Meet Megan

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Megan Sullivan. Megan is the former owner and teacher of Reform Pilates Studio in Clarendon Hills, IL, a home-based pilates reformer studio. This summer Megan is taking a giant leap and moving her booming pilates business to Energie Fitness and Spa in Hinsdale, IL as the new partner and co-owner. Not only does Energie offer amazing group and reformer pilates classes with Megan, but it also offers yoga and personal training, as well as nutrition, acupuncture, massage, skincare, haircare, and more. Megan’s classes are energizing, fun, and a great opportunity to connect with and meet new people. 

G: I love coming to your classes. It’s not just the pilates and the classes themselves, but it’s the way you teach and the whole vibe and energy of coming here. Did you set out with the intention to create the space that way?

M: I have loved pilates for a long time. It is my passion. And I have always wanted to do something on my own. I always knew I wanted to be my own boss, which I use that term loosely, because I don’t feel like this is a job. When you are doing something you love it doesn’t feel like “work”. The part about impacting people in a bigger way has been a surprising piece to me. Yes I am providing a workout, but for a lot of us busy Moms, it’s an hour for ourselves in a day, a break for mental clarity, and a way to reach out and meet new people and make new connections in our community. It’s been really cool to see that. And we’re all getting energy from that. And for all of these unforeseen reasons, I just keep falling in love with what I get to do every day.

G: Your former studio was unique because it was in your home. Your classes, which only accommodated four people, were always full. Are you excited to expand it even more?

M: There were only four people to a class in the old space, which was really intimate and that’s part of why people loved it. But the ultimate goal is to help as many people as you can, right? Once you dip your toe in the pool of doing something that people love it feels good. It starts to feel like, ‘let’s go swimming’, ‘let’s go into the deep end now’. So we’ll see. 

G: You were an athlete in college right? How did pilates come into your life?

M: I was. I played softball in college. Growing up, I played all sports; softball, basketball, all the team sports as a kid. And I wish I would have learned about pilates in all of my athletic training growing up. But after I had my kids,  pilates just worked for my body. It kind of spoke to it. Through pilates I got myself back, but in a different way.

G: What is different about pilates? What sets it apart?

M: In the beginning when I found pilates I was only doing reformer or barre classes. Now I am branching out so much more. I am taking yoga, a running class, and now I feel like pilates can help strengthen every other aspect of exercise to make it more efficient and more purposeful.  But pilates also for your life too. As we age, through pilates we are able to have better posture and functional movement. So I hope that’s what people get when they come.

G: What’s so great about how you started out was that you established your studio and your following out of your home. You were able to be at home and be a Mom and create a schedule of classes that worked for your life. And at the new space, you can still teach and work around the busy schedule of being a Mom.

M: Yes, that’s what I love about it. I am mostly teaching when my kids are sleeping or in school, so I feel like I get to have the best of both worlds.

G: What you do is very relationship driven because of how well we get to know you and others in class every week.

M: I think that’s what people like about it too. And yes, a lot of them are my friends or have become my friends, so they tell me that they like the workouts, but that they are also coming to support me in what I am doing. That’s what is amazing about women coming together and supporting each other. Yes, it’s on small scale, but when we do that, we are all redefining our own successes in that way.

G: You have taken something that you love and turned it into a business. Which means that you have to go beyond just teaching the classes. You have had to set up the studio, manage the equipment, figure out the business end of it. Taxes, website, online scheduling. What has kept you motivated to do all of those tasks to get set up and keep running?

M: I think you have to do all of that if you want people to find you. Word of mouth has taken me very far, but you have to be set up. I am not tech-savvy, and have had to work at the online scheduling app that I use. It took a lot of hours at the beginning, but now it just works. There was definitely a learning curve, some 4 am mornings where I was trying to figure it all out, but I was excited to do all of that because I knew that I really wanted to do this, so I had to figure it out and I was happy to learn it all. It’s just what I had to do to get to do the thing that ultimately I love. It’s a telltale sign that you are doing the right thing for yourself when you don’t mind doing those things that you otherwise wouldn’t have wanted to do.

G:  You have very recently made the jump into a bigger space. You have moved your studio from your home into a studio in downtown Hinsdale that offers a ton of stuff, in addition to pilates. How did you decide to make this move?

M: I’m thrilled to be able to bring pilates to a bigger audience than I previously was in my in-home studio.Generally I made the jump to the Hinsdale studio as part  of my personal evolution. It will allow me to grow and learn more, afford me opportunity to connect with others, and be surrounded by a larger Pilates community, both clients and like-minded creative teachers which energizes my soul! 

G: You are a super busy Mom, people are flocking to your door for classes, and you are managing your family. What keeps you afloat? What do you do in your life that inspires you and keeps you going? How do you recharge your batteries?

M:Honestly, there’s just something about physical movement that for me is my meditation. It’s my spa. I am learning yoga now, and they are teaching us to notice the chatter of our minds and let it go. And that has always happened for me naturally through exercise. It’s my mental shift. My clarity. My release. I wish I had a better answer but for me it’s as simple as that!

G: No. I think its perfect. I think it’s a beautiful example of how you are aligned with your purpose in the universe. The very thing that you value most for yourself you are providing for others. That is such a gift. You are giving others the very thing that you rely on the most for your own life.

M: It is organic for me, and I believe that when you are passionate about something, it just feels right and doesn’t seem like work. It has felt like there has been this intuition that this is what I am supposed to be doing. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of mornings when I get up at five am, and I don’t know how I am going to get going so early. But then I get up into the studio and I find my voice. It’s uplifting and I just find my game. I don’t think I have ever once been up there and wished I was doing something else. When I am in there, I am with you. I am focused. Because I know that that’s what I expect when I go to a class. Every curl up, every leg lift. I am feeling it too. It just flows.

To connect with Megan, visit demi-barpilates.com

Meet Katt

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Katt Philipps. Katt is the owner of Grafin Skin and Beauty in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Katt’s business has grown in leaps and bounds because of the empowered, supportive way that she helps women with not only their skincare needs, but with life and self-esteem in general. 

G: I have known you for a lot of years now, and what you provide to women goes way beyond skincare needs. Because of the way you connect with clients, you offer up a judgement-free zone and you root for me in my life. 

K: Well the thing is that I get that back from people too in the work that I do. Pieces and parts of conversations and figuring out what someone’s struggle is and what my struggles are and figuring out how I can make things easier for others in turn makes things easier for me. My biggest philosophy is the perspective is that we take different things from each other, and that our differences propel us forward rather than holding us back. 

G: Yes! You so clearly have a business built on relationships. And you see the good in your clients and really try to get to know them. 

K: Yes, but there is also the piece that the world is moving so fast, and we don’t have time to breathe. I know what I know about people because I make it okay for people to breathe. Women need to take this time for themselves and be present while they are here.

G: You are such a champion of women and people taking care of themselves in this fast-paced world.

K: Well it’s funny. I never thought that was going to be me. I always said I wasn’t a feminist because I didn’t believe that by being angry and setting ourselves apart we were going to get anywhere. But I have become a huge fan of women. And then I started in this industry and realized that when you take away the need to nit-pick and one-up one another, women are amazing. One on one any woman is such a beautiful human being. It’s when you get women out into the world with all of the marbles rolling around and women lose sight of that in each other that that gets lost. That’s tragic to me. We all have our strengths. 

G: One of the things that I have noticed about you is that you are mindful and aware of the gift that you are trying to give to women. At the same time, this is a full-time job for you. Is it hard to keep that focus or on some days does it feel like just a job?

K: I have never had that feeling of not wanting to come to work. It’s really fun to see all these people and see their lives and see how it all intersects from time to time. I keep a scrapbook of all of the nice things that people have written to me over the years and I look at that. I am lucky. People come in and they are stressed out of their minds and I get to say “I got you. I have fluffy towels and a nice warm bed for you to lie on for a few minutes to catch your breath”.  I just have a different experience of humans. I also feel a responsibility because I have knowledge of people’s vulnerabilities. It’s kind of a weird job, and it takes a certain mindset.

G: You have been at this for a long time, and you have grown from working in a spa to running your own business and finding success out on your own. I believe that because of the way you create intention and are so thoughtful about what you are doing and why you do it is part of your success. Do you agree with that?

K: Well, I have worked my butt off. But at the same time, people come in every day and fill up my cup. It’s really not me, it’s this tribe that has formed around me. It’s relationships and connections and it is such a blessing. But I haven’t always felt this way. I have had to learn some lessons in my 20’s and 30’s that have really changed how I have grown as a person.

G: Can you share a little bit about that?

K: Well one example is when I was taking ballroom dancing about 10 or 12 years ago. I was trying to learn the Viennese Waltz. It’s incredibly fun, but it involves so much spinning and twirling. I could do one rotation crisply before the reality of who I am set in and my heels would cross up and I would inevitably land on the ground with my skirt over my head. And what are you going to do at that point? This happened multiple times, and I found myself literally under my skirt laughing. That one moment, that one reaction helped me to see that I like me. And that literally changed everything in my world.

G: I think that speaks so well of the evolution that we can go through if we challenge ourselves to grow. What is so powerful about what you have said is that the moment you decided to be okay with you, is the moment that your life became transformed.

K: Yeah. I am not perfect. But why do I have to be perfect? It’s the same with my business. It’s the broken that something super cool comes out of. Whenever you fall off of the horse and you get back on, you are a better rider. 

G: I think you are fearless. You approach the world with an adventurous spirit. 

K: Well I will do and try anything, but I do have to go to the edge and look down and make sure I know what I will land on. But the recurring theme for me is that I have to grow too. I can self -sabotage pretty easily and I am continually working through that. And that’s not uncommon. People just don’t talk about it. I just try to step forward and then fix things in the wake behind me. Everyone is so obsessed with perfection. 

G: That is so great. You clearly love your job. On a personal level, what gets you out of bed in the morning? What keeps you going?

K:  My dog takes over my pillow and barks in my face! But it’s also the fear of missing something. It’s that sense that something good, bad or indifferent is going to happen and I am not going to be there to hear the story. I love seeing what turns the wheels for people, what makes them tick. And figuring out what makes you tick is what makes me tick. I love hearing people’s stories.

To connect with Katt, visit grafinskinandbeauty.com

Meet Mike

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Mike Talladen. Mike is a wedding, portrait, and commercial photographer in Chicago, Illinois whose true passion is to tell stories through his imagery and words about conservation and wildlife preservation.  Mike donates a portion of the proceeds from every booking and print sale to one of several organizations, The Orangutan Information Center chief among them. Through his determination and vision, Mike has created a platform for a multitude of ways to get involved through his work.

G: A big part of your story is shooting nature and images for your conservation efforts. You wanted to meet at The Garfield Park Conservatory because you said it is such a part of your story. Tell me why you wanted to meet here.

M: I have always been really connected to nature. As a kid I wanted to be outside as much as possible. In college I was taking some classes in photography, and in the winter semester, there wasn’t much to shoot outdoors. I came here to the Garfield Park Conservatory to do most of my assignments some personal work. It became like a second home to me. 

G: Tell me about what drew you to photography and how you were trained.

M: As a kid I was always interested in the arts. In high school I started to work with digital media for school projects. I was using stock photography at the time, and I couldn’t really find the images I wanted to use. I got tired of wasting time searching so I picked up a point and shoot camera and started taking my own images. Over time, I started liking the photography aspect more than the computer work that I was doing. I took a few intro classes in digital, film and editing. Then I just learned in the field and by doing it. In art in particular, I believe there is only so much you can learn in the classroom. 

G: What inspires your photography? How would you describe your style?

M: I love shooting nature, but I have learned the importance of telling the stories of others. I am always drawn to landscapes and wildlife, but people connect to people. With projects like conservation, it really does come down to the people involved. Everything is connected. So it’s not just about taking pictures of a leaf or a plant or a certain species of wildlife.  There is so much more diversity to the story when you involve the people behind something. 

G: How did you get involved in your conservation work and imagery?

M: As a kid, I always wanted to go to the Amazon Rain Forest, but I had accepted the fact that it was not going to happen. I thought it was too far away, and I couldn’t afford it. But I ended up going there in 2015 and it was everything I ever dreamed of and more. The jungle was incredible.  I hadn’t even left yet, and I knew I wanted to come back and that I wanted to do something important with those images. Around the time I got back, the news was exploding about what was happening in Indonesia. There were all of these images of raging forest fires and wildlife being displaced. That’s what put Sumatra on my radar. I then spent two years trying to get there. 

G: What was it about Sumatra in particular that called to you?

M: I spent a lot of time researching what was going on there. I just knew I wanted to document it and tell the story in some way. I knew palm oil was the topic, and I had maybe 20 questions about that topic that I couldn’t really get answered from my internet research. I knew that those answers would have to come from seeing it first hand and talking to people on the ground there.

G: You knew that was your moment. What was that like when you finally got there?

M: It was pretty much the exact opposite from my experience in the Amazon Rain Forest. When I landed in the Amazon, as far as the eye could see it was lush, dense, rain forest. When the plane was coming in over Sumatra, it was palm oil plantations as far the eye could see. It was not natural at all. It was the biggest slap in the face. I went there wanting to see it firsthand, and before the plane had even touched down I could see the scope of this and how big of an issue this was. I think that trip changed everyone that was there. Since then, I have been sharing the images and the stories of the issues and the people there. I have been doing lectures in the city and the suburbs to educate people.

G: Because of that trip, you have become so passionate about Sumatra. For those who don’t know anything about what is going on there, how would you summarize this issue?

M: I have been trying to figure out how to summarize it since I came back from that trip. Essentially, palm oil is one of the most popular ingredients in the world. It is only grown in certain parts of the world, mostly around the equatorial line, and Indonesia is the biggest producer of palm oil. They are one of the smallest countries producing it, with the biggest amount of land mass gone from it. Palm oil is in everything from processed foods, soda, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. In the kitchen and the bathroom in any given home, at least five items have palm oil as an ingredient. There are over 200 ingredients that are actually palm oil but under a different name. The West African Oil Palm is the only tree that it comes from and it is only native to West Africa. It is an alien plant in all of these other countries, so in Indonesia, the landscape is changing so drastically to support that. Drought and flash flooding are an issue. One tree will soak up 30-40 gallons of water a day, and an average plantation may have up to 6 million trees. So in that small village, the water supply is disappearing and they now need to drive out of town to purchase water for their families and their village. Deforestation is an issue. The slash and burn process is happening, so carbon is being released into the atmosphere impacting global warming. In 2015, Indonesia’s forest fires produced more carbon than the United State’s mechanical industry. The natural habitat is being decimated, so the wildlife is being displaced. Now poachers have easier access to the remote areas of the jungle and so there is a massive decrease in wildlife. So it’s a big cycle of chaos.

G: Wow. Such a perfect storm of wildlife, environmental, and humanitarian crisis, all to produce this ingredient that is in everything we use and most of us know nothing about. It’s all so connected.

M: Yes. And it’s hard to pinpoint what the answer or the solution is. Even if someone is being very conscious as a consumer, it’s difficult to completely boycott palm oil. It is disguised under so many names. Also the countries that produce it have different regulations. There can be a lot of corruption in those systems, so that makes it difficult. 

G: It sounds like such a complex problem, with no foreseeable solution. Most people would feel pretty defeated by that. What I love about what you are doing, is that in spite of there being no easy solution, you are still wanting to raise awareness and do what you can. You have become very involved and are doing what you can do. 

M: A $10 can go a long way over there. Raising awareness and collecting medical supplies are a part of it. Education is a huge part of it. The kids are the next stewards of the world, and they are in their prime of learning and getting excited about conservation and the environment. And then you are shaping young minds around these issues. A recent development in the work my friends are doing there is to collect books for kids in Sumatra to educate them and help them build a better future. Without them, there is no one left to care about the planet.

G: It sounds like something about nature has always called to you and your heart, from a very young age. How would you distill the influence that nature has had on you and the work that you do?

M: When I am out in the wild, I feel free. As a kid I was always more excited to be outdoors rather than in the classroom. I think imagination flows better in the woods or in the river. As a kid I didn’t think about conservation, and I couldn’t imagine that the places I visited would be gone. Even a lot of the parks in my hometown are gone now. A cabin we used to vacation at every summer is gone. It’s interesting to see how places change over time or disappear. The name of my brand, Hiraeth, is about a nostalgia for a home that once was or never could be. It’s about a yearning for a desire to revisit those places. Ultimately that idea encompasses a lot of what I do.

Mike’s next event, Shadows of the Oil Palm will take place at the Miskatonic Brewing Company on Sunday, June 3rd. For more information, visit Eventbrite.com. For more information about Mike and his photography, visit hiraethdiaries.com

Meet Gina

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Gina Blackmore. Gina is the owner of Bijou by Gina B., a local bespoke jewelry design business featuring one-of-a-kind creations. Gina hand-designs all of her jewelry in her home-based studio where she then takes customers by appointment only, ensuring a relationship between the customer and the artist herself. As a Mom and business owner, Gina creates timeless, beautiful, custom creations for clients, all the while defining success on her own terms.

G: I’ve known you for so long now, and I have enjoyed your jewelry so much over the years. I don’t ever think I have asked you this, but what is the story in how you got started making jewelry?

GB: I wanted this necklace in a specific blue color and I searched everywhere and couldn’t find what I was looking for. I went to JoAnn Fabrics and found what I was looking for and just started beading as a creative outlet. I had my wholesale license from another business and when I went to a local bead wholesaler, my mouth just dropped open. I figured out how to do it through trial and error. What worked and what didn’t. I would wear those pieces, and then people would ask about them and wanted to buy them and it just grew organically.

G: I know you have painted things in your home and you love fashion and color and design. Was this a natural process for you to be creative in this way? Have you always been creative?

GB: My Mom and Dad were really creative when I was growing up. My dream job when I was little was to be a fashion designer. 

G: I think there is something intrinsically valuable about having beautiful things around you, or in wearing beautiful things. What does it do for you to surround yourself with or wear something beautiful?

GB: I am a very visual person. I’ve always grown up with fashion and design, but it’s just what inspires me. I like to design houses, redecorate, choose colors. What really inspires me is putting things together and finding a way for things to work visually.

G: Yeah, I can see the common thread for you. When I see what you wear, or things in your house, they are all very “you”.

GB: If you look at interior designers, or even clothing designers who really have a point of view, you can tell that it’s theirs. With my jewelry, there is a broad spectrum. I sometimes do heavy pieces, I sometimes do simple pieces, but I always feel like it has my design taste in there somewhere. I think that you have to follow your own point of view. I think creatively you have to really keep to who you are and your design and not follow trends or copy what others are doing. At the end of the day, I always want my pieces to be classic and timeless. For it to be able to be worn ten years from now.

G: There is something so strongly feminine about the way you design things. I think that your jewelry resonates with so many women.

GB: Yes! I like sparkle and glitter. Diamonds and flashy. It’s no secret. One thing to say about my line is that it’s very “pretty”. No matter what color, it can be black, or earthy, but it still has that shine. Over time I have certain clients that always come back for more. And I think that what they like is that my pieces are unique. A big reason why people come to me is that the pieces that I make for them are special, and they won’t see it on anyone else. I have gotten to know my clients so well that now when I buy materials, I start to know who might like it or who to design for in my mind.

G: When I wear your pieces, I feel so pulled together. I get so many compliments, and it often feels like that finishing touch. As women, this helps us feel more confident. But people also think about you as a go-to place in town to get a gift for someone special in their lives. They know they can buy something unique for someone and that’s so meaningful.

GB: Yeah, I love that. I love that people appreciate the time and quality and thoughtfulness that goes into every piece. How often do we get to collaborate and buy something from the actual person who made something these days? People resonate with that. In this time of social media and less personal time, people want to connect with an artist in that way.

G: What inspires you?

A: Travel usually inspires me. I took a trip to the beach once to California and came back so inspired to work with sea tones, and sand colors. It could be anything; pictures, fashion, or interiors. Right now I am designing a collection around an interior that I saw that I couldn’t stop thinking about. When designing jewelry, I find the materials and then put the pieces together, which is usually the opposite way it is done in the industry. Because I am small, I use what is available to me, so I can do smaller collections. 

G: Did you ever think in a million years you would be a jewelry designer?

GB: No. It just happened so naturally. I used to do it all at the kitchen table when the kids were little. I still keep my original designs so that I can see how far I have come.

G: It works so well too with being a Mom. You have made it work that you have your family, but you still have this business and a creative outlet where you get to make things for people that mean something to them. Your jewelry and the parties where you sell brings women together, and it’s inspiring. You seem to be redefining what it means to juggle family and business and be successful.

GB: I think that in this world of mass market pieces, once you purchase something, it just becomes another thing. An object. Not to say that I wouldn’t want to be on a larger scale, but I would only do it based on the fact that there are limited amounts of something. I like that each piece is special for only a limited number of customers, or that maybe only one piece is made. It’s the personal connection that is important to me. 

For more information about Gina and her jewelry, visit bijoubyginab.com

Meet Dan

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Dan Karrow. Dan is a Youth Soccer Coach with Roadrunners Soccer Club in Downers Grove, IL. As a soccer Mom, I can appreciate the art and philosophy that goes into coaching kids in youth sports. Dan’s love of both the game and coaching are evident in his work on and off the field.

G: How did you get involved with soccer and coaching?

D: I played soccer my whole life. I was four when I started playing and it was the only sport I really cared about. I played all the way through college. At one point in college I thought I was going to be a history teacher. I was asked to be a grad assistant coach on my college team after graduation to get my Master’s Degree and teach, but I fell in love with coaching. It’s such a unique platform to interact with people. 

G: What do you love most about coaching?

D: Well for one I just love the game. I also think that gratitude is really important, and so a big part of life for me is taking advantage of the gifts that you have been given, and I love coaching. I wanted to be the best coach that I can be so that I can use this platform to help the kids learn to be the best that they can be and to develop their gifts and talents in ways that they can transfer to other areas in their life.

G: I have always had the sense that you coach the kids in a way that what happens on the field is supposed to transcend soccer and be skills that they can use for life. What are some of these skills you hope they are building on under your leadership?

D: I want the kids to learn to embrace taking risks. To be okay with being themselves. They don’t all have to play in a certain way, so I want them to learn what their own unique strengths are and to develop those. I believe that we become what we think about. So many people go through life where they just react, and I want them to learn to work towards and create a plan for what they really want in life. I think that soccer is great because it’s a team sport, so it’s recognizing that you are playing for something bigger.  I want the kids to learn that selfishness is not going to make you better or your team better. When you put someone else first, they will do the same for you, and now everyone is getting better.

G: Those are great lessons that show the impact that it can have on kids to be coached in this way. Can you imagine how powerful it can be if we raised kids with this mindset?

D: Yes, I think sometimes we get caught up in measuring success, but there are so many different ways of being successful. Sure grades, goals and wins are measures of success. But some kids are natural leaders. Some are emotionally strong. I like to get the kids thinking of ways they can contribute to the team.

G: Kids are being raised now to see the glory, the money and the fame behind pro sports, and the real love of the game or the life lessons in sports can get lost not only for kids, but for parents too. It can pretty quickly get to be all about winning. 

D: Yes. When they lose, the kids are learning about setbacks. And as a parent it’s tough. Parents want the best for their kids, and I see it with my own son. Being part of a successful team is part of that, but part of the challenge for me as a coach is to balance that success versus development and how best to do that. A very small percentage will go on to be professionals, and we have to keep that in mind. So what are these kids really getting out of playing a sport? I want to give any players that have that potential a pathway to make it there, but it’s a small percentage so it’s really about the bigger picture.

G: What do you see as being the challenges of coaching at the youth level, particularly when it comes to kids and parents who want to see their kids on successful teams?

D: I think that a big part of it is about education. If we want to allow kids to develop and be successful, they have to be allowed to learn from their mistakes. Of course parents don’t want to see their kids fail, but it’s okay for kids to fail and to make mistakes. It’s a big part of their learning. That’s why I like for them to learn to take risks. As a coach, I can talk to kids about that. I also want to reinforce a long-term vision for parents that it’s important for kids to continue to enjoy playing. As time goes on, the competition gets tougher, and if kids don’t love it, they won’t want to play. As a college coach, we recruited some All-Americans that were burned out, and it was the kids that weren’t as well-known but loved the game that did better at the end of the four years. If a player stops playing, the question shouldn’t be about their commitment level, but for us coaches to ask what we are doing wrong for kids to not want to keep playing. Coaches sometimes need to let go of their egos about winning and allow for some part of it to be about the kids having fun.

G: You coach all ages. And you have coached from youth teams all the way up to the college level. What are the differences there?

D: Yes. I started at the college level, and I believe it made me a better coach. Once they were at that level of play, they were pretty developed and it was a different way of coaching. Then when you go down to the youth level, you really see the power of shaping habits.

G: What are some of the things you love about coaching with the club you are with now?

D: The staff is great. Everyone is really knowledgeable about the game, and everyone really does care about the players and their development. I think that we do a lot to help players develop at all levels. 

G: How would you sum up your coaching philosophy?

D: If you are comfortable, you are not getting better. It’s a challenge for kids to learn that it’s through failure that they improve. As a coach, I just encourage the kids to be the best they can be and not compare themselves to anyone else. 

G: Being a “Boy Mom” and being married to someone who loves and played soccer, I have learned to appreciate the sport of soccer, known around the world as “The Beautiful Game”. What is it about the game that you feel most passionate about?

D: Well it’s the world’s sport, so you can talk to anyone from another country and you have something in common. I love the fact that it is a good combination of teamwork and individual skill. As a parent, it’s great sport for kids to learn about fitness. As a coach, it’s all of the things that you can work on that transcend the sport. It’s a player sport, so the players need to learn to make decisions on the field for themselves. A team that is well organized that is not as good as the other team can score and win, so anything can happen. It’s the ultimate underdog story, so it’s exciting.

G: Who are you rooting for in the world cup?

D: Well the US is out! Italy is out. So I guess Germany?

For more information about Roadrunners Soccer, visit roadrunnersc.com. Teams forming now for Fall Programs.

Meet Emily

No matter what we do, what we do matters. 

Meet Emily Watson. If you are a parent, you know that exquisite agony of trying to find the right person to raise your kids while you are at work during the day. I have met and interacted with a lot people in childcare over the years, and none have stood out more than the exceptional Emily Watson, who has been a devoted nanny to my friend’s children on our block. Now a Mom herself, Emily’s role has been to care for Hayden, 9 Wyatt, 7 and Emily, 4 who has Down Syndrome. Not only does Emily ensure that the kids are safe, fed, and where they need to be, but she infuses their day with fun, positivity and magic, all the while making sure that they are minding their manners and doing the right thing.

G: How did you know that you wanted to be a nanny?

E: I went to a small Christian college, and thought I was going to get a Missions degree. The first summer there, I was a counselor at a Christian summer camp and just fell in love with working with those kids. I found out that my college offered a camp ministry degree and was thrilled. But then I met my husband when we were really young, and it became clear early on that with both the compensation and being away at camp that marriage and that job were going to be complicated. So I finished my degree and we got married. My husband had to move to Chicago for school for one year, or so we thought it would be at the time.  I just decided for that interim year that I would be a nanny while Caleb finished school. I had been a nanny before and thought this would just be for a year until we moved back home to Ohio. I found the job online, had a phone interview, and we clicked so quickly that I was offered the job and accepted before we had even met. I just knew the first time I met them that it was going to be great. We were only supposed to be here one year, but I loved my job so much that I stayed with this family for five years.

G: So when you started, Hayden was four, Wyatt was two, and Emily wasn’t even born yet. Five years later, they now have three kids, one with Down Syndrome who has special needs. Six months into the job you found out that Emily was coming along, and this family was really going to need you even more.

E: I was so excited to find out they were having another baby. At the time I thought I would help them out for about six months after Emily was born and then we would make our move back home to Ohio. But then when we found out that Emily had Down Syndrome. Then she was born prematurely and I kind of felt like I was in the trenches with them. And I knew I couldn’t leave this family. So Caleb and I had a long conversation to try to figure out how to stay in Chicago longer. I wanted to be here. So we figured it out so that we could stay here and I could do what I loved. Every year I kept saying that we might move, and then every year I just felt like I couldn’t leave them. I wasn’t ready. So now five years later here we are.

G: So have you been surprised at how attached you have become to the kids and the family?

E: I knew I was going to love them. I love all kids. But I was shocked that I love them as fully as I do. Even in the first couple of months, I just knew I loved them all so much. Once things happened with Emily, I was all on-deck. When I met Emily, I knew that my heart belonged to this family.

G: They were so lucky to have you during that time. When you found out that Emily was going to be born with special needs and would require different care or more appointments and things did that make you nervous?

E: No. In looking back, I probably should have been! But I loved her so much that I couldn’t wait to help her grow, and I was so excited to get to be a part of her journey. From the moment that they found out, I watched them balance it all and figure it out. I just knew that her story was going to impact not just the family, and me, but that she was going to make a difference to people. That her life was going to impact others, and I wanted to be a part of it. So I was fine with the therapy and appointments and all of that. It was just figuring it all out to help her grow. I learned so much through it all too. I now see the special gifts and love and pure joy that should be celebrated with these kids, and not feared. Every time she would progress the littlest bit, I was excited and proud to be a part of it.

G: Yes, you have been such a big part of Emily’s growth, and have ownership too in her successes. You are really raising these kids during the day, and it is such a special gift for parents when they find someone like you. You are parenting them. You are invaluable to that family because of your attitude about this responsibility.

E: Yeah, it wouldn’t work if all parties weren’t on the same page about that. And I help out in other ways too. Helping out with cooking and cleaning. I do some laundry. And now I am trying to get the boys to take ownership in helping out and doing their own chores. We do homework, dishes, pack lunches. I kind of do it all.

G: That is such a gift to parents. And now you are a parent! Baby Theo has come along this year, and he comes to work with you every day. It’s a lot right? What gets you through being a new Mom and then coming to work and being a “Mom” at work? What inspires you or motivates you?

E: Oh I have those days! And I tease the kids on some days and remind them that it’s a good thing that I love them! But then they grab my face and say something sweet and they fill my love tank for like a year. So it’s moments like that that get me through. 

G: How has your perspective on what you do changed now that you have become a parent?

E: At first I thought I would struggle to love more than I was already loving on these kids.  It was funny and cool to learn and realize how much deeper I could love when my own child was born. And then my perspective changed on how much they as parents love their kids in order to be able to work and provide the life they want for their kids. They trust me to be able to take care of their kids while they are at work all day. They are amazing. I never saw it that way. I now see that they are doing all that they do FOR their kids. Because they love them so much.

G:That’s why what you are doing is such an unbelievable gift. It’s invaluable to find someone you know is on the same page, and that the kids are safe and well taken care of.

E: Yeah I realize now how impossible it is for parents to be gone at work without having that. It just doesn’t work. And seeing how much, especially the younger kids, have grown, it’s been a gift to me too. I have so much joy sharing their successes. I never thought I would be a nanny for long. It’s been the most rewarding and fulfilling job. I couldn’t have imagined it.

Meet John

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet John Smoke. John is a sixth-grade teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Downers Grove, Illinois. John is passionate about teaching kids not only the academic skill set that they will need, but the life skill set that will transform their lives. John is also an ordained United Methodist Pastor at a local church.

G: How long have you been in education?

J: I have been teaching for ten years. Before that I worked, and still do, in a church, and was working with kids in the youth programs. And with the children at the church, that’s where I saw the most hope. I just loved working with kids. They are just so open, and they are such good listeners and thinkers and are the way of our future. So I decided to go back to school and got my teaching certificate.

G: Yes, I believe that kids are the way of the future too.

J: Yes. There is a great story that happened a few years ago when I was getting started in my teaching career. I had gone to the library, and gotten a book called “A Long Walk to Water”, which is a story about a girl in Africa who has to walk four hours each way twice a day to get water. The kids were really engaged and wanted to know more about it. So we found an agency that builds wells in Africa, and they kids wanted to build one. I found out it took $15,000 to build a well, and I didn’t really think they could do it. But they raised money and wrote letters and raised over the amount. So now there is a well in South Sudan that has a plaque that says “Downers Grove Hillcrest School”. And that’s why I love working with kids. Because they see possibilities. As adults we see obstacles.

G: That is amazing. That is just confirmation of what you believe that kids can be the genesis of change.

J: Yes, children are one of our greatest human resources.

G: Seeing challenges as opportunities is what I feel like I am hearing you talk about. That kids possess that spirit. I am sure being a teacher comes with it’s own set of challenges. How have you found growth through challenges in the classroom?

J: The biggest thing that I have come to recognize this year is that the coping strategies and coping skills of our children are much needed and are lacking. We have had a lot of tears this year in terms of some really hard stuff. I have realized that kids need to know that when things happen, how are they going to deal with it? I do think we need a little thicker skin, but we need to learn how to respond. I keep bins of corn here in the classroom because of something I learned through an activity at church about playing with corn and focusing on mindfulness. That was a growth point for me to know that there are little things we can do that will help kids learn how to relax and be more mindful.

G: That is such a great tool and idea. We all need to learn how to move through challenges from more of a place of calm centeredness.

J: Yeah, I have really been doing a lot of work with mindfulness. I have a Tibetan singing bowl that I use in the classroom as well. My favorite part of the day is when we begin with the ringing of the bell. It’s a great way to start the day. The energy just shifts.

G: That sounds a lot like Eastern philosophy.  You are a Christian minister, but you are obviously introducing ideas and concepts from other traditions. How did you come to this approach?

J: The word “God” carries so much baggage for people. Whenever I hear the word “love” I think of God. “Love, Kindness, Holy”, whenever you can use those words instead it crosses every tradition. Then you invite everyone into something that is bigger and beyond us. One of the things we did this year at school was to start a Kindness Club. And it’s the kids that are coming up with these ideas. For me, that is my faith being lived out.

G: It sounds like you have really developed through the kids different ways of teaching better coping skills. You are a Dad of teenagers, you are a teacher in the trenches dealing every day with these kids and the stuff they bring in from their lives outside of school. What do you really draw on when you need inner strength and coping to get through your own challenges?

J: Well, breathing for one. I think that it can calm us all down incredibly if we just breathe and calm our mind. The other thing I try to do and tell the kids is to just smile. There is scientific evidence that even if we don’t feel it, if you smile, it makes you feel better, so I try and do that. I also love quotes. I do a quote of the week. One of my favorite ones from this year is “You never know what kind of battle someone is going through, so be kind”, and that is the biggest thing I am trying to teach these kids here. I am trying to get them to really think that because I don’t know what the person next to me is going through, I can’t judge. I have to be kind. If you are having the worst day in the world, be kind to someone, and most likely, your day will change in some way.

G: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

J: It’s things like the year with the building of the well. I had no idea that was going to happen that year. There are just so many possibilities that can happen in a day. The kids say things and it becomes our mission. It’s the surprise of what can happen in a day. And when you have a class of 26 sixth graders, there are a lot of surprises that can happen. I am always excited to see what the day has in store. Being in the school setting is an adventure.

G: I feel so hopeful for these 26 kids. And those kids will go out into the world and teach their parents, and their kids, and affect others through what you have taught them. There are so many ways what you are doing will create ripple effects.

J: There is a lot of good stuff happening, so I am glad to have an opportunity to share. Teaching is about so much more than facts and geography. It’s about community. 

Meet Laura

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Laura Coen. Laura is sunshine personified. She teaches yoga to adults, and now to kids at Power Yoga on Main in downtown Downers Grove, IL. She is passionate about teaching kids the non-violent, non-attachment, mind-body connections that they can take into adulthood.

G: What drew you to yoga?

L: I used to do martial arts, which was really intense. I got a bad injury, and when I was recovering, I dabbled in yoga. When I was pregnant with my kids, I tried prenatal yoga and it was the only thing that made me feel comfortable in my body. When my kids were little I didn’t have time to work out as much, so I would just practice yoga at home. Then when I started coming here to hot yoga, I was hooked. The more I practiced it, the more I wanted to really understand the full spectrum of yoga; the asana, the breathing, the meditation, the whole philosophy of it.

G: You are such a physical powerhouse. You radiate so much energy. How did learning the other side of yoga, outside of the physical strength aspect, affect your life?

A: I have always felt like I have been spiritually seeking something, and I like the whole process of the spiritual journey. I like the process of trying to understand your spirt and where you are. The philosophy of yoga is about honoring your body, non-attachment, correct living, and it just appeals to me. I think yoga is for everybody and can complement any religion. Yoga offers ways for living, which just appeals to me. It’s a good place for me to do my own spiritual searching. The physical poses of yoga help me release energy so that I can slow down and feel the rest of my existence. By slowing myself down through the meditation parts of yoga, I found that time expanded and I had a new perspective. I was also more present and grounded with my kids.

G: What is so appealing about it to me is that you can go as deep into yoga as you want. Regardless of whether or not someone gets into the spiritual or meditation side of yoga, just coming in and breathing and doing the poses is so powerful.

L: Yes. I like the philosophy of yoga that says that you don’t have to push yourself so hard. Even if you do five minutes a day, it’s enough. It’s ok. And then the more you do it, the more you notice time expanding. You start to slow down, and your perspective becomes broader. One of my favorite parts of teaching yoga is savasana, the last couple of minutes of meditation at the end. I feel like it’s the best gift I can give. Holding the space for others to take a few minutes in peace. I always wish I had ten more minutes more to get people to that deep resting place.

G: Tell me about your passion to bring yoga to kids.

L: There is such a strong connection between the psychological development and yoga in children. In a world of screen saturation, competitive sports, and constant shuttling from one thing to the next, most kids don’t have an awareness of their bodies. Already at young ages these kids are getting stuck in a “fight or flight” mode of being, that physiologically impedes learning, growth, and digestion. For some of these kids, yoga is the one place where they don’t have to have a competitive edge. Competitiveness is great, but it’s also good for kids to learn that they don’t always have to compete all the time. They are told to be okay with what their bodies do no matter what. They learn to relax. To focus on breathing. It also teaches body and self-awareness, which is so helpful for kids to learn and understand.

G: As adults, sometimes as a result of a disease or an illness, we are having to learn things about relaxation, acceptance, body awareness and non-reaction. Learning how to breathe. Can you imagine if we could learn that at earlier ages?

L: Yes, I can think of some important adults in the world right now who could stand to learn these tools! Teaching kids to be able to control their stress response, react with non-violence and settle themselves down is so important. We’re changing the future by teaching this to kids. Plus kids are just fun. They are down with it and will try anything.

G: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

L: Yoga gets me out of bed in the morning. I set my alarm in the morning to practice yoga almost every day. If I am not getting up to do yoga, I am getting up to take care of my family.

G: What gives you hope?

L: It’s easy to feel negative. But energy goes where you put it. If you worry and stress about bad things, it’s going to be bad. I believe that if you put a positive intention towards things you will find it. I for sure have hope. If you look for good things, you will find good things. I believe that as long as someone cares, is setting a good example, and tries to do the right thing, there is always hope. It doesn’t matter how much darkness there is, as long as there is light, there is light.

G: That’s perfect for you. Because you remind me so much of sunshine. You have so much light in you.

L: Thank you. I just have faith in humanity. There are bad things happening. But some people are just misguided or are hurt inside. That’s why I love the idea of teaching yoga to kids. If you can help them feel better, to practice non-violence, they won’t want to hurt other people. The more kids that learn yoga, the fewer school shooters there will be. I believe that. When kids grow up to hurt other kids, we are all to blame. We are a society and we should take care of all of our children.

For more information on yoga and yoga for kids, visit poweryogaonmain.com

Meet Ann

No matter what we do, what we do matters….

Meet Ann Forde Murray. Ann is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in private practice here in Downers Grove, IL. A therapist for more than 22 years, Ann has maintained her own clinical therapy practice in the heart of downtown for over 14 years, helping countless individuals find their resilience and their self-worth.

G: There is a lot going on in the world right now, and mental health is coming to the forefront on many national and global issues these days. Tell me a little bit about how you see things.

A: Like you, I was discouraged and stunned by some of what I am seeing. But I am more hopeful than anything, because I just believe that we are going to grow. That we are destined to seek light and that any challenge that comes can be like that refining fire. It was hard for me to feel discouraged because I am a natural encourager. It’s going to get better but we have to all be a part of that. There’s so much work to be done though.

G: So what you do, in essence, is take a problem and then turn it into a springboard for learning and growth. Is that a natural instinct for you?

A: Probably. I think it is all about growth. I am also a Christian and have faith in God and I just believe that good can come of all things.  I absolutely believe that. Even things that people do for harm, I believe God can use for good. Not that I don’t have moments of discouragement or doubt, I have plenty.

G: What are you most proud of having accomplished in your professional career?

A: I love when people get insights into themselves and when they move away from judging themselves. When they get empowered, and move away from shame they unburden. There are so many moments of insight and growth and when they realize they are ok, they are enough, they start to walk a little taller and are more curious about themselves. My work really is all about connecting with people so that they are not alone in this process. I think curiosity is the key to what’s going on for people and figuring things out.

G: Curiosity is interesting. I agree that it’s a good way to approach an issue and is an underrated quality.  It seems like a kinder, gentler way to walk through life when you can be unsure and not know but follow a curious thread and just see.

A: Yes! I have a series of Curious George books here in the office and I love them. Curious people make mistakes, and sometimes you can be a little naughty, but then be compassionate with yourself rather than judging. Curiosity about how did I get here, and curiosity about where do I want to go? Because I think we get burdened down by judgement and shame. So I try to connect with people so that they are not in it alone.

G: So you really see that as your role? You give them that gift of being with them without judging and supporting their curious exploration.

A: Yes. For 50 minutes a week, you can talk to me and you don’t have to take care of me. You don’t have to worry about me. You can say what you need to say in a safe place and go on. Because it might be something that is not going to get better any time soon. But connection makes it better.

G: When I was a Clinical Social Worker, I remember feeling like I loved the work. I was so passionate about it. But it can also feel like a job. It can be easy to disconnect to the power of what we do. Do you feel the impact that you are making on a regular basis?

A: I think I do. But not all the time. It comes and goes. When I feel really good and appreciate what I do, I try to harness that. But at the end of the day, it’s like anything you are passionate about.  You have to nurture your passion. I believe that even if you aren’t feeling the passion, if you nurture it, it will come back.

G: What keeps you inspired in your work, in your daily living?

A: I try to be mindful of what is happening in the world and how it intersects with the type of work that I do. I try to read clinical things or notice things on social media. That, and finding time every day for prayer and meditation. I always try to quiet myself in the morning and before I come into the office.

G: Do you feel like you get answers to those prayer?

A: There is a felt sense of when you are really connecting. It’s not all the time, but sometimes there is this energetic connection. Sometimes I can get hard on myself and judge myself. I find myself thinking, “This person should really be seeing a counselor”, and then I realize that’s supposed to be me! But then someone will come back and say that there was something I said that really worked for them. Sometimes I feel like it can really be led by God and it’s all working.

For more information about Ann, visit annmurraytherapy.com