Divorce to Destiny: How Julie D'Ann Discovered Her True Purpose | EP095

Shannan Mondor: 00:00:00

Hello everybody, and welcome to my podcast, fulfillment in faith. I am your host, Shannan Mondor, and today I have an absolutely lovely guest by the name of Julie D'Ann. Welcome Julie. How are you?

Shannan Mondor: 00:00:17

Julie D'Ann: Hi, Shannan, wonderful. Thank you so much.

Shannan Mondor: 00:00:21

So what we're going to do is we're going to start off, Julie by you telling the audience members a little bit about yourself, where you're from, and then from there you can just go right into your story.

Shannan Mondor: 00:00:34

Julie D'Ann: Wonderful. Thank you so much, Shannan and audience members. Lovely to be here today. So Shannan and I have really hit it off since we met not that long ago, but we're both TEDx speakers, so I am now a transformational life dream builder, coach, illumination guide, TEDx speaker and International Best Selling Author of both 365 days of gratitude, which is an international best selling series and my children's book. Which would you choose? And more on the book in a moment, because that's what lemony led me to where I am now. So we'll rewind. I actually want to take you back to two very key pivotal moments in my life that led to where I am today. One was about almost 20 years ago. I was at the tail I had been married for over nine years, and one morning, I'll just lay it out on the line. I was driving back from the University where I had been assistant teacher, and thought that my husband was, you know, studying, and lo and behold, all of a sudden, my body gets all tingly, and I felt like it was floating. It was the strangest feeling, and I had no idea why, until I recognized up ahead. I recognized my van, the car that my husband drove. And I was asking myself, why in the world was was the van there going away from the school? When he told me he was in the school sitting right? And then my eyes caught a passenger, a silhouette with long hair, and by the time I was able to maneuver my my way up in traffic to be side by side and look over, he had the I just remember he had this muffin in his hand, and he was about to take a bite, and I must have honked the horn or something, or rolled down the window and yelled. And he stopped, and he looks over at me, and oh my gosh, I could see past his face to the young, very young, redheaded girl whom I did not know, sitting in the passenger seat, and her face went ash. And I knew in that moment, this was not just some friend, yeah. So it was, you know, I tried to deny it. I mean, I tried to deny the I kept trying to tell myself, well, they're just friends. They're just friends, even though I followed them back to her apartment, where they were going, by the way, and the whole story came out. He'd been having an affair, but that wasn't the first one. That was actually his second. You just

Shannan Mondor: 00:03:21

saying that, like my whole blood is like at the bottom of my feet. Now,

Shannan Mondor: 00:03:27

Julie D'Ann: I still feel it in my body, even though it's been so long ago. But you know what I will say, this our thoughts create. And I know that now. I did not know that then, but looking back, I recognize as as terrible as that was, as you know, everything I did actually, I I'm respond, I take responsibility now, because I knew within the first six months of our marriage that I've made a mistake, but my pride would not let me admit it. I didn't want to admit that I had married the wrong person and that there were several signs and several things, but I stayed in it, and like I said, I was married for 10 years. Okay, okay, so it still took me another year after I found out, you know, we went through the marriage counseling, all that stuff took me another year before I finally recognized I can't ever trust him again, and and if I stayed in that marriage, my soul would just wither and die, right? Yeah? But the thing is, I used to tell him, you know, hey, as far as I'm concerned, when we were dating. We dated for four years. He was my first love and all that. Oh, in my mind, we already are married, right? You know, you're the love of my life, yada yada. And I used to tell him, Well, the only thing you could ever do that would make me leave you is to cheat on me, you know, as if that's never gonna happen, right? And

Shannan Mondor: 00:04:57

you planted this. What I used to actually say. Planted by saying that

Shannan Mondor: 00:05:02

Julie D'Ann: Exactly, exactly, and I didn't recognize it then, I totally know that now, but I also recognize, you know, I was a different person then. And yes, I had some of the best times of my life, but some of the worst times in my life, and I was, it was a needy relation. It was a needy loving really. It wasn't, it wasn't the a mature loving relationship, right, right? I know that now, but so it took that to get me out and to move me here. So I accepted a new job, I went down. I mean, once I decided to get divorced. I mean, it was like, you know, that's the power of decision. Once you decide, forces do start moving the energies. And I literally felt it. I mean, I felt compelled to get down to that courthouse. It was within days of making the decision, and that was the fastest, quickest divorce, 30 days uncontested, and it was over, and I was in a new state, in a new job, all alone for the first time in my life, not knowing anyone, and I was okay. And not only was I Okay, I was thriving, but that there was a lot of healing that had to go, that I had to go through, right? So then is my next 10 year span, where the first few years, you know, or there were a few years in the middle where I was just learning and figuring out and going through self help, right? And then I met my daughter's father, and we, you know, started we dated, and then we got into relationship and everything. And, you know, we didn't get married, but I learned a lot about how to let people be themselves and me still be myself. Now, I was still healing. I was still going through things, but I learned a lot of independence and self resilience in that relationship, because the communication was, well, there almost wasn't any put it that way, and it was very rough. And so then we come to covid. Right before covid, I finally made the decision, this just isn't working, and what kind of an example am I showing my daughter? And that's why this is a key moment. I had my daughter. She was at that time, I think, seven or eight, and I felt like the example that I'm giving her is of a dysfunctional relationship and of a mom and a and a woman and a worker who you know is willing to work all day and support a family for someone, for a partner, spouse, boyfriend, whatever you want to call it, who is completely unappreciative and not helpful and not holding his weight. You know, this was not a mutually supportive or mutually loving relationship. I, you know, I won't get into the nutty bolt, you know, nuts and bolts of it, but I finally got up the nerve to ask him to move out after we had been together for almost 10 years. And do you know what his response was? No. What he said, Okay,

Shannan Mondor: 00:08:15

that was at first. There was no why. There was no, I want you back. Like, can we work on like, nothing, wow. I

Shannan Mondor: 00:08:25

Julie D'Ann: said, Look, all we do is fight. We don't. We haven't really talked in a year, which was almost true. And when we do talk, we we only talk about the kids or we're arguing, and it's not good for the kids. It's not good for you and me. I'm asking you to move out. And he just said, Okay. And at first it was like, oh, relief, okay, at least he's not, you know, getting upset or whatever. But then it was like, Oh my gosh. It was indignation. How dare you just say okay, after 10. Like, you know what? That was the best, the second best decision I ever made. Yeah, it. I It opened me up. Oh my gosh, because within weeks of him moving out, we had covid, the world shut down. I was sent home with my daughter. I was able to spend time with her. I was able to reconnect. And you know what I started doing? I started meditating every day, morning and night and even throughout. I mean, it became like brushing your teeth every single day. It wasn't just this, you know, oh, I'll do it here and there or now and again. You know, I been meditating before I had her when I was pregnant, but then I kind of stopped, and then I didn't really do it. And when I started meditating every day. No kidding, within two weeks, I was already feeling the effects. And I'm not just talking about calming down because I wasn't going into the job or whatever. This was a type of connection and inner peace and calm that I had never felt before, that I could not remember ever. Feeling, and yet it felt like coming home, because I was connecting within to my core essence. And I thought, where's this been my whole life? How come no one ever taught me this? Why don't they teach this? One of my parents, they didn't know in schools, and that's when he came to me. I said, Why don't they teach this in schools. Children need to know the power of meditation, and that's what sparked that became my mission, getting meditation taught in schools. And then how do we do it in a way that is fun, that is quick and easy, that teachers can implement into their daily lessons, you know, simply and yet, be powerful and effective. And so I started coming up with something, coming up with a practice that takes less than 10 minutes, and I work with my daughter, and together, we were going through it. And I call it a time within, taking a time within, and it. And the the most, the most important thing is you don't even have to call it meditation. I say in the beginning, we're just focusing on breathing, deep, slow breathing, because that's the number one way to instantly calm the body. I learned that from Dr Libby Weaver. If you take a deep, slow belly breath and then you exhale for longer than you inhale, that's the key you're exhaling longer than you inhale. Then it's your body's way of sending a signal to your mind that you're safe. So that takes you out of the sympathetic nervous system, the fight or flight, and it puts you into the parasympathetic, the Rest Digest, create mode. And so then when your body's calm, then your mind starts to quiet, and it calms it. And then you can actually observe what your thoughts are. And then the next key, the next powerful thing, is gratitude. Connect to gratitude. Feel gratitude. Speak it, talk, write it, I mean, but in that moment when you start reciting things that you're thankful and grateful for. It is the switch. It is the switch that will turn any situation around and not only halt it, but it will start to move you up. You'll start to feel better. And once you're in that place, then you just start making those positive statements. You know, you start making positive choices for how you want to think and feel and how you want your day to go, you know, very simple things. I am enough. I am absolutely lovable, just as I am. And you know,

Shannan Mondor: 00:12:29

I like with you talking there about meditation too. I found what was difficult for me when I first started to meditate years ago was the pressure of, Am I doing it right? How do you do all of that right? And that is really what stops a lot of people from from doing meditation. But I want the audience members to know that if you go for a walk, that is meditation. If you listen to that, is meditation. Anything really that brings you to that present moment is meditation. And that's why I love yoga. I love yoga.

Shannan Mondor: 00:13:13

Julie D'Ann: I started doing yoga too. I do love it. Yes, yes,

Shannan Mondor: 00:13:18

because it brings you to your present moment. It brings you to your breath. And a lot of times when I'm doing my yoga as well too, that's when I really start to focus on the really things that are important to me. That was also brought me into my first states of gratitude. And it brought me into the first state of gratitude, looking at my body and being thankful for my body, being thankful that I can move and flow like that. And what was the most amazing thing after I really started to practice, and I started practicing full time, the things I could do and the strength blew me away. Never would I have thought that be at a work 55 years old.

Shannan Mondor: 00:13:57

Julie D'Ann: And also, don't you feel the space that you create within your body doing yoga because you're allowing for the breath to come in and out and the stretching. Oh, my God, I always feel amazing after yoga. It doesn't matter if it's a short session or a longer session. And the same is with meditation. You know, Dr Joe Dispenza says there's no such thing as a bad meditation. That's true. And he does amazing walking meditations. I love listening to his tracks while I'm walking. But you're right, even if you're walking in nature and you don't have anything you're listening to, if you are, I love to do this. Just express gratitude while I'm walking. I'm just in my mind, I'm expressing gratitude. And like you said, it's a meditation. It is,

Shannan Mondor: 00:14:41

yep, and like journaling every day, like literally just writing three things down that you're grateful, that is a form of meditation. So yes, people that are listening out there, it's really simple. The only complication that you're adding to your life is you thinking that it's complicated. There is no right to do that. Yeah,

Shannan Mondor: 00:15:00

Julie D'Ann: yeah. And that's why I love just focusing on the breathing, because it takes you out of your head and into your body, into your heart, and your heart is the center of your soul, absolutely and so. So to circle back then with the kids and getting meditation in school, I also got inspired during meditation to write my first children's book. Yes. Would you choose this one? Yes. So the reason I'm I wanted to write it, and the whole format too. And you know, I'll just show you briefly. It takes a scenario. There are 12 scenarios. And I worked with my daughter again, and I thought about experiences she had had in schools, and experience I had had, let me back up what actually sparked the book after I had the thought of, we should have meditation taught in schools, it reminded me of an incident that had happened in, um, in school when my daughter, uh, was probably, you know, this has been a few years back, but I don't know, she was six or seven ish, and one day she came home from school and she was like, Mommy, our class was evacuated today. And I was like, oh, all of a sudden, alarm bells going off. I'm thinking, oh my gosh, was there a shooter? Was there, you know, something horrible. And then I was like, Wait a second, I didn't get a call, so it couldn't be too serious, you know? So I looked at her, and I'm thinking, she's pregnant. How she even know what that word means? I said, Are you sure evacuated? She's like, Uh huh, the whole class, everybody except for one. And I was like, what happened? And so she told me. And essentially, there was a single child who was so overwhelmed with their emotions they just didn't know how to handle it in a healthy way that they were acting out and like throwing things and just and this wasn't the first time, unfortunately, but I think it was obviously one of the worst times. And the teacher was really scared for the safety of the students and also for herself, and so she just literally had to evacuate the kids. And I thought, Where are we in a world where a kids aren't taught how to handle things in a more healthy way, and B where you have actual adults running away from children? Yeah, you know, where we don't have a better recourse, we don't have a better way of dealing with this, right? And I thought there's not to be a better way. Now, when that incident happened originally, it just it stuck in my mind. But, you know, years went by, and then we have the covid incident, and then I'm meditating and thinking meditation. I thought, what if those children have been meditating every day? What if that little boy had been taught meditation, or that little girl who's, you know, because she there's hundreds of 1000s of stories every day, things like this happen, right? All these children who are overwhelmed with emotion, they don't know they they don't know a healthy way of expressing themselves, and so they wind up, you know, lashing out, or just, you know, it just, it's like a well, because emotion is literally energy and motion, and when we don't know how to express it in healthy ways. We store it until it just erupts like a volcano, and that's what you get. And adults do this too. So I wanted to write a book that would explain this, you know, to show kids, okay, if you're in a situation and you've got this, like, tough situation, right, for example, you know, you're just in class and you're afraid to speak up. What do you do? Well, I take them down the one path of the negative thoughts, like, you know, the self doubt, all that stuff, right? And then I take them down the other side, where they decide, well, you know, maybe I, maybe I could say something. Maybe I could try it. You know, they start to bolster themselves and and then they take a more positive outlook on it. And in the end, I use the sloth, you know, in the seated position to show in the end, you're the same. It's just which would you choose? You want to go the hard route or the more fun, easy route. And so there's 12 scenarios like this to help kids learn better ways of thinking and changing their perspective. Like, you know, what, if you don't get invited to a birthday party and you see that all the other kids were, how are you going to choose to feel and think about that? And then, and then I infused into the book, you know, the brave thinking tools that I learned becoming a life transformational coach and and I didn't even consciously realize that until after the fact, you know, I was going back reading the book, and I was like, Oh my gosh, yeah, that's one of those tools I use how to how to flip your mindset, right? It?

Shannan Mondor: 00:19:30

It would make a world of disc difference if they started teaching children, number one, how to meditate in mindset and also acknowledgement of mental illness within our school system, and it was so because I was listening to a podcast. I listened to the Soul series with Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga on there, and it was the most amazing like this. Review was so, so good, and that's what Lady Gaga said to those three things should be brought into the school systems. Can you imagine how that would change our children's lives? They would know outside for self gratification, there would be no more anxiety, depression. I truly believe that the suicide would would dissipate for sure, like it would just totally change people's lives totally and completely, you know, and then for them that everything comes with inside, you know, they have to worry about all this, worrying about kids getting addicted to social media and all of that, because that's why our kids are so addicted, is because they're so worried what people think, what they're missing, you know, they gotta be on top. They gotta have the best Tiktok video out there. Oh. They gotta have whatever's trending on Tiktok. You know what? I mean, all of that would totally be eliminated.

Shannan Mondor: 00:20:57

Julie D'Ann: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's, you know, it's once you recognize that when you meditate, you go within, that you do actually each one of us, we are here with a unique purpose. Every single one of us is we are here to create. So we're here to experience life, figure out what we love and then create right that that's it really. But once you understand that, and you connect within, you recognize, we're all connected. Everyone. Everything is energy. We're all connected. So it changes your perspective. You recognize, you know what, I am loved and I am lovable, and I can give myself, I can tell myself what I need to hear. And once I'm telling myself that self talk, once I'm running the new plays, the new programs, the new you know, I'm following a recipe that serves me now, right? Once you do that, it gets reflected out into the world and it comes back to you tenfold. I mean, that really is true, what you put out you receive, but you receive it in tenfold. And you have to be aware of what you're putting out there. And that, I think, is the key that we aren't taught. And so many people go through lives never even realizing it. But we are the masters of our own faith. You know, we hear these, these, these pithy phrases, right? You know, you're the master of your faith. You're the captain of your ship. You create your world. And we're like, yeah, yeah, whatever. Well, we have to explain what that means in in realistic terms, in in, um, in examples, you know, it's like when someone walks outside and it's raining, and one person says, ah, rats, it's raining. It's wet. Oh, this is terrible. My hair is gonna get messed up, you know, whatever. Another person walks outside it's raining, they're like, Ah, this is awesome. The plants are getting greener, the flowers are going to bloom. Oh, my goodness, this is now I get to go inside and just enjoy listening to the rain while I read. You know, yeah, same situation, same totally different perspectives. What's the only difference how you choose to think about and it's like that with everything in life, everything. And I mean, I actually make a game now of whenever I see something or experience something that, you know, in the beginning it seems bad, or it seems a little uncomfortable, negative, I think to myself, ooh, how can I flip this? Literally, flip it around. How can I say this is good news, right? If things are in turmoil in your life, you know you're experiencing a lot of change, and a lot of you know quote things that are making you feel anxiety, stop that record right there. Just say, Stop. I bless it. Thank you for this opportunity. This is good news. You know, these are, these are ways that you can shift it. And yes, in the beginning, it will feel silly, it won't feel genuine, because it's new, and our minds are wired to fear what's new. Why? Because something that's new, often in the past, could be dangerous, could be scary. It could result in something bad, right? But in our modern society, you know, there's really very little danger, thankfully, that we really have to deal with and so our minds are still wired that way, that anything new. Be wary, but we have to recognize, no, I love change. I love newness. I love this turmoil, because it's giving me an opportunity to choose what I want, to heal the wounds, and to start down a path that will lead me to the goals that I'm setting. And that's the other key. Is we have to start learning to set intentions, you know, like with the journaling that you do every morning, yeah, with set intentions, with the with the mantras, positive statements. You know, I'm choosing to have an amazing day. Every day is amazing, right? I'm choosing to be the person who always makes friends easily. You know, if we're talking about for kids or, I mean, we have to start programming that in, because anything you repeat does become a. Leave,

Shannan Mondor: 00:25:00

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Resonating you on every level. I'm just looking at you and I'm just like, yeah, I get it, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not just with that, which everybody else out there would get it. Like, could you imagine? Could you imagine a world if they under, really, truly understood what we were, what we're talking about, and that they're living it how our world would totally change. That's how it would shift to love, yes, to love. And that is where all the wars and everything this in this world would be done

Shannan Mondor: 00:25:35

Julie D'Ann: exactly because what would you be finding yourself?

Shannan Mondor: 00:25:38

Jealousy, no competition, like none

Shannan Mondor: 00:25:42

Julie D'Ann: of them, you know the competition thing. I mean, I am so glad that I finally realized we are not it's not a this or that world, right? I mean, we do live in a world of polarity, but the the goal for us is to find the balance the middle ground, because everything has value and everything is right from a different perspective, you know? I mean, you can even justify murder in some cases, you know, self defense or other things. I mean, so if that's the case, and everything is either an act of love or a cry for love, and we learned that it's about finding the balance in between and being true to our core values and everything. Then you recognize it's not this or that. It's not competition, it's we are all running our own race. We are only competing against ourselves, our earlier version and our next version of ourselves. We're not competing against anyone else. And when we lock arms and we come together in that, that's how we win, and we start to recognize it's a unique consciousness. It's Yes, and I can have this, and you can have that, I can win, and yes, you can win too. And that's what I'm all about, is getting that message, it's a win. Win. Yeah, we can all win. Maybe

Shannan Mondor: 00:27:06

in back in my younger days, I can remember being so jealous of other people, and then now that I'm here I am today, there spark of me that will get jealous, and then it'll be like, oh no no, like I have the exact same opportunity as them, and I automatically shift to me. It's me. I am putting that limiting belief on myself. Stop it. Shannan, and then, and then I just go on carrying my day right. Go on with my day. But you know, it took me a long time to get here, like we are talking a long time together. Hey, I'm with

Shannan Mondor: 00:27:45

Julie D'Ann: you on that. Yeah, but

Shannan Mondor: 00:27:47

I'm human. I'm going to have those little triggers every once in a while, but it's not about that person. That's what people need to understand. My trigger isn't about that person. That trigger is coming to me because there's that little piece of me, inside me, that still needs to be worked on. So I'm looking at that. That person's a gift, and thank you for showing up to me, because this is where I still need to work a little bit. And it's getting better, and it's getting it's better and better better. And you know what, I'm becoming a way better person because of it. Ah, so true. Yeah, yeah, oh, gosh, I just love this. You are so full of information. Okay, so you do throughout your journey. Then, Julie, what is it that you really feel that you learned the most from it?

Shannan Mondor: 00:28:38

Julie D'Ann: Oh, you know, I would say the biggest lesson that I learned is listen to your trust yourself. You know you've got to listen to your inner guidance, your intuition, because that little voice is you, telling you, you know coming from above or whatever, but it's your guy, it's your compass. It's helping you. And it, you know, it starts softly, but if you'll listen to in the beginning, it gets easier, it gets better. That relationship forms. I used to hear it and, you know, like with the with the marriage, in the beginning, I didn't listen to that voice. That voice told me let it go. Don't you know. In fact, I was warned by that voice when we were first dating. I had the opportunity to end that relationship then, and I didn't, because my ego, again, got in the way and said, but what you were ready to go out tonight? What are you going to do? And as if he's the only person in the world I had to go and do anything with right? I mean, there are times in my life when I can remember I had opportunities, or I had the voice and I didn't listen, and it it did. It hurt me every time, or it put me, I should say, it put me down a rougher road every time, right? And then there are times when I've listened and I've been so. Grateful, and I've learned to actually listen to that guy and now follow it. And in my life is becoming more and more in flow. And what I'm all about now is creating a life that's filled with freedom, flow and fun, and that's how we're meant to live

Shannan Mondor: 00:30:16

on I love that. But when you were talking about situations that you know your ego would get in there. Isn't it absolutely wonderful now to know that, okay, say you're put in a situation, and now you can see where it could leave you, and you can make choices. I love that. It'd be like, okay, you know what? You know I would really like to go to this event, but I've been invited with people that I know that I'm not in alignment with. So you know, if I go with them, I'm going to the event, but you know what, I'm probably not going to have a really good time, and more things are going to be created in my life that I don't want. So what should I do? Should I be smart and just stay stay back from it, or should I let my ego take over and cause more damage? Or

Shannan Mondor: 00:31:06

Julie D'Ann: you just recognize you have to do some work around those relationships to make it so that you can interact right without getting triggered

Shannan Mondor: 00:31:13

and absolutely but that's what I love about me, where I can see scenarios in advance and it's like, okay, yeah, where before I wouldn't even think of on that level, before, never I would go just to fit in

Shannan Mondor: 00:31:30

Julie D'Ann: FOMO, right? Yeah, fearless. That's why I think if kids were were, because that's what we don't have. Like, I've, I know about tons of kids books. I've read the which would you choose adventure books? Or I've seen them. I've heard people talk about, there's no book like this that actually takes a scenario that almost anybody can connect with, right? It's a fairly common scenario, and then walks you through the thinking process of the positive versus negative and why it's important to choose, and how it's different and how you can switch. Right?

Shannan Mondor: 00:32:02

Are you doing author readings in schools? Yet?

Shannan Mondor: 00:32:05

Julie D'Ann: That is something I am reaching out. And yes, I am open and available to do that. I've done. I've done just a couple so far. They've been virtual, but I would love to go and do them in person. And yeah, I love doing them virtually as well.

Shannan Mondor: 00:32:19

What about public libraries,

Shannan Mondor: 00:32:23

Julie D'Ann: the libraries I've done a couple of book actually, no, that was in bookstores, of book signings and readings, which was a lot of fun. I did that in Huntsville, Alabama, and out in San Diego, in the Barnes and Nobles. But in libraries, I actually haven't been I've got my book into several libraries, but I actually haven't done any readings yet, and that's just a time factor, um, because, like,

Shannan Mondor: 00:32:47

I even know with our library here in my city, they've got all these kids activities and stuff like that. And I would be absolutely wonderful where, you know, you sat down with a group of kids and book and, yeah, that'd be really cool.

Shannan Mondor: 00:33:01

Julie D'Ann: That would be, yeah, I love that. I mean, I loved it. You know, the times when I have read and the kids are there, and then they ask questions, and then when I'm reading, and I always, you know, I'll read, and I look up at the kids, and I can see their expressions and their faces. And sometimes I'll read, and I'll still say, what would you do? Or, you know, and then,

Shannan Mondor: 00:33:20

because it's not fun, because in a library with a setting like that, the parents are listening to it too, so the parents are learning,

Shannan Mondor: 00:33:28

Julie D'Ann: yeah, oh my gosh. I've had so many adults tell me they bought the book for, you know, their niece, their nephew, their whatever, but they wound up reading it, and it was like it helped me. I wish I'd had this when I was a kid, but it helped me now. And I was like, yes, yeah, because that's the power of, you know, having the brave thinking principles and tools that I've learned infused into these scenarios. So and then the other thing is, I mean, I wrote it so that it every name again, I asked my daughter which names to pick, but we picked androgynous names, you know, unisex so that it, I wanted to take away any sort of make it as universally connecting as possible, right? So using androgynous names, using a sloth character, so there's no, you know, you can't say it's boys, girls, it's black, white. This that this culture, that culture, whatever, just it's a human, it's a child, period. And I didn't even use pronouns, you know, I just kept using the name, not he, she is her. I think there are two scenarios, one is a girl and one is a boy, because kind of the the context. But the rest of them are all just androgynous. And it could be so you can really see anybody at any time and any country, any religion, whatever any race, see yourself in that scenario, and ask yourself, what would I do? How would I interact? And it's designed to spark discussion. So in schools or with parents, you know, it's a great tool for parents to read to their kids. And. And, you know, it's like a one scenario at a time thing, because you're probably going to talk about it, you know, you come up with other options say, well, that's cool, but what about this? What about that? And it's really, you know, it's just a fun way to talk about those life questions in the third person, which is really key, right? Because a lot of times it's tough for parents or kids to deal with these tough situations, and if you're talking about someone else, makes it easier, but you can still get your questions out and get your point across in a way that might not land if you were going direct.

Shannan Mondor: 00:35:38

And what I think about, you know you talking right now is like, I'm just thinking of, say, the parent that's listening to this podcast right now, and they're in a particular situation where they can go out and purchase your book, and probably that situation is within your book. From that what advice would you give a parent,

Shannan Mondor: 00:36:04

Julie D'Ann: I would suggest, depending on the age of the child. Now, the book is designed for ages like six to 12, but like I said, all ages can benefit is get the book and just give it to the child. Let the child kind of go through and read it or pick out the scenarios. But when you do sit down together, or, let's say, if you are the one sitting down and reading to the child, open it up and say, Hey, which one do you want to read? And, you know, maybe read the titles, because each scenario has a title. I mean, I've got all the world's a stage that's one where a child really wants to try out for the school play, but they're having stage fright. You know, it's pretty common, like, people, you know, standing up, speaking anything in, right?

Shannan Mondor: 00:36:47

Yeah? Like, going in, what are you gonna do? Yeah? Like, yeah,

Shannan Mondor: 00:36:52

Julie D'Ann: absolutely. There's another one, the music in me, you know, you don't know which you kind of want to play an instrument, but you're not sure. You don't think you're good, or are you going to try something new? You're going to do what everybody else does. I mean, then there's, there's the one about, oh, the girl who walks into the classroom and another girl sees her, and she's like, she's wearing the exact outfit I've wanted, but my parents wouldn't buy it for me, because you pick it, it's too expensive. They didn't whatever. How are you going to choose to feel? Are you going to be jealous, or are you going to compliment her and create a friend? Yeah,

Shannan Mondor: 00:37:32

yeah. No. Those those lessons definitely can take you, absolutely take you into your adulthood.

Shannan Mondor: 00:37:38

Julie D'Ann: It goes, it's Yeah, throughout your whole life, you're talking and letting in

Shannan Mondor: 00:37:41

and explain your book. Have you seen the movie Inside Out too? Oh,

Shannan Mondor: 00:37:46

Julie D'Ann: I love, I love both of them, but yes, oh, I saw my daughter just couple weeks ago.

Shannan Mondor: 00:37:51

I went to that movie with my teenage my two teenage children, and then my adult daughter and her and my husband and everything that was happening in that movie, I kept on looking at my kids, because we're living that right now, anxiety, oh my gosh, all of it, right? And I And so we'd be, you know, watching the movie, and I'd look over at my kids, and I'd be like, nod in my head, C, C. It was the perfect age group, inside out, too. And it was funny, because then next day, me and my son are talking, and he's like, Mom, I really liked that movie. He goes, I would get he's 15. He goes, I would go. I'm like, oh my god, yeah, like that. That movie is a keeper. It's

Shannan Mondor: 00:38:40

Julie D'Ann: against and I am so grateful that movies like that are coming out. Yeah, I mean, because they're so needed, they're so important, yet finally, right? You remember the one with the little girl that turns into the big red panda? Yeah? That one too, that was about emotions and all you know, and forgiveness and compassion, all that stuff, right? And still being yourself, and yet being oh my gosh, yeah, but hindsight out too is even very powerful,

Shannan Mondor: 00:39:10

no, absolutely wonderful. And that's what I like about my mentors, Dr Wayne Dyer, he's he's got children's book out. He's actually got a couple of them. Then there is Esther and Jerry Hicks. They've got to love them, yeah, and, and they're, they're wonderful, absolutely

Shannan Mondor: 00:39:26

Julie D'Ann: set books. Yeah, I've read those to my daughter. And you know what's funny? I thought in the beginning that she wasn't really going to let me read them to her, because she was getting older by that point. And, um, so I'd kind of read a little bit, and then I look and see, and she'd be like, and I was like, well, you want me stuff like, you can, you can continue. It's because of her that we wind up buying all, all three. I think there were three in the series, and I wish they had written more, but she did. She loved them.

Shannan Mondor: 00:39:56

Yeah, they're so powerful. My neighbor girl, yeah. She asked if she could borrow them. And I was like, Yes, of course. Anybody can knock on my door and ask if they can read those books, because I think everybody should be as well. No, that's excellent. Wow. So tell me, where are you now? Where are you now in life? I know there's a lot going on with you, so please share that with us.

Shannan Mondor: 00:40:21

Julie D'Ann: Oh, thank you. Thank you. Well, I am still promoting my book. I have an event coming up at a an art center next month where I'll be having a booth, and I will be taking people through some of these powerful exercises, breathing practices, some of the I have, so I have a YouTube channel. It's just my Julie D'Ann YouTube channel, and I post on their short videos. They're usually, like, five minutes or less, and they each have, like, a little quick technique, a mindset shift piece that anybody can do. It's, it's usually, you know, designed to, like, be shared with kids, but it's things that adults, anybody can do to just help you in the moment, shift your mindset and start moving in the direction you want to do. And there's so many techniques out there, right? But we need different things at different times. So I'm where was I going with this? Well, we're going to start out with you.

Shannan Mondor: 00:41:20

You You lost my thought you started out that you were going to be doing a book signing.

Shannan Mondor: 00:41:24

Julie D'Ann: Oh, the Art Center. Oh, so I'll be doing some of those techniques and then promoting my book, and also my monthly free success master class, which I do via zoom. I have one coming up, August 24 it'll be at 2pm eastern time now. This is, it's about 45 minutes. This is a really powerful success masterclass. It is for, I would say, teens to teens and up, right ages, I don't know, probably 16 and up, but I go through and I provide you with three powerful tools to get unstuck, to get yourself out of self sabotage and to start moving in the direction of your dreams, right? So we really connect within. I give you these three powerful tools. We do some exercises, and then you're set up to, like, start doing this, right? So you walk away with these tools. It's really powerful. But this is what I really love, is the coaching. So, you know, the books for the kids is amazing. Speaking is another thing. I'm now starting to reach out, to get out on stages and doing more podcasts and just getting the message out there, sharing stories of transformation. But my the thing that really lights me up is the coaching is talking with people, sharing these brave thinking principles with them, and then helping them to transform their lives and to start creating and living a life by design that they truly love, because that's what we're here to do. We're not just here to be alive and survive. We are here to create and thrive. And there is a process to living a successful life, and that's what I share. I call it the success blueprint. It's the blueprint for success. There are certain steps that every successful person always takes, whether they're consciously aware of it or not, and and we can, you can learn those steps, and once you learn, you know it's just like a blueprint for building a house. Once you have the basic framework, you can add in whatever, whatever colors, furniture, and then design and whatever you want, but you have to know the basics. You have to have some sort of a foundation, right, a framework. And you can even design the framework, but you know it, there's gotta be a material, and there's gotta be something to hold it together. And there's got to be, you know, the basics, right? So that's what I provide, is the basics to designing a life that you truly love. And I'm telling you, it works across any category, any area of life, all, all areas it, it is helpful and it's fun. And this is a free masterclass, so, so I'm offering that. And you know, I have my coaching clients that I'm working with. I've got a few other speaking. In fact, I have one on Sunday that'll be going on to YouTube, that's with in the diamond beauties, and she calls it the art of becoming. Is the title of, you know, our talk. But this is with Sunette van Brita.

Shannan Mondor: 00:44:22

Oh, yeah, you Yeah, yeah. Okay, so I got a question. Where is this event? Next month

Shannan Mondor: 00:44:31

Julie D'Ann: now? Next month the one August, 24 is online via zoom, so I have it posted on my profile. I, you know, send it out to people, but that one is on Zoom, so anybody can register for it. It's free. Like I said, it's less than an hour. The cool thing is, once you've registered for this event, then you also can sign up for a free one on one. Call with me afterwards, and we can talk like in depth about your specifics if. Situation, and that's really powerful. Yeah, that's really valuable too. Yeah, no, absolutely. But I love talking and coaching people, so

Shannan Mondor: 00:45:07

I just absolutely loved this time with you. I've loved it too. This was great. So I am going to say thank you so much for being a part of my journey this. This was wonderful, wonderful. Well,

Shannan Mondor: 00:45:24

Julie D'Ann: thank you, Shannan. You know when I when we first met in in that impactful author group, and I heard your story and then that you were working on the chat, I was like, Oh my gosh, she's amazing. We've got to connect. So I'm so glad that we connected, and we're both TEDx speakers,

Shannan Mondor: 00:45:41

yeah, and it's so funny, because now that I'm a TEDx speaker, how my world has now opened up to a whole brand new area of TEDx speakers. I'm learning their stories. We're walking on the same journey together, and then that's leading me to other doors where I'm walking into rooms where I never, ever thought I would be and that's why I'm so excited for what my future brings, because there's so much coming my way, so much. Oh,

Shannan Mondor: 00:46:05

Julie D'Ann: yeah, and you feel it. You feel that energy.

Shannan Mondor: 00:46:08

You feel it, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Thank you so much.

Shannan Mondor: 00:46:13

Julie D'Ann: Oh, bless you. Thank you so much for what you do. Shannan, love your podcast. Thank you.