Tag: personal growth

How to Share Perspective

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“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.” – Sydney Smith

I’ve told this story before but it still cracks me up. When my daughter was three-years- old, I asked her how many houses she could see when she looked out the ground floor window of our house, it was about three.

Then I took her up to the floor above and ask her how many she could see and it was about seven.

Finally we went out onto the little deck on our rooftop and I asked her how many she could see and it was more than she had numbers for. “Miss O” I said “this is the perspective that you get when you are older, you know that everything fits into a larger picture and you are able to see more of it.”

Miss O’s eyes got wide and she looked at me like I was a crazy lady. I admit, that lesson was a little before it’s time. But I love a good dose of perspective. It’s one of the reasons I enjoyed this latest How to Share podcast conversation with author and educator Andrea Simon about her wonderful book, Did You Live the Life You Wanted?

We talk about perspective, regret and the meaning of life. She tells us why she choose to write this story as a novel and how the course she taught about how to write about family plays into her writing.

There are so many fantastic female friendships and characters in this book that spans 50 years. Andrea talks about how she asked men and women if they lived the life they wanted and what she learned differs when women and men answer that question.

We talk about the meaning of life and how writing plays into that. Andrea’s incredible experience as an educator and facilitator shines through as we dig into the depth of life and how we share it.

This is a great episode full of perspective and wisdom with a thoughtful guest. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

  • The novel spans 50 years, highlighting female friendships.
  • Writing about family requires sensitivity and respect.
  • Men and women often have different perspectives on life choices.
  • Older women may feel they had fewer options in their careers.
  • Regret can lead to personal growth and new opportunities.
  • It’s important to pursue personal desires as we age.

Here’s Andrea’s fabulous elevator pitch for her novel Did You Have the Life You Wanted?:

Here are some ways you can watch or listen to all of this insightful and helpful episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner – How To Share

In this engaging conversation, Roger Kastner shares with Wynne Leon his journey of aligning heart and mind, exploring the concept of superpowers and purpose, and the importance of curiosity and empathy in personal and professional growth. Roger discusses the role of frameworks in creating thriving workplaces, the significance of connection and sharing, and the exploration of joy amidst grief. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on human creativity and the future of the podcast as it expands to include diverse voices and experiences.TakeawaysHeart and mind alignment is essential for personal growth.Superpowers are connected to our purpose in life.Curiosity and empathy are key themes in discovering our superpowers.Creating frameworks helps individuals and teams thrive.Connection with others enhances our ability to share our superpowers.Joy is accessible even in challenging times.Grief and joy are interconnected emotions.AI can handle probabilities, but humans excel in exploring possibilities.Expanding conversations beyond our comfort zones enriches our understanding.Sharing knowledge and experiences fosters community and growth.Links for this episode:How to Share Your Superpower TranscriptWhat Do You Know to Be True? websiteWhat Do You Know to Be True? on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SpotifyRoger Kastner on LinkedInFrom the host:My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith
  1. How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner
  2. How to Share Perspective with Andrea Simon
  3. How to Share Compassionate Stories that Inspire and Connect
  4. How to Share Music with Nancy Shear
  5. How to Share Snapshots of the American Dream

Links for this episode:

How to Share Perspective transcript

Andrea Simon’s website

Did You Have the Life You Wanted? on Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

From the host:

My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

(featured photo from Pexels)

The Feeling of a Fresh New Year

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“Be humble. Be teachable. The world is bigger than your view of the world. There’s always room for a new idea, a new step…a new beginning.” – marcandangel

There’s a noticeable expansiveness in the January 1st  entry in meditation books. Setting the tone. Regardless of the theology or philosophy, there seems to be a commonality in the approach to start with the most fresh, audacious, “let’s jump in” message that the author can summon.

I’m not a resolution person but I do like celebrating beginnings. Aren’t fresh starts great? They make me think of the feeling at the bottom of the mountain that encapsulates all the potential energy. Or the intentions at the start of the project, or new job, about how it’ll turn out. And the appeal of a new relationship when the shared history remains to be written. Also the appreciation for babies and children because of their innocence and freshness.

The beginning is before we’ve had to make decisions to change the scope, mitigate the pain, or slip into automatic responses in order to save energy. Before we’ve accepted that most endeavors come with their share of pain, healing, and learning. And that we sometimes fail to deliver even when we intend to do our best.

I have a bad habit of believing I know how things will play out. Especially when new people I meet elicit a reminder of someone else and it feels like I can see a preview of the relationship to come. That habit cuts me off from potential. So I love the fresh energy of messages like January 1st meditation essays that open me back up to uncertainty and a wider perspective.

It’s like new shoes. We don’t know where they’ll take us but we have to get them dirty to find out.

The beginning is important. For me it’s a reminder to stretch – to set our sights on the most expansive goals and being the best human/parent/partner/athlete we can. And to allow space for uncertainty.  Then when the messy middle comes, we have some room for scaling back while still getting somewhere worth going.

So here’s to a great 2026! Happy New Year!

(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

Please check out the How to Share podcast, a podcast celebrates the art of teaching, learning, giving, and growing!

How To Share Our Luck

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“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali

I’m fascinated by the origin stories of how people start big things. I love hearing how people have done fantastic things just by following a thread that often starts in such an incidental or accidental way.

My guest on this week’s How to Share podcast, Gil Gillenwater, has a great origin story. In 1987, he and his brother, Troy, went on a Thanksgiving-inspired road trip to deliver food to a town in Mexico. They took a wrong turn and ended up in Agua Prieta, a town right on the US-Mexican border and were stunned by the living conditions and abandoned children.

Gil started a non-profit called Rancho Feliz that has served the Agua Prieta and surrounding communities in these ways:

  • Awarded 3,700 scholarships
  • Issued 6,854 graduation certificates for adults
  • Built 1,220 houses
  • Distributed 64,000 bags of food
  • Donated tons of medical supplies
  • Constructed orphanages, education centers, childcare centers, and volunteer centers

And more than that, Gil and his mission have also enriched the lives of the people who have come to volunteer. Rancho Felix has coordinated 27,462 volunteer visits. Gil documents these accomplishments and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border in his beautiful book, Hope on the Border.

Gil tells us why me-first culture isn’t working and how enlightened self-interest provides a path out of spiritual poverty. He shares why he doesn’t like the word “charity” for either giver or receiver. Instead Gil hails the 28,000 volunteers that work with Racho Feliz as guardian warriors.

We talk about education as the ultimate tool in the border crisis and how providing that can change lives. And we talk about how the ability to see ourselves in others proves to be a life changing gift.

This is an incredible conversation with an amazing guardian warrior that shows us enthusiasm and purpose that transcends borders. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

  • When’s the last time you heard good news about the US-Mexico border?
  • The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.
  • Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
  • Creating opportunities in one’s home country can reduce migration.
  • Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.
  • Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
  • Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.
  • Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.
  • The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.

Here’s a short clip of Gil describing enlightened self-interest as an antidote to our me first, greed is good culture:

Here are some ways you can watch this compelling and inspiring episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

This is the last podcast of 2025! Thank you to all you amazing listeners/watchers/readers who have been so interested in and supportive of all these amazing guests sharing their interesting stories about learning, writing, and growing in this one wild and precious life! Stay tuned for more great episodes in 2026! I appreciate you!

How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner – How To Share

In this engaging conversation, Roger Kastner shares with Wynne Leon his journey of aligning heart and mind, exploring the concept of superpowers and purpose, and the importance of curiosity and empathy in personal and professional growth. Roger discusses the role of frameworks in creating thriving workplaces, the significance of connection and sharing, and the exploration of joy amidst grief. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on human creativity and the future of the podcast as it expands to include diverse voices and experiences.TakeawaysHeart and mind alignment is essential for personal growth.Superpowers are connected to our purpose in life.Curiosity and empathy are key themes in discovering our superpowers.Creating frameworks helps individuals and teams thrive.Connection with others enhances our ability to share our superpowers.Joy is accessible even in challenging times.Grief and joy are interconnected emotions.AI can handle probabilities, but humans excel in exploring possibilities.Expanding conversations beyond our comfort zones enriches our understanding.Sharing knowledge and experiences fosters community and growth.Links for this episode:How to Share Your Superpower TranscriptWhat Do You Know to Be True? websiteWhat Do You Know to Be True? on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SpotifyRoger Kastner on LinkedInFrom the host:My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith
  1. How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner
  2. How to Share Perspective with Andrea Simon
  3. How to Share Compassionate Stories that Inspire and Connect
  4. How to Share Music with Nancy Shear
  5. How to Share Snapshots of the American Dream

Links for this episode:

Hope on the Border on Amazon

Gil’s organization: Rancho Feliz

Gil Gillenwater on Facebook

My book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠

(featured photo from Pexels)

(feature quote from Enlightened Mind 622 – The Rent You Pay)

How to Share Impactfully with Social Media Friends

Posted in howtoshareTagged , , , , , , 75 Comments

“A little consideration, a little thought to others, makes all the difference.” – Eeyore

About three weeks ago, I opened my laptop to start working and clicked on a Facebook message. A friend that I’d known from Miss O’s pre-school days had died. I burst into tears. It couldn’t be. She’s ten years younger than I am, her youngest child is only 11 years old. She loved being a mom more than anything and I couldn’t believe that she wouldn’t be there to see her beloved kids grow up.

And moreover, because I’d seen the posts where she’d had a car accident about nine months previous and then complications had kept coming up, I was bereft because I hadn’t done anything but post a couple of comments. She wasn’t someone I was particularly close to, but I had so much respect and adoration for her.

It hit me especially hard because I was also in the middle of reading Amy Weinland Daughter’s book, Dear Dana. Dear Dana, is a beautiful chronicle of a letter writing campaign – and a thoughtful reflection of how social media does and does not work for us when it comes to real relationships.

On the latest episode of the How to Share podcast, I was lucky enough to be able to talk with Amy about Dear Dana and the incredible insights she gleaned. Amy tells us how her project got started when she saw on Facebook that her friend from summer camp 30 years before had a son who was sick and needed prayers. Amy starting writing them letters.

She explains how this effort blossomed into a project to write each one of her 580 Facebook friends a letter. We talk about the level of effort involved in writing that many letters and how it was transformative for her.

Amy shares some of the research around the benefits of writing and we talk about the insights of what she learned about the benefits and limitations of social media in the process of her project. One of my favorite a-has is that we can use social as a jumping off points for real relationships because we lose the richness if there is no investment in relationships.

We talk about God-whispers and how listening to them can help us participate in making this world a better place. Amy’s perspective is so real and inspirational that I know it’ll leave you feeling motivated.

This is an incredible episode with a powerful story and loads of magic. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

  • The most changed participant in the writing process is often the writer themselves.
  • Writing doesn’t require formal skills or extensive practice.
  • A simple act of writing can have a significant emotional impact.
  • All you need is a postage stamp and a human heart to express yourself.
  • The power of writing has always been within us, waiting to be discovered.
  • Engaging in writing can lead to personal growth and transformation.
  • You don’t need to write hundreds of letters to make a difference.
  • The act of writing can break down barriers to communication.
  • Everyone has the potential to express themselves meaningfully.

Here’s an incredible clip from Amy reminding us that it’s never too late to care:

Here are some ways you can watch this amazing and inspiring episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner – How To Share

In this engaging conversation, Roger Kastner shares with Wynne Leon his journey of aligning heart and mind, exploring the concept of superpowers and purpose, and the importance of curiosity and empathy in personal and professional growth. Roger discusses the role of frameworks in creating thriving workplaces, the significance of connection and sharing, and the exploration of joy amidst grief. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on human creativity and the future of the podcast as it expands to include diverse voices and experiences.TakeawaysHeart and mind alignment is essential for personal growth.Superpowers are connected to our purpose in life.Curiosity and empathy are key themes in discovering our superpowers.Creating frameworks helps individuals and teams thrive.Connection with others enhances our ability to share our superpowers.Joy is accessible even in challenging times.Grief and joy are interconnected emotions.AI can handle probabilities, but humans excel in exploring possibilities.Expanding conversations beyond our comfort zones enriches our understanding.Sharing knowledge and experiences fosters community and growth.Links for this episode:How to Share Your Superpower TranscriptWhat Do You Know to Be True? websiteWhat Do You Know to Be True? on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SpotifyRoger Kastner on LinkedInFrom the host:My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith
  1. How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner
  2. How to Share Perspective with Andrea Simon
  3. How to Share Compassionate Stories that Inspire and Connect
  4. How to Share Music with Nancy Shear
  5. How to Share Snapshots of the American Dream

Links for this post:

How to Share Impactfully with Social Media Friends transcript

Dear Dana on Barnes & Noble and Amazon

Amy’s website

(featured photo from Pexels)

How to Share Creativity

Posted in howtoshareTagged , , , , , , , , , 68 Comments

“Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.” – Henri Matisse

I’ve often joked that I have a math brain. But have I mentioned how much of a math geek I am? When I was in college, I loved math so much that I looked through all the engineering majors to see which one required the most math classes. That’s how I ended up with an electrical engineering degree.

Nothing in the more than 30 years after I graduated from college has convinced me that I’m a natural creative. Not the three books I’ve published (because two of which are technical so that doesn’t count, right?), more than 2,000 blog posts I’ve written, or anything else.

Until now.

Because Pia Mailhot Leichter’s book, Welcome to the Creative Club, is a myth-busting, research-based, fantastically inspiring book that will change your perspective and power. The clip below gives a small taste of that.

Vicki Atkinson and I were recently blessed enough to be able to talk with the amazing creative director, entrepreneur, and author Pia Mailhot Leichter on the How to Share podcast.

Pia’s book is an incredible invitation into our own creative power. She beautifully weaves agency and awe together in a way that helps bring us alive again. Pia delivers a reminder to move out of autopilot and a perspective to help with adversity, and everything else!

She tells us the story of how coming undone was a trip back to knowing herself and remembering that she’s the creative director of her life. We talk about creating evidence of our resilience.

Pia’s view of creativity will leave you feeling empowered. Which is part of her mission helping others live and lead from creativity.

Takeaways

  • We often need to lose ourselves to find our true selves.
  • Creativity is a response to life’s challenges.
  • Creativity is not just for artists; it’s for everyone.
  • Embracing uncertainty can lead to greater joy and creativity.
  • Vulnerability fosters connection and understanding.
  • Storytelling is a way to honor our journeys and experiences.
  • Collaboration enhances the creative process and outcomes.
  • We are all natural born creators, regardless of our paths.
  • Reclaiming our creativity is essential for a fulfilling life.

This is a great conversation full of energy and inspiration. Buckle up for a beautiful ride. We know you’ll love it!

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this powerful episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner – How To Share

In this engaging conversation, Roger Kastner shares with Wynne Leon his journey of aligning heart and mind, exploring the concept of superpowers and purpose, and the importance of curiosity and empathy in personal and professional growth. Roger discusses the role of frameworks in creating thriving workplaces, the significance of connection and sharing, and the exploration of joy amidst grief. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on human creativity and the future of the podcast as it expands to include diverse voices and experiences.TakeawaysHeart and mind alignment is essential for personal growth.Superpowers are connected to our purpose in life.Curiosity and empathy are key themes in discovering our superpowers.Creating frameworks helps individuals and teams thrive.Connection with others enhances our ability to share our superpowers.Joy is accessible even in challenging times.Grief and joy are interconnected emotions.AI can handle probabilities, but humans excel in exploring possibilities.Expanding conversations beyond our comfort zones enriches our understanding.Sharing knowledge and experiences fosters community and growth.Links for this episode:How to Share Your Superpower TranscriptWhat Do You Know to Be True? websiteWhat Do You Know to Be True? on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and SpotifyRoger Kastner on LinkedInFrom the host:My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith
  1. How to Share Your Superpower with Roger Kastner
  2. How to Share Perspective with Andrea Simon
  3. How to Share Compassionate Stories that Inspire and Connect
  4. How to Share Music with Nancy Shear
  5. How to Share Snapshots of the American Dream

Transcript for How to Share Creativity with Pia Mailhot Leichter

Links for this episode:

Welcome to the Creative Club on Amazon, Audible and Barnes and Noble

Famished a spoken word album on Spotify

Pia’s site: kollektiv studio

From the Hosts:

Vicki’s book about resilience and love: Surviving Sue; Blog: https://victoriaponders.com/

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/

(featured photo from Pexels)