Nola Peacock - December 19, 2024
00:00:00 Unknown: Hi and welcome to the Inspired Woman with Sam Bell.
And today, I'm going to be introducing you to a special guest, special friend, a lady called Nola Peacock. And Nola is a published author. She's an inspirational speaker, coach and a nurse. So already you can see we have a few things in common influenced by her pediatric oncology nursing background, Nola's coaching experience, plus her work with the Angels. She created a conscious care program to guide and support families, to build strong relationships, make choices that are best for their family, and create a happy and harmonious home. But more recently, NOLA has specialized in supporting women with cancer so that they can focus on healing their healing journey and shifting them from being overwhelmed, afraid and anxious to calm and empowered. So it's my delight to welcome my inspirational guest, Nola Pico. Alo. Hello. Thank you for having me, Sam. Oh, you're awesome. You're more than welcome. Now, Nola and I, we go back a little way. In fact, we had to look at the date that her her book was published, and that was 2016. And I think I came to your one of your original book launches and then then all paths of sort of intertwined since then and we know it as always inspired me possibly because she's also a nurse and worked with children. But she is one of the most gentle, sincere, calm people. But you just inspire confidence. Nola, thank you. Thank you. And I love that every time that I speak to you, you've got a peacock painting in the background and your surname is Peacock. So I throw that one in. But I. I've asked Nola to come along and tell us what has inspired you to be so inspirational? I think my biggest inspiration has come from children looking after four kids and with, you know, I started out as a new grad, which I looking back and going, I can't believe they hired The Onion Ecology Unit, but they did. And I loved every minute of it. And was so inspired. And you see these little ones going through, you know, so much, it's like, well, you know, how can I complain about things? And I still remember there was one girl, she was about 14 that she put me in my place. I thought, Yeah, I needed it. Of course, I was young. I was in my early twenties, right? And I was kind, kind of whining about having to work Christmas Eve and. Right. And then sleeping Christmas Day and then coming back and and she just said to me, well, at least you get to go home. And you know what? Yeah, you're right. You're right. I do. And so it's like, yeah, a whole new perspective, right? In a different way for me to look at things and my end and to be grateful, you know, for what I had and that, yeah, I did get to go home and she didn't. And so, you know, there's just been so many lessons from these little ones that have inspired me and still, you know, still to this day, I think back and yeah, they they just carry such a special, special place in my heart that I know. And I can share that. I can tell you that there was one in particular and his name was Gavin Gavin Taylor. And this is when I was working on pediatrics. Oh, my goodness. Back in 1986, oh seven. There you go. It's like how many years ago, you know? But I have the privilege and it certainly was a privilege to take care of Gavin and his family as he battled cancer. And that young man was eight years old now. And he taught me probably more than any other adult ever had in my life. He was just such an inspiration and he held his family together and reassured them. And he was so strong and so brave and yes, so inspirational. And I look back on that now as just being such a blessing, you know. So I know that you have recalled this episode Bela Brave, so, you know, tell me the story of Bela about that. Brave Yeah, I very if I love clip I never looked after and I have never actually met her in in person but was connected through a foundation called Helping Families Handle Cancer. And the founder of that I carry stock was one of my patients and she was 13 months old when she was diagnosed with cancer. And I can still picture her sweet little bald head and her holding a popsicle in one hand and the I.V. pole in the other and being toured around the unit. And when she was you know, she was in and out of the hospital for several years. And her mom was a single mom at the time and struggled financially. Of course, Terrie started this foundation to help other families with with kids with cancer and care. And I reconnected. Hmm. Probably ten, 12 years ago. Uh huh. And I was. I was amazed. Her mom saw me and burst into tears. She still recognized me, which was such and such an honor. And Kerry said, I think I remember you. And I'm like, Oh, you were so little. But they have an auction, an art auction and auction of different things. And so a few years ago, one of the things that they were auctioning was a personalized video, that Bella brave video. So Bella has had many health issues and one of them was meeting about transplant and she had autism and anyway, many things. And I remember seeing, you know, her videos on Instagram and Facebook and just thinking, oh, my goodness, like this little one was just filled with such joy and inspiration. And she has got to be it had to have been the bravest little one. You know, I know she went through so many different tests and treatments and and always with, you know, with a smile on her face, it didn't, you know, didn't matter how scary it was. Right. I mean, as adults, I know I would be, you know, I don't want to go this. But she was just she was just always so brave. And so I did on that video and I was lucky enough to win. And so she wrote this special song for me and then recorded it and sent me the video. And I look at it regularly and she is my inspiration. And unfortunately, a few months ago she passed away from complications. But her, you know, her heart and her inspiration will live on forever. She's got an amazing following on Instagram and and Facebook. And her mom, you know, continues to carry carry that forward. But, yeah, I just think, you know, if if Bella could do it, I could do it. And yeah, it just always and so if I'm having a rough day, I pull out my little video and I watch and listen to her, sing to me and tell me that it's going to be all right. I'll tell you when you actually sent me that little video and I watched it and she's there and this is if you if you can just imagine this little girl all dressed up with a pink microphone and a little bald head and she is singing her little heart out to now. It is just so beautiful to see it. It's just, you know, and I'm getting angel bumps right now because it just yeah. That that is just such a beautiful story. And I think children can be so humbling. They really are. And, you know, a lot of your career you've devoted to children and your first book, Confident, Happy Kids, is that correct? Yes, that was published in 2016. I can't believe how many years ago this I know is. And and and yes, that, again, is all about helping children. And they that book was inspired by your own two children, isn't that correct? Yes. Yes. And just struggles with anxiety and depression and and just, you know, even listening to my kids friends and how they, you know, they hated life and, you know, didn't want to be here and, you know, just had we're having such a hard time. And I just realized that they needed they needed life skills, right. To be able to manage the stress that they go through. Right. It I mean and especially now with social media, like if, you know, back in the eighties, Sam, if you and I messed up, you know, people knew about it that day, but usually by the next day or a couple of days later, they forgot about it. Now there's no chance that things are forgotten because it can be all over social media. So, you know, it's tough, tough for kids and they need to know how to manage. And, you know, it would break my heart. I volunteered at a high school for a while. And, you know, and I remember this this one young girl just wanting to end her life that, you know, she had you know, something had happened. And she just thought that was it, that what, you know, life just wasn't worth living. And so, you know, making that call to her mom and saying, you know, we've got to do something here. But, yeah, so I've I've always just, you know, wanted to give kids those those skills and, you know, and help them. And when I, you know, look at at Bella, you know, I mean, hers obviously her her parents have, you know, instilled some of those things in her. And, of course, they've been there to, you know, to support her all the way through. But I would like to take a little bit of that, you know, whenever she has that mojo and just be able to, you know, to. Give it to everybody else because, you know, there are tough days and we need that little extra, extra boost. And, you know, one of the things that, you know, I love about Bella was that she loved color, right? You can I mean outfit. She wore that in that video. It was so colorful and you know and that's something that it's funny I think oh yeah we like that's, you know, something in common because I love to wear color and, you know, just bring that those happy vibes. Right. So. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Well, we will definitely share all that. The Instagram tags and the social media tags for Bella Brave, you know, and I will post them in this episode because that's the whole idea of this podcast. You know, I, I just love the feeling of being inspired, being inspired. It gives me that gusto to keep going on, to do more. And and it's not coming from an obligation place. It's coming from a place of of love and and just just wanting to make a difference, you know, for other people. And I just thrive on other peoples and other people inspiring me. So we'll share that with our listeners, you know, so Bella Brave will be coming to you via this podcast. Nola, tell me a little bit more about you. How do you inspire others? Hmm. Well, one of the things that I started doing in February, because my my daughter has moved out then I guess about three years now. But when she was home, I would put heart shaped, sticky notes on her bedroom door every day, the month of February. Right. I always think. Think of February as the love month. Mm hmm. Since she's moved out, it's like, Oh, well, I can't do that. So I thought, well, what else could I do? And I also loved playing on Canada, you know, playing with girls to get creative. So I started just writing those messages and putting them in a little Canva thing and then texting them to her every day. And that started in February. And I also thought, well, geez, I'd like to share some of that with with my friends. And I started creating posts for Facebook as well. And just, you know, some and some kind of inspirational message to let people know that, you know, I love them and I care about them and I see them and hear them. I think that's, you know, something really important for people. And so, you know, since since the beginning of February, I, I don't think I'd missed too many days and both for my daughter and for for Facebook. And I've also done some special ones for for friends. And I think, you know, as we talk about this, inspiring people, like I love to be able to to inspire people, like when you said I inspire confidence and, you know, I mean, that that makes me feel great. And when I hear other people say, you know, your posts mean a lot to me or whatever, that means a lot to me. But I also like to to make sure that people know that it's okay to not be okay and it's okay to not be doing like I don't want anyone to ever think that because I've been doing these inspiring posts that, oh, they should write, which I don't like. I don't want people to show it on themselves. And, you know, a dear friend this morning shared with me some really deep things. She just you know, she's been going through a really tough time and just, you know, she shared from her heart and she thanked me for being there and and unconditionally just that it was okay. And I think, you know, we just need to be careful. Like, it's one thing like, yes, I really want to inspire people. But when you're having a rough time and if all you can do is get out of bed, that's enough. My kids that you have to be doing and creating and great is just some days you need to just be taking a deep breath and that's it. And I think that's, you know, that the other thing that I hope that I can, you know, inspire, you know, that the. That scale, right. That is okay. Where people are really having a bad day that that, you know, maybe a post that I made just makes you take a nice deep breath or maybe makes you smile. And then I hope that there are some that inspire other people to go, Hey, maybe I'm going to start posting some inspirational things or, you know, whatever. There's so many other things. But I also just I just really want to be careful because I don't ever want to have people should own themselves. Exactly. I agree. Because, I mean, when you think about somebody who's inspirational, you know, inspirational speakers, they're out there on the stage. They're doing that TEDTalks, they're on the TV, they've written a book and they're famous or they're on the silver screen. They even college or silver screen. And you might do well, you know, the bar is set so high where in actual fact, I think my nursing taught me now is to look at the little things in life and see how they inspire me. You know, little things that are sad, little gestures, little just little things, you know, like you say, somebody who's battling depression and they send you a message and say, I got out of bed today and I put one foot in front of the other. That is inspiring. Right. Right. Yeah. So I hear you. I love that. Thank you. Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. You were going to say something else? Yeah. That's one of the things since being diagnosed with stage four cancer is that, you know, like you said, it's really focusing on those those little things every day, every each and every moment. And that's that's really what's in my heart. To inspire with other with others is to focus on those little magical moments throughout the day. Like right now, as I'm sitting here, you know, the sun is shining in my window and that just puts a smile on my face, you know, thinking. Thinking of Bella, right in your favorite color was pink mine to, you know, just those those little things or, you know, having seen a deer across the street or something, it's just, you know, those little things bring such joy. And that that's what I want for other people is just like, stop and, you know, stop and smell the roses. Just enjoy those little things. Because, you know, as my friends said today in her message, like last year, she looks at her Christmas picture from last year and it will never, ever be the same again. And, you know, that's true for so many things. Right. And, you know, and it's made me think back to, you know, even with with my kids, like, you know, when was the last time that, you know, my son hugged me when he went to school, right. Until he was a teenager. And, you know, him too embarrassed, you know, hug your mother, right? We hope it's all right. Like with every goes last things are coming at my right is just cherishing those moments. So yeah that's that's really where I want to inspire people is to yeah those enjoy those moments. So there you are. Just just as you said, stop and smell the roses. That was exactly what was going through my mind. And of course, for my business. Sam inspired the saying The eye I use is to stop existing and start living. And and that actually came to me that was a moment of inspiration, again, from a lady who told me she was in a in a hospice. I was a hospice manager, some nursing again. And she she actually told me that her diagnosis was a gift to her because she was no longer existing. She was living her life. And I know that you've just mentioned that you've been diagnosed with stage four cancer now. And I know that we have had conversations around this before, but it's so important. Can you maybe comments and share a little bit about that experience for you? Sure. Well, you know, as a pediatric oncology nurse at age four, it's like, oh, you know, time's up. And I mean, and not necessarily right. I hope to still be around for a long time. But it also has, you know, given me a kick in the butt and it's like, okay, what is really important here? What do you truly want to do? And, you know, like let let's get doing it. And also it's just, you know, I keep saying that these the little little things, right. Those little bits of joy. And I have found that I have been happier now than ever in my life. And I think, well, isn't that crazy? But the other thing is as a society we don't talk about death. Right. Very well. Mhm. And we're all going to like I'm not the only one that's going to have stage work cancer but we're all going. And I just wish that we could, you know, that we could talk about it for a fact. One of my girlfriends and I, we just decided it's like, you know, we'll, you know, we've got to make plans. And so, you know, when I go, what do I want my surface to be, look to look like? And she was telling me about this one lady who loved Disney things, and she asked people to bring Disney magnets and put them on her casket with that. Is that a cool idea? And I thought, hmm, what would I like? And I thought we got to do something Peacock ish, like, I've got it. So I thought, well, what if we have a cocktail that's, you know, named like that's blue and that's, you know, named after, you know, a peacock or something. So I'm creating a peacock paradise cocktail and that will be served at my I serve at sea, love it. And it's going to be a party. And I come. Like phrases like, why do and it's like, why don't we? Well, perceptions. Right. And I think, you know, my my parents are both 90 and they've they've never had that. But these conversations with us and I think on my end it's like, yeah, what is it exactly you want or you don't want or. Right. And I know people, you know, have had playlists and all kinds of different things. And I think, well, you know, why can't we talk about those things? And I think in doing doing that, it it frees you up to be. It's hard to be yourself too and to be free. And it's like, okay, yeah, I am going to die one day. And what is it that? That I want to do. And I think then, you know, it's not as much I feel like I can be myself more. I don't like I ah, I'm choosing to, I don't want to put that on or, you know, pretend because it's like, well who cares because I might not be much longer anyway. Mhm. Yeah I, I and like you say we're all in the boat, we don't know what our expiry date says, you know, we know that there's no getting out of here alive but you know, but we just go from day to day and we seem to think that we're invincible. And that's when we miss all those little pieces, those little, little things that inspire us. And, you know, I just love that feeling of inspiration. I mean, I always feel it in my belly and then it comes up to my heart and it feels like it's going to explode out of my chest. You know, it's like and and that that sort of inspiration and joy and happiness and, you know, just, oh, it's just an amazing feeling. And and yet, you know, we don't look for it. And I'm hoping that this podcast will help listeners find those little bits of inspiration every day and as they listen to us and that they will find that Bella brave. No, no, it's. It's. Yeah, and like you say, the sunshine and things and nature. And just as we was sort of heading into the last 10 minutes of of all of our time together here. Can you think of any tips that you can give people as to where to find inspiration or how to be inspired? Well, I think one of the things and this is in an e-book that I created more recently than 2016, and it's available on my website, but it is create a list like start making a list of things that that bring you joy. Because when we are busy and doing, you know, day to day things, right, we're not we're not thinking about the things that we like to do. And if we've got, you know, some diagnosis or something, you know, we're got some issues that we're dealing with. We don't have the capacity to be thinking about, you know, Oh, this makes me happy. So it's in between those times, you know, sit down and make a list. Right. And I mean, it could be your bucket list, but it can be simple things like, you know, like having a special cup of tea and a in a favorite mug. It can be, you know, like as I said, I watch, you know, Bella brave videos, but I also love, you know, videos of little kids or puppies. Right. So, you know, when I'm if I'm having a rough time friends know send me pictures of your grandchildren are over your kids because that's going to lift me up. But creating that list so that when you're in that the darkness or in those downtimes, that you've got that list, you've got something put in place to, you know, to. To put those things in your day or have someone remind you. Right. Also having a list of who who are your support people. And when I say that, it's I different things like who is that real cheerleader if you need someone to, you know, really give you a boost. Whose is that? If you're just, you know, having a rough day and you need somebody to just listen and to be with you. Who is that person? Because they're not usually the same person. Right. And the thinking about, you know, or if you're you're really not feeling well and you need somebody to, you know, to get something done, who is that person, you know, creating these lists, having having those things in place. Having different play lists. Right. Because in the spur of the moment, it's hard to say, Oh, yeah, what song should I put on? But if you've already got a happy playlist or several of them, like I do write like, Oh, I'm going to go and hit that play. You know, all I have to do is hit play. Right. So getting those things in place and, and then just start, you know, putting them in throughout your day and get, you know, scheduling them in. And the more that you do it, the the easier it gets. And I think once you start start doing it, it's hard to stop. It's a little addictive, right, with a little dopamine and. Right. But also, you know, again, you know, we can all slip slip back into that darkness. So if we've got it written down somewhere, like I've got notes in my phone to help remind me, oh yeah. Because if I'm having a real bad day, you know, I may forget that, you know what? What are the things that can lift me up so, you know, get having it easy access so that you can do that. And then the other thing is, you know, don't be afraid to ask your angels or ask the fairies to help you. Fairies, of course, like to inspire their lots of fun and playful, creative Camino, better playfulness. But you know, if you're struggling, ask your angels. Please help me remember to focus on the moments. Help me find those magical moments. Yeah. Which angel would you suggest to. To call on? I'm putting you on the spot here. We're both angel involvement practitioners, so. Yeah, we just say angel that Archangel Michael. I like the big guy. Like, just like you helped me find those little girl. It's like he's the big boss, right? I love Archangel Metatron. And I mean, my number one guy is Archangel Rafael because he's the archangel of healing. So it kind of makes sense, you know, being a nurses and but yeah, Archangel Metatron because he loves children and he is often the angel that we bring in for children, you know, to shield them and protect them. But yeah, I find the Archangel Metatron just bring this mischief into my life. And I love mischief. Well, yes, that I know. I know you. You do a lot of mischief. Well, then that's the thing is to have it, you know, and maybe that's one of the things lately is being able to be more mischievous, right? I mean, that's how inspiring is that when we can be playful and have fun and right. And kid around and and be like a little kid, like and that's you know, we've both talked about how kids inspire it and it's because they don't care what anybody else thinks, right? Nope. They're going to stand there and dance or sing at the top of their lungs or, you know, whatever. It doesn't matter what anybody else is thinking. And that's we need to be more like that and just right. Yeah, but why can't we just break into song if we want to? Right? Well, exactly. But instead, society would think, oh, some. Well, she's raised her marbles. She was starting singing in right. This morning. It's. But you know, but people do the jobs, right? And as nurses and coaches, both of us have studied psychology. And a lot of the therapy is, you know, about getting in touch with your inner child. I mean, it's become almost cliche. Oh, you need to connect with your inner child. But really, it's one of the most basic things we can do. And the best way to do that is connecting with children. You know, I'm sure that we've all got, as I say, about a brave in our lives if we look hard enough. And if you haven't got a balance brave in your life, then we're going to post the links for you to be able to connect with Better Brave. And Nola, you said that you have an e-book that's available at your website. What's your website? Nola icon. Nola Peacock dot com. Okay. And I'll, I've loved having you with me today and we keep the podcast to a nice 25, 30 minutes. So it's a nice drive along to work. But I hope, listeners, you've had some inspiration listening to myself, chatting with Nola. Nola, thank you. Thank you. And so much wisdom as always. And you will continue to inspire me.
