Episode 15 - Guest Nishann LaNata on Colorado, Moving and Just Do It!
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Topic of Discussion
In this episode, we welcomed our special guest, Nishann LaNata to the show! Nishann LaNata is a Financial Coach and a Business Mentor, who is passionate about supporting her community and advocating for small businesses. She’s a Colorado girl who loves swing dancing with her husband, hiking, and snuggling with their mame-Shiba pup, Ace; she’s currently in transition to moving into a 100-year-old farmhouse in Middle TN.
Nishann and I first met in Japan on Halloween. It wasn’t necessarily friendship at first sight -- even though we bonded over my dog, Josie, that evening -- but the more they spent time together, the more they realized they had in common. Both of them are from Colorado and have similar interests -- love of mountains, hiking, fly fishing, spending time outside and Chipotle. As time went on, they spent more and more time together and continued to grow and develop their friendship. In time, they really came together over being able to be vulnerable with one another and relate to some of the challenges and triumphs they face in their careers.
We haven’t had the chance to test our friendship over a long span of time. But as Nishann has cultivated friendships over time, she’s discovered that simply reaching out (texts, phone calls, emails, drop-ins) is key to keeping friendships alive. In intentionally seeking those people out and trying to stay connected despite geographic separation, life changes, pandemics and more.
For Nishann, friendship looks a lot like the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. It’s a relationship where there’s give and take; open conversation; sacrifice, even if you’re not totally ready to do so; encouragement; speaking life into others; and having hard conversations with love. But as someone who identifies as being the “invisible friend” -- a friend you may not be able to see or hear but who is always there -- Nishann finds value in calling everyone “friend” even if she’s just met them. She wants them to feel valued and respected for who they are, right out the gate. She tries to walk that balance of being a good surface-level friend (not necessarily knowing someone deeply) and having deep friendships. Jesus and the disciples also demonstrate a vast network of friends where connections were created and spread.
Want to add to the conversation? Have questions for Nishann? Tell us at areyoutwostillfriends@gmail.com !
Friendship Tip
In this episode, Nishann shared the friendship tip of just do it! Just reach out. Just call. Just invite someone over for dinner. Just say hi! Just send a card. Just send a text.
Whatever may arise in your heart around reaching out to your friend, just do it! Sometimes it’ll be a success, sometimes it’ll be a failure. But that’s part of making friends, being friends and living life to the fullest.
So just do it!
This tip is personified very well in an episode from the show, New Girl, where one of the characters, Schmidt, buys a cookie for his friend and roommate, Nick. Nick, has no idea why Schmidt buys a cookie for him and spends the rest of the episode stewing over it. This is the result:
What question is Nishann pondering this week?
How do you move? How do you do it over and over again?
As Nishann prepares to move back to the states and into a 100-year-old home she and her husband bought, she’s contemplating how to actually physically move and to psychologically move. It’s such a hard process! One that Nishann has only done once and will not do again (likely) for a long time.
What content is Nishann consuming this week?
I’m not really consuming anything!
In the midst of everything that’s going on, Nishann’s therapist has invited her to step back from being a “human doing” and spend time right now being a “human being.” Often when she consumes content, she does it with a purpose in mind, rather than for the fun of it. This is a chance for her to breathe and spend some time with her emotions, her thoughts and recognize what’s arising for her in this interesting time in her life.
What’s something uplifting Nishann wanted to share with others?
A sheep getting stuck in a crack video
This sheep made Nishann laugh and laugh. As we said on the podcast, we can all identify with this sheep in some area of our lives!
https://www.facebook.com/119400975/videos/10100100508218715/
What’s something that’s sparked passion in Nishann recently?
Non-profit idea/Lifestyle blog on the wholeness of life; Working on a 100-year-old house
Nishann is excited to update the house they’ve bought and turn it into a home. While moving will be stressful, she’s very excited to get to her new home and start the next phase of her journey.
She’s also thinking a lot about a non-profit/lifestyle blog that focuses on a holistic approach to life -- covering finances, spirituality, food, education and more! It’s been on her heart for a while and it’s something she’s been “collecting” information for and ideas for a long time. We can’t wait to see what she comes up with!
In friendship,
Alexis & Lueda
