Episode 26: Eye of the Tiger with Mark Petruska

Last week Mark Petruska wrote a post Eye of the tiger, thrill of the fight that spoke to me deeply. First of all, who doesn’t love a good anthem to get them going when life is going very well? [Vicki has a great resource for finding personal anthems, see link at the bottom of the post.] Secondly, he writes about going through divorce which is something I can relate to. It’s one thing to know someone is divorced and a completely other thing to feel the effort, courage, and time that it takes to get life rolling back on track (any track) again. And third, I loved learning about how Mark was able to switch careers to being a full-time writer.

So in this episode of the episode we got Mark to come on with Vicki Atkinson and me to talk about personal anthems and resiliency.

Do you have a personal anthem? That song that runs through your head and heart when you face something tough. Think about it as you read this and see what comes up for you.

Mark reads his post, Eye of the tiger, thrill of the fight for us, the story of his divorce, then dating, and finally his career switch to becoming a full-time writer. We uncover how Mark used both an 80’s pop song, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor as well as the character of Rocky to give him a boost when needed through challenging times.

We find out from Mark how blogging helped him find his voice, be vulnerable and get support during hard times, and eventually even led to his now-wife Tara. Mark reveals how the practice helped him find the confidence to pursue a full-time writing career.

Hard times sometimes last for years as we work through major life changes like divorce, so Mark tells us what kept him laughing during the times when life events didn’t seem very funny.

And finally we end talking about optimism and resiliency. Mark ties it all together with the 3 P’s of positive psychology from Martin Seligman.

Okay back to our question about your personal anthem. I didn’t think I had one but “This is my fight song. Take back my life song.” by Rachel Platten came to mind when I posed the question. I have a mantra that I talk about in this episode and Vicki’s reveals her personal anthem. Spoiler alert it’s “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. If you haven’t thought of one, we have a link to a great resource of personal anthem suggestions below.

This is a great episode about using personal anthems through difficult circumstances to keep us motivated and energized to get back up again. We know you’ll love it.

Episode 132: South Side Memories with Gloria Golec – Sharing the Heart of the Matter

In this episode, hosts Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson engage with author Gloria Golec about her memoir, South Side Memories. The conversation explores themes of family, immigrant experiences, and the power of storytelling. Gloria shares insights on how her Polish heritage and family dynamics shaped her identity and writing journey. The discussion emphasizes the importance of preserving personal narratives, the emotional connections that come from sharing stories, and provides the inspiration for writing our own stories.TakeawaysThe book is a reflection of the American dream and immigrant experiences.Storytelling helps maintain connections to roots and loved ones.Writing can be a therapeutic process for personal growth.Family dynamics, especially gender roles, play a significant role in shaping identity.Cherished memories can provide clarity and understanding of past relationships.Cultural heritage is often intertwined with food traditions and family gatherings.Teaching experiences can influence one's writing and storytelling approach.Writing a memoir can be an emotional journey that brings past relationships closer.Encouragement to start writing by focusing on one story at a time.Sharing stories can inspire others and create a sense of community.Links for this episode:⁠How To Share Snapshots of the American Dream transcript⁠⁠Gloria Golec's profile on Eckhartz Press⁠South Side Memories on ⁠Eckhartz Press⁠From the hosts:Vicki’s book about resilience and love: ⁠Surviving Sue⁠; Blog: ⁠https://victoriaponders.com/⁠My book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠

Search (and subscribe!) for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts OR Listen to Episode 26: Eye of the Tiger with Mark Petruska on Anchor