Happy New Year! Our latest episode 8, the first of 2025 delves into the meaning of resilience, where some people - especially farmers - turn to in order to cope with stress, struggles and their farming industry and legacy. We talk practical solutions, offer encouragement and give real world ways to be truly resilient in a healthy way.

Lauren also shares the reality of "bouncing back" and how it's not as simple and cut and dry as you may think.

We also discuss the quote "No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear." —Greg Kincaid

We look forward to having you join us on this journey at The Rural Well. Join the conversation!

Links and Resources:

⁠http://www.nfmha.ca/⁠ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

⁠https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/⁠ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell⁠

Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell⁠

Twitter - ⁠https://x.com/theruralwell⁠

TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell⁠

Email: info [at] theruralwell.com

Welcome to another episode of the Rural Well Podcast! In this episode, we discuss:

- Lauren’s harrowing real Christmas tree story

- Bridgette’s decorating priorities

- Gift expectations

- Needful gifts

- Sacrificial thoughtfulness in gift giving - creative generosity

- Gift of time

- Budgeting

- Start early!

- Find time for yourself

- It’s ok to change traditions and recreate new ones

- We also respond to today’s quote "If you could be totally enlightened on any one subject, what subject would you choose?"

- How to hid gifts from present seekers

We also want to hear from you! What’s your tradition? Also, please send us a picture of your Christmas tree

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In this episode, we talk about Grief on the Back 40, with our special guest Iris Parr, Author, Teacher, Encourager and also serves as the Director of Communications for the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance.

Iris shares her story, we all talk about practical ways to deal with grief - particularly during holidays. We also talk about how to help others deal with grief in their own ways, to be intentional with support and then some lighthearted conversation at the end.

Question for our listeners? If you HAD to wear a hat, what kind of hat would it be?

Links and Resources:

Iris Parr's Blog - https://irisparr.ca/

Iris Parr's Books: https://irisparr.ca/my-books/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irisparr

Iris Parr's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/irisparr

http://www.nfmha.ca/ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell

Twitter - https://x.com/theruralwell

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell

Email: info [at] theruralwell.com

In this episode, we reflect on Thanksgiving and focus on the topic of gratitude.

Here are some waypoints in our conversation:

• Memories can bring gratitude
• For those that struggle or have had hard backgrounds, it's not your story forever
• Gratitude is a dopamine producer
• Practicing gratitude is a great mental health strategy
• Gratitude doesn’t naturally come to us. We need to be intentional - then it trains our brain to look for the bright spots in our day
• You can be influenced by those around you. We change the trajectory for our own lives and others. If you practice an attitude of gratitude, it becomes contagious
• There’s opportunity every day to look for a moment of gratitude. It can bring life!
• Dopamine is a happy hormone and our brain seeks out the positive aspects - when we do that, we find bright spots which carry us forward.
• Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools to treat depression - it’s one tool, not to the exclusion of other treatment plans like medication and talk therapy - A combination of all of them builds a strategic long term strategy to battle depression
• Traditions are important in child development- the one that produces the long lasting memory can be the weirdest places and experiences

Do you enjoy the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade?

Then we play Catch a Phrase Quote about Gratitude

What are you favourite memories?

National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

http://www.nfmha.ca/ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell

Twitter - https://x.com/theruralwell

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell

Email: mailto:info@theruralwell.com

In this episode, we take some time to talk about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

We also talk about taking the time to listen, cherishing and honoring the stories of or parents, grandparents, the stories of history from family, friends and others.

We also discuss how much we can miss out by not hearing those stories.

We also play "Catch a Phrase" - With a quote - discussing bravery and how vulnerability can be brave.

May this episode serve as a reminder to always reflect and respect November 11th for what it stands for and to never forget our past as it also informs our future.

National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

http://www.nfmha.ca/ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell

Twitter - https://x.com/theruralwell

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell

Email: mailto:info@theruralwell.com

On this episode, Lauren and Bridgette dive deep into the reality of a farmers mentality of getting things done themselves. Also, the impact of making these decisions on friends, family, spouses and business partners. We also talk about the different ranges of emotions and what fear is often the result of. Then we walk through some practical solutions to encourage the help where needed and finally some lighthearted responses to our catchphrase.

Links shared on the episode

National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

http://www.nfmha.ca/ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell

Twitter - https://x.com/theruralwell

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell

Email: mailto:info@theruralwell.com

In this episode, we discuss the following topics:

• New farm safety training for kids in North Dakota including stress management
• Lauren talks about ADHD links and triggers and interesting parallels to PTSD
• Social capital types: Bonding, Bridging and Linking and how they related “generally” to stress in rural families
• Loneliness
• Changing the messaging to our rural kids about “measuring up” to expectations
• Quote from Charles Buckowski about freedom vs loneliness

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• Early onset Alzeimers impacts
• Current epidemic in Canada and USA is “Loneliness is our battleground”
• We need intentionality in our connections, relationships - especially in our families
• A challenge to our listeners! Choose 3 people that you can regularly check in on, send a note or mentor and choose them with intentionality
• We do a “catch a phrase” quote discussion on Excellence and discussion around examples of it
• Ending fun question!

Links shared on the episode

National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

Website: ⁠https://nfmha.ca/⁠

Shout out to "Ag with Emma"

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs1j7bHd_IpFaV4iUhDfGRw

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agwithemma/

Twitter - https://www.instagram.com/agwithemma/

http://www.nfmha.ca/ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell

Twitter - https://x.com/theruralwell

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell

Email: mailto:info@theruralwell.com

In this episode, we talk about stresses in farming, impacts on the farming community right down to the food chain sourcing and continual changes and complexities getting product to market. We also talk about industry and environmental changes for farmers, the stresses that come with those changes and then how us as farmers need to stop punishing ourselves for putting undue stress and unrealistic expectations on ourselves.

We also discuss training options for therapists that would like to visit farmers and clients on site and how to properly strategize and insure yourself to overcome barriers to visiting clients.

We also talk about communicating with farmers, recognizing behavioural changes that can lead to check-ins, talking about signs of depression and it’s “ok to not be ok”.

Lastly, we discuss one of the resilient aspects of being a farmer; looking for potential where others wouldn’t.

Book Recommendation: Kelly McGonigal "The Up Side of Stress"

YouTube TED Talk by Kelly McGonigal - https://youtu.be/RcGyVTAoXEU?si=SgtSCfPWdk2w437X

Here are some links to connect with us further:

http://www.nfmha.ca/ - National Farmer Mental Health Alliance

https://www.lilaclanemedia.com/ - Lilac Lane Media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theruralwell

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theruralwell

Twitter - https://x.com/theruralwell

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theruralwell

Email: mailto:info@theruralwell.com