Let's talk MANTRAS & A Journey NO ONE Would Want to Go On!

Hi, everybody, it's Sandy Boucher once again here back on Facebook Live with you guys. Because as we discussed during the book launch, you said you wanted Facebook Lives, and I agreed to doing them daily at noon, every single day. I do apologize. I was supposed to start them yesterday, but if you saw my blog post, you knew I had a broken toe to deal with. I now know it is a broken toe. I had to go to the doctors yesterday and get it checked out because a week after my injury didn't seem to be getting better. I'm happy to say it is, but that meant I was sitting in a hospital waiting room during the 12 o', clock, so that wouldn't have been funny. Cheryl, happy to see you. So I'm really excited to be doing these Facebook lives because as I put in the description that you might have seen earlier, I really just wanted to mimic my mom in these Facebook lives. When my mom was alive, if there was a challenge or an issue we needed to talk about, I would take my friends to her kitchen table. Norman, that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard. Thank you so much. And hello to you, my friend. If my mom was still alive. Hi, Rose. If my mom was still alive, we would be sitting at our kitchen, her kitchen table, and it wouldn't be rehearsed, it wouldn't be planned. There wouldn't be an agenda. It would just be an authentic conversation on whatever topic of the day was. And that's what I want these Facebook lives to be. Now, you guys wouldn't know this, but in my industry, for people who release content online on a regular basis, it is really advised that you create a schedule and you plan ahead of what you're going to talk about. And I can see the benefits of that. But it's also not what I want for these sessions. So here's the rule. If you come out and you watch the Facebook Live, there's a really good chance that there's something in that Facebook Live that you needed to hear. And your challenge is to figure out what that is and figure out how you're going to use it. Going with the rest of your day or even your week. If you miss a Facebook Live or you catch it later in the replay, that's totally okay. You will be here when you're meant to be here. And that, I believe, with everything in me, that's just in line with my teachings. Philip. Oh, my God. What a surprise. Tammy. Oh, my God. Yeah, I'm really thrilled it wasn't the whole foot, too. That would have been bad. Okay. So continuing on with what I hope for these Facebook lives, I'm going to continue feather dancing. And that's my way of describing my work. That on one side of the beautiful feather is the work, the empowerment and the healing and the support that I give to indigenous peoples in our communities. And on the other side, the education and guidance and support I give to non indigenous allies or people who want to become allies and just giving them the information they need. And that is my career, that is my life's work. But I have discovered in the last couple years that how I do that work has two sides as well. So on one side is the guiding and literally sharing the teachings and giving you the stories so that you can carry them and use them. And that's super important. But the other side of the feather is being that example, sharing teachings with you that I live and breathe. So it's not just textbook theory here. It's authentic and that's everything. To me, my two core values are authenticity and bravery. Being absolutely genuine and authentic in everything I do it. Being brave enough to be that person in front of you and, and when I'm off camera, and I hope that comes across in my daily blog posts and in what I'm going to share in these Facebook lives now. For those of you who have followed my career, you know my journey has been entertaining. I had someone describe it a little while ago as a journey no one would wish to go on. And I was like, I've never thought of my life that way. And I know what he meant by it. He meant the poverty. He meant the domestic domestic violence. He meant the years of crushingly low self esteem. He meant the grief of losing my father when I was only 17, the grief of losing my first daughter to crib death to sids, the grief of losing my best friend to a brain aneurysm. So I get it. I just don't view my life that way because yes, those times were challenging. But the challenging days make it so easy for me to enjoy the days in the sun. Days like today when I'm living my best life. I'm living authentically. I'm living 110% Sandy. And I have a magic wand here somewhere. I don't have it within reach, but if I could wave some, wave a magic wand, that is what I would wish for you. So I did want to pass on something to you today that I do, that I would love you to consider doing. I know. I believe that if you just say something over and over, that doesn't mean it's gonna happen, that it's gonna happen because of the work you put in, just because you recited a mantra. Having said that, if your mantra reminds you of who you are and what you need to do, then I 110% agree. And I do this. I have a mantra and I repeat it four times every single morning. Four directions, four sacred medicines. Always about the four. And I wanted to share it with you today. I actually have it written out and it hangs over my desk so I can just read. I've read it so many times now. I don't really need to look at this. But even when I'm not reciting it, just seeing it there reminds me to be me. So this is what it says. Today, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be Misko Paganon Kwe. I'm committed to being me and fueling all that I am today by exercising and eating well, producing brave content, visioning my amazing future, and by adding to my knowledge through learning. So I just wanted to unpack that for you. Started off today. I am grateful. I personally think that's an amazing way to start any day. My mom would say, count your blessings. And if you find that hard to do, then you best count them twice. Meaning put in the time. Remember what you should be grateful for. We don't have everything we want, but I hope you have everything you need. So list off. Start your day with gratitude. I'm grateful for the opportunity. This is a gift. This life. It is an opportunity to be me. It's an opportunity to be you. Unique and different and one of a kind. Don't make yourself a carbon copy of someone else. Why would you do that? You only get to live it once. Live it as you, your best self. By the way, that is not an excuse to be your lowest version. That's not an excuse to. Hang on. I have met people that are proud of their negative traits and I just don't get that. I don't understand that. Like, are they really into blowing smoke up their own butts? Like, I don't. I just don't get it. Sorry. Back to the mantra. Today I'm grateful for the opportunity to be Misko Paganon Quay. So Mishko Paganon Kwe is my spirit. Spirit name. Red Thunderbolt Woman. I'm said to represent that split second in time when the thunder sounds exactly as the lightning strikes. I tell people that means I'm not really good at being subtle. But when you hear that, what kind of person would carry that kind of Name. That's what I'm talking about here. The opportunity to be me. Misko Poganon Quay. I am committed to being me and fueling all that I am today. And I use that word on purpose. There's fuel. Your spirit, your brain, your emotions require fuel, support, encouragement, right? So I want to fuel who I am today by exercising and eating well. And I'm sorry, the older I get, the more important that gets. I'm going to be around for a while, producing brave content. I was being authentic. I didn't feel like I was being brave enough. So I put that right into my mantra. And now I look back on the blog posts I've released this year. Yeah, yeah, I got my brave game on visioning my amazing future. I like to imagine myself in front of a camera or on stage, or in a new community, whatever the case may be, and just looking forward to meeting you. And last but not least, by adding to my knowledge through learning, I know without a doubt the more I learn, the better I am for you that I can offer you so much more if I keep learning and you are worth the effort. So I know so much more now than I did 20 years ago. And stick around folks, because what I'm going to have to share with you in 10, 20 years is. Is going to be phenomenal. It's going to be better next week. Why? Because I'm learning and adding to my wisdom every single day. So there is my mantra. And what I would suggest you do is write your mantra. Don't go grab one off the Internet. Even if it resonates with you. Write one from your heart. I'm just going to repeat mine one more time. Just as that example today, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be Misko Paganon Kwe. I'm committed to being me and fueling all that I am today by exercising and eating well, producing brave content, visioning my amazing future, and by adding to my knowledge through learning. So there. I guess Facebook lives come with homework. Who knew that? I did not envision that. I promise that won't always be the case. Unless of course, it helps you. Well, then of course I'm going to encourage you to do it. There you go. Our very first daily Facebook Live on the books. I will see you tomorrow at 12 o'. Clock. I love you. Take care. Bye bye.