108. Thanksgiving Edition - Overcoming Life's Battles with Grace & Gratitude with Adina Felton

After surviving multiple mini-strokes and seizures, my big sister, Adina Felton, has become an emblem of resilience and gratitude - a spirit you'll feel in this special Thanksgiving edition of The Power Transformation Podcast. Join us as Adina opens up about her journey, sharing how these life-altering experiences have deepened her appreciation for life and the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Her story is a testament to the power of grace and the importance of extending kindness to everyone, reflecting on the unseen battles that others might be facing.

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Transcript

Alethea Felton: 0:07

Hey y'all, welcome back to a special edition of the Power Transformation podcast. This is the Thanksgiving edition of the podcast. This is going to be brief and it is because I have a special guest with me, my big sister, adina Felton. Hey, adina, welcome to the show. Why? Hello, thank you, thank you. So I have to admit, as the younger sister, I didn't give my sister warning about this, because this is just going to be a very brief podcast episode.

Alethea Felton: 0:44

Today In the United States, we are celebrating Thanksgiving on what would be tomorrow, because, of course, this podcast launches every Wednesday, so this is the Wednesday episode right before Thanksgiving. We celebrated our mom's birthday yesterday and that was beautiful. But my sister is a guest in one of the earlier episodes where she was talking about anger and how to control anger and whatnot, and one of the joys about my sister and I we have a very close relationship. We're three years apart, but for this, you know, when it comes to thinking about overcoming adversity and challenges, my sister could really be a poster child of that, of bouncing back and being resilient in so many areas of her life. And so, dina, as Thanksgiving approaches, what is one thing about your life that you are truly grateful for?

Adina Felton: 1:45

Wow, I would say that I'm just grateful to still be here. I have had three TIAs, which are many strokes. I've had a grandma seizure, I've had blackout seizures, and so I think that I'm just grateful that those were not fatal and those did not in my life.

Alethea Felton: 2:07

I'm grateful just to be here okay, and hearing that a person might say good lord, what in the world did you do to have God try to take you out like that? Don't just play it. I mean I'm just playing. Wait a minute, y'all just play, because irony no, seriously, I'm just playing and I'm just playing. And many of you know that in my other episodes with guests I can't joke and be jovial. This is my sister, so I'm going to be her kid sister. But even with my journey, with the health challenges, my sister too lives with autoimmune illness and there was one point where doctors years ago wanted to do a case study on us and my mom's side of the family, since a lot of people on her side have autoimmune illness. But you're grateful and thankful for life. And, dina, in thinking about traditionally and historically what Thanksgiving started off, as in the United States, we don't necessarily, you know, honor the pilgrims per se, but how do you make Thanksgiving show up in your life every day?

Adina Felton: 3:29

Wow. So this is actually a great question because it was something that was posed to us during my works mindfulness meditation session. That happens every Monday, and I answered this question by saying I extend grace to everyone because everyone is going through something and you never know what someone is going through. So by extending grace to a stranger or your coworker or your supervisor or someone in your family, you never know what they're going through, and I think that that is very key that we should always just extend grace to our fellow man, yeah, and woman and woman. Yes, I know, yes, our fellow man and woman. I know you should.

Alethea Felton: 4:21

Yeah, yeah. And Thanksgiving to me is just being grateful for even what could be considered the small stuff, mm-hmm, not thinking about what you don't have, not thinking about what you don't have. And I'm talking to myself now, because I find that the greater that my dreams are, the bigger and wider they are. I have to make sure to still remain in the moment and to not be so caught up in the future that I miss what's right here in the present. And so part of this whole aspect of this podcast, of the power transformation podcast, is that that power within me to say I'm going to even be transformed by what's in front of me and being very mindful of who I have in my life, over what I have in my life, because the things will come. There's so much abundance out here. For us it really is.

Alethea Felton: 5:27

It doesn't matter who our president is or will be, abundance is there. I call that force God, some people call it universe. The whole purpose is there's so much abundance out there. So I don't have to worry about the stuff and the things. Those will come. As long as I put in the work and I know that I keep a mindset towards it, but being very conscious of the who in my life is what keeps me going, is that support system, the people, the love, because with that then I know everything will be okay. So, dina, in closing with this, in keeping with this aspect of being thankful, what would you tell to someone listening out there about gratitude? What is your definition of gratitude and what would you say to a person who might not be feeling thankful at this point in their life?

Adina Felton: 6:32

Oh, wow. Gratitude from my perspective is just always being thankful and mindful of all that I have, not what I want, and I think if someone were dealing with not being grateful or dealing with, you know Thanksgiving is hard, the holidays are hard. I will say that the holidays can be very hard, and not everyone has a family that they can go home to, not everyone has a home that they can go home to, and so I would just say, just be grateful of the small things that you have, be grateful of life, be grateful of the breath that you take, and just know that these hard times won't last forever. These things will pass away, and if you are struggling during the holidays, it's okay to seek professional guidance to help you get through. I think that is what I would encourage anyone, whether they are a friend, a loved one or even a stranger. I would encourage them to know that these hard moments are not going to last forever. Trust me, I have had my share. They're not going to last forever. These things shall pass.

Alethea Felton: 8:18

Well, I think that is definitely something worth leaving and, on behalf of my family and I, we definitely wish and hope all of you a very happy Thanksgiving, no matter which country you're in, where you're listening from. And I say a happy Thanksgiving in that Thanksgiving show up every day in your life and that you are grateful and thankful for all that you have. And thank you. I am grateful for you of being supportive of this podcast. We are entering season three very soon, right around the corner, and some exciting news will come from there, and I just thank you for continuing to allow the Power Transformation Podcast to be a success. It is because of you and I do not take it lightly. So until next time, be thankful. I'm grateful and thankful for you.

Alethea Felton: 9:15

If you enjoyed today's show, then you don't want to miss an episode. So follow the Power Transformation Podcast on Apple Podcasts, spotify or wherever you usually listen, and remember to rate and review. I also invite you to connect with me on social media at Alethea Felton, that's, at A-L-E-T-H-E-A-F-E-L-T-O-N. Until next time, remember to be good to yourself and to others.