Hoda Kotb: Your Best Days Are Ahead! Making Space for The Life of Your Dreams & How to Make It Happen! 52:12

Your best days are ahead. Your best days are ahead. People are obsessed with your love life. Like obsessed. And then you breaking things off in 2022 and your eight year relationship and engagement, were they tied? Yeah, I think so. Sometimes two great human beings together isn't quite enough to make it work. When I close my eyes and I envision the romantic part of my life,

I can see it very clearly. Like, I see it. Like, I know it is coming for me. For the first time in my life, I am me. Someone's meeting me. My sister asked me, I remember she said, "Aren't you nervous that you won't meet someone?" And I said, "No, I'm actually not." So is love coming? Yes, it's coming. I ask myself, "Today, what do I have room for today? What do I have space for?"

So if I'm honest, I have space for a Friday night.

That's all right now. So powerful is that you are saying, here's what I have room for. I have room for a Friday night. Yeah. Well, there's a great Friday night. Yeah. Yeah. A fun one. A fun Friday night. And a lot of people are like, oh, they meet someone and then they don't even ask themselves, what do I have space for? And before they know it, they're living someone else's life or trying to make someone else happy. Yes. You're so clear. You said, I don't need a minute.

I go, "What?" He goes, "The answer is yes." And I go, "Did you say yes?" He goes, "I said yes." I like sobbed on his chest. I go, "She's here." She goes, "She's here." I go, "She's here." "Am I coming now? Is she here?" "She's here." I was weeping. To think that a dream that seemed so far away could become a reality to a woman in her 50s was pretty shocking and it was a life changer.

There are always going to be people who disagree with choices and I will never forget this. I read it and I felt nauseous. Like I can take stuff about me and how I dress, how I look, what I said, who cares? This one, it was like a knife in my heart and I sat there and cried. I was crying.

You have now adopted two girls. Yes. In your 50s. Yes. In your 50s. Do you want more? You're so cute because I get signs. What I'm thinking about right now is how many people through your story who are in their 50s or any other age through your story are now like,

what's possible in my life. Yes. Right? Maybe I'm going to launch the business. Yes. Maybe I'm going to wear the freaking bikini. Maybe I'm going to like get on the dating app. Yes. Maybe I'm going to decide, oh no, I just want some fun Friday nights. Amen. Right? Like this is what's so beautiful and you believe in your core that your best days are ahead. Yes. I believe 1,000%. Hallelujah. Yes. Wow. Wow.

This is it. This podcast is happening. Hi, guys. How are you? Hey. Good morning. You ready? You ready? Let's do it. I'm going to ask them to come here. I'm Jamie Krimley-Michelle. I'm Jamie Krimley-Michelle. I love it.

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Hoda Kotb is an Emmy award-winning, Edward R. Murrow award-winning, Gracie Peabody, Matrix, and Webby award-winning co-anchor of the Today Show. She's part of the first ever female duo to anchor the show. She's also host of the award-winning podcast, Making Space with Hoda Kotb. She's the author of multiple New York Times bestselling books, a breast cancer survivor, a mother of two,

beautiful daughters, and I was a guest on her podcast recently called Making Space. And I have to say that is when I truly fell in love with her because I learned she is the exact same incredible woman off camera that she is on camera. So here today with you and with me is my new friend, Hoda. Hoda Kotb, welcome to the Jamie Kern Lima Show.

Jamie Kern Lima is her name. Everybody needs Jamie Kern Lima in their life. Jamie Kern Lima. Jamie, you're so inspiring. Jamie Kern Lima. I asked everyone online, what's one thing you would ask? Oh, yeah.

Do you want to guess the number one thing? No, I have no idea. What is it? First of all, there's so many great questions that came in, but people are obsessed with your love life. Oh. Like obsessed. I have been reading about how you might, you know, is Hoda dating Eddie? And then I just met Eddie. Oh,

the things. I read everything. Yeah. You went through a profound experience of deep inner work in 2021, which we'll talk about. And then you breaking things off in 2022 in your eight-year relationship and engagement. Were they tied? Yeah, I think so. I mean, just Joel is one of the best people I know. And he really is a great human being.

And I feel like I'm a pretty great human being. But sometimes two great human beings together isn't quite enough to make it work. And I think...

When people are growing at different paces, it's hard to be in sync. And I think a lot of people are probably in these situations. And it's like, I get it. Like some people, one person's growing, one person isn't, or one person wants it this way and one person wants it that way. And I think it's realizing, like when I close my eyes and I envision the romantic part of my life,

I can see it very clearly. Like I see it. Like I know it is coming for me because for the first time in my life, really since after Hoffman,

I am me. Someone's meeting me, not the version that you might want or not the version that I'll twist a little bit to fit your needs or what is appealing to you or, but what, this is who I am. And I feel like once you get there,

you're like, your heart rests. You're like, oh, this is what it feels like. So when I close my eyes and see it, I see it. I don't see his face. I don't see, like, it's not like I'm, you know, oh, I want X, Y. I don't even care about X, Y, and Z, tall, short, bald, not bald. I don't care. But I know the essence and I can sense the soul of that person. And I think there's something, like my sister asked me, I remember she said, aren't you nervous that you won't

meet someone? And I said, no, I'm actually not. And I mean, lie detector pulse? No, because I know the way my life is that it's that too is coming. So many things have taken so much time to show up in my life. And I don't mind it one bit. I am like embracing the fact that

I have an incredible like ladder part of life. One I couldn't have dreamt of. One I would have never even imagined possible. Like one that I'm like, wait, what? Me? Like, so is love coming? Yes, it's coming. When is it coming? I don't know. Right now, if you were to ask me today, is love coming? I ask myself that.

Today, what do I have room for today? What do I have space for? So if I'm honest, I have space for a Friday night. That's all right now. Yeah. I've got two young kids. I've got a busy couple of jobs. I've got my mom who I'm helping, you know, we're got some stuff going on with my sister and the whole thing. So how much room do I have? That's how much room now. Yeah. Later, it'll be different.

But I don't want to romanticize like, oh, I want this, I want this, and realize that I don't have room for it right now anyway. But I know that when everything aligns,

There will be space and room and like an open heart for... It is so powerful that you are declaring it with full... Like I feel the fullness of this room. Oh, I believe it. Like I feel the knowing. You're like, oh yeah, love's coming. I do. Like without hesitation. And I wonder and I've thought about... Like I feel the feeling, but I can't see...

the person. But I feel what that feeling is like. You know what's so powerful is that you are saying, here's what I have room for. I have room for a Friday night. Hopefully it's a great Friday night. Yeah, a fun one. A fun Friday night. And a lot of people are like, oh, they meet someone and then they don't even ask themselves, what do I have space for? And before they know it, they're living someone else's life or trying to make someone else happy. You're so clear. I feel...

like I feel like I am and I also am cognizant of relationships are compromised look two different people from two different worlds in in a shared space is nothing but compromise and I've learned that over the years with relationships like there are going to be issues like I'm sure you have with your husband that I've had with people in my past who have dated who um

who like here comes the issue and every Christmas this issue comes up, whatever it is. The family coming, I don't know, whatever. And you know it's going to rear its ugly head. Here it is again. Oh, there it is. And there it goes. Because that's the rhythm. Certain things are just part of life. Who you get on with, who you don't. An issue with this one or that one or the family or whatever. But I try to remember that when I choose someone,

And they are exactly who I've chosen. Like if I chose to marry a plumber and then he said, I have to get up in the middle of the night and fix a pipe. And I said, why are you getting up? Why are you leaving? He's like, because you married a plumber. That's what I do. It's like being knowledgeable about who I choose and understanding his package and what, you know, what he's...

Well, what he's about. Anywho. He might have to wake up and fix pipes. Exactly. It may happen. But anyway, it's like knowing those kinds of things. So it's not like I'm living in a fantasy world that's like, you come on my terms and then, you know, I get it.

Like he's going to come to me. But you're not betraying yourself. You're saying, here's the space. Yes. And in the person for this space, I'll find them now. And then you'll know when it's a person that feels right for more space. Right? More space. Yes. That's when you realize like, yes, now you're in. Because to get into that kind of sacred inner circle is a privilege. And I think...

It shouldn't be taken lightly or someone who's fine or good enough or, you know, that kind of thing. You attended an experience called Hoffman in 2021. It was a game changer, like all the things I've ever done minus my kids. And it changed everything.

Everything. Everything. It changed the way I parent, changed the way I see the world, changed everything. And it was of all the decisions I've made minus Haley and Hope, it was the best one. Haley, Hope, and Hoffman. Wow. When you went there, did it change like everything in your entire life, your relationship, everything? Yes. Yes, it did. Yeah.

It was part of what was something that kind of brought things to light. I think a lot of reasons people are afraid to go there is because they wonder, oh, is this going to kind of blow up my life that is now something I'm comfortable with? And I think it does that. It shines a light. It kind of reveals as opposed to changes. Just kind of speeds up the process. Wow. Yeah. What did you learn there that was so...

I just learned about like not pretending, about being authentic, about knowing what you deserve. It's a lot of similar things to the themes in your book, but it's like good enough isn't enough, you know, things like that. And you also unearth a lot of like family patterns and childhood stuff and why you do the things you do. And that helps you see clearly that

into the future you're like do I want to continue that pattern like I can see where it came from and I know I do it but do does that mean I'm just locked in that's my road from here on out and the answer is it is not and just to be able to know that is like you're like oh wait I'm

And sometimes you can actually see, like, if your mother pretend is someone who yells and you're like, I don't want to be yelling, but you find yourself yelling at your kids sometimes. You imagine her as a little girl and her mother yelling and what that felt like. And so you see it from a different, like, everything's from a different point of view. And it helps you go, oh, I see that now. And life is not so much a blame game, but like a way of going, oh, let me just...

break that pattern today. Let me try that. I love when I, I've read so much the past couple years about how we attract people

the level of love that we love ourselves and we attract a level of love that we believe we're worthy of. And I have just taken such a fresh look at friendships and even like I look at past relationships I was in now too, romantic relationships. And I was like, oh, that's why I stayed. That's

That's what, you know what I mean? And all that. So that, so, huh. What would, what areas of your life did it impact the most? Because this was 2021. Yeah. Everything. Everything. I mean, yeah. How I just navigate through life. Yeah. How I am as a mother was, was profoundly changed. Wow.

how I viewed myself. Like, you know, I mean, I was like, Oh, I have confidence. Oh, yeah, I think I'm good at this. And then you realize as you peel back the layers, you're like, wow, that's just getting deep here. So I need to really dig in. This place was, you know, look, I haven't spoken like this about a place because we've all tried different things. But I feel like

If you really want a change in your life, if you really are tired, if you really say, you know, I could go like this till I'm 80.

This is kind of the knot. Yeah. Did you know that was 2021? Did you know going into it, like, were you just in a space where you just wanted to grow? Or did you know you were sort of like craving, like something wasn't quite right? Well, I have a dear friend, Maria Shriver, who I worship. She's also a very, very good friend of Oprah's too. They're like a little, you know, a little girl group. Yeah.

And so Maria, who has done everything imaginable when it comes to a self-improvement, she has, you know, eaten with the Dalai Lama, walked with Thich Nhat Hanh. She's lived with nuns. She's done all read all the books, done all the things, meditated, gone to this place or that place.

And she came back and said to me, Hoda, I've done something that was life changing. And she said, I don't want to tell you too much because part of the magic of this place is going in not knowing. Because once you see everything coming, it loses some of the oomph. So it's not, you know, I kind of get why she did it that way. But she said, if you want to be forever changed. And I looked at her and she looked different. I said, you look different. She goes, what do you mean? I go, you look different.

You look different to me. You look lighter. And she goes, I feel it. And this place takes away all of your vices that you would use otherwise. In other words, you know, drinking, exercising, whatever your thing is that puts your stress at bay. They ask you not to do that thing so that they can see you.

where it's coming from. Because you can exercise your stress away tomorrow and then it'll be back again on Thursday. And you got to exercise again, otherwise here it comes and here it comes here. Or you can shop it away or drink it away or eat it away. What all the things that we do. All the things we do. Mine was eat and exercise, like both things. Like sometimes I'd be like, I have to exercise or else. But it shows you like...

that now it's laid bare. Here's that thing. Now sit with it. Now let's figure it out. So I think it helps you because, I mean, you hear everybody say do the work and you're like, what does that mean? What does that even mean, do the work? Journal? Get up for 20 minutes and meditate? Like, what does it mean? But I think once you start addressing the things that have been tripping you up your whole life, you go, oh. Yeah.

Okay, let's not do that this time. Let's try to be better that time. So I think it was really profoundly helpful to me. There's so much more coming up in this episode. You are not going to want to miss it. But first, I wanted to share this with you. In life, you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. You stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. When you build your self-worth, you change your entire life. And

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And now more of this conversation together. Your best days are ahead. Your best days are ahead. Hoda, I was up all night just thinking about every person who's going to listen to this and watch this and who the words that they need in their life right now are your best days are ahead of you. You have said that the best things in your life have come after 50. Can you share about that?

I mean, can you imagine like after I turned 50, happy birthday to you. And you're, you would imagine, and everyone has a thought about that moment. What is that going to feel like? Or what has it felt like? And I think in that moment, most of the things that you wished, hoped and prayed for, if they weren't there, you wonder like, uh-oh, are they ever coming? Yeah.

So when it came to wanting children was something that I had always thought about, dreamt of, prayed for, hoped for all the things. But in my life, I felt like it wasn't to be. And I kept thinking, like, why isn't it to be?

I had an early marriage and then I was diagnosed with breast cancer and everything sort of happened that way. And I was like, well, what does that mean? And kind of hastily a doctor said, well, you know, freezing your eggs doesn't really make sense at this stage because of X, Y, and Z. And all of a sudden you're sitting here thinking to yourself, did I miss that?

And maybe I did. And I was thinking to myself, don't complain. You have a beautiful, like your mom, your sister, your brother, your people in your life, your friends who, you know, this, that, and the other. You have a beautiful life and a job that is supporting, you know, us. So I was thinking to myself, let's not, let's just say thank you.

And so that was good enough. So I was in the good enough phase of my life. That's good enough. I'm lucky. Stop complaining. And like every now and then someone would pop up who has it worse. And you're like, see, that was another sign to say, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And I did say thank you.

And I still remember this like it was yesterday, but I was walking down the street with my dear friend, Jen Miller, who I've loved since I moved to New York. And she and I have like such a soul connection. And she was chatting away and she said, well, you and I, we never wanted kids. And as we were walking, I literally dead stopped and looked at her and I said, Jen, I said, actually, no.

I always did. And she said, you never once said it to me in all these years. Like, what do you mean? And I said, well, I didn't say it because it couldn't be. So I'm not going to say something that's impossible. It's like me saying, you know, I'm going to the moon tomorrow. Like, it's not happening.

And when I said it, she goes, is that why you always said you wanted to be a teacher? Because I always said later in life, I'll be a teacher. I said, yes, I wanted a summer camp. I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted all the things that involve kids. And then all of a sudden, like the way the universe works is once you speak something out loud, you know, it can be a whisper to a best friend. It can be a whisper in the mirror to yourself. It can be whatever, whatever form it comes in, as long as it's verbalized, written down, whatever.

All of a sudden, here comes the universe chasing me going, it's possible, girl. And so Sandra Bullock, I saw some story about her and Louie. She's adopting from New Orleans. I was like, wait, what? And so I Googled, of course, Sandra Bullock. How old is Sandra Bullock? She was my exact age. I was like, she's my age? She did it? Like, it's possible? And then when I went away to the Olympics in Rio,

And I remembered seeing an image of a little, a small boy who was covered in soot. It was like a war-torn area. And his picture captivated me. And I started crying. I was like, somebody needs me. Like I kept thinking somebody needs me too. Not only do I need somebody, but somebody needs me. And when I got back, I went to Joel, who I was dating at the time and had been dating for probably, I don't know, maybe...

He wanted to move in together. So he's like, let's move in, let's move in. And I was like, okay. I said, I can't move in with him and keep this secret that I really, really want to have kids. Now he has a grown daughter in law school. So, you know, so I said to Joel, hey, before we move in, I just want to have a talk with you. And he was like, okay. I said, this is not going to be

a quick answer. So I want you to marinate over this. Don't answer me today. Don't even answer me tomorrow. Come back next week, come back in two weeks. But this is an important question for me. And he was like, Oh my God, like, what is this? I just, you know, I'm dating this girl for, I don't know how many months. And I said, I would like to explore adoption with you. And he said, I don't need a minute. I go, what? He goes, the answer is yes.

And I go, did you say yes? He goes, I said, yes. I like sobbed on his chest. We moved in. I filled out the forms and there was a little room upstairs. There's a bedroom and a little kind of room. And he said, I said, that'll be the baby's room when the baby comes in. He goes, well, okay, we'll all use it as my den or to work out of until the baby comes. And I said, no, honey, you can't do that. He's like, why not? I go, because we have to make room.

You have to make room for her or him. There has to be space. So let's leave it empty and let's see what happens. We filled out the paperwork. November comes. December comes. And, you know, we have Christmas and all that stuff. It's January. All of a sudden I'm sitting in my office at work and I'm minding my own business. And they said it might take a year or five years. You know, they tell you all this stuff. I'm like, well, whenever it comes. So meantime, we'll just live.

And I still remember I looked at my phone because it was buzzing and it said Ashley Project. And I called it The Project.

And she said, "If I ever text you, you call me immediately because everything is time sensitive." So I dialed her number. But right before, I still remember I sat at my desk, I took a big exhale and I looked at the clock and I had a yellow pad and I started scribbling. I was like, "Oh my gosh, 11:53." I said, "This is it. This is the moment. This is the before and after. My life's about to change." Like it was spilling out of me and I took a deep breath.

And I dialed the phone and Ashley goes, she's here. I go, she's here? She goes, she's here. I go, she's here. Am I coming now? Is she here? She's here. I was weeping. We went, we got Haley, brought her home. And in that moment, as I was holding her, I remembered thinking to myself,

how well she fit, like right here, a child who I did not give birth to, a child who I loved since forever, as I told her. And when I held her, she just fit like she had been born there. And the love that I felt for that little girl was beyond anything I'd ever comprehended in my lifetime.

And I held her on the plane home, protective, and just wanted, and I kept thinking to myself, oh my God, this is how life changes. And you who knows that other side of that coin, it was so beautiful and meaningful to me. And I knew in that moment, and it's funny, I'm trying to remember my age. I think I was, she's now seven years.

so i was probably 52 by the time it all happened and i was thinking to myself look at this

look at this. And, and I called Sandra Bullock because I was like, holy moly, you know? And she said, you are about to enter a part of your life that you never imagined possible. And I said, I didn't think it was possible till I saw you doing it. So to think that a dream that seems so far away could become a reality to a woman in her fifties was, was,

was pretty shocking and it was a life changer. Yeah. Blessings. Yeah. I know I've shared this with you before, but I...

my mom who adopted me, she passed this last year. I cannot imagine like loving a mom more than I love her. And I was adopted and I'm, and hearing you with, with, you know, you have two baby girls, two girls. Um, you just felt that instantly. I love that you said she's here. She's here. That's all it was is she's here. And I, and I think we like, I'll never experience the joy of a birth. However,

the feeling of hearing on the other end of the phone, those two words was to me, the great miracle of life. And I think to know what's possible, like, you know, I think often we are, everything is about, you know, years and time, you know, and, and just to, to know that, you know, although it, it is the most beautiful thing I've ever done and,

There are always going to be people who disagree with choices. And I will never forget this. I was home and I got a real letter in the mail, a letter. And sometimes people figure out where you live or whatever, and they write you with something. Can you send me a picture? Or, you know, I saw this recipe, you know, I don't know, whatever it might be. Hoda, where'd you get your dress? Yeah. And it's, you know, letters aren't as common anymore, but you still get those. And I opened this letter and

And she wrote in her handwriting, so in other words, she took a piece of paper and a pen and wrote, how horribly irresponsible that you would do something like that to a little girl.

And she wrote on and on about you are setting your child up for a terrible childhood. And she went on and on about who knows how long you'll be here and on and on. And I read it and I felt nauseous. Is it because you're 52? Yeah. Yeah. And she was basically wagging her finger saying, what a horrible choice you made. And we know because we've had...

naysayers and people who are cruel or unkind. But that one, like I can take stuff about me and how I dress, how I look, what I said, who cares? This one was like, and it was like a knife in my heart. And I sat there and cried. I was crying. I was like, and maybe I thought, why am I crying? Maybe because I worry that

there's a part of her that was right. Maybe that was why I'm like a mess. And then I remembered a very important fact. My father died when he was in his early fifties and you don't know when life's going to begin or end. You don't know where you're, but where, where the last day will come. You don't know. And

So if you don't love because you're worried about when your last day's coming, then that'll be it. And then I started wondering, I wonder if she was so angry with that pen writing and finding my address and putting a stamp on it and mailing it that maybe she regretted a choice in her life. Like I was trying to think of all the things, but it does remind you that you have to be strong in your choices and

Because, as we both know, there are going to be people coming with sledgehammers saying, why did you do that? Why are you like that? Why did you dress like that? Why did you do that? You know, that kind of thing. And, I mean, I didn't doubt it. But I guess for all of us, we all have a tiny shadow that worries. You know, I do want to make sure my kids, you know, are cared for forever. Yeah. Forever. Forever.

Yeah, I'm sure that she probably has told herself the story that she is too old for something. Yes, I wondered. And then now she's transmitting. See, if we don't transform our pain, we transmit our pain. That's true. Right? So we see that everywhere, all over online right now. What I think about, Hoda, is you sharing that.

You sharing that you have now adopted two girls. Yes. In your 50s. Yes. In your 50s. Do you want more? You're so cute because I get signs like I have held on to all of our baby stuff, all of it. Yeah.

Because here's the truth about life. Like I keep meeting people who remind you that your heart's ability to expand is beyond measure. Yes. And someone said, if you have the love, the space, the time, and you can take care of a child who needs it, who might otherwise have a life that is...

you know, not great, why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you? I mean, and so I have not closed the door because I think life is really interesting. And I think that, you know, there's, and I always think that in, when you add something to your family, when you add, when you have a new family member,

you know, for some people when you have a pet, like it enriches it all. Your kids learn more. They are more. They're better. Like I think you're making a better whole. And why not have more great goodness if possible? So...

You know what I think about? I think about the moment you are like, wait a minute. Sandra Bullock is my age. Googled. Yeah. Made the decision. Yes. Talked to your partner at the time. Yes. Made this decision. And now you're here with two daughters. I can't believe it. Right? And I think about you sharing this. And yeah, anytime we do anything, it's going to come with people that don't get it, that project their own stuff onto us. True, true.

think what I'm thinking about right now is how many people through your story are

who are in their 50s or any other age through your story are now like, oh, what's possible in my life? Yes. Right? Maybe I'm going to launch the business. Yes. Maybe I'm going to wear the freaking bikini. Maybe I'm going to like get on the dating app. Yes. Maybe I'm going to decide, oh, no, I just want some fun Friday nights. Amen. Right? Like this is what's so beautiful. And then on top of it, oh, my gosh, on top of it, your career.

Your career. You are...

Turning 60. I'm turning 60. Turning 60. Yes. And how does that feel? And do you believe in your core that your best days are ahead? Yes. Yes. I believe 1000%. Yes. 60 is coming. Yeah. And usually, remember the way it used to be? It was like, oh, no, no, no, no. I am so wide open because each decade is proving like there are fresh starts, new beginnings, and so many new things.

50 is approaching and at work they're like, do you want to look, we're doing a, you're going to do a big thing. You for, I go, yes, I am so for it. Like, and I also think what I was thinking about as I'm turning 60 is often it's like you receive a lot of love. And I think that's amazing.

But I was telling some people at work who I'm friendly, I said, I feel like I am here solely because of people who have shown me the way. And I like to give people flowers too. Like sometimes on your birthday, on your, I'm all for, wow, this feels good. Let me receive. But I feel like it's also a thank you period in life where you're like Maria Shriver, right?

You changed the way I perceive life, you know, and that person deserves their flowers. Jenna, who has changed so much of how I navigate my way through life. Savannah, who has given me like advice that has changed the path that I'm taking. When you think about all that stuff, but I feel for me personally,

I feel like there's like a repotting happening for me. And I don't know how to describe it, but I feel like certain times in life, you have to like pull it up by the roots and see where you land and in what kind of soil and how does it work? Because for each phase of my career, I feel like I have...

been repotting. I went from Dateline to working with Kathy Lee, which was a whole new, weird, crazy experience. And then after 50, you know, working with Savannah, which was

You know, the idea that you're hosting one of the top morning shows in the country seemed unattainable. And first female duo. And first female duo. Oh, badass. Can I tell you something totally weird? I walked into a SoulCycle class after they announced it. And you know how they always do birthdays. Yay, happy birthday, Mary Smith. Happy birthday. You know, they bring out a cupcake. So I'm sitting on the bike and everyone's applauding. I'm like, oh my God, we have a cupcake. I was looking for the girl with the birthday. And they were looking at me. I go...

What it, what it, well, like they go,

You're a first. I go, we're first? They go, you and Savannah are first. I go, oh my God. And they go, now we're... One lady said to me, my girl, who is a young girl, will now realize that that is a possibility. It doesn't have to look a certain way. And so it did feel... It goosebumps my whole body. It did feel like a real change moment. And I think it's understanding and realizing possibilities

This is the kind of job where everyone quote talks about, you know, I don't lack of a better word, a shelf life. Like, okay, great. Well now look around. Robin Roberts is in her sixties. Oprah Winfrey just turned 70. Gail is about to turn 70. I'm about to turn 60. You look around Savannah's in her 50. You look around at the women who are driving the bus in this industry. And that's what you see.

You don't see a 25-year-old going, oh, you know, you see this. So it's all ahead. And so, you know, I think that's part of it. You know, to you, it's so funny. I've not even looked. I have a whole lot. I've not even got to one of them. Okay. Okay.

What's so exciting about this is like you make history. You make history with the Today Show, right? Biggest job you can get in this industry. And I just am thinking about the person listening to this right now, watching us right now that may not know.

If you loved today's episode too, my only ask is that you please click the follow or subscribe button for this show on your app and give it a rating or review and then share this episode with everyone you believe in. Share it with another person in your life who could benefit from it. Post it and share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and the lessons in this episode today.

You never know whose life you're meant to change today by sharing this episode. And thank you so much for joining me today. And before you go, I want to share some words with you that could not be more true. You right now, exactly as you are, are enough and fully worthy.

You're worthy of your greatest hopes, your wildest dreams, and all the unconditional love in the world. And it is an honor to welcome you to each and every episode of the Jamie Kern Lima Show. Here, I hope you'll come as you are, heal where you need, blossom what you choose, journey toward your calling, and stay as long as you'd like because you belong here. You are worthy. You are loved. You are loved.

I love you. And I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kern Lima Show. You recently shared on the Drew Barrymore Show that you went on a second date with a new person. The third date was coming. Yes. What's going on? I did go on the third date. And have you met anyone new? When you entered this profession...

27 stations rejected you. Will you share this? Because so many, Hoda, so many times, I know you and I have this in common. We've gone through so many rejections. And I think like, oh my gosh, I could, I almost doubted myself out of my own destiny for the person who's just like gotten their heart broken or gotten another reject or sent their manuscript out and no publisher liked it. Or, you know, they think like, oh, my days have passed. My ship has sailed. You know, will you share 20?

27 rejections and look at you now. That's why we connect. That's why we connect. I burst out into tears. That man single-handedly changed the course of my life in that one minute.

You don't need 27 people to love you. You just need to find one. And there's always one. I'm just thinking about the person listening and watching us right now who maybe they're on their 27th heartbreak. Their 27th person cheated on them again. Their 27th betrayal. The 27th manuscript rejection. Or the 27th time they stopped themselves from even trying. Just recognizing that

what you need to be happy and deciding to make space for that. Because if we still hold on to things that are good enough or fine, or the relationship that we should just be grateful for and all, there's no space and you're making space. And now you're like, oh, in my life right now, I have space for a fun Friday night. And when I know there's space for more, I'll know

I'll know there's space for more. And you also kind of like with faith declare the space that's coming. Like, oh yeah, a new love also is coming. And I just find this so inspiring.

If you ever need company on FaceTime, I will FaceTime you with a sleeve of Ritz crackers from my bed watching Real Housewives. I love it. And we can do that together. Don't you love how they go in your mouth? It's like they melt. You don't even have to chew it. You just put it in one after the next. The whole sleeve is gone in moments. Yes. The best. Yes. How did you learn to speak up? Because there are so many people who don't think they're worthy of speaking their voice or they think if I'm the real me, if someone saw the real me,

me, then I will not be loved. Do you know with absolute certainty God exists? Yes. Do you ever doubt God exists? I've never doubted it. Not for one second, no. I was mad at God when my dad died. And I hope that they, which I always tell them, that no matter what, I'll always be there in some form and that they feel my presence protecting them, loving them and watching over them. I hope that's what they say. Wow.

This is it. The podcast is happening. Hi, guys. How are you? Hey, how are you? Good morning. You ready? You ready? Let's do it. All set up in here. How huge is this? Welcome to the Jamie Kernley Michelle. I'm Jamie Kernley Michelle. Do you struggle with negative self-talk?

Living with a constant mental narrative that you're not good enough is exhausting. I know because I spent most of my life in that habit.

The words you say to yourself about yourself are so powerful. And when you learn to take control over your self-talk, it's life-changing. And I wanted to give you a free resource that I created for you if this is something that could benefit your life. It's called Five Ways to Overcome Negative Self-Talk and Build Self-Love.

And it's a free how-to guide to overcome that negative self-talk to build confidence and develop unshakable self-love so that you can dream big and keep going in the pursuit of your goals. Don't let self-sabotaging thoughts hinder your progress any longer. It's time to rewrite the script of your life when filled with self-love, resilience, and unwavering belief.

If you're ready to take charge of your narrative, build unwavering confidence, and empower yourself to persevere on the path to your dreams, you can grab your free guide to stop overthinking and learn to trust yourself at jamiekernlima.com slash resources, or click the link in the show notes below. Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious, and so is self-belief.

And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration, which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox from me.

If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamiekernlima.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you.

If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl. Subscribe at jamiekernlima.com or in the link in the show notes.

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