PFO Newsletter - 3.27.24

How’s your #MarchMadness bracket doing? The beauty of this time of year is that the less you know about basketball, the better your bracket is probably doing.

Case in point, our family is in a full-blown competition. There’s a LOT of trash talk. And, the person who knows the most about basketball, John, (my husband/basketball coach/college basketball All-American) is in LAST PLACE in our family. DEAD LAST.

(Our Family Brackets)

I asked a lot of you on my IG page what our family winner should get. And I think we’re going with this: winner gets to select where and what we eat. Which is a win-win, because neither hubby nor I have to make dinner. (Speaking of, I have the best new recipe to tell you about that you’re going to devour…keep reading.)

I’ve been learning some really hard lessons, in business and my personal life, lately. Specifically regarding who I can trust. I’ve always been a very trusting person. Essentially, I trust someone until they give me a reason not to. So, I was floored when Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist and best-selling author on boundaries and trust, told John and me on this week’s podcast that my approach isn’t healthy. 

In fact, trust is the most vital thing you can have in ANY relationship: personal, business or family. And, even though we’re wired to trust, he says trust needs to be earned and we need to be discerning about who we can trust. 

What's Your Take on Trust?

(Keep reading for your very entertaining poll results from our last poll about being sick on vacation.)

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Trust can be restored, which is what happened with John and I early in our relationship when we were separated, headed for divorce. 

I encourage you to listen to this week’s episode to untangle trust and see how to build it, restore it and when necessary, determine when it’s time to walk away from the relationship. 

Thanks for letting me pop in here and encourage you, friend! And, I hope you can trust me when I say I love cheering you on!

XO, Paula

FARIS FAVORITES 🤎

1. What I’m Reading 📖

So many have recommended ‘The Women’ by Kristin Hannah, a historical fiction book about the brave women nurses who served in Vietnam. It’s a best-seller and I’m hooked! I may have told you that I’m trying to get into the habit of reading before bedtime.

James Clear (Atomic Habits) told me on our podcast that I should put the book in an OBVIOUS place if I want it to become a nighttime habit. So, I’ve been putting it on my pillow, making it impossible NOT to read. What a pro tip!

2. 😋 Our Family’s Favorite Recipe Right Now

They cleaned their entire plate, not a speck of food remaining. Hubby found this Korean BBQ Beef recipe for our family and it was a massive hit. We modified a few of the ingredients and can’t wait to make it again! Plus, it was in the slow cooker, so it was beyond easy. 

3. GIVEAWAY! 📚

Congrats to my former ABC colleague, Linsey Davis, on her new kid’s book ‘Girls Of The World’, which I spotted at my local Walmart! Linsey is the salt of the earth — a fabulous person and mother. I’m so happy that her book is making a difference and because of that, FIVE of you are getting a copy! DM me your mailing address. Please note: New winners only.

Too Good Not to Share 😘

Because we’ve been talking about March Madness/Sports…

I’m all in my feels with this dad’s reaction to his gymnast daughter. Make sure you watch till the end! Cheers to all the dads raising strong daughters. 💪🏼

THE PAULA FARIS SHOW 🎙️

The ONE Thing You Must Have In Any Relationship With Dr. Henry Cloud

This is a deeply personal episode as John and I chat with a world-renowned expert about the ONE thing all relationships need: TRUST. Can trust always be rebuilt? How do you know when it’s time to walk away? In this episode, we’re talking about it.

The #1 Issue That Strains Most Relationships with Fair Play’s Eve Rodsky

This is the #1 strain on most relationships…and is a tough conversation. So triggering, in fact, that most of us don’t have it. So what is it? The household labor. Who is doing what around the home? We don’t know how to talk about sharing the load without triggering or nagging our partner.

Your feedback from last newsletter’s poll…

77% (!!!!!) of you said you’ve been sick on vacation, I can’t believe it! Also, I’m sorry, because it’s the worst. Here are some of the more entertaining responses. 

➡️ As the Dr in the family, I’m expected to be well 100% of the time. Took my Mom to Hawaii as it was one of her final wishes as she was on dialysis, and I was so worried about her getting dialysis while we were there I neglected myself. I sat on the beach on a hazy day for 2 hrs waiting to get my mom from her treatment while hubby and kids enjoyed beach. I got Second degree burns and swelled like an elephant! My mom laughed with me trying to make me feel better. That was the last trip I made with my Mom and knowing we had these adventures was well worth being a red- faced burnt legged elephant.

➡️ I was exposed to NoroVirus the day before a week-long all-inclusive resort in Mexico…which was supposed to be a present to myself for finishing four months of chemo. I was sick all but the last day, and the only thing I could stomach was Coke and Lays. The only show in English at the time was Gilmore Girls. Almost 20 years later, my husband and I still talk about it.

➡️ Stomach bug in Ireland for a wedding.

➡️ We took my twins to an indoor water park to celebrate their 5th birthday. After enjoying the park for no more than 5 minutes one of them puked on top of the water slide. The park had to shut down for 30 minutes for cleaning. While we were packing to leave, the other one also puked.

➡️ Traveling on St Patrick’s Day from St. Louis to Florida, with the worst stomach bug I’ve ever had, I seriously wanted to cancel, but my husband encouraged me. Arriving to all the aromas of corned beef & cabbage, I felt even worse and stayed in bed for a few days. The good news is, I was able to rest to the symphony of the tide through an open window…my happy place! 😊

Did you like this edition?

Be fearless and and tell us how we did.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

If you're a working mom, make sure you're getting THE CARRY™ ALL, the newsletter by and for working moms! I founded CARRY™ in 2022, to create load-lessening content for working moms and to help carry their many burdens.

Here's what you missed in last week's THE CARRY™ ALL:

1. Add to Resume: Getting 💩 Done
2. ❗️We Weren’t Kidding
3. 📋 Tips for Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

Reply

or to participate.