Building Something on My Own - episode 64
Christine O’Donnell is our next guest in the Insta-Summer series. She has a podcast called Podcast Coaching with Christine, to, you guessed it, coach podcasters. Relevant, insightful topics to guide us toward success. And that can be measured in all sorts of ways, both professional and personal. What I appreciate about Christine’s journey is the way she was able to take an extremely difficult time from her former career as a journalist, and turn it into something good. Not everyone can do that. You will hear the things she learned, and how she is using those lessons to mentor podcasters. You don’t have to be in that world to apply the wisdom she has gleaned. It can be for anyone, and is for everyone.
In sharing her story, Christine has shown a valuable trajectory of growth in understanding her worth, and in better listening to her gut. And while she might have done things differently if she had the opportunity to “do it over” she is living proof of, When you know better, you do better. Learning and growing from what we go through is the best possible way to go through life. Isn’t that part of why we are here?
Driven. Loyal. Caring.
— Christine
Pinky and Baby Grandma
Thoughts from Building Something on My Own
Pinky. Her given name is Henrietta but as Christine shared with us, she prefers the nickname, Pinky. She is an inspiring woman because she models finding joy in the way she lives. Christine finds it powerful to have that kind of outlook on life especially since Pinky has experienced so much grief having buried her husband, and 4 of her 5 children. How did she find, and let herself look for, the joy after that? (And no, I don’t know the details of her story but was very touched by her determination to survive, and endure well.)
It got me thinking about my own grandparents. Sadly I never met either of my grandfathers. Both of my grandmothers were strong women who forged very independent paths. I got to see it first-hand, and it made an indelible, lasting impression. The one I was closest to was my mother’s mom, good-old-fashioned “Grandma.” Pearl was born on a working farm in Minnesota and survived the Great Depression. After marrying, she moved to San Diego and continued to raise her family. After a divorce she was on her own. Incredibly she worked hard with an ethic I have rarely seen. She was a saver and in doing so bought a home where, once the kids were grown and out of the house, turned it into a home for the elderly. There she worked 24/7 for years.
The thing I remember most about her, particularly in retrospect, is her sacrifice and commitment to family. Grandma thought nothing of working long, tireless hours to provide for her family. She bought my mother a house because she did not want me, and my brother, to grow up in the apartment we were living in. In later years she did the same thing for her other daughter. How is that for love?
Some of the snapshots I keep close to my heart:
She loved See’s Candies and always had a box or two on hand, having one piece after lunch and dinner.
When you came by for a visit and said you liked something, she would bag it up likely with a clothespin and/or rubber band and it was now yours.
If you wanted to earn some extra money you could come by and help her out. You always left with a healthy “tip” as she called it.
Saturday nights were Lawrence Welk which she didn’t miss because she was such a fan. (She could really cut up the rug!)
When she was in the kitchen and cutting something up she had a way of tossing the paring knife down the counter. I now do the same thing!
Grandma had different food at her house and I could partake in white bread, Velveeta cheese, cherry pie. (Remember, I was a kid!)
For the last 16 years of her life she was known as “Baby Grandma.” When Shaun was about 3 years-old we were explaining to him my grandma was his great-grandma. He told us, “No, she’s not great. She’s a baby. Baby Grandma.” (He was thinking great as in size!) And that is how I will remember her - my loving, generous Baby Grandma. Christine will remember Pinky as joyous and someone who endured well. Thank you to our grandmothers for being exactly who they were, and leaving a piece of themselves in our hearts.
A grandmother’s love feels like nobody else’s.
Pinky and Christine
Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.
Pearl “Baby Grandma”
