- Sandy Swider [00:00:03]: In the process of being in close proximity as adults, I feel like we’re all being known more clearly, and there are things that become clearer, I believe, as we do get older, and they just become inescapable. Right? We just become more of who we are, I think, as we age.
Introduction
- Kim Moeller [00:00:27]:Today’s episode is all about passions, as we consider the area of how are we wired? What are we passionate about? And how does that change during our lifetime? This is the second episode of a three part series where we’re spotlighting incredible women from Women Doing Well. So, I can’t wait for you to meet my special guest, Sandy Swider.
- Welcome to the Generous Girl podcast. I’m Kim Moeller, your host, and I’m thrilled today to have Sandy Swider as my guest. Sandy is a strategic advisor, a facilitator, and a coach. And she likes to say that she shows up when committed people get stuck and then they are ready to move past that inertia. So, you’re going to enjoy this conversation and I’m just really thrilled to have Sandy with me in the studio.
- Welcome, Sandy.
- Thanks, Kim. I’m thrilled to be here.
Part Two: Passions
- Kim Moeller [00:01:23]: Yes. It’s a privilege to get to interview you. And as the listener is aware, we are in the middle of a three part series. And this series is interviewing what I like to just call “rock star women” who represent Women Doing Well. And Women Doing Well, you can check it out at www.womendoingwell.org, a fabulous organization that will help you figure out your purpose, which is hard -coded in your DNA, your passions, and then your plan for generosity.
- We talked all about purpose two weeks ago, when this was released. But this time we’re focused on that second area of passions. Sandy has been highly recommended as really a great person to represent passions. And when we think of that, Sandy, why don’t you explain the three part framework that Women Doing Well uses to describe passions?
What Breaks Our Heart?
- Sandy Swider [00:02:21]:Yeah. That’s good. You know, passion, essentially, the way we think about it, is what breaks our heart? Right? What breaks our heart? And as I think about that, I think about what’s breaking your heart now? Right? And that’s ultimately how I want to be shaping how I think about where I’m contributing.
- Sandy Swider [00:02:44]:And the personal journey that intersects with Jesus’ journey is what we get to experience at Women Doing Well. We help women feel seen and be known.
- Kim Moeller [00:02:59]:Yes.
Cultivating a Listening Ear
- Sandy Swider [00:03:00]:And in that, when we think about passion, it’s about showing up authentically as our unique authentic self. That’s what the world is needing, and that’s how God planned things. Yes. That’s one pillar as we think about is passion. A second pillar is to cultivate a listening ear. So being in that place where we’re listening, we’re listening, Lord, what is it you’re telling me that is mine to do now?
- Sandy Swider [00:03:31]:And we all know what it takes to cultivate that kind of ear. Right? And just doing that with intentionality and some spiritual disciplines. We believe that’s an important part of living into passion in a way that feels meaningful. And then the third piece is taking a step. You know, just kind of getting out there and doing it, whatever it is in the next moment. And then when those three pillars are in place, they’re all sitting on a foundation of community.
- Sandy Swider [00:04:05]:We believe that community is essential for those steps to take room and to sort of get you on a path then.
- Kim Moeller [00:04:17]:Right.
- Sandy Swider [00:04:17]:And we get to celebrate. We get to hear each other, see each other, celebrate each other, get curious, inspire each other. So community is a big part of what we believe brings forth what the Lord is looking to us for and wants to do with us.
The Seasonality of Life
- Kim Moeller [00:04:32]:So good. This is why I’m such a big fan and believer in the Women Doing Well program because I think life is so seasonal and we can look back at our journeys and maybe at a certain season, all of our hours are invested in our career. Maybe another time they’re invested in caring for an elderly parent or a newborn baby or a special needs child. And so, as a result, those passions that we might be very focused on might be very different than how I felt when I was in college. And that’s how it is and how we’re wired and that’s all great and okay.
- But the great part about community is you’re able to then link arms with other women during that current season.Maybe they’re totally different ages, but they’re also passionate about the same cause.
- Kim Moeller [00:05:22]:God has laid on their hearts homelessness or clean water, anti- trafficking. And you journey together and then maybe now that something’s happened and the newborn has grown up and is in school full-time and the mom might have hours that she didn’t have and now wants to volunteer at the local pregnancy center or church or nonprofit. And so that’s just beautiful.
- Kim Moeller [00:05:47]:I feel like often times there is a through line thread, you know, even when I look back in my own life of different causes I’ve been passionate about.
- Kim Moeller [00:05:55]: A lot of times it honors life and just women and children that is kind of a theme. So I think a lot of times sometimes we do have a theme, but sometimes it’s very different based on your family, your upbringing, your marriage, or if you’re single.
Two Word Purpose Statement
- Sandy Swider [00:06:10]:Yeah. I love that so much. And what you got to talk about with Terry during the last episode and this concept of purpose, and in our context, we believe that purpose is permanent. Right? It’s the way that we are wired.
- Sandy Swider [00:06:24]:And then we bring that wiring, that essence of who we are into different applications. In our view, depending on what God is putting on our heart.
- Kim Moeller [00:06:34]:Yes.
- Sandy Swider [00:06:35]:So yeah, that’s exciting when you can do it with other women who can bear witness to all of it.
- Kim Moeller [00:06:41]:Well, your two word purpose statement is revealing treasure. So let’s hear more about your story. How did you get connected with Women Doing Well in the first place and then why you feel like “revealing treasure” really resonates with you as your hard-coded purpose that God put in your DNA from the beginning of time?
Sandy’s Story
- Oh, my gosh. So much in there. I feel like, how much time do you have, Kim? Right? What I would start with is community. I was invited into. Right? And I think this notion of invitation, I think it’s something that is a small concept but is big in practice. And such a simple thing that can really lead to transformation. So, yeah, a woman that I met who was a client then became a dear, dear friend said, I think there’s something in this Women Doing Well ministry that will light you up. And I know for sure that being around the women that are participating in this will encourage you.
- Sandy Swider [00:07:47]: So, I just went to whatever I went to, kind of a first meeting. There are a bunch of things that we get to do at Women Doing Well, and I thought, yeah, there’s something special about these women. So I was hooked right out of the gate and that was awesome.
- Kim Moeller [00:08:02]:Yes.
Revealing Treasure
- Sandy Swider [00:08:03]: I jumped into a pathway, which is a 12 part curriculum, if you will. There are twelve different modules that help us get to learn more about ourselves and help us to understand what generosity can look like in our lives and in community. And one of those modules is understanding our purpose statement. Right? So, gosh, it took me a while to feel like I landed on something that really resonated with me and I felt like, yeah, that is it. And friends who know me well in this context of Women Doing Well offered some really beautiful mirrors for me as I was exploring, and they helped me to see myself more clearly. And landing on “Revealing Treasure” was a moment of that is it. A friend said, “Sandy, you are so active.”
- Sandy Swider [00:09:08]:You do more than reflect. And it was provocative for me, and I got really present with my own power in that provocation. So realizing, you know what? I do get in there. I do reveal things. I do dig things up. I do push the limits. I do think outside of the box. And when I get to jump into that sort of mode, I get enlivened, and something beautiful does come forth and something that feels valuable.
- Sandy Swider [00:09:42]:So, yeah, the word treasure has been obvious for me. I know there’s something about treasure. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been interested in beauty and finding beautiful things. I always loved those games where you got to look in a picture and see where something was hiding within the picture.
- Kim Moeller [00:10:01]:Right, like Where’s Waldo?
- Sandy Swider [00:10:04]:Yes. Where’s Waldo kinda stuff. So that’s just been part of who I am and part of my creativity. So wonderful. And so now you’re doing this coaching business, so I’m sure you’re frequently helping your clients reveal the treasure that’s buried within them. But talk a little bit about your career in hotels which led to starting your own company that you’re doing today, because I know that was a big part of your journey as well.
Approaching Burnout
- Yes.Sandy Swider [00:10:39]:Oh my gosh. Chock full of thoughts and inspirations and memories. What I would say is this, I come from a really hardworking, scrappy, blue collar Philly family. We love our Philadelphia Eagles football team. Right? Grit and hardworking. And, my nature is to smile and to find joy in the moments and to want to work together. So I was a great employee. Right? If you wanted something done, you gave it to Sandy Swider.
- Sandy Swider [00:11:17]:And I got busy and ran real fast and smiled the whole way. And I did that for a really long time until I couldn’t do it anymore. I ran out gas. Mhmm. And I wasn’t paying attention to myself as a whole human being. I was just contributing and working really hard. And then God got my attention. No matter where I went in the world, I would always go visit a Catholic church, because of my Catholic upbringing.
- But I was too busy to go to church for too long. But I was always go to a Catholic church when I am traveling, And there was something about home, I knew that I was home when I was there with the Lord. And He started to remind me of that while I was on my knees in exhaustion. He reminded me that He’s always there. He’s always home.
- Sandy Swider [00:12:12]:And I started going home literally and hanging out more with Him. And the treasure that was revealed in that would be in our podcast, in and of itself. So what it helped me see is I needed to pay attention to my whole self and not just me as a worker bee. And a huge part of that was getting to know myself and cultivating a listening ear in my spiritual life. So I spent a lot of time in that space. I got some traction on change and I wanted that for more people. So when I understood the power of really tapping into the depths of who God created us to be, I decided to pivot from a corporate career and move into coaching. And it’s been about twelve years now, and there are things I miss about my old life.
- Sandy Swider [00:13:03]: But, there’s much more that I continue to be drawn to and continue to celebrate as I think about the different kind of experiences I have now and the depth of meaning that they offer. It’s a blessing.
- Kim Moeller [00:13:19]:You’re single and you’ve got this steady paycheck with the corporate side of things. Was that just a huge leap of faith for you to do that, or did you feel like, no, this feels totally like the right timing? No problem. I’m going to jump off the cliff and be fine?
Halftime by Bob Buford
- Sandy Swider [00:13:40]:Right? I got to have all of my bases covered. I’ve got to make sure there’s enough, and is there ever really enough? How much is enough? You know, all of those conversations. Mhmm. I got to experience a program called Halftime, which is another ministry – Helping leaders go from a first half of success to a second half of significance. Wow. Bob Buford, if you haven’t read the book, do yourself a favor.
- Sandy Swider [00:14:06]:Right. And in that process, I had an extraordinary coach by the name of Bob Durfee. And he helped me understand that if I don’t get underneath the real root of what is holding me back and having me be in a place of self-sufficiency, that I was never going to be able to live in the kind off reedom that the Lord has for us. So I did a lot of deep digging with Him and went way below the surface, had a journey of seeking surrender, as hard as that was. That was intense. So I’d be lying if I would say I feel totally surrendered now and I’m completely trusting the Lord in every moment for everything. But a couple years ago, I was thinking about, should I take a job in acompany to have a reliable income? And at that time, I know that I heard the Lord say, if you were in a job right now, would you be depending on me as much as you are? So it’s, He keeps on working on that with me and that detachment from all of the things of the world and the expectations that I’m the one that makes it happen.
- Sandy Swider [00:15:20]:And, And He’s having fun with me and I’m just trying to pay attention to, alright, what’s here now, Lord? What’s the next thing for me to do?
- Kim Moeller [00:15:31]:The next adventure. So what would you say to the woman listening who might be in that spot where you were twelve years ago – feeling like she’s being nudged to take a bigger step, and possibly lean more into how she’s wired her calling, even what she’s passionate about? But wanting to hold onto current financial security, possibly, that might be holding her back.
- Sandy Swider [00:15:53]:I would say, first and foremost, to find Christian community. Whatever that looks like for you, but find some Christian community. Find people who’ll be praying for you and giving you that cover as you’re in the wilderness exploring this. Find some tools. I tried to figure all of this out on my own for a while, and it was sloppy and hard. And then I understood what “halftime” was, and I thought, oh, wow. This is what I’ve been trying to do on my own, and there is a framework here.There are frameworks out there and there are people who can help.
- Kim Moeller [00:16:31]:And a coach, like you mentioned, who sounded like was invaluable.
- Sandy Swider [00:16:35]:Yes. Seek out that objective, well-trained professionals who have been taught how to hold space and to ask questions and to encourage and provoke. Absolutely. And have a plan and be practical. We believe in plans with Women Doing Well. Right. So have enough of a plan financially so that you’ve got some margin to explore.
- Kim Moeller [00:17:04]: Beautiful, Sandy. So what about the area of passion for you personally in terms of how we’ve mentioned “revealing treasure” within your practice, but you’re of course passionate about Women Doing Well, as a nonprofit. But any other categories that you love to financially support or you want to pray for?
- Do you volunteer with any other categories of passion that you might be in this season of your life – spending more time now than you did, say, in your twenties or your thirties?
- Sandy Swider [00:17:45]:Oh my gosh. In my twenties and thirties, I used to love the Special Olympics and spending time with the kids. My first job was as a special camp counselor at the YMCA. And the treasure that was there.They are just pure joy and just wide open to the embrace of life and the moment and whatever is here right now.
- As I now reflect and understand, that made my heart swell. Right? Mhmm. And then I was just too busy.
- Sandy Swider [00:18:25]:Just too busy working. So I think what’s happening for me now, more than anything, my heart breaks when people don’t see how magnificent they are.
- Kim Moeller [00:18:39]:Mhmm. I agree. I really do.
- Sandy Swider [00:18:45]:So, yeah.Just lots of time in the ministry space, a variety of ministries that are focused on helping people see all of that and let that be revealed. And this summer, for the first time, I facilitated Vacation Bible Study, which was such a kick for me.
The Little Ones, and Revealing Treasure
- Kim Moeller [00:19:03]:The little ones?
- Sandy Swider [00:19:04]:Oh my gosh. You talk about treasure. Right? So they were like they were probably second through fifth graders, in that age group, and they were just so much treasure. Right? And it just helped me to be really present with them as human beings. Because I went in there thinking, we have this curriculum and we need to get through it. It’s my job to make sure that it’s completed. But I found I needed to ask, what’s the treasure right here, right now? And the importance of being in the moment with them. So I’m loving that. I feel God nudging me a little bit more in the kind of spaces with children right now.
- Kim Moeller [00:19:49]:Oh, they’re so precious. We used to bring our kids to the VBS at Saddleback Church. I don’t know how many kids were there, maybe a couple thousand?. And it felt like you were coming into Disneyland for the drop off, of the multiple ages. That was exhausting.I’d go back and think, okay, I survived.
- Kim Moeller [00:20:08]:Now, I hope I can find my kids when it’s over. And then the times when I volunteered also, really fun and great, but you’re really tired when it’s over. It was a lot. I have massive great respect for the teachers who are full-time for the kids in the schools. And, I’m so grateful for that gifting.
- Sandy Swider [00:20:33]:Kim, I don’t nap, but I came home. I took a nap every day that week.
- Kim Moeller [00:20:38]: You’re in charge when you are volunteering and you just don’t want to I don’t lose one of these kids. And when you have fifteen or twenty, you’re on the whole time. So well, that’s very generous of you that you did that this summer. I love that.
Women Doing Well
- Kim Moeller [00:20:56]:So I feel like for the listener, I want to recommend and shout out again, to go to the W omen Doing Well website. And Amy Soper is amazing. She’s always helping to coordinate the groups that are being launched. If you’re lucky, you might even have a group in your area with a live facilitator. And if not, you can join an online group. When I first got involved I got an email and I just hopped on during a lunch hour, for 6 weeks and met a great group of women from all over the country. So you can easily start that way with Zoom. And then, as Sandy said, when you’ve gone through the two pathways which total the twelve sessions, that qualifies you to become a facilitator. It’s one more training to go through and all of a sudden you’re a facilitator with these other incredible women all around the country with similar hearts and similar desires to just really maximize their lives for the Kingdom and not waste time in areas that they’re not gifted in where someone else would be raised up if they said no.
- Kim Moeller [00:21:58]:And like when you said this is your purpose statement, not only does it help you to lean into the positive side of your purpose statement, activating those passions, but it also allows you to say, no when I’m asked to do this over here you can say, sorry but that’s really not my wheelhouse. Could I do it? Yes. But would someone be far better than me? Absolutely. And it just helps to kind of stay in our lane of how God wired us and made us and confidently say yes to things and say no to things. And recently we had that large group of women in Carlsbad that all figured out their two word purpose statement as we did the first pathway. I’ve been saying on this podcast that my purpose statement is encouraging significance, which is similar to revealing treasure. But there was a choice in the exercise in this app that we use that came out as “liberating greatness”.
- Kim Moeller [00:22:50]:I don’t think I had really either camped on it or selected it before. And so I ended up going with that after I finished it similar to when you think of Michelangelo and how he unearthed David from that basic slab of marble. So I’m now saying that’s my two word purpose statement because I love encouraging significance. It’s a little bit like the nuance of reflecting treasure versus revealing treasure. I feel like liberating greatness is just exactly what you alluded to. Like, there’s nothing that makes me sadder when I know this greatness is in there, but someone for whatever reason, with past hurts or current circumstances of the things that are so challenging in life is just keep them locked in that slab of marble. I want them to be liberated to experience their one beautiful life, and live it to the full. And so I’m going with that as my two word purpose statement from now on.
- Sandy Swider [00:23:47]:Well, I just want to say that I have observed you doing that in this conversation, Kim.
- Kim Moeller [00:23:52]:Oh, you are so kind.
- Sandy Swider [00:23:53]:You’ve got your chisel out and you’ve been chiseled away. And you’ve gotten us to a really beautiful place. So, yeah, be encouraged. In my adult life, I was in Connecticut. And I was home for Christmas about twelve years ago. And I saw my parents differently. And I just had this sense of, wow, they’re getting older. I’m going to want to think about that. And ultimately, well, I’ll say this, this is a God moment, how God speaks to us to cultivate a listening ear.
Moving Back to PA
- Sandy Swider [00:25:07]:So, I went back to Connecticut. It must’ve been a Saturday night because I went to church that night.And there was a visiting priest from India. And he was talking about how in India, there’s a deep reverence for grandparents.
- Sandy Swider [00:25:24]:And he talked about the intergenerational living reality of life in India, and that is a priority. And it was one of those moments where I felt like God was speaking directly to me. And I thought, okay, I am listening. I’m hearing something. And, yeah, ultimately, I did decide to come home. God made it super clear and I came back.
- Sandy Swider [00:25:51]:It’s been interesting. It was a hard decision. I loved my life in Connecticut, but I knew that I knew in my knower, as Julie Wilson, the president of Women Doing Well says, she’s so special.
- Kim Moeller [00:26:03]:So special.
- Sandy Swider [00:26:04]:She’ll say, I know in my knower. Mhmm. I knew in my knower that I was to come back here.
Intergenerational Love
- Sandy Swider [00:26:11]:And it’s been really powerful. It’s been important for them, I believe, to feel seen. And in the process of being in close proximity as adults, I feel like we’re all being known more clearly. And there are things that become clearer, I believe, as we do get older, and they just become inescapable. Right? We just become more of who we are, I think, as we age.
- Sandy Swider [00:26:40]:So that’s been really cool. So, yeah, I would say revealing treasure has shown up. I hadn’t thought about it until this moment. But I would say yes, and I am being intentional about encouraging them the way I encourage clients and looking for ways for them to feel dignity in this lesson.
- Kim Moeller [00:27:03]:Well, I’m right there with you. My mom is 85 and lost her husband of many years last fall. And so it’s a challenge because you want to be close to them. My sisters and I don’t live near my mom. We would love to but all have our own lives and kids and families. And so it’s the tension of we want to honor that and support that but we also know there’s a harsh winter where she lives. And so how do we do that? And we had her with us, each of us for two months last year after my dad passed away and that worked out really well to get through the winter. But now we’re entering a new fall and winter and not sure how to have her life continue there with safety reasons but all of her community is there. And like you said in India, I do think in other cultures, I mean, with housing prices today, you’re seeing even in Southern California, especially like in the Irvine area, they will build the new houses that have the mother-in-law suite in the home.
- Sandy Swider [00:28:16]:Oh, interesting.
- Kim Moeller [00:28:17]:
- Because people can’t afford anymore to even have the two residences. So now it’s multi generational living in one home, which we do see in other cultures more than we’ve seen in the independent American spirit. Yeah. And you know, and we have all of our independent living facilities and assisted livings versus other cultures. And then we put ourselves in the shoes of our moms and our dads and know that it’s not going to be that many years till we’re each in the same place where they are. And our kids and relatives and family are making choices for us. And it’s not an easy process for sure.
- Sandy Swider [00:28:57]:And thinking about what happens in the context of community in the Women Doing Well pathway experience, we’ve got real conversations on the table. Mhmm. And vulnerability is invited and it surfaces throughout the entire experience.
- Kim Moeller [00:29:21]:Yes.
- Sandy Swider [00:29:22]:And I think what what starts to happen from my perspective, and I’ve led quite a few pathway groups as a facilitator, is I think we’ve developed some skills to have real conversations. And some courage to jump in there and say something that we might not have said without exposure to such a vulnerable environment.
- Kim Moeller [00:29:42]:Mhmm.
- Sandy Swider [00:29:43]:So I just feel a little provocation right now for me to just think about, okay, how can I open up some to keep going there with my parents?
- Kim Moeller [00:29:53]:Sure.
- Sandy Swider [00:29:54]: Even to be a little more real, a little more personal, a little more seeing them as the unique, magnificent human beings God created them to be and not just my parents.
- Kim Moeller [00:30:05]:Right. And obviously, it’s always the role reversal where they took care of you for so many years as a little one. And now you’re the one who’s helping to pay the bills and take the car in for new tires and all the things and just how it’s so full circle in life. And yet obviously God knew this would be the cycle. And I think there’s a lot of closure to then take the baton from them when their time now on on earth, is over. And now you’re carrying the baton for the next generation.
Giving to Generously Heal the World
- Sandy Swider [00:30:40]: Well, I love that you brought up such an important word. It’s important to Women Doing Well. We talk about when women are confident in who we are and what we have in Christ, we can give generously to heal the world.
- Kim Moeller [00:30:55]:Right.
- Sandy Swider [00:30:56]:Right? Like, that is the vision for Women Doing Well. Yes.
- Kim Moeller [00:30:59]:Yes. I’m so glad you said that.
- Sandy Swider [00:31:02]:Yeah. And we all need healing somehow. Right? In this broken world, we all need that. And when we can be that for each other and bring each other to the Lord, it’s just such a powerful, beautiful opportunity.
- Kim Moeller [00:31:18]:Yes. And often, you know, like a Rick Warren ism is our mess becomes our message. So often the passions that we are wanting to pursue and be passionate about might be something that we really struggled with and had a really hard time, and now we want to give back. And often God uses that or what hurt us now we use to help others. And that’s also beautiful with God’s redemptive story, and He never wastes a hurt. And so if anyone’s listening and you feel like there’s this whole area of your life that you can’t unlock that door and it’s just it’s too painful, I would love to encourage you to explore with the right professionals getting healing and being healed in that area and helping whether it’s a coach or a pastor or a therapist, whoever that is to help you navigate that so that then you’re able to see what God wants you to do through the healing Because, as you give back, we’re healed even further.
- Sandy Swider[00:32:19]:Yes. Absolutely positively. You know, there’s another really incredible ministry that is a it’s really sort of a sister ministry for Women Doing Well, and that is called “We Want More”
- Kim Moeller [00:32:34]: Yes, please talk about that. Yes. That would be great for you to mention that.
- Sandy Swider [00:32:38]:Yeah. So We Want More is a ministry in Bridgeport, Connecticut. And it is about our identity in Christ and helping us get closer to understanding that, so that we can live it out. And one of the components of the We Want More experience is something that we call releasing prayer. And it is getting at those hurts and finding forgiveness in them, whether it be for other people or forgiving ourselves.
- Sandy Swider [00:33:14]:And that process of laying that down and letting it go and experiencing that with another person making space for us and helping guide the conversation with the Holy Spirit is the powerful part of what gets unlocked in that ministry.
- Kim Moeller [00:33:33]:That’s so great that you shared that, Sandy. And I’m wondering if you could share your contact information right now in case somebody is listening to you and they’re thinking, wow, I can tell by her use of words and as a coach, she’d be amazing to work with. Share your contact info, your email, and then if they want more information about the Morehouse, then you can help them with that as well. That would be wonderful.
- Sandy Swider [00:33:58]:Oh, my gosh. Absolutely. So my email is sandy with a y at swiderco.com. (sandy@swiderco.com). I would love to hear from you. I would love to point you in any direction that would serve you to get in touch with some resources that would help you be more magnificently you.
- Kim Moeller [00:34:25]:Thank you. That’s perfect. Well, we’ve alluded to I haven’t specifically called out the pillars of family, friends, finances that are tied with generosity with Women Doing Well on this podcast because I think we wanted to really focus on the area of passion and then the three points that you pointed out so eloquently at the beginning. But is there anything else in that area of family and friendships that you would want to pull out before we wrap up and talk about your favorite book, bible verse, and bargain? Want to make sure there’s nothing else in your brainthat you’re thinking, I really wanted to share this?
- Sandy Swider [00:35:06]:Thank you for offering that. Yes. I think what I might offer is there was a movie a while back. It was a Jim Carey movie. I think it was called “Yes, Man”. I’m pretty sure. And he was just in the season of life where he just decided, I’m going to say yes to anything that comes my way. And it’s a crazy story, of course, but what comes to my mind as you just offer that is say yes to new experiences.
Say Yes
- Sandy Swider [00:35:36]:Say yes to the invitations. Say yes to moving into something that feels maybe a little uncomfortable. Because what the Lord has, the people who He may have for you as you step into that yes, I just think that’s where I love imagining Him smiling in delight as He sees those interpersonal connections start to be made and those relationships that become how you don’t know how you lived without them before.
- Kim Moeller [00:36:09]:So true. Oh, I love that you called that out. I was actually at an event last night that’s tied to WinShape, which is Chick Fil A’s foundation nonprofit that shapes winners is how they look at it. And my husband and I are a host couple and we were talking about with this other host couple about how everything WinShape does, they just do it so well. And they’re located in Georgia. So on the west coast, we’ve tried to tell people, it’s so fun. It’s so great. Go. And it’s really hard to get people to say yes. And so that would be a great example of I feel like, oh, you don’t know what you’re missing, but the person has to say yes to do it. So that’s a great, great challenge.
- Kim Moeller [00:36:54]:So I hope for the listener, there was something whether it’s maybe going to Morehouse or maybe it’s checking out Sandy’s coaching program or doing Women Doing Well to say yes. That’s a perfect way to wrap this up. I love that. Okay. So what is your favorite Bible verse?
Favorite Bible Verse, Book, and Bargain
- Sandy Swider [00:37:13]:Philippians 4:8. “Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable. If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
- Kim Moeller [00:37:43]:Beautiful. That’s great. Thank you for
- sharing that.The reason why I have that on the podcast is I always want there to be at least a verse of Scripture because of the power of God’s word. So that’s why we ask everybody what is their favorite verse? So thank you for sharing that one.
- Sandy Swider [00:38:00]:I love how you talked about how excellence is done with Chick Fil A. Right?Just at that level.
- Kim Moeller [00:38:06]:Yes.
- Sandy Swider [00:38:07]:And I think about these ministries that I get to be a part of. There’s excellence always at the forefront.
- Kim Moeller [00:38:14]:So true. And okay, what about a book you’re reading right now?
- Sandy Swider [00:38:20]:So this is fun. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. And I’ll also point out it’s the large print edition. Get out the large print.
Sandy Swider [00:38:42]:I really appreciate what she’s bringing. She’s looking to bring into the world talking about vulnerability and making space for real conversations. And so you get some beautiful concepts in this and you also get some real practical ideas for application. And I think that works really well. So I think it’s a great read.
Kim Moeller [00:39:02]:And tied to your earlier point about Women Doing Well and the authenticity, transparency that’s so important as a leader.
Sandy Swider [00:39:11]:Yeah. Absolutely. That could be a whole other conversation. Yeah. Just that the need for all of that in leadership today, it’s a passion point for me as well because I think when leaders are healthy and moving into an edge they can stretch to grow, they reveal treasure. Right? So, yes, you got an amen, sister.Kim Moeller [00:39:35]:And what about a bargain?
Sandy Swider [00:39:37]:Oh, here’s another one. So I love me a good TJ Maxx bargain.
Kim Moeller [00:39:43]:Same.
Sandy Swider [00:39:44]:There’s nothing like the thrill of going in there, seeing something from across the store and saying, there’s the treasure. I reveal treasure there far too freaking often.
Kim Moeller [00:39:55]:Liberating greatness in TJ Maxx. That’s great. I love it. I just saw this post of somebody in France and they said, I’m here. I moved here. Where is the Home Goods? Where is the TJMaxx? And there were 50 comments in agreement – there isn’t one. We need one. There’s nothing even similar to it. So, yes, I don’t know if I really could live in America without TJ Maxx Home Goods and Trader Joe’s. Just a little shout out to both of those.
Sandy Swider [00:40:23]:But in Paris, you go to the flea market. Right?
Kim Moeller [00:40:27]:That is true.
- Sandy Swider [00:40:28]:There’s a proxy. It’s kind of great.
- Kim Moeller [00:40:31]:Well, it’s been a real treasure being with you, Sandy. And I love this episode all about passion. I’m excited to hear later what happens from the women who heard your story, how it motivated them to take the next step and to learn more about their own passions and where God wants them to serve and to spend their their time, talent, and treasure right now during this season. So God bless you, and I love your coaching business and hope that you’re going to continue to minister to others, which I’m sure you will and do with all of your client. It’s exciting to see what will happen during the rest of this year and next year as you continue to grow yourself personally. So, God bless you. Thanks again.
- Sandy Swider [00:41:13]:Thanks, Kim. God bless you, too.What a delight. I feel great. There’s greatness here.
Conclusion
- Kim Moeller [00:41:19]:Oh, good. Well, you are great. Okay. Thanks so much for joining us today on the Generous Grill podcast. We’re so glad that you’re here. And if you know of someone that you think needs to be a guest on this podcast, please reach out to us. New episodes are released every other week, and you can follow us on YouTube and on all platforms. Thanks for being here, and we’ll see you next time.
