inspiration and calm: live cams at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

inspiration and calm: live cams at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

From the Village, Member Stories

by  | Apr 4, 2021 | joy agcongay

from joy agcongay

this is one of my “nature is amazing” posts! full disclosure: i love the Monterey Bay Aquarium! when i need a change of perspective or mood, one thing that inspires and calms me is watching the jelly cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
If you visit, you’ll hear this calming music as you move through the exhibit. i’m always tempted to roll out a mat and take a nap. here is the moon jelly cam:
the Aquarium hosts several live cams. if you go to the individual page for each live cam, it lists feeding times. some of the feeding times are narrated, just like you would experience if you were visiting in person.
the open sea cam showcases a one million gallon tank, featuring a diverse set of open ocean animals rarely seen in an Aquarium. the room is dimly lit and plays relaxing music. i want to take a nap there too. local tip: on a hot day, the open sea exhibit is a great place to cool off!
the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a research and educational institution. one initiative was their launch of SeafoodWatch.org with downloadable Seafood Watch guides by region to raise awareness of the seafood we can order in restaurants or purchase to help support healthy oceans for future generations. here is the Central US guide (PDF).

joy agcongay

co-creator Athena Village + founder Gentle Marketing
gentle marketeer. contemplative creative. curious gardener (zone 9b). fierce appreciator. hen mother. cat herder. introvert. asynchronous.
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein
gentlemarketing.com/
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Spring Equinox: Reassess, Revitalize and Renew

Spring Equinox: Reassess, Revitalize and Renew

From the Village, Member Stories

by  | Mar 30, 2021 | Rachelle Niemann

There always seems to be so much hope in the coming of the spring. Today, March 20th, 2021 is the spring equinox for those of us in the northern hemisphere. I’ve almost always lived in places with cold and snowy winters, so when spring arrives and signs of new life start to emerge after winter, a new sense of hope and possibility comes forth. I love the feeling of the cool but not so crisp, fresh air, the sounds of the birds singing, and seeing the crocuses push up through the ground often through the remaining snow. There is so much space for renewal and revitalization. The spring equinox is a great time to set or reset your intentions. You can review your recent actions and ways of being perhaps with a new lens of awakening, awareness, and hope, and you can decide how you want to be moving forward. Keeping what is serving you and clearing out what is not. I set a lot of goals and intentions at the beginning of the year, yet I have recently noticed that I have become so preoccupied with perceiving what wasn’t going to happen in the future that I became paralyzed from taking action in the present. Looking through a new lens, a reminder and/or mantra I am using to remind myself to stay present is, “Today is the day that matters.” “Just do this workout/meditation/action today.” I’m letting go of trying to commit to things long-term where I have allowed myself to be overcome with worrying about not being able to commit, and instead I’m working on committing to what I can control and commit to today. Perhaps take the day or weekend to notice your behaviors and your inner states of being, and as you notice them determine what you want to carry forward and what needs some spring cleaning. Allow the change of the seasons to inspire you and help you reconnect with yourself, your heart, and your desires. Perhaps consider and journal or meditate with loving-kindness for yourself around:
  • How do I want to be daily?
  • Where can I notice I am in alignment?
  • Where can I adjust to being more in alignment?
  • What can I notice about this?
And if it’s helpful for you perhaps every day you can ask: “What actions can I take today to support how I want to be?” There are new hopes and possibilities available every day; however, spring can provide new perspectives and inspiration to come forth. How might you be inspired by this change of seasons?

Rachelle Niemann

VILLAGE COUNCIL MEMBER
Creative, thoughtful, technically savvy, guide, holder of space, all about instilling inner peace and helping us all know self-love. Author of Breaking Free from the Hustle for Worthiness and guide and XChange facilitator focused on cultivating environments to support well-being. My facilitation, writing, and workshops are created to help us lean into and proactively choose well-being as a way of being. Through discovering my own path to well-being and inner peace from a place of extreme anxiety, lack of identity, and unmanaged thoughts and emotions, I am dedicated to creating intentional action from a place of true experience and compassion. rachelleniemann.com
Jeannette Grace 💃 Communication Expert, CEO, Consultant, Author

Jeannette Grace 💃 Communication Expert, CEO, Consultant, Author

From the Village, Member Stories

by  | May 1, 2020 | 2020, 30 Women 30 Stories

Meet Jeannette Grace

Communication Expert, CEO, Consultant, Author Jeannette Grace is an engaging speaker and communication expert. She helps clients remove roadblocks that get in the way of amazing workplaces.

How I Got My Groove Back

A conversation with myself.

Dear Self, What’s going on? You used to be fun and light-hearted. You loved life. You loved what you “did”. You were positive … optimistic … strong … independent … quirky.  YES, quirky. That’s what I liked most about you.  You were just you. It’s like someone snuffed the light out on your enthusiasm.  I want to know what’s wrong. Concerned, Me
Hello Me, Thanks for noticing. You’re right. I’m not myself these days. I’ve lost my oomph, my zest, my mojo, my groove, my joy.  It’s scary. Remember that book I wrote? G Factor? I feel like I don’t have any G Factor – like all my gravitational pull is gone. I just don’t feel like myself, and frankly, I miss myself. A lot. I don’t know what is wrong with me. Confused, Self
Dear Self, Wow friend! I knew something was off, but I obviously wasn’t paying attention. I was so busy in my day-to-day stuff that I didn’t make time to ask or listen to you. I should have done something to help. What do you need? Sorry, Me
Hello Me, What do I need? The answer is, I don’t know. It’s weird.  I feel sad all the time. I find myself thinking, “I have everything I’ve always wanted in life. I have a beautiful life. A wonderful husband. Wonderful kids. A lovely home. A successful business. Great friends. I travel. Yet, I don’t feel joy.” And on the occasions I’m not sad, I’m angry. I don’t know why I’m angry; I’m just angry. I mean, really, who would want to be around me right now!?! I don’t even want to be around me. Lost, Self
Dear Self, First, you’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere. Second, I have to say, it’s strange that you recognize you have everything you have always wanted, yet, you don’t feel joy.  There must be something missing. What’s missing? What if you start there? Curious, Me
Hello Me, Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve done some thinking. Do you remember when our faith carried us through difficulty? When we asked God for the answers? I think I’ve been depending on myself and it’s obviously not working. Maybe I need to refocus. Refocusing, Self
  Dear Self, Yes! I do remember that. I remember when we lived by the phrase “Let go. Let God.” We worried so much less. Aaaah. Those were beautiful times. I’m so glad you are refocusing – thanks for the reminder. Refocusing too, Me
Hello Me, I’m feeling better these days and am working on my faith. But, I’m still struggling. I can’t sleep. I’m hyperemotional. Laughing one minute, crying the next. I can’t seem to remember things. My body is cool one minute and a raging fire the next. Oh, and no amount of eating better and working out seems to make a difference when I step on the scale. Ugh, Self
Dear Self, I know what you mean. I’m moody and wake up in a flop sweat many nights. Gross! And the brain fog! I go through much of my day in a haze. I’ve done some research. Are we at that “time of our life?” Wondering, Me
Dear Me, Maybe. Wondering too, Self
Dear Self, Aren’t there doctors who specialize in this? Making an appointment, Me
Dear Me, Great news! I made an appointment too. There is a new G Factor in town and it’s called GROOVE!  Turns out all I needed was little more estrogen and a little less testosterone thanks to menopause. Hallelujah! I’m back! Celebrating, Self
Dear Self, It’s so good to have you back! Now, let’s do this! Love, Me  

Jeannette’s Song is “I’m Me” by US the Duo

More about Jeannette

Jeannette is an engaging speaker and communication expert with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in helping clients remove communication roadblocks that get in the way of happy customers, engaged employees, cohesive teams, and trusted leadership.  She is also the author of G Factor: 8 Secrets to Increasing Your Gravitational Pull at Work. G Factor is your gravitational pull. It is the stuff that makes people trust you and want to work with you. Find out if you have it with this quick assessment.

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Chantay Jennings 💃 Founder Virtual Partners Plus, Athlete, Mother

Chantay Jennings 💃 Founder Virtual Partners Plus, Athlete, Mother

From the Village, Member Stories

by  | May 14, 2020 | 2020, 30 Women 30 Stories, Chantay Jennings, Collective

Chantay Jennings 💃 Founder Virtual Partners Plus, Athlete, Mother

Meet Chantay Jennings, Founder Virtual Partners Plus, Athlete, Mother

Wife, mom, Veteran, Volunteer, Entrepreneur-CEO of Virtual Partners Plus.

My Song:

Nina Simone’s Feeling Good

Chantay Jennings

Chantay Jennings

Virtual Partners Plus

Chantay Jennings is a Systems Strategist and Side Gig Mentor who helps aspiring entrepreneurs and coaches start and build their businesses using systems and automation. Before starting her virtual business support and consulting company, Virtual Partners Plus, LLC, Chantay spent 20+ years working in business administration, logistics, and training for the federal government. After a successful career working in Corporate America, Chantay now helps aspiring and current entrepreneurs create profitable systems for lead generation, sales, and client support. Chantay spends her free time traveling with her husband Frederick, reading mysteries, horror and nonfiction, and traveling across the country. She is also the co-owner of a real estate investment company. https://virtualpartnersplus.com https://www.instagram.com/virtualpartnersplus/ https://linkedin.com/in/chantayjennings https://facebook.com/VirtualpartnersplusUS  
Grace Howes 💃 Mindset Coach for Badass Women in Business

Grace Howes 💃 Mindset Coach for Badass Women in Business

From the Village, Member Stories

by  | May 11, 2020 | 2020, 30 Women 30 Stories

Meet Grace Howes

Soul Nudger | Light Seeker | Story Catcher | Change Maker | Changing inner dialogues so we can finally get out of our own damn way!

As a Soul Nudger & Mindset Coach, Grace helps women discover who they truly are in business by shining a light on old habits and patterns of behaviour that continue to hold them back. She works to help them change their inner dialogue so they can finally get out of their own damn way!  
[Video 07:51]

My Song is EXACTLY by Amy Steinberg

More about Grace

Grace is the 2nd child of a solo parenting Mum. She and her 4 siblings grew up putting on  skit-like shows for the neighborhood parents each summer. But, despite this regular foray in front of people, she chose for most of her young years and adult life to remain hidden in the shadows.That is until she found her voice and realized she could use that voice for good. Her work up until 3 yrs ago had been as an art quilter and, later, as a bookbinder. Then she took a pivot to become a Life Coach. Grace loves the work she does to help women find out who they are at their deepest core level and works to help them reframe the thoughts they have about themselves so show they can show up as the badass business women they’re meant to be, to do the work they’re called to do….and change the world. Three things lie at the core of her beliefs that fuel her life today… LIGHT – shining it on our most shadowy parts and using what we find to help guide our way forward. TRUTH – choosing to live the full breadth and width of who we are so we don’t deny our true identity and are able to speak and take action from that place. JOY – finding the little “pockets of JOY” that exist everywhere, but only if we’re looking. Grace thoroughly embraces her quirky-fun loving-dancing in the kitchen side, enjoys her roll as a JOY Ambassador to her kids, friends and anyone else who comes in contact with her and….will forever love the colour RED. She is almost an empty nester who currently resides in Portland, Oregon, a place that she lovingly calls her heart city.

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AJ Frenzel 💃 Money Doula

AJ Frenzel 💃 Money Doula

From the Village, Member Stories

by  | May 9, 2020 | 2020, 30 Women 30 Stories

Meet AJ Frenzel

Former Wall Street. Accountant. Birth Doula. Flamenco Dancer. Debt-Destroying CFO of her own family of four.

DOG DAYS. Since we’re all home – I’m working from home full time. My Kids are schooling from home full time, my husband’s working from home full time, I have caved to my family’s request to get a dog. However, leave it to me to do it in a way that doesn’t cost anything. We’ve volunteered to be dog foster family for with the rescue agency. Fostering is interesting to me that it changes the way that my family interacts with one another. It’s beautiful for me to see the the light shine From my family members in interacting with another being. I think of it as my love language. My “acts of service” love language I found coming out when I sprained my ankle and couldn’t do any darn thing for myself. My family really stepped in to help me out that made me see helped me really experience my family as loving me. And with the dogs, I can see them creating this love for others, right? So they’re doing service for this for animal. They’re taking them for a walk or giving them a bath or feeding them or brushing them. And it looks to me like love. We’re coordinating together. “You do the dishes while I walk the dog” or “Let’s work together in the kitchen so we can go for a family walk”. And it feels like love. [Video 07:56]
My song:

Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine

More about AJ

AJ Frenzel, aka the MoneyDoula, grew up as the middle daughter of a CPA. She was always a numbers girl; math whiz, restaurant check-splitter, volunteer treasurer for everything, family clock-setter, bill payer, and tax preparer. So, she went to college and studied language and dance.  Left brain, right brain, pregnant brain, mom brain, non-stop brain.Yes. All of the above. After growing a dance school in Minneapolis, AJ spent a decade in NYC working as controller for a fund-of-hedge-funds. She has supplemented her soul as a birth doula, mama, once-and-future marathoner, NYC bicycle commuter turned Midwest work-at-homer and peaceful, gentle, fierce flamenco dancer. With her numbers brain, helper’s heart, and dancing body, AJ wants to help you find your own positive, productive and practical relationship with your money.

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