It's Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself | Wellness, Journaling & Midlife Transformation with Lu | Hot Flushes & Higher Self

0:00 Lu: Thank you for having me. And this is my first podcast ever, so I'm really excited. Um yeah, I've been a secondary school teacher for twenty-five years. I was a head of languages in two different schools, and you know, I loved teaching to begin with. I was very passionate about it, and then in the end it was so tough, and I felt it was my time to go. So for years ago I retired, but I think after 25 years it was enough. And I feel as I write in my book, the the education system, like the health system, they're broken, and we need to look at them and adapt them to the society we're living in because they're not fit for purpose.

0:46 Lu: But that's another topic, I suppose. Yeah, so how old were you when you left being a teacher then? I retired at 58. And to be honest, I was one of the oldest teachers there because most teachers at 55 they retire because you need so much energy.

1:03 Soraya: Of course, yeah.

1:04 Lu: So then you left, and then and then I thought I'm going to enjoy life and I'm going to make myself my project, which occurred to me because I've been doing um self-help for 25, 30 years. I've been like learned, I became a nutritionist and it's my passion. And then I thought, okay, I'm going to make myself my own project so I can be really healthy and look younger now that I'm not so stressed. And then I started journaling in the mornings. You know, I would wake up and my husband has breakfast in bed, so we would sit here and have our drink, and then I would give my journal.

1:42 Lu: Because people had always told me I had to share my knowledge, and at work, people would come to me to ask me for advice, and they would sort of ask me to coach them with different things. And, you know, I use my knowledge and my wisdom because I was constantly reading and going on courses. I've done everything you can imagine. In fact, somebody who read my book told me, I'm so lucky because you'd read all the books, so I don't need to read them.

From 25 Years of Teaching to Reinventing Life at 63

2:07 Lu: You just tell me the but can I stop you there for a little?

2:11 Soraya: Because you're telling me that you were you were into your self-development while you work as a teacher, right? But at what point did you go into self-development? What was going on in your life that made you kind of look into developing yourself?

2:24 Lu: Okay, well, that was earlier on, that was in my 40s, my period became really heavy. I had terrible period pains. I had such a terrible time. I was going from doctor to doctor, they couldn't find a solution. They put me on patches and different things, and it made me feel worse. And then I decided I needed to find a solution for myself. And I studied nutrition, and that was the beginning of everything. So, in a way, it's like many of us, I turned something that made me suffer a lot into something good because I feel thanks to that I've consciously looked after my health, and at 63, I don't have a chronic condition, you know, and I'm quite fit and energetic and full of life.

3:08 Lu: Imagine publishing a book at 63. Yeah.

3:12 Soraya: This is what the podcast is all about. You know, in your midlife, you were able to change your direction, do something else, and still have the energy. It was in your 40s. Would you say like you were perimenopausal and you were going to see the doctor and you saw all these different things, and then you decided yourself to study nutrition while you were a teacher and help yourself, right? Okay. And then from there, I guess you had all your other habits performing as I described.

3:37 Lu: Because when you study nutrition, then you meet lots of people, and then my friend Natalie, who studied me, she said you need a spiritual life, and then I started on my path to look at that because I feel you know, what I describe in my book is eating well is not enough because if you're stressed or or if you're unhappy in your relationship, so many things, you know. So what I think I managed to do quite well in the book is sort of um tell people what has worked for me and could work for you that I've done very intentionally in all areas of my life, you know, and um and you know, it's not like I have the solutions because we are all different, but I offer suggestions that can, you know, inspire you to try different things and different approaches.

4:25 Lu: Yeah. Yeah, because you can do different people are telling me from reading my book is that you know, many coaches or many people who help, they give you they make you more anxious because they say, You have to do this, don't do that. And I'm just you know, I'm trying to use a more gentle approach where I don't want to coax your anxiety, I just want to walk along with you because I know you know there isn't an easy solution and you never get there. It's a path, you know. But hopefully you're walking in the right direction.

4:54 Lu: Yeah, it's a journey, yeah.

4:57 Soraya: Yeah, so it's interesting for me to hear you as you said, you're 63, and it wasn't until you were in your mid-40s that you kind of changed your direction and you really looked into nutrition, then you followed the spiritual path. But before that, can you describe a bit about how you were feeling in yourself for that change that happened?

5:15 Lu: Yeah, I was on survival mode, like most of us, because now I meet lots of mums and I talk to them and they're always rushing, you know, and you live in fight or flight. And if you're a teacher and you're a mother and everything, so what I used to say is you're bathing in courtisol the whole day because you're constantly on edge. You're you're like, you know, you don't have a you don't sleep well, you don't have time to eat properly. You know, when you're a teacher, you don't even have time to go to the toilet sometimes.

5:40 Lu: So it's like, and and you know, that's happened to me for so many years that um when I retired, I sort of really slowed down and I was a different person. And now since I published the book, my body quickly has gone back into fight and flight. And I'm like now slowing down again, and I'm following this amazing man who says that the most important thing we all need to do is to regulate our nervous system. That's how you manifest, that's how you're healthy, that's how you and not react to things, you know, try to keep calm, especially nowadays where so many things are changing and we are being challenged in so many directions.

Perimenopause, Heavy Periods & The Health Wake-Up Call

6:21 Lu: So we need to center and and look after ourselves.

6:25 Soraya: Yeah, absolutely, because we can't change the environment or how we do is how we react to it. That's the we have an intro. So yeah, absolutely right. Um, and so what were the some of the biggest lessons you learned about yourself during your period of transformation?

6:40 Lu: Because obviously you learned a lot. Yes, I learned so much, and you know it's so funny because you find a new course or you do something and you say, This is it, you know. I found then you do it, and it works for a while, and you feel so excited, and then you think, oh well, yes, but you tend to go back. One of the things I did that was the most transformational, I did decoded my subconscious mind. I did a course which lasted like two years, and we used to meet, and and that was amazing because that's where I changed my name from Lucia to Lou because it's more fun.

7:15 Lu: I chose my colour, which is Fuchsia, and I created this new identity which helped me evolve and become like who I used to be in a way, because I think I used to be a very fun and joyous person. When when was that? When I was young, you know, when I was 14, 15, I was like full of and then slowly slowly you put all these masks on to be a mother or a teacher, and you you you lose yourself on the way, don't you?

7:42 soraya: Of course, yeah.

7:43 Lu: Yeah. By reconnecting with who you are, right? Beneath all of that. Yeah. And that's why I write the book because I would like people like you who are younger than me not to get to 63 to all this work, but start now. The sooner you start. And I'm very, very optimistic because I meet so many young people who are into wellness and into looking after themselves. It's incredible, it's like wonderful. And and instead of going drinking, they choose to take vitamins and look after themselves, and I love that.

8:14 Soraya: Yes, yeah, it's a very different generation to when we were growing up. I'm not that I mean, I'm turning 50 next year, so it's uh different to when I was in my twenties, I wasn't really interested in vitamins. It does change, which is a good thing. There's some good changes happening around people, are much more connected with their you know inner child and the growth and the spirituality, which is great.

8:40 soraya: Yeah.

8:40 Soraya: Um, but yeah, I think you're right, you know, when you say about women losing their selves over time, because when you become a mother, a wife, you know, you're you have your job and you have all these different hats you're trying to wear, and you forget who you are. I mean, I remember myself forgetting what I actually wanted to eat because I was so always preparing food for my children, what they want to eat, what my husband wants to eat. I didn't know what I wanted to eat anymore.

9:03 Lu: Totally, totally, yeah. Yeah, and I think this is important because you, as the mother, you are the center of the family, and if you're happy and well, your whole family will be happy and well, and your children won't listen to what you tell them to do, but they will listen, like they will look at you and pick up, you know, they will do what they see you do.

9:25 Soraya: Yeah, absolutely. I I agree, but I it's it's hard sometimes in society we're living in because as you said earlier, when women are working, they're trying to manage their home, trying to uh care juggle all these different balls, it you forget yourself, and you know, you're in flight or flight, and you're dysregulated, and you do lose touch with what you actually want. It's so easy to get there. So unless we make time for ourselves. That's quite unnatural. Yeah.

9:54 Lu: Yeah. Um yeah, and to think that it's not when you make yourself first, because you know, I I write in the book is a bit like when you're on the plane and you always put your oxygen first. So that's what you have to do, and and we need to remind each other to do that because it's not our tendencies our tendency because we saw our mums looking after everybody else and putting everybody else first. So we need to learn to change that. And I think our generation, we are here to to heal the past and to change patterns, so it's a job we we need to be working on, I think.

10:28 Soraya: Yeah, absolutely. It's like you said earlier, also you're the role model. So, you know, children they see though it's breaking the cycle so that they have healthier ways of seeing themselves and going through life because you know, we don't want them to repeat what we do.

10:42 Lu: Exactly.

10:43 Soraya: Yes. Um so were there any practices because you mentioned before that there's quite a lot of different courses you did to help you on your journey. It's been like 20 years. Is it 20 years? 40? Yeah, about 20 years you've been doing your own journey. Um is there anything that really popped out that played a significant role in your personal growth over the last two decades?

11:06 Lu: Uh everything. I think what you do is you build up, it's like you're building a house and and you yes pick up things, and you you know, you read books and sometimes you put things into practice, but then you forget, and you know, it takes time, it takes time, but um it's it's what I describe in the book.

Escaping Survival Mode & Regulating the Nervous System

11:25 Lu: To have wellness in your life, you have to do things you can see, like nutrition, exercise, your home, your relationships, and then things you cannot see, like your energy, healing, meditation, you know. So there's so many parts to to your well-being, and and it's is what what I've done is learned so many things that have allowed me to bring little things into my life that become like routines that sometimes you don't think about them anymore, you just do them because you're used to them, and that helps you to feel not a hundred percent well, because none of us are a hundred percent well, you know, but at least keep away from the doctors and the hospitals.

12:08 Lu: My friend was in a hospital, yes, this is I'm going home because I have to wait for four hours. And I say, Yeah, you better find a solution yourself because yeah. I'm not saying doctors are not necessary because they have their function, but uh obviously if you become your own doctor is much better because you you want to heal yourself. You're the person who is more interested in being being well and who knows your body better than anybody else. So learning to to to know how it feels and and listening to your body is so important because we're never taught to do that.

12:43 Lu: Our teacher used to say your body talks she used to say your body talks to you, and if you don't listen, it will shout. And that's when you will get the pain or an illness or something.

12:54 Soraya: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. There's a connection between the mind and the body, that's why there's so many illnesses that are caused when you know we're not dealing with the feelings and then they're manifesting in the body. So yeah, but it goes again to what you said earlier, the importance when you started your journey with nutrition, right? You looked in your nutrition to see how to improve that to help with your physical ailments, and that's a lot of the things that they don't taught they don't really we're not really taught in school because you know it's this reliance on doctors and big pharma and being sick, there's not much money when people are healthy.

13:31 Lu: I know. But we need to change that. We need to change that. You know, my book, I think the best thing about my book is that at the end of each chapter I say how I want things to be in the future in each area. And I think there are people ideas I thought about, but I think if we all start thinking about it, you know, like taking ownership of your health, becoming your own doctor, not for for the instant pleasure about how you're going to feel tomorrow, you know, changing so many things. How and not they're not big things, you know.

14:04 Lu: Uh maybe eating two meals in three instead of three meals a day, because why do we eat so much? And we spend so much time and money in the kitchen, so maybe we can even help the environment and the planet by eating less because we don't need to eat as much as we you know, so uh looking at what we do and questioning how can we make things better. I always ask myself in my life, how can I improve what I do? You know, how can I make it better, more efficient, more enjoyable?

14:32 Soraya: Yeah, yeah. I like that. Yeah, I mean, this is it. I guess being more mindful of of what we're eating, not rushing, taking time. These are all practices, you know, they're beneficial, but we're always, like you said earlier, again, we're always in a rush. It's a very quick society. Everyone's always being busy, rushing from one thing to another, not really taking time to feel what it is that we actually need.

14:58 Lu: I do feel people are waking up. I was watching a lady on Instagram just now before we connected, where she's you know how we walk fast, we eat fast, we do everything fast, and she says no. And she slows down and she's walking along and she slows down and she's doing something, she slows down, and I'm trying to do that as well because that will help your nervous system to get used to, especially for me. I tell myself, I'm not in a hurry anymore. Because you know, when you're a teacher, you always have time because you're always looking at the clock.

15:25 Lu: But and if you have children as well, you have to pick them up from school. But now I say if I'm meeting a friend and I'm late, I start to go on to fight or flight, and I said, No, no, no, we're doing this for fun, it doesn't matter. You know, I tell them as well, if they say, Oh, I'm late, I'm sorry. I said, Don't worry, we're doing this for fun, there's no rush. Um you know, I'm educating myself because it's which is great.

15:46 Soraya: But I guess if all your life you've been doing it, you've been rushing, rushing, rushing, you know, being the mom, teacher, wife. Even now that it's been five years since you retired, I guess you're slowing, still learning to slow down. You learn you have time now, you can enjoy yourself, and you don't have to rush to that. Um so many listeners may know they need to make changes, but they they're worried about taking the third step. What advice would you give them?

16:18 Lu: Well, as I say in the book, if you don't your health is your wealth. Uh and you know you want many things in life, but when you don't have your health, health is the only thing you want. You need to make it a priority. And sometimes it's difficult because we are so busy with our lives. But for me, you know, I lost two brothers at young age. They both died, and and that was a big lesson for me because it made me think, oh my god, you know, life is so fragile. And I told myself, I mean, I was I went through a period of great sadness, but I said, Well, I need to learn the art of living, you know, because we are not here for very long, to be honest.

16:58 Lu: So I need to try to make my time here the best possible. And I've been trying to do that, I suppose. So I suppose the death of my brothers also encouraged me to look into my health and my wellness, and yeah.

How Journaling, Nutrition & Spirituality Changed Everything

17:13 Lu: It's what I say is trying to turn the bad things that happen to us into opportunities to grow and become stronger and more resilient. Yeah. Um, at what point did you have the idea to buy your book? You know, I look at my book, I have it here. Sometimes I look at it and I don't think how I I cannot I never wanted to write it. I don't know how it's happened. It's been like a miracle, and I'll explain to you why, because I'm not a writer. But when I started writing, I did bullet points because I thought, okay, what ideas do I have?

17:48 Lu: Let's write bullet points. And then I realized I can't publish a book with bullet points. And I well, let's do it for a second.

17:54 Soraya: What before you came out, but when did you have the actual idea to write? Because you never wanted to write a book. And what age did you decide to write?

18:03 Lu: Yeah. Yeah, maybe at 58 when I retired, because I thought, well, I need I made myself my own project. And I thought maybe I need a project as well. Because yeah, to be happy is what you need to be of service. I think we are here to help others. And I thought, well, maybe I can help people, you know, passing on all this. And also, I felt I've been learning so much that I needed to also produce something because otherwise we are all saturated with information and you don't even know you know anymore.

18:33 Lu: So I thought it will clarify my ideas and and help me realize what's important. So I started writing, then I went to a hay house writing workshop. And it was good because they told us if you write, you're a writer. So that encouraged me, you know. And but it was a bit sad because we went to the course and then we could um send like um a copy of the book and they will give us some feedback. And they told me your book is very good, but we can't publish you because you're not famous. And other people told me that, other publishers.

19:09 Lu: That's crazy.

19:09 Soraya: So that's a second, Lou. Wait, wait, that doesn't even make any sense. You're telling me that you wrote a book, they said it was good, but they won't publish it because you're not famous. How does anyone become famous until they write a book? Uh I don't understand how that works. So it doesn't make any sense.

19:24 Lu: It doesn't, but I think when they'll think money and number of books they're going to sell and all that, that's how they think. We need to break that. We need to break that because I think we all have a story to tell, and we all have a right to tell our story. And our story can inspire other people. Why not? You know? And I think you know, when you write a book, when you read a book, you might not be transformed, but when you write it for sure you do, because you you have to edit the book so many times.

19:54 Lu: And I even wrote that that when you read something, you say, Oh, I've forgotten that, you know, because so it's a way of reinforcing your knowledge as well. Because as I say, when you teach, you learn. The best way to learn is to teach other people. So then yeah. So so yeah, the book has, you know, when I was writing as well, I thought of Isabella Yende, who's a spa uh South American writer. And when she writes, she says, You don't think it comes to you because I would write and I wouldn't have to think about it, and it would feel really happy.

20:25 Lu: It was like a meditation, you know. It's a bit like I I don't want to say that, but it sounded like I was channeling it in a way, not every day, you know, and I enjoyed it so much, and I thought, wow, this feels good, let's do more of this, you know, and don't don't cross things out, just put down what comes to you. The only problem is when you write a book and you handwrite it, then you have to type it. So remember that if anybody wants to write the book, but I suppose it's part of the process, and they tell me now you can even dictate it and they write it for you, you know.

20:54 Lu: So it's a lot of fun.

20:56 Soraya: The old-fashioned way, Lou, you wrote yours by hand. Wow, okay. So you wrote the whole book by hand, and then you went about trying to get it published.

21:06 Lu: Yeah, then I and then I had to type it in Word, and then I I had to and I went to the workshop, and you know, it was it's been a process of four years. And there were moments when I left it, and I said, I don't think I can do this, I don't think I'm going to publish it. Because writing the book was an amazing experience, it was very enjoyable, but publishing it has been a challenge, really, because when eventually I found this publisher who has published me, and I must mention them, they're called Writer's Cosmos, and they're in Atlanta in America.

21:39 Lu: Um, my daughter looked at the contract and she said, Oh, Mom, I don't think, and she's a lawyer. She said, I don't think this contract it could be a scam because they could not do anything and you can't do anything. And I go, but somehow I knew I had to go with them because I thought, well, I've looked at everywhere else, and I like it because I have a project manager and he deals with everybody. You know, so you only talk to him, and he will talk to the people who will do your cover and your design and your editors and your marketing, so he will coordinate everything.

22:09 Lu: And I like that very much because then you don't get so confused. And then the day I got my book in my hands, because I thought I might never see my book published, I cried the whole day. It was like I had given birth to my baby, you know? Yeah. So and somehow you have to trust your instincts because I thought, well, I don't know, I know what my daughter is saying is true, but you have to trust somebody, and and I researched them a bit and I've read some good reviews, but what I feel will give people confidence to know that I've done it and I got a book out of it, and they exist and they're real, you know what I mean?

22:48 Lu: And and but sometimes you have to trust yourself and and take risks. Yeah.

22:55 Soraya: That's what it is, I guess that you had this idea you wanted to write this book, you wrote it, and then you for four years you were try you were trying to get it published, right?

Rediscovering Yourself Beyond Being a Wife, Mother & Teacher

23:05 Soraya: So you believed in it, and you you trusted yourself.

23:09 Lu: Yeah. I I mean I went through periods when I said, okay, I'm going to leave it, I don't think I'm getting anywhere. So I'm saying this because I know a lot of people approach me and they say they are either writing a book, they've written a book, or they want to write a book. And it's a voice, you know. Somebody said it's a bit like a pregnancy, and when you're ready you deliver it, you know. But um I think it's a it's a good journey to do, no matter what comes out of it, because journaling or writing is a very good therapy and it's free of charge.

23:38 Lu: So I advise everybody who likes writing to do it, you know.

23:43 Soraya: Yeah, I mean a lot of people talk about writing a book, but I don't know many who actually go all the way and write the whole book. So well done who.

23:49 Lu: Yeah. Caramen Harris is a writer, and she told me, I'm so impressed because many people want to write the book, but and to get it published. Now I'm trying for people to to get to know it and to buy it because obviously I've written it because I want people to to benefit from it. But yeah, that's another path, you see, because the first you write, then you publish, now you have to market it. Yeah, we want about marketing, yeah. Yeah, but you know what I discovered in the marketing, it's been wonderful because many of my friends or people who I meet in um networking like you, they say, Come to my event, sell your book in my event.

24:29 Lu: You know, I feel women we are supporting each other so much, and it's so beautiful because uh we were saying we can't fight the big multinationals and whatever, but if we support each other, we can become stronger. And I think that's very encouraging.

24:45 Soraya: Yeah, I think I agree. I think one of the best things is that you know, connecting with other people and working together and supporting one another, is that's what it's all about. We're not supposed to be alone. Yeah. We're supposed to be in communities, right?

25:00 Lu: Yeah, and we thrive in community and we support it, and there is room for all of us, you know. So yeah.

25:07 Soraya: I agree completely. Um, is there a piece of uh wisdom from your book that was particularly meaningful to you personally, Lou? There are many. I'm sure, but which is the piece that you think is the most meaningful to you?

25:23 Lu: Oh, um, I think my book wants to give hope. In a time when we are all fearful, we live in fear, there's so much anxiety, mental health is really worrying, especially in schools and everything. With this book, what I want to give people is hope and say take little steps every day because you're in charge of your life. You're not a victim, you're the creator of your life. And together we can do amazing things. We are all one. If you do well, I do well. You know, where do you begin? Do I end, you know?

25:56 Lu: So let's work together to make this a wonderful place. I heard the Prime Minister, the new possible prime minister, wants to make this country amazing. I said, let's help him, you know. Why not? We need hope and we need intentionality to to to change things and make them better because they could be better. And it's up to us, to each one of us.

26:18 Soraya: I believe, yeah. I believe not so much with politicians, but I believe, like you're saying, like, you know, the community one-in-one, all of us, you know, you, me, uh people we know, those are the people that are making the difference. It's the collective consciousness, is how we're all the thinking and feeling and and how we're interacting. I think that's you know, I definitely agree that that's the way forward. But we need more people to be on that same level to kind of bring up this consciousness and society.

26:46 Lu: Wonderful you're doing this podcast because it's a good way to spread ideas and to share what we think and encourage people to to look at things differently because you know, we create our reality and I'm positive of that.

27:01 Soraya: So yeah, absolutely, and and for sure for the listeners, the women in this age group who are kind of like in the midlife, is to know that there is more better to come. It life might seem difficult, there may be challenges and they're questioning things, but I think I created this podcast because I really want women to see that we have so much more coming, good things coming our way. And it's the best part because you know, like we said earlier about being a mother and a wife and all these roles, this is the point where we actually be ourselves and do what we want to do to be happy.

27:36 Lu: Yes, happy and to be healthy and and you know, and be creative and and enjoy life rather than be gonna be because that's what I write the dog the book. I say I want you to enjoy life, go on holidays, go to the gym, create adventures rather than spend your time going from doctor to doctor, waiting for scans and blood tests and appointments, which many of my friends do. And I'm not saying you can't complete, but you know, do as much as you can to keep away from that world and make yourself happy and everybody else, and and you know, don't be a burden to society and to your family.

28:13 Soraya: Yeah, but I it's this thing, isn't it? We all have it inside of us, we all have this power inside of us, our thoughts, our mind, all of it's interconnected, and it's how how we're taking care of ourselves, what we're reading, what we're eating, what we're drinking, and the way we see the world around us, it's all connected. So I thought that's a really empowering message for us to go on and have the best life that we can, and just really enjoying it and making the most of it.

28:40 Lu: Yeah, and leaving gratitude because I feel you know, I discovered that you know you can only have one feeling at a time. So, you know, when you feel a little bit like sad or you're complaining about things, think, wow, I'm so lucky, I woke up today, I have a house, I have a home, I have you know, and count your blessings because if you're in that place, you will attract more of that. But if you are a victim and you're complaining all the time, it's going to create more of what you're talking about.

29:10 Lu: So yeah.

29:12 Soraya: Absolutely I I think that's one thing that's really underrated as well. Gratitude, just to be grateful, just simple things, because the more grateful you are, the more things you seek to be grateful for as well. Exactly. Yeah. Um, and looking back now, what's the most what's the one thing that you're most proud of that you've done in your life?

29:33 Lu: My children, I think. My children, I'm a grandma. Oh, I love being a grandma. Yeah, it's the most. How many grandchildren do you have, Lou? I have a granddaughter who is two and a half, and I look after her on Tuesdays. And even my husband, we are besorted with her because it's such a pure love, and I think grandchildren come in a period in your life when you are like you need that excitement and that new love, so it's wonderful. So, yeah, I'm proud of my children because I was a tiger mom. Believe it or not.

30:04 Lu: That was horrible. Yeah, she went to Coumon, clarinet, everything, but wow. She went to Cambridge, she became a lawyer, you know, like push, push, push. And my son, who was the second one, I didn't push him so hard, and he's doing even better. He's doing well. I'm not gonna say that he's doing really well. And and I'm thinking, gosh, why did I push my poor daughter so much? But you know, I think the the other thing I say is that we all do the best we know how, and when we know better, we do better.

30:35 Lu: So I'm proud that we become like really good people and and they're productive and they're kind, and you know, because what I say as well is that when we live here, somebody else will live in your house, somebody else will drive your car, and your only legacy will be your children. So or the good things you've done for other people, or or you know, but yeah.

30:58 Soraya: Yeah, no, absolutely.

31:00 Lu: But I'm saying I'm thinking it's quite tough being a mom with that a parent. I have a friend who teaches positive discipline, and I think I was listening to a podcast from her today, and it's so important that parents learn how to do it right, you know. Because nobody teaches us how to be a parent, and it's the most important job you will do because you're creating the citizens of tomorrow.

31:24 Soraya: Well, that's the thing, there's no handbook, and you kind of do the best that you can.

31:29 Lu: Yeah. And if you haven't had good models in your parents because they never knew were taught how to do it, so yes. We need education.

31:40 Soraya: But I think that's the thing when I when I have clients, it's like seeing that you know the parent our our parents did the best that they can with what they had and what they knew. So no one intends to go and do bad. But we're all humans. Yes, exactly. Making mistakes. Um and I'm gonna ask you one question I always ask all my guests what does limitless for you mean? Living a limitless life.

32:08 Lu: Um limitless means that anything is possible. Yes, anything is possible, and and we are so powerful beyond our comprehension, you know, but we don't know it, so we need to try. Like me, I'm testing my limits with the book, you know. Um I had a womb of not being seen. I didn't want to be out there, I didn't want to expose, I didn't want to be on Instagram, and now I am, and I'm I'm finding it easier every day. I have seen that you're also on Instagram and you're posting everybody understands this because nobody wants to be out there, you know, but you do it because you're called to do it, or you feel you have something to do, and it's challenging.

32:56 Lu: But I think you get used to it, and and if you do it with good intention, you know, to inspire others. Yeah. But I need to expand. Yeah, yeah.

33:07 Soraya: You get used to it, you just have to do it.

33:09 Lu: Yeah, you do it, and the more you do it, the less challenging it becomes. And and I have to embrace social media and technology. And my teacher who did the decoding for me taught me, I'm so good at technology. And I tell you, I am so good at technology. Uh I even joined TikTok the other day. I was in the tube, and this young lad sat next to me and I said, Can you teach me how to use TikTok? And he was teaching me quickly, and I said, Oh my god, TikTok is my next stop. And then I stay behind, and now I have 300 followers on TikTok and I'm enjoying it.

33:47 Soraya: That goes to show you're never too old to learn new things, right?

33:50 Lu: Exactly, limitless. We are there's no limit on age or anything, yes.

33:56 Soraya: Yeah, absolutely.

33:58 Lu: And um, so for listeners who want to find out more how to how they buy your book, the one my book is on um it's on Amazon, it's called Wellness With Wisdom, Little Book of Wellbeing by Lulu, and it's called Butterflies, um, because butterflies are my lucky sign and they symbolize transformation, and it's got cherry blossoms because I went to Japan and they say when you sit under the cherry blossoms, your soul goes to heaven, and that's why Japanese they have picnics under the cherry blossoms, so it can be ordered on Amazon, and also it's Ingram Ingram Spark as well, and I sell it myself as well.

Building Lasting Wellness Through Small Daily Habits

34:39 Lu: Um, and you can follow me, please. Follow me on Instagram. I just changed my name to Wisdom with Lou because I had some other name that was in resonating, so it's called Wisdom with Lou, one word, and um and I'm getting more and more followers every day, and it's good, and people are answering my questions sometimes, and you know. I think there are many of us who want to contribute and make things better, and we need to join forces and support each other and and go for it.

35:16 Soraya: And what's next for you, Lou? What do you see now? You've written this book, you know, you got it published. What are you doing next?

35:23 Lu: Somebody told me the other day, because I went to an event and he told me after your book, you need to follow it up. And and I I'm not a coach, but I'm I'm thinking of doing some mentoring maybe, where we start. The book has got 12 chapters, so I thought I could do a 12-week course where we read the chapter on nutrition, and then because every chapter has some exercises, has some wisdom to go, and some journaling to do. So we could uh like support each other, like what have you done with your nutrition, and you know, like talk about it and and sort of study the book like that.

35:56 Lu: But that's a project I might do next year. This year I'm going to dedicate myself to marketing, and next year maybe I'll I'll do that. And who knows what's next? Because once you're out there, it's like people are contacting you to do different things, and you meet lots of people who want to bring wellness into the world. Last Saturday I went to this event where they were talking about what well-being will be with AI. And they were talking, I listened to a talk where they say this guy use AI and AI and used it wrong, and he told him you're going to die in three months' time.

36:33 Lu: But and that so they were saying you have to use it properly because if not, it can cause you more anxiety. But if you use it well, you can um have blood tests where they can tell you you're going to develop Alzheimer's and so you can take measure. Yeah, the future is is um it's going to change a lot. Um but I think we need to embrace it and try to use it in a positive way. Don't be scared of it, because you know, we're always scared of change and new things, but I think you know, we have to embrace it because it's here to stay and try to make it useful.

37:14 Soraya: Yeah, and I think it's also what we're putting into it as well. AI is only as good as what you put into it, and you know, it can be used for good and not the bad things that people are worried about. So we just need more people like you, Lou, out there trying to do goods, and you know, we we're headed that way, hopefully.