Episode 151-Living Grateful

Life Happens Laugh Anyway

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Would you donate $10 bucks to our podcast mission?

Keep reading...

Welcome NEW Humor Contributors Kim, Beverly and Jackie. 👏👏👏 THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Guess what?

We are nearly to our $1,000 goal already. God is so good! Wait, what??? Yes, it's true, as of today (11/22/23) our total raised for new podcasting equipment is just over $850. Yay and THANK YOU! By the way, I had no idea that podcasting equipment would cost so much! Geez.

Because we love to be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d, our little podcast team decided to take a giant leap of faith and extend our equipment upgrade to include VIDEO EQUIPMENT. 😳 This gives Cathrine a sudden surge of panic. 😰

That's right, you heard us, we are adding video. Those of you who have followed us for a while know that I (Tracy) have wanted to add video for a very long time. Cathrine is not quite as excited about the idea, but don't fret. She will come along. I got her to do the podcast in the first place.

Video equipment and setting up our "pod lab" to be camera ready is going to take additional funds and additional time to raise those funds. We will go at the pace as God allows. Here's our plan:

We have TWO goals:

Essentials Goal: $2,500 By December 31, 2023

2 Shure MV7b Podcasting Microphones ($800) (Yay! We already have the funds for these so we will be purchasing them asap.)

2 Shure Podcasting Headphones ($200)

2 Bi-color LED Video Lights ($500)

Microphone Cloudlifter ($150)

Zoom PodTrak Podcast Recorder ($150)

Backdrop and set ($100)

Training on how to use equipment ($600)

Miracles Goal: $5,000 by Valentines Day 2/14/2024

Sony Camera ($1,600)

Lens ($800)

Monitor ($100)

If we don't raise the above funds in the timeframe outlined here, we will just go forward using what we do have and doing our best. We both really LOVE creating this podcast for all of you. Usually over 600 people open our weekly emails. If each one would give only $10 bucks, we will easily reach our goals. Or, one person could donate an extremely generous gift of $5,000. Either way. All of that to say, every dollar matters and it's not lost on us that you are partners with us in creating this content. ;)

You can make a one-time donation of any amount by clicking here. You can become a recurring donor through Patreon by clicking the SUPPORT button below.

Love you all!

Humor Contributors: Kim, Jackie, Beverly, Jessica, Katie, Colleen, Ursula, Nancy, Kenny, Karren, Jeannine, Muffin, Dar, Courtney, Joan, Gayle, Carla and Linda. Thank you for your generous support. We're saving up for new microphones (that will be awesome) and down the road maybe an editor and some advertising. We are also looking into attending a conference for podcasters in Florida in January. Fun.

Click the link below to support us with a $5 per month contribution and you will become part of our growing community.

And now, back to Episode 151 Living Grateful

1. Why gratitude works
2. How gratitude has changed our lives
3. What you can do TODAY to be more grateful

Inspiration:

Ephesians 5:20

"Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Samuel 12:24

"But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

CTA: Write down what you’re grateful for either in a journal or text and share it with someone.

From The Science of Gratitude, three reasons gratitude works:

1. Establishes self-worth. If I say thank you to you for something, it means there’s been a cost incurred. There’s a value exchange. You gave something valuable for me therefore, I am valuable. Self-worth goes up and satisfaction with life goes up.
2. Gratitude is a bonding social emotion. When I express gratitude to you, you feel more connected to me. More connected=More happy.
3. Our brains are giant filters. Can’t take in all that comes at us. When we start to habitually exercise gratitude muscle we see things for which we are grateful more often. Sort of like when you start looking for a particular type of car you side fly notice them everywhere.

Research shows gratitude improves your life in following ways:

1. increases happiness
2. Reduced depression
3. Improved physical health
4. Reduced blood pressure
5. Less chronic pain
6. Increased energy
7. Longer life
8. Boosts self esteem
9. Increases empathy
10. Pro-social behavior
11. Enhances sleep

Gratitude rewires our brains. Kickstarts production of dopamine and serotonin (feel good neurotic transmitters that activate the bliss center)

Inflates good thoughts. Deflates bad ones.

Celebrate small accomplishments.

Share the love and tell people in your life stuff you appreciate.

Volunteer.

Hold door.

Be kind.

Smile.

Regular meditation.

Mindfulness

Write it down.

https://youtu.be/JMd1CcGZYwU?si=HJ1v5tAkgAtOaOia

***PLEASE NOTE:*** If you are receiving these show notes via email, scroll down to the bottom and hit play to hear the audio of the Life Happens Laugh Anyway podcast episode.

Tracy and Cathrine

P.S. The goal of the Life Happens Laugh Anyway podcast is to present our audience with a relevant topic weekly in an entertaining way followed by some spiritual encouragement. #lifehappenslaughanyway #tracydegraaf

***MORE ABOUT TRACY DEGRAAF COMEDY***

Hi Friends, Tracy here. My husband and I survived raising 5 boys and there were so many funny stories along the way. Now is my time to "show and tell." 🥳 I put these stories in my book and on stage in my comedy act. It's so much fun.

Join my email community to add some fun to your inbox. https://tracydegraaf.com/email-community Follow me on social!

➡️Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TracyDeGraafComedy ➡️Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tracydegraaf/ ➡️Twitter:https://twitter.com/tracydegraaf

If you're new to my comedy, here's a little about me.

I'm from the Chicago area and I perform my one-woman clean comedy show “Life Happens Laugh Anyway” nationwide for both corporate and non-profit organizations.

My comedy combines two of my passions: Christianity and breast cancer awareness. (I was diagnosed in 2016 with stage 1 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma...a fancy name for breast cancer. Currently, I'm doing great and am cancer free!)

As a Christian and a breast cancer survivor, I use my platform to inspire women spiritually and motivate them to schedule their breast cancer screenings. I like to tell women “I want you to know Jesus, but I don’t want you to meet Him face-to-face just yet.” 🙏❤️

I pull material from my experiences as a wife, mother of five grown sons and middle-aged woman. I love performing for Girls Night Out Events, Women’s Conferences, Fundraisers, Breast Cancer Awareness Events, Cancer Survivor Events and more. I was trained for comedy at The Second City in Chicago. I'm happily married to my husband, Ron (a.k.a. Muffin) since 1989 and we are now empty nesters! 😁 We can't stop smiling. Our boys are spread out between Colorado, Illinois and Indiana.

I publish a weekly podcast called Life Happens Laugh Anyway with my bff Cathrine and it is so much fun. We started the podcast when the world shut down during Covid since all of my shows were canceled. It's a hoot. We tackle a new topic weekly that we think our audience will care about and discuss it in an entertaining way. We close each episode with some spiritual encouragement. 👍

For additional information, check out my website: https://tracydegraaf.com #tracydegraaf #lifehappenslaughanyway #comedyvideo #standupcomedy