 self grace. If you feel like you didn't meet your 0:09:30.679 --> 0:09:39.640 own expectations, it's okay. Give yourself grace. If you snapped 0:09:39.679 --> 0:09:44.839 on somebody, give yourself grace. Just know, don't do it again. 0:09:46.160 --> 0:09:58.480 But do give yourself grace. Okay. Number four, be honest 0:09:58.559 --> 0:10:02.080 about where you are. Be honest about where you are. 0:10:02.520 --> 0:10:05.280 I'm not feeling well this holiday season, and so I 0:10:05.320 --> 0:10:08.560 don't want to be around a lot of people. And 0:10:08.600 --> 0:10:10.440 that's it. You don't have to do no longer drawn 0:10:10.480 --> 0:10:17.480 out explanations. I'm reading something right now that says, keep 0:10:17.559 --> 0:10:22.760 it short and sweet. Be clear, okay, if you know, hey, 0:10:23.240 --> 0:10:27.440 be just be honest about where you are. Just be honest. Hey, 0:10:27.440 --> 0:10:30.960 I don't have the money this year. Some folks say, hey, 0:10:31.120 --> 0:10:36.080 we'll have Christmas when I get my tax return. We 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:39.360 ain't got it. Right now, Be clear about where you are, 0:10:39.559 --> 0:10:41.520 or say, hey, we're going to go volunteer at a 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:45.760 homeless shelter this year. We're gonna give. I don't want 0:10:45.760 --> 0:10:48.319 to make it all about finances and what we don't have. 0:10:49.200 --> 0:10:53.320 Let's give. Let let's give up our time. Okay, go 0:10:53.400 --> 0:10:58.240 to a soup kitchen, go volunteer. Be honest about where 0:10:58.240 --> 0:11:02.600 you are. It's okay to not have it. It's okay 0:11:02.640 --> 0:11:05.680 to not go. That's number five. It's okay to not 0:11:05.800 --> 0:11:09.320 have it, and it's okay to not go, but you 0:11:09.440 --> 0:11:12.880 have to be clear. I'm reading an article that was 0:11:12.880 --> 0:11:16.680 published in twenty twenty two about giving expert advice for 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:22.679 navigating conversations with family. According to Metro dot co dot uk, 0:11:23.440 --> 0:11:27.800 Aiden Milan writes this article and they she says, be clear. 0:11:28.120 --> 0:11:30.480 It's important to be clear about what you want with 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:34.640 minimal delay. Don't beat around the bush, says no. Lack 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:40.200 of clarity and communication is what often causes friction. So 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:44.360 don't wait till Christmas Day maybe, or do you just 0:11:44.360 --> 0:11:49.520 just starting out start the conversation out just hey, it's 0:11:49.559 --> 0:11:53.760 a possibility. I'm not gonna make it. Be clear, Be 0:11:53.880 --> 0:11:57.920 clear with friends and family. Don't make it personal, Okay, 0:11:58.040 --> 0:12:00.920 says If you're skipping the family christ this year because 0:12:00.920 --> 0:12:04.200 of someone in particular, it's probably best to leave that 0:12:04.280 --> 0:12:08.480 part out, like, don't personalize the reasons. Don't say, hey, 0:12:08.480 --> 0:12:11.600 I ain't going to Granmmy's house because ain't he Brenda 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:17.120 be musty, I ain't going to Grandma's house because I 0:12:17.160 --> 0:12:20.400 don't like her new husband. Don't don't don't make it personal, 0:12:21.080 --> 0:12:24.240 make the reasons for your non attendance about your own 0:12:24.440 --> 0:12:29.200 wishes and wants. You can just say, hey, I just 0:12:29.240 --> 0:12:33.400 want to rest, you know, Brace for compromise, try to 0:12:33.400 --> 0:12:36.280 be flexible. Flexible when it comes to making get up 0:12:36.280 --> 0:12:40.199 to your family. Be prepared to negotiate on alternatives, such 0:12:40.240 --> 0:12:43.880 as other dates to visit, even offer the FaceTime do 0:12:43.960 --> 0:12:48.040 a video call. That would be a considerate compromise. According 0:12:48.120 --> 0:12:53.360 to this article, don't apologize. There's obviously no need to 0:12:53.400 --> 0:12:55.720 be crue, but stand by your choice when you chat 0:12:55.760 --> 0:12:59.280 about it, Noel says, don't apologize for your decision, but 0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:04.120 do infat thighs with the other people's feelings of dissatisfaction 0:13:04.480 --> 0:13:09.880 or disappointment. Don't take responsibility for how they are going 0:13:09.920 --> 0:13:13.720 to react. Don't take responsibility for their feelings. If you 0:13:13.760 --> 0:13:17.360 really say, hey, mommy doesn't have the money right now, 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:22.520 but we will, we will, we will do something soon, Okay, 0:13:22.640 --> 0:13:27.559 I know it hurts you know. Or prop a script. 0:13:27.760 --> 0:13:29.600 Start the chat with the clear idea of what you 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:31.000 want to say and how you want to say it. 0:13:31.040 --> 0:13:33.400 Prepare yourself with the script of what you want to say, 0:13:33.559 --> 0:13:36.080 keep it neutral, and practice it. When you have the 0:13:36.160 --> 0:13:38.920 conversation with your family, think about the setting and time. 0:13:39.000 --> 0:13:41.960 Try to ensure people have eaten and are not too tired, 0:13:42.320 --> 0:13:47.480 as negative reactions can come from being angry or being tired. Also, 0:13:47.520 --> 0:13:52.120 make sure the setting is not overstimulating. Keep it short 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:55.000 and sweet. Noel says that keeping the conversation brief can 0:13:55.040 --> 0:13:59.199 help keep things from escalating. Try to manage the conversation 0:13:59.280 --> 0:14:01.520 so it does not go on too long. Keep it 0:14:01.640 --> 0:14:05.920 business like so it doesn't descend into drama. Organize it 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:08.640 like a work meeting with time and place, boundaries and 0:14:08.800 --> 0:14:13.000 an agenda. Allow folks to have their say, taking turns. 0:14:13.400 --> 0:14:17.640 But it's not about decision making. That's already done. Meaning 0:14:17.679 --> 0:14:19.560 I said what I said. I said, I'm not coming, 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:22.360 but I do want you to have your set. It's 0:14:22.360 --> 0:14:25.040 not gonna change you'll feel, but I do want you 0:14:25.080 --> 0:14:29.680 to have yourself. So that's how we are checking in 0:14:29.840 --> 0:14:34.400 this holiday season. I am excited to know your thoughts. Now, 0:14:34.560 --> 0:14:36.760 there are gonna be some people that gonna be like Michelle, 0:14:36.840 --> 0:14:41.880 I can't relate. I love my family. I start Christmas 0:14:41.880 --> 0:14:46.320 shopping in July so it ensures that everybody I love 0:14:47.120 --> 0:14:51.760 has gifts. Or if you don't celebrate the holiday season. 0:14:51.800 --> 0:14:54.000 This is in respect to people who do not celebrate 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:57.280 the holidays at all. But you still love fellowship. Maybe 0:14:57.280 --> 0:14:59.960 you just kind of, you know, love seeing everybody else excited. 0:15:00.440 --> 0:15:04.880 Respect to the listeners as well, who are like, maybe 0:15:04.880 --> 0:15:07.160 I can't relate because I don't sell to break Christmas anywhere. 0:15:07.760 --> 0:15:10.600 I hear you as well, so you probably just sitting 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:13.280 back with your popcorn, like seeing all these people get 0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:18.840 stressed out. Like for me, I hate the hustle and 0:15:18.880 --> 0:15:21.760 bustle of Christmas shopping. I hate what it does to people. 0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:24.800 It makes people anxious. It makes people upset because they're 0:15:24.800 --> 0:15:28.080 trying to find this gift for a loved one. You 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:31.440 know it's Christmas Day, but you wait till Christmas Eve. 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:36.880 Oh it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart. So 0:15:36.920 --> 0:15:38.440 I want to go back to those you know who 0:15:38.560 --> 0:15:43.120 just absolutely adore the holiday season. Like my mother, Honey, 0:15:43.160 --> 0:15:47.080 she would just start crying when she would wrap Christmas gifts. 0:15:47.080 --> 0:15:48.880 I don't know if she was crying because she spent 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:51.840 too much money, but I felt like she just loved 0:15:51.840 --> 0:15:56.160 the Christmas season so much. She only wants snow when 0:15:56.200 --> 0:15:59.240 it's Oh, if it's not snowing, it ain't Christmas. Like 0:15:59.280 --> 0:16:03.080 there are some people who just just they just I 0:16:03.120 --> 0:16:06.200 feel like Kelly Kelly loves Christmas. I'm not saying I 0:16:06.280 --> 0:16:08.280 beat on love Chris, but Kelly the tree had been 0:16:08.360 --> 0:16:11.000 up probably since August child I don't know, but she 0:16:11.080 --> 0:16:13.120 just loves it, loves it, loves it, loves it, loves it. Me, 0:16:13.200 --> 0:16:15.720 on the other hand, I don't have a Christmas tree up. Again, 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:19.680 I'm not gonna be home anyway, but it's me and 0:16:19.720 --> 0:16:21.640 I feel like things will change. I don't have children. 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:25.160 I have a dog, but I don't know. No one's 0:16:25.200 --> 0:16:29.160 coming over here excited for Christmas. Okay, so I'm not 0:16:29.240 --> 0:16:33.000 doing I don't have any decorations. Someone gave me a cute, 0:16:33.280 --> 0:16:40.240 little like lantern thing. I don't know whatever. So but again, 0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:43.720 I do love when people are excited. A friend of 0:16:43.760 --> 0:16:48.040 mine was facetiming me yesterday and their mother has the 0:16:48.120 --> 0:16:56.359 house decked out, multiple trees everywhere, there's a light for everything. 0:16:57.360 --> 0:17:02.680 I mean, it looks like the Christmas department at Target 0:17:02.760 --> 0:17:06.360 or something. I mean, it's it's it's it's lights everywhere. 0:17:06.720 --> 0:17:09.159 So that did actually make me excited because I know 0:17:09.359 --> 0:17:12.639 that I know that their mom is excited, you know. 0:17:12.960 --> 0:17:15.840 So I do get excited when I see other people excited. 0:17:15.880 --> 0:17:19.879 I'm not that much of a Grench, do I do 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:24.119 get excited, you know. So I just wanted to just 0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:29.560 share and send some love to see what everybody is 0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:35.359 up to and how everybody has been feeling. I do no. 0:17:35.520 --> 0:17:41.160 Seasonal depression, you know, is a real, real, real thing, 0:17:41.760 --> 0:17:45.479 especially during the holidays. This this weather doesn't know what 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:50.800 it wants to do, and so I definitely want to 0:17:50.880 --> 0:17:56.520 acknowledge those who might just be feeling the blues, you know, 0:17:56.680 --> 0:17:59.399 for this holiday season. So I encourage you to get 0:17:59.440 --> 0:18:04.359 out from fresh air does wonders. And I know you're like, 0:18:04.400 --> 0:18:07.720 you got to get up first to get outside. I'm 0:18:07.760 --> 0:18:10.679 telling you, fresh air does wonders. I'm excited for my baby, 0:18:10.720 --> 0:18:14.240 my dog. I love taking him out for walks. He 0:18:14.280 --> 0:18:16.560 gets so excited. I just put the leash in my 0:18:16.600 --> 0:18:19.639 hand and he just gets all excited because he knows 0:18:19.680 --> 0:18:23.760 we're about to go on that walk, you know. And 0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:27.800 so just go out, get some fresh air, have a 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:30.840 conversation with someone you haven't had in a while. Go 0:18:30.880 --> 0:18:34.479 grab that cup of coffee, you know, Go grab a 0:18:34.640 --> 0:18:38.199 nice warm croissante, or y'all make you some toast in 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:41.000 the oven, honey, that mean the best toast, that broiler 0:18:41.640 --> 0:18:47.639 oven toast you want to talk about, babbe, ain't no 0:18:47.680 --> 0:18:51.359 depression around here. If I got a broiler, put that butter. 0:18:51.520 --> 0:18:53.840 Put some pieces of butter on that bread stick it 0:18:53.880 --> 0:19:02.160 un ooh, and seasonal depression, where it's time to get 0:19:02.200 --> 0:19:04.720 that broiler going, get that toask on. Some people like 0:19:04.720 --> 0:19:07.000 to put a little sugar on it, you know, I 0:19:07.080 --> 0:19:09.840 just like a little apple jelly. Yes, there is a 0:19:09.880 --> 0:19:13.480 such thing as apple jelly, not apple butter, which is good, 0:19:13.520 --> 0:19:21.639 but I love apple jelly. I just want to just 0:19:21.720 --> 0:19:25.200 send love to those who might maybe you're just feeling 0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:28.480 the seasonal blues. And we talked about that a few 0:19:28.480 --> 0:19:33.480 episodes back, about seasonal depression and how that thing is real, 0:19:33.880 --> 0:19:36.639 you know, from the fall till about March, until that 0:19:36.680 --> 0:19:41.240 weather starts turning because there's less sunshine right now. So 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:47.879 that really, really really has been affecting, affecting people. So 0:19:48.160 --> 0:19:51.080 just want you to know that you are loved. Someone 0:19:51.160 --> 0:19:54.119 just said that, hey, they've been struggling a bit and 0:19:54.200 --> 0:19:58.920 that they're glad that they are not alone. Never alone, 0:19:59.200 --> 0:20:03.359 never alone. There's always gonna be someone who can relate 0:20:03.760 --> 0:20:06.000 to what you're going through. And don't let those lies 0:20:06.520 --> 0:20:14.200 and those emotions tell you opposite. You are not alone. Okay, 0:20:14.680 --> 0:20:19.040 So yes, honey, it's been some good stuff going on. 0:20:19.880 --> 0:20:23.439 Thank y'all for the love the past few weeks. Honey, 0:20:23.440 --> 0:20:28.439 about some fashion choices, chill. Jason Bollen is my friend. 0:20:30.320 --> 0:20:32.560 I went to a wedding in Dallas and so that's 0:20:32.600 --> 0:20:37.000 what those last pictures were from. So that was fun. 0:20:37.160 --> 0:20:39.200 That was fun. I know. I said, I won't gonna 0:20:39.200 --> 0:20:45.040 show no more leg I'm not doing briefs again. I 0:20:45.119 --> 0:20:48.120 might do a little high slit and address or something, 0:20:49.080 --> 0:20:52.920 but yeah, I'm not. We're not gonna do that. We're 0:20:52.920 --> 0:20:56.600 not gonna do that. So that's what we're not going 0:20:56.640 --> 0:21:00.240 to do. Did I tell y'all? So I think since 0:21:00.280 --> 0:21:04.679 I've talked to you, did we talk about Thanksgiving? And 0:21:04.720 --> 0:21:07.440 I told you? Did I tell you? Did we let 0:21:07.440 --> 0:21:10.359 me see? Because that was okay? I think we talked 0:21:10.359 --> 0:21:13.879 about a little bit, y'all. My turkey was a tinch salty. 0:21:13.960 --> 0:21:18.600 Ch'all tried dispatchcock it and we I brined it and 0:21:18.640 --> 0:21:21.040 then injected it with some casun seasons and it got 0:21:21.080 --> 0:21:24.119 a little salty. I might try to do something else, 0:21:24.200 --> 0:21:26.760 maybe for New Year's or Christmas. I feel like I 0:21:26.800 --> 0:21:30.480 need I need another chance to get it right. Y'all 0:21:30.480 --> 0:21:33.120 ever feel that way, you need a chance to get 0:21:33.160 --> 0:21:37.879 it right. We'll see. It depends on if I go 0:21:37.960 --> 0:21:41.199 home for Christmas to Illinois or stay here in the 0:21:41.280 --> 0:21:47.800 Atlanta area. We shall see, we shall see again. I 0:21:47.840 --> 0:21:50.800 want to see your faces. If you're in Dallas, I 0:21:50.840 --> 0:21:55.960 want to see you at Gateway Church, all right. It's 0:21:57.000 --> 0:22:02.200 it's in south Lake, seven hundred Blessed Way, south Lake, Texas. 0:22:02.960 --> 0:22:07.560 All right, So come on on, don't wait. The music 0:22:07.680 --> 0:22:10.080 is going to be great. It's beautiful. I already got 0:22:10.480 --> 0:22:13.160 a sketch of one of the songs that I'm singing. 0:22:15.080 --> 0:22:18.520 It has two words, so I'm gonna give you it's 0:22:18.520 --> 0:22:23.320 a nice song. It's song you've heard before, so I'm excited. 0:22:23.359 --> 0:22:26.760 I just got the sketch yesterday to make sure that 0:22:26.840 --> 0:22:30.160 the key is comfortable and all that good. So I 0:22:30.200 --> 0:22:39.000 love working with music departments. There are passionate professional babebe 0:22:39.840 --> 0:22:45.720 m mmmmm, folks is calling themselves professionals, and they ain't. 0:22:46.440 --> 0:22:50.000 I love getting my music in time. I get to 0:22:50.040 --> 0:22:53.000 study it, I get to rehearse it, so I'm really, 0:22:53.240 --> 0:22:57.239 really really excited about it. So again, I want to 0:22:57.320 --> 0:23:02.639 see you there, all right. And then those of you 0:23:02.680 --> 0:23:05.600 who are not able to go to the Rose Bowl parade. 0:23:06.200 --> 0:23:09.760 Make sure you tune in to it. It's gonna be exciting. 0:23:10.000 --> 0:23:13.040 It's going to be exciting. Again. I'm not excited about 0:23:13.040 --> 0:23:17.840 that four thirty am call time, but we gotta do 0:23:17.880 --> 0:23:20.919 what we gotta do. So that's what's been going on. 0:23:20.960 --> 0:23:25.240 I'm excited about this year is it's been a blessed year. 0:23:25.640 --> 0:23:31.159 It has really been a blessed year. There's some things 0:23:31.200 --> 0:23:34.840 coming up in twenty twenty four. One project I was very, 0:23:34.920 --> 0:23:40.000 very excited about it has been pushed back. Negotiations are 0:23:40.040 --> 0:23:44.560 still going on. Oh gosh, I did something so fun. 0:23:44.640 --> 0:23:49.520 It's gonna air January third on Fox. Okay, that's all 0:23:49.560 --> 0:23:53.160 I can say about it. Oh, I'm excited about it now. 0:23:53.160 --> 0:23:55.800 This is not what I did in Ireland. Okay, in 0:23:55.880 --> 0:24:00.800 Ireland I did. Okay, I filmed a show in Ireland. 0:24:00.920 --> 0:24:04.119 But it's gonna film. It's gonna air here in the States. 0:24:04.600 --> 0:24:10.080 But keep your eyes tuned January third. It's gonna be 0:24:10.200 --> 0:24:18.240 something so oh my gosh, so fun, just so endearing. 0:24:19.320 --> 0:24:24.160 I'll leave it at that. It's been some cool, fun opportunities. 0:24:25.160 --> 0:24:27.879 I don't mind hard work. You gotta you know what 0:24:27.880 --> 0:24:31.200 I'm saying. But some of the majority of the hard work. 0:24:31.560 --> 0:24:34.639 It's got to be fun. If I can't make it fun, 0:24:34.880 --> 0:24:37.239 I don't want to do it. I don't want I 0:24:37.280 --> 0:24:40.119 don't want to do it. And I hope that you 0:24:40.160 --> 0:24:41.960 guys that are listening you can get to a place 0:24:41.960 --> 0:24:45.920 in your lives and your careers actually don't wait. Everybody's 0:24:45.960 --> 0:24:49.439 working hard, everybody's making sure, honey, the bills are paid. 0:24:50.040 --> 0:24:53.400 But if you can find something with what you do 0:24:54.600 --> 0:24:57.439 to make some part of it fun. I know some 0:24:57.480 --> 0:25:00.680 people might be like Michelle. I work in the emmergengency room. 0:25:01.240 --> 0:25:05.040 There's nothing fun about seeing blood and guts. There's nothing 0:25:05.119 --> 0:25:09.000 fun about seeing babies cry and you're trying to figure 0:25:09.000 --> 0:25:11.880 out why they're in so much pain. There's nothing fun 0:25:11.920 --> 0:25:14.680 about it. I get that part of the job. It's 0:25:14.680 --> 0:25:17.080 not fun. But there's got to be something fun in 0:25:17.160 --> 0:25:19.560 the break room when you're actually able to take a break, 0:25:20.240 --> 0:25:24.800 you know, or just I get it. Folks are working, 0:25:25.320 --> 0:25:30.000 Folks are doing, like, oh my gosh, so many stressful, 0:25:30.280 --> 0:25:33.080 stressful jobs. And I want you to know I see you, 0:25:33.880 --> 0:25:37.320 and I hear you, but you deserve to have some fun, somehow, 0:25:37.600 --> 0:25:39.919 have fun as long as it does not compromise the 0:25:39.920 --> 0:25:43.920 integrity of the work that you gotta do. All right, 0:25:43.960 --> 0:25:46.199 if I'm in the emergency room, I don't think I 0:25:46.280 --> 0:25:49.399 want to hear jokes. Let's get to the problem first 0:25:49.880 --> 0:25:53.160 and then we can laugh later. I totally, I totally 0:25:53.200 --> 0:25:56.480 get it, and some I just want you all to know. 0:25:58.280 --> 0:26:02.440 You know, I've been having some fun with what I do. 0:26:03.160 --> 0:26:08.560 I think in twenty twenty four, just more impact, making 0:26:08.640 --> 0:26:13.440 more impact positively in the lives of as many people 0:26:13.520 --> 0:26:17.560 that I possibly can. Will you join me in that, 0:26:18.920 --> 0:26:24.080 making impact positively in the lives of as many people 0:26:24.359 --> 0:26:28.600 as you can? What do you say to that? Will 0:26:28.600 --> 0:26:32.040 you join me? If you don't mind, tell me how 0:26:32.040 --> 0:26:34.640 are you going to do that? I think I want 0:26:34.680 --> 0:26:39.359 to volunteer a lot more. I want to volunteer more. 0:26:39.800 --> 0:26:43.480 There's some things that I want to do, and I 0:26:43.520 --> 0:26:47.159 think I want to volunteer a lot more. I had 0:26:47.160 --> 0:26:51.760 the chance to volunteer last week in Tampa. There's an 0:26:51.840 --> 0:26:58.440 organization called Feeding Tampa, and what struck me was that 0:26:59.640 --> 0:27:04.240 there are people that work every day. They're working Monday 0:27:04.280 --> 0:27:09.840 through Friday, nine to five, and some are still struggling 0:27:10.400 --> 0:27:15.119 to make ends. Meeting, so we distributed food. It was 0:27:15.160 --> 0:27:17.359 a mobile pantry where they stay in the car and 0:27:17.400 --> 0:27:19.320