On today's episode we have wife, mom and educator Jenni Benson. Her luminous embrace has touched countless lives...creating bonds that stand the test of time. Tune in for a heart warming conversation filled with warmth and profound insight...from a person, in my opinion that embodies beauty, grace and goodness!
Enjoying this podcast by theheadwrapsocialite….Like, follow and share! Comment below to keep the conversation going.
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On today's episode we have wife, mom and educator Jenni Benson. Her luminous embrace has touched countless lives...creating bonds that stand the test of time. Tune in for a heart warming conversation filled with warmth and profound insight...from a person, in my opinion that embodies beauty, grace and goodness!
Enjoying this podcast by theheadwrapsocialite….Like, follow and share! Comment below to keep the conversation going.
IG: theheadwrapsocialite
Good afternoon and welcome to everybody. The podcast which shares stories that highlight people in life, that make the world an interesting place, which ultimately ties us all together in unique and wonderful ways. And who am I, you might ask. I would be the headwrapped socialite Weith mom, micro-influencer in the fashion and etiquette world, but on this podcast I will be introducing you to some people who I've had the opportunity to meet along my journey, who have helped enrich me and my life in beautiful ways and who I hope will do the same in yours. On today's episode, we are graced with the presence of a remarkable person.
Speaker 1:I've known Jenny Benson and her family for well over 15 years. We met when our children were we little ones, plain soccer. Jenny is a real one. She's the true embodiment of what love looks like. You see it when she's with her husband. You see it when she's with her children. You feel love when she speaks about her job as an educator and leader. She is a seeker of life's adventures and she's a steadfast believer in grace and goodness. And a quick aside, she also has phenomenal taste in music. So, dear listeners, please help me in welcoming my friend, jenny B to today's episode. Thank you, jenny, for being here.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Jenny, can you tell the listeners a little bit about who you are and what fuels your passion for life's adventure and family?
Speaker 2:So I think you know a big part of my life probably is my family, my husband, Tony, and our couple of folks to the member 80, which is how we've connected over the years, which has been a wonderful adventure as well, and also, as you mentioned, an educator, and so this full year will be my 25th year in education, so that's just kind of it feels like a new milestone as well, and I had about how 16 or so of those years teaching, a few of the years for coaching their new teachers, and then the last few years I've been all system principal. So it's just kind of my progression through my profession as well too, and my family getting so supportive through all of that has been such a blessing because it's been a wild ride. Obviously, COVID changed a lot of things and that was right when I was kind of changing careers was right when COVID hit, so that made it a little bit extra adventurous.
Speaker 2:But as far as life's adventures I mean, I think for us it's taking trips together. It's, you know, we feel so blessed that our boys want to do things with us. This is going to college this year and still just enjoys doing things with us, and so, you know, we just, like I said, just feel really fortunate to have that. And so it's traveling, Whether it's traveling for soccer tournaments, is that's going to huge part of our life, Whether it's just family trips and things like that. And we try to do special trips for the boys too, Like we'll take them on individual trips sometimes.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:And so, although my profession doesn't allow me to be as flexible to do those types of things, he takes them. But then I have the other one at home, and so I get that time with the other one too, just around the house and things, which has always been just. You know, it's just a pleasure to have those opportunities. Let them.
Speaker 1:For sure, for sure, that's beautiful and I can quickly digress in these interviews, so you just, you know, kind of lead me back. But what I love about what you just said is that you take the time to make time for your family. And just the other day, you know, we saw each other at a soccer game and Kayden was standing there having this lovely conversation. And, first of all, I can't even believe that he's going off to college. But when you said that they love to spend time with you, it is evident Because when we were having our conversation, kayden was there. He was in the conversation.
Speaker 1:There were some kids who you know, when their parents are chit-chatting, they kind of like scooch away Okay, hello, mrs Morris, I've seen you, we're good. But he was there just spending time and I was looking at the interaction and basically just sitting in that love, because you could feel like how much love and respect that he has for you. And when Brady came over too, it was the same way Very caring souls. You and Tony have grown just really nice human beings.
Speaker 2:We always say the same about you and all of your boys Because that's. You know, we've again. We've spent a lot of time together.
Speaker 1:For sure.
Speaker 2:Over the years and that's. You know, we don't know all of your boys the same way. We know a couple of them quite well and things and it's always been the same way where it's like you and Jay have really just done such a beautiful job with them and listening to Jonah and listening to.
Speaker 2:Noah way back when you started this and things too, and just the things that they have to say about family and their connections, not only to you and Jay, but also their brothers and things too. And that's something that we've always admired too and been grateful that our boys have kind of found that and how we we don't know what we did, but some of it's just dad's grace and what they have become and we just hope that continues to them and it's always been the chance to see them down.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's evident by our conversations that we've had that your belief in grace and goodness. It guides your path, and I would like to know how do these principles shape your decisions and your interactions with others?
Speaker 2:I think a lot of it is. I always want to find the good in whatever situation, whether it's a good situation, a challenging situation, depending what's going on, and it's just what good is there and kind of that presuming positive intent and just that. No one's perfect myself included.
Speaker 2:And it's like we're all experiencing things in our own way and we're all bringing our own experiences to each experience that we're dealing with and it's just trying to remember that everybody everybody's always trying their best. People aren't out there to do things to hurt people in most of the situations, and maybe it's not coming across the way I appreciate or maybe it's probably they're going to say they wanted to, even if that's how others are feeling, and I just try really hard to remember that. I have my moments, of course, too, but I just try to, like I said, presume positive intent and just try to understand where people are coming from as best as I can, try to learn new things when I can, try to just reflect on what I'm doing and how it might be affecting the situation and things too.
Speaker 1:And again I have a lot of growth in that area as well.
Speaker 2:But it's just what I try really hard to do Just to give people a chance and try to be patient and kind and give when I can, even if it's a struggle for me in the moment. But my giving might help them get through something that they're maybe, something that there are, things like that, and I just try to do it that way as much as I can.
Speaker 1:For sure. I've always said all that. Your enthusiasm for learning and teaching and leading has always been inspiring to me, because when you would go to work you'd hurry over to a soccer game. That can you share. A defining moment in your life that led you to embrace the role of teacher, of leader. Not that you don't know that you're an inspiration to others, because I've told you like a thousand times already. But how do you embrace these roles and when did you know that education was your calling?
Speaker 2:Well, I can start with that one. I was kind of one of those kids always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I would sit in the basement and teach my stuffed animals oh, I love it Because I was an only child and how my only child was and so we had me entertain myself a lot, and my mom had actually been a teacher. She stopped teaching before I was born, though. So I never, like, knew her in that role oh interesting, but she still had stuff laying around, you know just from her teaching years and stuff. So I would play with that stuff and you know, or diddos and stuff, and so I would teach myself to animals. And just, you know, like every kid, you think you're going to be this, that and the other, but I would always go back to being a teacher, and so there was just something about it that I was drawn to it from very, very young, and when it came time to be selecting colleges and things that's, I knew that's what I wanted to do.
Speaker 2:So, seek out the colleges that had good schools of education, which is actually what brought me to Minnesota as a group in Illinois. So I came here and then just kind of gone from there, and throughout my career I always had this desire to do more and be able to help more people to, and I love teaching. I miss teaching immensely, but I also love being a leader and being able to help so many more people. And that was just. I didn't necessarily see myself as a principal early on, but yet I was just getting my feet wet and figuring everything out and stuff.
Speaker 2:But yet it was like I just wanted to be able to do more things and so I just kind of kept getting involved in other smaller leadership things within the building as a teacher, and that just kind of tapped it going. And then when I switched into a role where I was coaching new teachers, I actually had the opportunity like heard of the like a bonus to that job was I got some free credits at a college so I could get my principal licensure and things like that. And that was once I started that work.
Speaker 2:It was like, okay, yeah, I'm ready to like start dipping into this more and trying to do more that way, which is just what's kind of led me here. And so it's really just a whole progression of things happening in my life and even working in education. When I think back to what type of teacher I was when I was just starting. I was first married, didn't have any kids of my own. I was very different teacher than what I was a few years ago when I left the classroom and kind of that progression going through, like now I had kids of pay, understand what it's like to have kids at home, but they weren't school aged kids yet. Then Kate went to school and eventually Brady went to school and was like yeah, no, now I get it. I know this is a parent.
Speaker 2:you know those types of things when you start just kind of morphing what you're doing is you're learning and you're growing and you know and just learning through those avenues, learning through, like I said, those other just kind of building leadership opportunities, that I had two of different committees and things like that it was like, okay, this is just a different perspective.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And Tony's very much my biggest cheerleader.
Speaker 1:For sure.
Speaker 2:You know, really has stood behind me, even though it's been very hard to transition into a leadership role, you know, as an assistant principal, because it's a lot more time and it's a lot bigger of a commitment. I work longer throughout the year and I have to be at all of the events, not just certain ones and things like that, which is wonderful. It's not that I don't enjoy that, it's a blessing in and of itself as a part of that job and have that time with the kids and the families and things like that. But it also takes away from my family time, and so that's something I'm working on. I don't have the best balance. I'm kind of a worker, I'm kind of a worker. So you know that's something I'm working on too.
Speaker 2:And you know again, it's my own reflection and just figure out where I am and what I can do. And this year will be new. I mean, we're sending one of our children off to college and it will look different, and so that is what we do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's it, girl, that's it, and I always go back to. The journey continues, it does Right, and where is this next part gonna lead you? And what I like to about what you said is is you keep going back to, you know, the growth piece and how each stage is an opportunity for us all to grow and it's an opportunity for us to be a little bit more open to the changes that we experience. We're not meant to stay stagnant, right, it's a constant transition, this thing called life, and I think, too, when our kids see us being able to adjust to the different challenges that we face, they take these little pieces too and are able to equip themselves with this, you know, for their journey.
Speaker 2:Yep, absolutely, and that's what we had conversations more with Kayden, just as he's getting ready to make a big transition himself too, and I can see that he sees that.
Speaker 2:And that you know. He knows we're here for him. But there's also things he's going to have to start working on figuring out more on his own and be more independent. But he knows he can face challenges and you know our kids making it through the school years with COVID and you know, and things like that too Like those were huge challenges for them and they had to navigate. I mean, we were all navigating things. We could never navigate it.
Speaker 2:But you know, for school age kids that was even bigger than, in some ways, than it was for us as adults, because we just have other life experiences to play off of and get help. I just need to help those yet.
Speaker 1:Correct.
Speaker 2:So it's Edo, he's lived through that, he's learned a lot through that too and that, I think, makes him more prepared for this next big step. And then to just seeing both Tony and I in different things that have happened in our lives, whether it's career things or personal things or whatever, just seeing how we've coped and moved forward and just kind of taken and learned what we could from the situation, what can we do, what do we need to let go of, what can we keep, and just kind of go from there. And so I do see our boys, as now that they're getting older, just kind of reflecting in their own way on those things. And they'll continue to reflect as they have more life experiences and mature themselves. But it is fun to kind of watch and see. It's like, ok, hey, we're listening, you're watching.
Speaker 1:Ok, just video games.
Speaker 2:Nope, hi.
Speaker 1:That's great. Another thing that I've admired about you and your family is your love of travel and your love of adventure. What advice would you give to someone who was seeking to step out of their comfort zone and embark on their own transformative journeys?
Speaker 2:I think a lot of it is. It took me a long time to understand and really believe that change is good.
Speaker 2:It can be really hard of course, but that it is really good. And the big time for me was when I switched from teaching in the classroom to coaching new teachers and I had been in the same school for 13 or 14 years at that point, teaching the same grade level, same school, everything. That was my comfort zone and I loved it and I was happy and I was growing in things. But I didn't realize what kind of other opportunities were out there for it and so it was the new going into coaching teachers and things was something I wanted to do as well too, because it was actually with the graduate program that I had gone through back in the day as a new teacher and really wanted to do that. But it was a huge leap of faith and it was just like, ok, I don't know, do I really know what I need to do to help these teachers? But also when you stepping out of the classroom and in my little first grade classroom that I know so well and this has been my life for the last, how many years and things and it was super, super scary. But then when I think about those three years when I was coaching and how much growth I had because I took on a whole new thing. It's just it's remarkable to myself too of like, ok, this, it is good.
Speaker 2:It's super hard, it's hard to pack everything up, it's hard to go out of your comfort zone and try something new. But it's going back to school and getting my principal and superintendent licensures. And you know, like why is my superintendent license? Will I ever use it? I don't know, but I have it, and that was even when I had to interview to get the license. It's like you have to pass a panel for that and it's like you haven't even been a principal. What makes you think you can be a superintendent?
Speaker 2:I mean, it wasn't worded quite that way of course, but it was just of a question and it was like because I'll take on challenges and I'll figure it out, there you go. Will it take me a little longer, you know, if I were to go out tomorrow and get a superintendent job, of course, because we don't have the same experiences that most others have.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But could I figure it out? Yes, and I think a part of that is because I've pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and it's doing those things with our family too. I mean soccer yeah, I'm not athletic, not a soccer player, but Tony always was. Our boys became. That was different for me becoming a soccer mom, and just not as big of a thing, but just a different type of going out of my comfort zone. And for quite a while I was on the sidelines with him as a coach, before our kids even played, and then they started playing. So then I kind of turned into the soccer mom. But it's just trying to be famous. The worst thing that's going to happen is you don't like it.
Speaker 2:You find something else to do that you like and set. And it's not the end of the world. If you aren't happy in something, there's always other opportunities out there you might. It takes a while, it's not always easy to change, but you've put it. So, I remind myself love.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you have a mantra that you live by?
Speaker 2:I don't know that I really do.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm one of those people that I hear quotes and you know what I mean and there's so many that they all touch me in different ways at different times. I don't have any one thing that I really always go back to Again. I just kind of go back to Grace and Haitian's and believing in the good, in people and do what I can there and the right to accept. Different things happen at different times of my life for reasons, and I may not always know what those reasons are, but there's a lesson or a few lessons in things that they just try to dig out, and I'm sure I miss quite a few.
Speaker 2:That's why they keep coming back.
Speaker 1:That's why I tell my kids all the time I'm like, hmm, when the universe is trying to teach you something, if you don't get the first time, you better believe it's good. That lesson is going to show up over and over and over until you get it.
Speaker 2:And you're not always ready for every lesson I mean that's it. It might be there, but it might not be what you're ready for in a moment. So that's OK. You might not understand why, for a long time. And some other lessons will come along that will sink in better, and I mean that's how I think as a teacher.
Speaker 2:Like that's we can't teach every child the same way. You're not all there to learn the same way. They don't all learn the same way. They come with different baggage, they come with different skill sets, they come with different emotions, they come with all different things, and it's the same for each of us too, and it can very much depend on the moment in your life that you're in for any of it. So right, well, I think I said I'll get it next time.
Speaker 1:Here you go, or maybe three or four times down the road, but we'll get it. Earlier I referenced your love of music. If I could ask you what would be the soundtrack of your life?
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't sound track of my life, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Gosh, could I phrase it a different way? Sure, ok, let me see if I can find it OK. What artist would be the backdrop to your commute? Well, it probably depends on the day, ok, ok.
Speaker 2:Some days we might need, you know, like a Michael Buble. Just give him a happy something like. I'm just going to be you, and there's other days, as you know, janet Jackson would totally play us a mat of like. Maybe I, you know, need a little extra sass, maybe I just need, you know, kind of. I mean, she's got a little bit of everything.
Speaker 1:And as soon as we will start this but sometimes I need that 90s out.
Speaker 2:So, oh, I love it. I love it. I mean, it's like it. Just I'm a very eclectic person. It's it, kate, and got me started on. You know, it's like a Spotify version. You know different app and stuff, and so it's like I have this whole collection of like 200 some songs and it's literally like everything from early 80s to now and it's other than country. I can't really. I mean I maybe have like a couple of countries on it.
Speaker 1:I can't, it's not your genre.
Speaker 2:It's not my genre, but pretty much everything else. I mean Tony used to DJ, I'm used to a lot of different genres and that's what I like, Because I do. In all honesty, it's like there are some days I might need a little heavy metal to just like get it out.
Speaker 1:And favorite heavy metal group.
Speaker 2:Ooh, I think I can ask you that. Not heavy metal, maybe something, I'm both okay.
Speaker 1:I was gonna say but you know I'm not a heavy metal type person, but I was like thinking like what's that group Can't even know, between us, just make it up stuff. Dantant, pull some sugar on me?
Speaker 2:Yes. Is that a JoVy journey? No, not journey. Who's poison then? Poison Is that poison? I think it's poison. See, this is terrible, okay, okay.
Speaker 1:And you know like the listeners would be, like you know that is not poison. That is like death leopard.
Speaker 2:No, maybe.
Speaker 1:Okay, so I'm gonna say listeners out there, if you would happen to know who sings that song, please send us up in the comments.
Speaker 2:Gosh, we can't do it. Death, leopard Death leopard.
Speaker 1:Who said that? You said that. One of us said okay, we both said it.
Speaker 2:Go with it.
Speaker 1:As a teacher and leader, you inspire others to find their voice and potential, and I would say we touched upon this earlier. But how do you navigate challenges and setbacks in your own leadership journey? And then I was thinking especially during the time and you brought this up of COVID.
Speaker 2:You know, it's a huge part of my role as a teacher, as a leader, anything in life I mean, it's so much about the relationships that I don't think so. When I first started my first assistant principal position, I got hired mid-year, which is weird in and of itself for education, like usually we're switching over the summer and you start in the fall and play onward. You go. I started at a school in January, so I left a classroom and I started in a new role in a different building. The first week I was there we actually had a staff member pass away. I didn't know her.
Speaker 2:I just had to take the relationships that I had with some people prior to coming there, just because I've been in the district long enough, and just be there to support. And you know, and I know I said to a lot of people like I don't have the same connection to this, but I'm here for you. What can I do to support you? What can I do to help you in this moment? What you know, just lean on me. So it gave me an opportunity, even though it was a hard opportunity, but to build a lot of relationships really quickly with people. And then, you know, it was like I just dove in and you know and just support kids, get to know kids, get to know families as much as I could. And then March of 2020 came and everybody went home.
Speaker 2:And so it was like I still didn't know everybody really well, I've only known them for, you know, two and a half months kind of thing. And then it was like everybody dispersed and nobody came back. We couldn't, and I just still went to what can I do? How can I support, you know, and just kept asking those kind of questions. It's like, you know, and people don't always know what they need. So sometimes I offer up, let's see, and you know. And so once we started coming back, just tried to do the best I could. But that's what I always believe in is building those relationships. When I have to make hard phone calls home, it's never fun.
Speaker 2:I mean, you know, and when you say who you are, and what your role in it, the school, is most parents are like well, shoot, you know, but let's talk about this, and here's what I do see, you know, and here's those positive things, and I'm always trying to find positive things that I can build in there too, even in the really, really tough situations that sometimes I'm in. And you know just, it's not the person, it's a situation. And we're working through the situation. It doesn't make the person a bad person. It doesn't make them. You know, there's nothing wrong there.
Speaker 2:It's just there's a situation that we need to work, and whether that's with a child, a family, a staff member, you know whatever in my own house. You know like our own boys struggle with that. Sometimes, Like you know, it's just getting really hard on themselves. And it's like this doesn't make you a bad person. You may be made, you know, a choice that wasn't the greatest and you know, and we've been fortunate and I've been too big, it's not bad, but you know we all have them.
Speaker 2:That's life, you know, but it's not you as a person. We just have to work through what this is, and that's where the relationships that I build with people help me. Do that with people, Right, and just say you know, I have to share these things with you, or we have to work through this, or whatever it might be, but we're gonna do it together, right, and we're gonna support each other, and it doesn't define you as a person, it's just the moment and what we need to get through, and so that's a big thing for me, that even more so in a leadership role than as a classroom teacher, right, and then a lot of that you know, just as I've kind of grown in that too.
Speaker 2:It's from home, and you know there's probably things I say or do at home or Tony's like we're not kids and I don't try that, but you know but it's just how I approach things, and I try to look beyond and see the bigger picture Cause that's a big part of my role too is I'm there to see the big picture and how everything is coming together. And where do we have holes that we need to fill, where things, you know, maybe cracking a little and we can repair a little and make it better as a whole? Mm-hmm, it's how we get through and spend time just making things better and making it feel good for as many people as possible. You know you want to feel great for everybody and that's not always reality, but how can you make it so that it's at least good for as many as possible? And then, when you're working on the ones that maybe has some other points on that you just need to support different roles.
Speaker 1:I like that. Thank you for sharing that. I mean you have a lot to take care of and you're super busy. You know all the time how do you practice self-compassion and self-love to ensure that your cup remains full.
Speaker 2:That's not an area I'm brave at. It's. I just joined a gym. I'm like trying to like do things because I do. I mean, that's something that, like I said before, I'm very much a workaholic. I always have been, and now, being in a slightly different role in education, it's even easier to be even more of a workaholic. So that's not an area. Taking care of myself is not really a priority. I'm trying. That's something that I have a lot of work to do on Some of the things. You know Tony, again, my biggest cheerleader and as always they're supporting me and you know.
Speaker 2:So he does things like we try to get away for Vegas trips or you know, things like that and if there can just be a quick you know one or two night thing to just do little things to or you know, or go out to dinner or go you know just things. That way that it's like even though sometimes that's really overwhelming for me because I have so many other things going on it helps balance me out.
Speaker 1:That's a little bit too.
Speaker 2:So, you know it, our summers get busy but we try to pack in, you know, and many of those things when I'm off and have more flexibility, to try to fill my cup up as much as possible over the summer to help me get through school year, kind of thing, and not that it's bad, but it's just it's. It's a lot of time commitment and it's, you know, in just different journeys. Within that change what's happening. And you know, and it's, every school year is a new school year and there's always different things that happen with that, both for me as well as our kids. And so it's just kind of trying to do what I can. And you know, and sometimes I usually know when I hit a limit limit yes, yes.
Speaker 2:I just get kind of stubborn for a few days and then I get over it and you know, and can get back up. But it's like that's just kind of my way. My brain tells me like enough is enough.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And, you know, do what you have to do, of course, but some of that extra it's just gonna have to wait for a few days or whatever.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:That remind myself, like that's okay, like I am a person and and it's you know, it's. I guess it's kind of like I said before to you, like different quotes hit me at different times and it's those types of times where, like the I don't know exactly how it's said, but you know it's like you're. You're a person, not a profession, you know, and that they could replace you in a heartbeat, but your family can't replace you.
Speaker 2:You know and you know, and that's those types of things, that it will pop up at those times and just to remind me. Like you know, it'll be okay.
Speaker 1:Right Right. This too shall pass yes.
Speaker 2:You know, and it's just, you gotta take time and do, do what you can.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you know it's just the self too, and your family and just embracing that and you know, and like this year was a lot, just there were a lot of things happening at school that made it really really hectic. It's not that it was bad, but it was just an extra hectic year and it's like it was cadence senior year and I need to like embrace as much of this as I can.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Because this is it for him. And then he's going away to school and stuff. So just those little things in life that pop up again too. You know life's lessons, that it'll be okay, and onward we go.
Speaker 1:And onward we go. Before we conclude, first of all, I've enjoyed this time, but I do want to ask you one last question. Okay, what is your greatest hope? What is it that you hope that you get to accomplish in your teacher, your leadership role, your role in the world? What is your greatest hope?
Speaker 2:That's a lofty one. I think a lot of it is just. It kind of goes back to just who I am too. But just for people to be nice to people Like you know one's better than anyone else, we again are all coming with our own experiences, baggage everything you know and that we all have to stop and remember that about everybody else and that maybe they're saying or doing something that you don't like or doesn't feel good to you, but we don't know what they're coming from.
Speaker 2:You know prior to that being with you, whether it's a whole lot of things or five minutes ago, but it's just it's. It's that giving each other grace and just remembering that, for the most part, everybody but for the most part, everybody is good and they mean well and they want. They want good things for the people they care about and others, and you know, and it's just that, like just cool, patient and compassionate toward other people. I would love to see the world slow down a little bit. I mean, that's you know, and that's, that's a part of where.
Speaker 2:I struggle too is that I'm I'm a workaholic, but then it's I feel like everything's moving so fast all the time and I get competitive in that and I need to keep. I need to keep up with that and that's, you know, not always the healthiest for me either, as the others go too, you know so just to be nice. Like why do we have to move so fast all the time? Like I understand there's times but as a whole, if we go back to the 80s or the 90s you know, and you think about what was more normal life then versus now.
Speaker 2:It's a whole different thing and I'm just sucked into all of it. I'm not saying I'm not but I think there could be some good there too. I mean, we've been fortunate the last couple of summers to go to Hawaii and a time there it's like people are just chill, everything just moves at a little slower pace.
Speaker 2:I mean literally the speed limits are lower too, but it's just, everything's just more low key and they're just happy and they say please and thank you, and they you know, it's just little things but long way. So I guess that would be kind of where I land is just be nice, be a kind person and let's all just look out a little bit.
Speaker 1:I like that.
Speaker 2:And just take in what's around us and enjoy it.
Speaker 1:That's it, because, before you know it, you blink your eyes and your kids are going off the college. That's amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and we're getting older. Oh, let's not talk about that, sorry, I'm your mom too. Yeah, just enjoy it. That is true Because you never know what's around the corner.
Speaker 1:That's true.
Speaker 2:That may or may not take all that away too. That is true.
Speaker 1:That is true, my friend. I think that's a wonderful note too and the interview on. I would just like to say thank you so much for taking time out and spending this time, and for me this is a full circle moment with you here, because I don't know if you knew this, but you were one of the first people that I shared that I was thinking about doing this podcast and I remember sitting on the soccer field and chatting with you and I said I have this idea and if I get this podcast up and running, like I want you to be my guest on this podcast. So for me, as I'm listening to you and I'm thinking about slowing down, I'm taking in this moment, grateful to God that he placed you and your family in our lives. It fills my cup and it fills me with so much joy and fills me with so much love for just the relationship that we have, and for that I will be just just just grateful.
Speaker 2:I think I'm just staring at the children. I've always looked up to you and you know I'm just really just but truly appreciated our time that we have spent together, and you know wide variety of conversations that we've had over the years and laughs, and you know and just kind of momentarily eye roll.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's just things, but it's just so much of that. And again too, just watching your boys grow up. And you know, and that's something Tony and I have talked so much about too is, you know, not only your family but there were lots of other families too that you were just so fortunate to have such a great camaraderie, not only amongst the boys but also amongst the families, and that, you know, and that brought us such great joy to you. But you know, to be able to have the relationship that you and I have grown over the years and things that you know, I'm very honored to be here. But you know, it's just, it's just so nice to have that. And you know, and I remember that conversation I didn't realize that not many people knew, but you know, I'm just so proud of you and all the things you do too. It's so fun to watch you and you know, and it's like, oh, thank you someday.
Speaker 2:Not the same things, because I'm not as savvy as you, but you know it's. You exude joy in what you do too, whether it's things with your family, whether it's your. You know your fashion pieces, the podcast, you know any of those things like you're happy. You're enjoying it and it shows, and that's what you want for anybody too is to know that they're happy and they're enjoying your things they're doing.
Speaker 2:There's always hard days, and there's you know, always great joys and you know, but it's to have it the joy. Be more of it than the tough Right. We all know the toughs there. Yeah, and that's how we learn and grow and that's okay. But to see someone thoroughly enjoying what they're doing and have, you know, so many fascinating conversations with people and things, and you know, and like I joke with you, I don't know if I'm interesting enough, but it is just a true honor that you asked me to do it, Olson. It's full of love.
Speaker 1:Thank you, my friend and dear listeners. I really hope that you all enjoyed this conversation and, like I said in the beginning, you know Jenny and her family. They're real ones, and I hope that you all can have a Jenny and a Tony in your life, because these are the people that grow you. These are the people that challenge the way that you think and help you to become better in this thing that we call life. You have always led with grace, compassion and a loving heart, and anybody who's had the privilege of being in your company lead the conversations that they have with you a much better person. So I thank you for that, my friend, and thank you for being here on today's episode. I love you.
Speaker 2:I love you.
Speaker 1:Oh, fred, oh yes, you're such a beautiful person.
Speaker 2:You are as well, and that's what I'm trying to say.