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Monday.com Marketing Team
Dear old work platform. It's not you, it's us. Actually, it is you. Endless onboarding, constant IT bottlenecks. We've had enough. We need a platform that just gets us. And to be honest, we've met someone new. They're called Monday.com and it was love at first onboarding. Their beautiful dashboards, their customizable workflows got us floating on a digital cloud nine so no hard feelings, but we're moving on Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use.
Ryan Reynolds
Hey there, Ryan Reynolds here. It's a new year and you know what that means. No, not the diet resolutions. A way for us all to try and do a little bit better than we did last year. And my resolution, unlike big wireless, is to not be a raging and raise the price of wireless on you every chance I get. Give it a try@mintmobile.com switch $45 upfront payment required equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first 3 month plan only taxes and fees, extra Speed slower above 40 GB on unlimited. See mintmobile.com for details.
Anna Chi
Welcome back Bitties, to this week's solo episode of Brutally Anna. I'm your host, Anna Chi. I hope this episode finds you doing well, but if it doesn't, I hope it finds you at least trying to be a little bit better. And this week you will find me struggling and moving. It is 10:42pm on Wednesday. This episode needs to go up tomorrow at 5am and I am recording this after a full day of packing and moving, which was preceded only by a full week of packing and moving. And now that it's Instagram Grid official, I feel like I can fully talk about this move and this big change and how this week it was such a struggle for me to try and get this episode out. But I don't like New Year's resolutions. But I will say maybe this is a New Year's resolution, or at least this is some sort of goal of mine to not miss a single episode this season of the podcast. So the cadence of the podcast is guests on Monday and my solos on Thursday. And oh my gosh, as I was driving home from our new house to our old house tonight, I was like, if there was ever a week for you to take a break from a solo episode, it would be this week. But I was like, no. I made a promise to myself. And look, for those of you who are tuning in who are now used to this schedule, I feel like I'm making a promise to you guys to always show up even when it's not easy. Because that's what I ask of you, to show up for yourselves, even when you don't feel like showing up. Because at the end of the day, I really do think that the difference between people who get what they want in life and the people who don't are those who just show up for themselves. So I'm showing up, guys. I look absolutely insane right now. I'm sitting in an empty room with my mic and my laptop, and I am so grateful on so many levels, just because it's insane to me that I'm here, that I'm moving into my dream house, that I get to make a living doing what I love, and I get to talk to you guys. This is my job. Like, What? And I'm 34 years old, which is not old by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not young either, if we're going by what the Chads like to consider a young woman. And I got this question yesterday on my Ask Me Anything. It was, I'm turning 30 this March. Any advice? And I answered this quite succinctly on my Instagram stories, but I wanted to go into it in more detail today. I think milestone birthdays, like 20, 21, 30, 40, 50, are wonderful, and you should definitely celebrate them. Treat yourself. But your life doesn't care whether you're 30, 30 and a half, 31, or 38. Those are all legitimate years of your life. And some of your best years may not happen on a nice even number. And if I had taken stock of my life at 30, which was October 2020, is when I turned 30, in the middle of a pandemic, I would have felt like a failure. And by the way, I did feel like a failure, because there's nothing like staring down the barrel of your 30s after having spent your 20s failing at almost everything you wanted to do. But I think as I sit here now with a little bit of perspective behind me, and I'm old enough now to feel nostalgia, which is how you know you're getting old. Because Now I have 34 years behind me, which means 20 years ago, I was listening to music that now gives me that feeling of nostalgia. I just think, oh, my gosh, thank God I didn't write myself off when I was 23 or 24 or 25. I had a guy say to me one time when I was in college, I think I was 20 at the time. He was like, you don't know this because right now you're just having fun. And you're young and you're at your prime right now in college, and you're not even of legal drinking age. But once you graduate at 22, you're going to have three years to find a husband and make it in your career before you expire at 25, and no one will ever want you. And I would love to say that I didn't believe this Chad, but I did. What a moron, right? And it's like, but what a moron am I for listening to him. And it just really goes to show that if you say anything with enough conviction and confidence, people will believe you, which is kind of scary. But look, if you are willing to take a complete stranger's advice, why don't you take the stranger's advice that is telling you that you can do stuff instead of the stranger who is telling you you can't do stuff? Because I feel like for most of all of history, women have been taugh that we should diminish ourselves, that we can't do what we want, that our time is always up. For those of you who are turning 25, 30, 40, 50, and are not where you want to be in life or not where you thought you would be at this point, I hope you know that you ain't dead yet. That, who knows, maybe 31 is your year. For me, 32 was my year. I went viral when I was 32, 10 days before my wedding. Nobody really celebrates their 32nd birthday with any sort of hoopla, but I really should have because, damn, that was my year. And every year since 32, there's only been two so far, has been amazing. And none of these are milestone years. And I think sometimes we like to celebrate these big decades because it feels like we're giving ourselves permission to start anew. It's almost like New Year's, right? Everybody in January feels like they have to be a totally different person. And all that really is is we're allowing ourselves a second chance, a third chance, a 40th chance. But if you can allow yourself that new beginning or that fresh start at 30 or 40, why can't you allow yourself that fresh start every freaking day? Honestly, I wake up and I never know what the hell is going to happen. And I am so grateful for that because if I accurately predicted my life, it would be nowhere near as beautiful as it is today. So I guess the tldr is stop putting so much pressure on yourself at 30 to have it all figured out. Some of the best things in your life will not happen for many years after you turn 30 or maybe after you turn 40. And I said this earlier this week on my socials, but one day you're gonna look back at your life and how long it took you to get to where you wanted to be, and you're not gonna wanna change a thing. And that's how I feel right now, and that's what I would hope for all of you, is that you get to a point where it's like, yeah, would it have been great if I figured out my career at 21, 22 and got married and found success and love earlier on in my life? Sure. But maybe I wouldn't be here now. And honestly, I wouldn't trade the world for what I have now and this life that I have now. And that's what you all deserve. You all deserve the best comeback story that this world has ever seen, or at least that your life has ever seen. And speaking of comeback, Dave just came back home with my dinner in tow. It's called Chipotle because we have no cutlery and no plates. And we gotta love a Chipotle that's open until 10:30 because that's all that's open late around here. So this is where my solo this weekends. This is more like a mini solo and I'm a little bit tapped out, but I'm glad I popped on here to say hi to you guys. Forgive me for this being so short, but I really do need to eat something and go to sleep. And tomorrow is the second and last day of the move. And then I will be cleaning and unpacking like a mad woman for the rest of the week before I leave for Mexico City next week for a brand trip. So suffice it to say, there's a lot going on in my life, but these are all the things that I prayed for. And so I am tired, but I am also happy and grateful. And wherever you guys are this week, I hope that if you're tired, you can at least find something to be grateful for. And on that note, a good night to you all or good day. Whenever you're listening to this, you can leave me a voicemail, as always, @speakpipe.com brutallyannapodcast I will start answering voicemails next week again when I have my wits about me and I've showered. Love you all. Bye.
Grainger Marketing Team
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Brutally Anna
Episode Title: Solo Episode: Why You Should Show Up, Even If You Don't Show Up Pretty
Host: Anna Kai
Release Date: January 23, 2025
In this deeply personal solo episode of Brutally Anna, host Anna Kai delves into the themes of perseverance, self-love, and the societal pressures surrounding milestone birthdays. Recorded amidst the chaos of moving houses, Anna shares her vulnerabilities and triumphs, offering listeners an authentic glimpse into her journey of personal growth and resilience.
Timestamp: 01:00 - 03:00
Anna opens the episode by candidly discussing the challenges she faced while recording the episode late at night after a relentless week of packing and moving. She emphasizes her determination to maintain the podcast schedule despite exhaustion, stating:
“I feel like I'm making a promise to you guys to always show up even when it's not easy.” (02:15)
This commitment to consistency underscores the podcast's core message: the importance of showing up for oneself, even during tough times.
Timestamp: 03:00 - 05:30
Anna delves into her feelings about turning 30 during the pandemic, a time she describes as feeling like a failure. She reflects on the societal expectations tied to milestone birthdays, arguing that life’s significant moments don’t have to align with specific ages:
“Your life doesn't care whether you're 30, 30 and a half, 31, or 38. Those are all legitimate years of your life.” (04:20)
She encourages listeners to celebrate their milestones but also to recognize that personal growth and success can occur at any stage.
Timestamp: 05:30 - 07:45
Anna shares a poignant memory from her college days when a peer falsely assured her that she had limited time to achieve career and personal milestones:
“Once you graduate at 22, you're going to have three years to find a husband and make it in your career before you expire at 25, and no one will ever want you.” (06:10)
She criticizes such harmful messages that have historically been directed at women, advocating instead for self-empowerment and the rejection of limiting beliefs imposed by others.
Timestamp: 07:45 - 09:30
Anna emphasizes the fluidity of life's journey, sharing how her most significant achievements occurred well after traditional milestone ages. Highlighting her viral moment at 32 and other successes, she underscores that:
“Some of the best things in your life will not happen for many years after you turn 30 or maybe after you turn 40.” (08:30)
She encourages listeners to embrace their unique timelines, reminding them that age does not dictate the timeline of personal fulfillment and happiness.
Timestamp: 09:30 - 10:28
Concluding the episode, Anna expresses gratitude for her current life circumstances, including moving into her dream house and pursuing her passion through the podcast. She reflects on the unpredictability of life and the beauty that emerges from embracing uncertainty:
“If I accurately predicted my life, it would be nowhere near as beautiful as it is today.” (10:00)
Anna’s heartfelt message serves as a reminder to find gratitude in the present and to remain open to the possibilities that each new day brings.
Anna wraps up the episode by acknowledging her fatigue from moving but radiates happiness and thankfulness for the life she has built. She encourages her audience to seek gratitude even in tiring times and leaves them with a hopeful message:
“You all deserve the best comeback story that this world has ever seen, or at least that your life has ever seen.” (10:20)
Anna signs off with warmth, inviting listeners to stay connected through voicemails and expressing her love and appreciation for her community.
Persistence Pays Off: Consistently showing up for oneself, even during challenging times, is crucial for personal growth and achieving desired outcomes.
Redefining Milestones: Significant life achievements are not confined to traditional milestone ages. Success and fulfillment can occur at any age.
Rejecting Limiting Beliefs: Societal pressures and negative messages, especially those targeting women, can hinder personal development. Embracing self-empowerment is essential.
Embracing Uncertainty: Life’s unpredictability can lead to unexpected and beautiful outcomes. Staying open to new possibilities fosters resilience and gratitude.
Anna Kai’s solo episode is a powerful testament to the importance of resilience, self-love, and the courage to embrace one's unique life journey. Her honest reflections and uplifting messages provide invaluable insights for anyone navigating the complexities of love, personal growth, and societal expectations.
Connect with Anna Kai:
Follow Anna on social media @maybeboth and subscribe to Brutally Anna on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated with future episodes.