Sucker Punched

Meet Della, a bubbly former ballroom dancing instructor, who moved to Connecticut from North Carolina with her husband, only to be facing a divorce soon after. Adding insult to injury, Della had a severe pulmonary embolism (a blockage of blood flow to the lungs) as a complication of her cystic fibrosis (CF). She didn’t handle all of the changes well and even attempted suicide. Now, Della is living with her parents, taking care of herself, and learning what unconditional love really means. The biggest thing Della has learned through these challenges is who God really is. Being a Christian, Della explained, is much more about relationships than it is about saying the right things or acting the right way. She wants people to know that it’s okay to “take God into a boxing ring and then out for ice cream” because he can handle the reality of our lives. Her advice for people handling significant amounts of change or struggling with living a life that’s less than what they dreamed of is “don’t give up and take your time,” learn to love and accept yourself, find a counselor, and spend time praying.

Della's Answers To The Fun Questions: • What are you loving right now? Love Does by Bob Goff • What’s your favorite meal right now? Sushi and Chipotle • What are you doing to take care of yourself? Doing all her CF treatments, leaving the house, and being open and honest with people • What are you doing to be brave? Giving herself permission to love herself, her life, and God

Connect with Becky: BLOG: BeckyLMcCoy.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/BeckyLMcCoy TWITTER: twitter.com/BeckyLMcCoy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/BeckyLMcCoy PINTEREST: pinterest.com/BeckyLMcCoy NEWSLETTER: BeckyLMcCoy.com/email

Share your Sucker Punched story at BeckyLMcCoy.com/Submissions Please subscribe to and rate this podcast to help others find Sucker Punched.

NOTE: Sucker Punched is the podcast formerly known as Stories of Unfolding Grace

Meet Andy, founder and owner of Plum Deluxe, a loose leaf tea company with specialty blends and a tea of the month club. Andy’s professional career began in Europe as an IT specialist for an American company based abroad. Through a series of events, he was hired by a different company and relocated to Scotland. His work environment in the new job was difficult, even hostile. The stress he was experiencing at work manifested itself as migraines and other physical symptoms and Andy began to withdraw into himself. He started meeting with a group of entrepreneurs who helped him to create space and find perspective. He ended up quitting his job and, eventually, moved back to the United States. Several years later and he is running a successful tea company. He has also created a community that is a safe harbor for learning what it means to live a life you love. Andy has developed an awareness of his emotional wellbeing through the difficult years of uncertainty. He encourages people in difficult work environments to create some space, to take care of yourself, and to be confident that you can choose to make a change.

Order yourself some tea and join Andy’s tea of the month club at PlumDeluxe.com

Andy's Answers to the Fun Questions: • What are you loving right now? The hot tub at his new house • What’s your favorite meal right now? Scones, shortcakes, and other baked goods • What are you doing to take care of yourself? Pilates • What are you doing to be brave? Taking risks and trying new things as inspired by Brene Brown’s book Rising Strong

Connect with Andy: BLOG: PlumDeluxe.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PlumDeluxe TWITTER: twitter.com/PlumDeluxe INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/PlumDeluxe PINTEREST: pinterest.com/plumdeluxe/

Connect with Becky: BLOG: BeckyLMcCoy.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/BeckyLMcCoy TWITTER: twitter.com/BeckyLMcCoy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/BeckyLMcCoy NEWSLETTER: eepurl.com/bBOHH1

Share your Sucker Punched story at BeckyLMcCoy.com/Submissions Please subscribe to and rate this podcast to help others find Sucker Punched.

NOTE: Sucker Punched is the podcast formerly known as Stories of Unfolding Grace

Meet Patty, an all around awesome and brave person (also known as my mom), shares the story of the years when my dad was laid off: he was running his own business and, while it was a thriving business, their mortgage was sold to a bank who wouldn’t recognize the federal program that allowed them to pay only interest while they got back on their feet. Bankruptcy and foreclosure followed and my parents had to find a place to live when most places wouldn’t consider them as tenants with a history of bankruptcy. Grace showed up in the form of Toys ‘R’ Us Geoffrey Bucks and tomato soup and helped her to realize that “home” is where family is.

Patty's Answers to the Fun Questions: • What are you loving right now? Daffodils, the completed Niantic boardwalk, and spring arriving • What’s your favorite meal right now? Noosa coconut yogurt and dark chocolate. • What are you doing to take care of yourself? Learning about who she is and what it looks like to be a widow in this season of life. • What are you doing to be brave? Pursuing new interests and trusting God with an unknown future.

Connect with Becky: BLOG: BeckyLMcCoy.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/BeckyLMcCoy TWITTER: twitter.com/BeckyLMcCoy INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/BeckyLMcCoy NEWSLETTER: eepurl.com/bBOHH1

Share your Sucker Punched story at BeckyLMcCoy.com/Submissions Please subscribe to and rate this podcast to help others find Sucker Punched.

NOTE: Sucker Punched is the podcast formerly known as Stories of Unfolding Grace

Sucker Punched is back! Be sure to subscribe so you're notified of new episodes. Join Becky's email list to be the first to get info on the virtual retreat and live events: BeckyLMcCoy.com/email

Subscribe, share, rate, & review to help other listeners find the podcast and share your Sucker Punched story at BeckyLMcCoy.com/submissions

A friend has recently lost a loved one and you hate seeing the pain the grief is causing them. You want to love them and support them through this time, but you don’t want to overwhelm them. You want them to know you’re there, but you’re afraid of doing the wrong thing. How do you help a grieving friend?

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT FOR THIS EPISODE

STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: DoorDash: BeckyLMcCoy.com/DoorDash Grief Library: http://BeckyLMcCoy.com/GriefLibrary 4 Mantras for When I'm Overwhelmed: BeckyLMcCoy.com/4mantras

FIND BECKY ONLINE: Website: BeckyLMcCoy.com Social Media: @BeckyLMcCoy

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