Tuesday, October 9, 2018

How I Got Over My Fear of Hospitality and more...

Okay, so it's hard for me to pick favorite episodes of my podcast… because that kind of feels like picking a favorite child. BUT, I have to say that this week's episode is probably going to be one of my very favorites. Because the message of this ...

Intentional finance. Intentional family. Intentional business.

How I Got Over My Fear of Hospitality

Okay, so it’s hard for me to pick favorite episodes of my podcast… because that kind of feels like picking a favorite child. BUT, I have to say that this week’s episode is probably going to be one of my very favorites. Because the message of this episode is one that has personally transformed my life in such a big way.

You see, I used to be so scared to invite people into my home. Hospitality felt like something I just wasn't good at.

In fact, I told myself for a long time that I'm an introverted person who is a homebody and who doesn't host things or initiate. And by telling myself this, I had convinced myself that hosting and initiating weren't my gifts or my personality.

It was safer to wait to let other people do the inviting. It was safer to convince myself I wasn't the type to step out, step up, initiate, or lead.

But all that changed when I read Just Open the Door by Jen Schmidt. It's a book written specifically for people like me who feel so awkward about the whole hospitality thing.

Jen sent me a pre-release copy of her book in December of 2017. I remember getting that copy and planning to just quickly read it while we were driving to Kansas to visit family for Christmas.

She had asked me to endorse it and I had said yes just because Jen is a longtime friend and I wanted to support her.

But as I read the book, I felt like I was being called to do much more than just write an endorsement for the book — I felt stirred to step way outside my comfort zone and commit to opening up our home every single week in 2018.

I had no idea how that was going to transform my life! Listen to today’s podcast to hear the whole story…

In This Episode:

[02:04] – Why we let our daughter get a phone when she was 12… and why we might not let our other two kids get one until they are older.

[04:53] – I share about my very favorite mascara — and tell you my crazy journey to how I stopped wearing eye makeup.

[08:18] – I talk about my book pick for this week, and share my experience with it and why it was so powerful for me (as well as a few critiques of it — because you know I can’t help but be honest!).

[09:42] – Hospitality used to feel like something that I just wasn't good at. That changed when I read Just Open the Door by today's guest, Jen Schmidt!

[12:11] – What motivated Jen to write a book on the topic of opening one's door?

[16:14] – Jen gives some ideas and suggestions for people who feel like they can't afford to host, their house isn't big enough or clean enough, or they don't cook well enough.

[21:01] – Jen shares her words of wisdom for a woman who wants to open her door but doesn't even know where to start.

[24:47] – This time, I'm going to change things up a bit and close the show by telling you about the commitment I made for 2018 to open our door every single week and give you a challenge, if you’re brave enough to accept it (and I hope you are!)

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunesAndroidStitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we'll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for "The Crystal Paine Show" on your favorite podcast app.

Sponsor Spotlight

Today's episode is sponsored by Twigby — a company dedicated to providing fantastic phone service at great prices. As I mentioned in the podcast, if you are looking for a great deal on a phone for your teen (or yourself!), I'd highly recommend checking out what Twigby has to offer.

Unlike traditional cell phone companies, they give you the ability to create your own custom, prepaid plan — without a contract or an unnecessary activation fee.

You don't have to mess with going to a store and picking out a phone plan. You just go to their site, pick your phone plan and either switch your current phone over or get a new phone, and they get it all set up for you.

My favorite part about their service (in addition to their great prices!) is that they offer plan flexibility with the ability to change plans or phones at any time for free. You're not locked into an expensive contract that has activation and termination fees.

They also offer Free Overage Protection, so you can rest easy in knowing that you will never be charged for overages without your go-ahead! You have complete control.

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Links and Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

    
 

2 Books I Read This Past Week

Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I've been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year

(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

Here are the 2 books I finished this past week:

1. White Picket Fences

I had really enjoyed listening to The Shape of Mercy (by the same author), so that was why I borrowed this title for free from Libby. Unfortunately, I thought White Picket Fences was just an okay novel.

For me, there wasn’t enough character development and the plot was kind of weird and unbelievable. And I didn’t think it had a really deep meaningful conclusion. So this is not a book I’d highly recommend.

2. Imperfect Courage

I picked up Imperfect Courage based upon the recommendation of a few people I trust… and I almost didn’t read past the first few chapters because I had trouble following them and felt like they skipped around too much in her story. But I kept reading — and I’m so glad I did!

The second half of the book is SO good! I loved her thoughts on friendship and community and how to live out love to others — even when things are messy and hard. If you struggle with finding and building community, I think these chapters are so worth reading.

When I Find Time to Read

People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it's because I love to read, because I've chosen to prioritize it, because I don't have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can't not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it's in the little nooks and crannies of life.

I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies or shows you really think I need to read or watch?