Kind Conversations #6 - Living a Life of Adventure and Purpose Beyond Diagnosis,with Christina Menkemeller

01/20/20 • 29 min

Welcome to this new Kind Conversation with Christina Menkemeller from the nonprofit 'Being Positioned', a charity that sends adults with critical, life-altering rare genetic disorders on an all expenses paid trip of a lifetime within the US. In 2016, Christina was finishing her Master's Degree in Social Work and getting married, completely unaware of what was to come. Later that year Christina was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder (NF2) changing the course of her life in every way! Christina shares her amazing story of how this diagnosis has brought about the birth of the nonprofit 'Being Positioned' and how Christina and her husband, Cardin, have chosen to live with gratitude for everything they get to experience and create together. Trust me... it's just amazing!
We talk about...
- how life can change course unexpectedly and how that can actually be quite liberating.
- Christina and Cardin's unlikely adventure... quitting their jobs and escaping the every day to be a normal newlywed couple.
- learning to look for adventure and fun in everything!
- letting go of your pride and just going for it!
- finding the gifts in the face of challenges.
- when you're feeling stuck and everything's going wrong, you're 'being positioned' for something greater/better.
- the isolation of rare genetic disorders and how social media has been such an amazing tool in helping people to connect with one another from all around the world.
- the road ahead with 'Being Positioned' and how they would like to give others the opportunity they had to escape the norm and live life to the fullest in spite of their condition.
I ended this conversation with nothing but admiration for Christina, and Cardin, - they truly are remarkable individuals and the world is a better place for their positive attitudes and their mission to help others. To find out more about 'Being Positioned' and to follow their adventures, you can find them here...
https://beingpositioned.org/
https://www.instagram.com/beingpositioned/
https://www.facebook.com/beingpositioned/
https://www.instagram.com/christinamenkemeller/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWnNuhgzpV0NCLOdqbMqCeQ
Thank you so much for listening! Rebecca x

Previous Episode

Kind Conversations #5 - Discover a daily routine to help you reflect and connect in 2020!, with Amy Giddon

Welcome to this new Kind Conversation with Amy Giddon, CEO and Co-Founder of the amazing app 'Daily Haloha' - a simple daily routine to help you feel a little more connected to yourself and the rest of humanity. It seems so fitting to begin the year with this conversation - such a wonderful way to introduce a new routine into your day that will give you the opportunity to reflect and to connect with others all around the world!
We talk about...
- How the collective bewilderment and disconnection of Americans following the last presidential election left many people searching for connection and belonging.
- How a simple public art display resulted in something so unifying and uplifting that it stopped people in their tracks.
- The power of these collective experiences and how they have the ability change lives and reunite humanity.
- The rare opportunity to be anonymous and take part in something that carries no judgement or fear of getting it wrong.
- How following your instincts and making the smallest step can bring about something amazing. Say "yes" and follow your values.
- The challenges of taking a heart-centred enterprise and ensuring it can grow effectively in order to make an impact in the long term.
- The magic of Daily Haloha - how it works and how it has been described as "Facebook and Headspace having a baby"!
- The responsibility behind each and every question posted within the app - Amy takes this very seriously.
- How sharing both our triumphs and our struggles can be such a positive experience and how both have the ability to bring us closer together.
- The future of Daily Haloha. The app has been downloaded in over 65 countries (prior to any marketing) and the appetite for this experience is clearly high. We talk about the potential opportunities for growth going forward.
What a wonderful way to kick off 2020. It was such a treat talking to Amy. I look forward to receiving my Daily Haloha each day - I hope you will too. You can find 'Daily Haloha' at...
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/daily-haloha-self-reflection/id1429621546
https://www.dailyhaloha.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dailyhaloha/
https://www.facebook.com/DailyHaloha/
Thank you so much for listening! Rebecca x

Next Episode

Kind Conversations #7 - Being Sustainable(ish), with Jen Gale

I am so proud to welcome you to this new Kind Conversation with Jen Gale, author of "The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide"- Everything You Need to Know to Make Small Changes That Make a Big Difference. Jen's positive attitude, humour and realistic approach to becoming more sustainable is a breath of fresh air. We cover so much in this conversation, including...
- Jen's decision to have a whole year without buying ANYTHING new (no small task with two young children and a husband who argued his daily paper didn't count.)
- The realisation that we all need to take responsibility for the climate crisis and we can make a difference through small changes.
- How we need to change our habits and mindset when it comes to buying new.
- Jen's journey from writing a blog through to a publishing deal.
- Taking the judgement and overwhelm out of living a sustainable life.
- How the small changes can be so easy to implement.
- Approaching parenting from a sustainable standpoint and how, as parents, we need to work together and support one another.
- Extinction Rebellion, and how we can all be activists in our own homes.
- How we need to nurture our inner-happiness and stop being so easily led by advertising and promises that a product will make us happier.
- Ways to get the family involved and to start the conversation.
I loved this conversation - Jen's book is packed full with facts (that will make your jaw drop), solutions, resources and ideas... it's written in such an approachable way that I found myself immersed within minutes. If you'd like to follow Jen, you will find her here...
https://www.asustainablelife.co.uk/
https://www.asustainablelife.co.uk/the-sustainableish-living-guide/
https://www.instagram.com/sustainableish/
https://www.facebook.com/mymakedoandmendlife/
https://twitter.com/sustainableish
Thank you so much for listening!
Rebecca