Women Who Podcast Magazine
April 2024 issue

XO Conversations

by Chelsea Pegues 

Everyone has a “before” in their life. A space in your existence where things were progressing in a manner which was your normal— you were developing as a person, experiencing life, (and all its ups and downs) determining your likes and dislikes, figuring out your passions, and finding the path which felt most stable. Then it happens. That pivotal moment—the “after”— and things are never the same. Sometimes it’s a beautiful, positive experience, like welcoming your first child into the world. Or, it’s a shock to the system, like the untenable grief of losing a loved one— and learning to navigate the world without their physical presence. In any event, the difference is palpable, and you will find yourself taking stock of things in a much more calculated manner. You’ll begin to note the shift in the idiosyncrasies that make you— well, you. Situations and people you may have tolerated previously are no longer comfortable or acceptable.
Suddenly, there’s no more time to waste. Things are changing for you, and you’re motivated to do things you may not have considered until your “after” hit. You’re living intentionally, a way of life which Dr. Rishma Walji, host of the XO Conversations podcast, knows a thing or two about.