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I've been busy navigating the ups and downs of life and working on wrapping up my Master's degree so haven't been very present in this space. But it's the eve of my second law-free year of life so thought I'd commemorate the anniversary of my retirement with a little podcasting. In today's episode I catch you up on what's been going on and finally circle back to talk a little bit about Goat Before You Vote and how that event was born. You'll also hear why Happiness School hasn't...well...been so happy the past few weeks. You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

As many of you know, though I was born in the United States, my family is from Jamaica. This week Jamaica was hit by Hurricane Melissa--a Category 5 hurricane and the most severe to ever hit the island.  I know in my heart that Jamaica is resilient and will rise from this tragedy, however, they cannot do it alone. Please consider making a financial contribution to the relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica.  Hurricane Melissa – Jamaica Relief Organizations **UPDATED** We received updated information from my cousin this morning 10/30. He is a former member of Parliament and someone I trust implicitly. His message is as follows: "For persons who have been asking where they can donate, this is an official site accepting donations. Thank you in advance 🙏🏼💪🏼 🇯🇲" Official Jamaican Government Relief Portal https://supportjamaica.gov.jm Below is a list of other relief organizations responding to the humanitarian crisis in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. Each description includes a concise overview of the organization and its current role in relief and recovery efforts. This is by no means and exhaustive list but I hope that it will help to facilitate and expedite the donation process.  Global Empowerment Mission (GEM)  ⁠https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/mission/hurricane-melissa/⁠ U.S‑based disaster‑relief NGO focused on rapid logistics and supplies. GEM has launched a dedicated 'Hurricane Melissa' mission, staging warehouses and shipments to deliver emergency aid across Jamaica. Project HOPE ⁠https://www.projecthope.org/news-stories/responses/hurricane-melissa-how-to-help/⁠ Global health organization founded in 1958. Its emergency response teams are providing medical and humanitarian support, including hygiene kits, mental‑health first aid, and medical supplies in heavily affected areas. Jamaica Red Cross ⁠https://www.jamaicaredcross.org⁠ The national Red Cross society coordinating shelters, distributing hygiene and clean‑water kits, and mobilizing volunteers in partnership with the international Red Cross network. World Food Programme (WFP) ⁠https://donate.wfp.org/1244/donation/single?campaign=5376&_ga=2.170418464.144588186.1761800423-169719419.1761800423⁠ The United Nations agency providing emergency food relief and logistics coordination. In Jamaica, WFP is airlifting emergency food kits and supporting communities isolated by storm damage. GlobalGiving Foundation ⁠GlobalGiving Foundation Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund⁠ A crowdfunding platform connecting donors to vetted local NGOs. Its 'Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund' channels donations to community‑based groups in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations for food, clean water, and medical support. Direct Relief ⁠https://donate.directrelief.org/campaign/support-jamaica/c738973?utm_source=arison&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=carnival⁠ Medical‑aid nonprofit distributing emergency medical supplies and funding (~US$250,000) to support hospitals and clinics impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) ⁠https://theafj.app.neoncrm.com/forms/afj-disaster-relief-fund⁠ U.S.‑based diaspora organization with deep ties to Jamaica. AFJ is raising funds for disaster response and working with partners like GEM to deliver relief and recovery assistance. Before donating, individuals should conduct their own due diligence. Verify financial transparency, determine what percentage of funds go directly to Jamaican relief efforts, and assess each organization's accountability and impact reports. Each donor should choose the organization that best aligns with their values—whether prioritizing rapid response, health care, local empowerment, or long‑term recovery.    

Goat Before You Vote was a smashing success! There's so much to tell but I'm way behind on my Happiness homework (or "homeplay" as we like to call it) so haven' t had the chance to record all the fun tales of our fabulous goat fest. Instead we're "goating" on a trip down memory lane and I'm replaying my very first conversation with Michelle Tritten founder and owner of Hello Critter (my goat yoga kids). To find out more and connect with Hello Critter click ⁠here⁠.  Follow the cute kids at Hello Critter on Instagram at ⁠⁠@hellocrittercare⁠⁠. And you can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich⁠ P.S. And make sure your ballot has been received and counted! You can check the status of your ballot here: Where’s My Ballot  

Never before in my lifetime has it felt more important for me to use my Constitutional Right to free speech. It's even more important for me to make sure that when I do exercise my First Amendment right that I do so in a way that safeguards the wellbeing of my nervous system.  In today's episode I share with you a very activating encounter I had while in the waiting room of a doctor's office today. For those steering clear of charged topics in the news, this episode might be one you'd prefer to skip.  For you local LA listeners, remember this Sunday, October 19th is our Goat Before You Vote fundraiser for the Yes on Proposition 50 campaign. Just click on the links below to learn more: ⁠⁠My Instagram Post⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Learn ALL About the Goat Before You Vote (Goat Yoga Sound Bath)⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Donate to Goat Before You Vote⁠⁠ You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich⁠⁠    

For a long time now, I've struggled with what to say or not say on this podcast. I've reckoned with a lot of fear and, finally, mustered the courage to speak up and DO something. In this week's episode I share with you how I came to launch the Goat Before You Vote fundraiser and why it's so important to me. Click on the links below to learn more about this event: My Instagram Post Learn ALL About the Goat Before You Vote (Goat Yoga Sound Bath) Donate to Goat Before You Vote You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

Goodbye summer, hello fall! After a full summer of creative pursuits and an extended hiatus from podcasting, I'm back (for a moment) to fill you in on what's been going on and what my podcast plan in for the next little bit. For periodic glimpses into my adventures, you can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week's episode I'm sharing some insights I've noticed during my newest creative exploration into the world of ceramics. Trying my hand at pottery has been something I've wanted to do for decades but have only recently decided to give it a whirl. While it has stirred some joy for me, there's been a LOT of frustration and failure as well. I'll be pressing pause on the podcast for the summer and will be off immersing myself in some other artistic endeavors but will be back in a bit with more tales to tell of my ventures into more right brain adventures. In the meantime, you can keep up with me by following me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠

Well...better late than never, right? Six weeks after my return, I'm finally getting around to sharing highlights from the Finland portion of my recent travels. This trip ticked many more items off my dream list including witnessing a specular display of the aurora borealis. In addition to giving me a grand viewing the Northern Lights, it also gave me many opportunities for reflection--shedding light on some of my old ways of being and shining light on exciting things ahead. You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

It's been a busy few weeks for me. Since my last episode, I finally had the knee surgery I'd been waiting for since last fall. Thankfully, all went well and I'm back to hitting to 10,000 steps again most days. Today, I'm circling back to the topic of retirement--or my lane change in life as I like to call it. Retirement is supposed to be the well-earned reward you get after a lifetime of hard work. Sadly, some people don’t live long enough to enjoy the life they spent decades working toward. I am grateful that is not my story--though it easily could've been. For me, due to a tsunami of simultaneous stressors, the "Golden Years" came a lot earlier than expected when all the pots on my "stove of life" bubbled over at the same time! One thing I absolutely know for sure is that If I hadn't left work when I did...I probably wouldn't be here right now. In this episode I reflect on the end of my career, what led me to finally decide on to walk away from work and how leaving has impacted my health. You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

In this week’s episode I continue to talk about my trip to Amsterdam and the coincidences that occurred while I was there (or as I mentioned last week, what Dr. Wayne Dyer described as things that fit together perfectly—not accidentally). Especially these days, for my own wellbeing, I tend not to delve too much into politics. However, while in The Netherlands, a number of “coincidences” occurred that led me to consider more deeply all that is going on in the U.S. and what I can do to stand up for what’s right.  By now you know that I frequently talk about what I’ve been learning in Happiness School. This week is no exception. My Happiness School assignments leading up to my visit to Amsterdam played a prominent role in the revelations I came away with about leadership, psychology and, if we’re not careful, how easy it can be to submit to authority even in the face of what you know to be right.  Click the links below, if you’d like to learn more about the two experiments I talk about in this episode: The Stanley Milgram Obedience to Authority Experiment (Yale University) The Zimbardo Prison Experiment (Stanford University) ECONOMIC RESISTANCE: One source for learning about upcoming economic blackout dates is ThePeoplesUnionUsa.com. You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich  

Finally, I'm getting around to sharing a bit about my most recent global adventure. Just a heads up...had some tech issues with my microphone so the sound quality isn't the best but in keeping with my "do it messy" podcasting spirit it is what it is!  There were a lot of "coincidences" for me on this trip. In today's episode I recount many of them. After recording this episode, I came across a passage in the current book I'm reading (Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer) on coincidences that says, the word coincidence "relates to the mathematical idea of angles that coincide. When two angels join in this way, they're said to coincide. Not accidentally--perfectly." My trip was full of these perfect coincidences. Just take a listen and hear for yourself! You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich⁠  

Not gonna lie...I've had a tough time this week getting my energy back. Since I haven't quite recovered from my global adventure, I am going to defer telling you my travel tales for now. But, fret not, they'll be worth the wait! You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

In this episode I share my reflections on how far I've come since April 10, 2024--the day my youngest child attempted suicide. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect that my parenting journey would challenge me to face my deepest, darkest fears. But here I am...one year later, here I am, somehow finding a way to move forward and surprisingly finding joy and delight along the way. In my travels to Finland, I learned about the Finnish term "sisu ". Roughly translated, sisu refers to extraordinary courage, strength of will, determination, perseverance or grit. It's the inner strength one taps into to face the storm even without being able to see the silver lining. It's no coincidence that this life philosophy is intersecting with my life on this day--the anniversary of the hardest thing I've ever faced as a parent. For those of you in the midst of your storm...keep going! Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Find your sisu! I love you...Keep going! You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

In this week's episode I reveal the final destination of my current globetrotting adventure and share with you how this whirlwind escapade came to be. If you are interested in learning more about my MA in Happiness Studies program you can click here to join me and my Happiness Friends in Happiness School through Centenary University. You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich

This week, as I get ready to head off on a new global adventure, I share some thoughts that stirred in me about traveling internationally at this moment in history. I also share some reflections on how Happiness School is helping me shift some of my old ways. Here is a link to the law review article about my law school professor, Russell Galloway, Jr., and the lecture transcript I read from in this episode. Professor Galloway’s Lecture You can follow me on Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠@karen.e.osborne⁠⁠⁠ Click on this link to join Club Sandwich (the LITSZ Private Facebook Group): ⁠⁠⁠LITSZ_Club_Sandwich