[00:00:00] Deanna Kitchen: I think we're in our 17th, 18th episode, so, yeah, it's kind of a
[00:00:04] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Exciting.
[00:00:05] Deanna Kitchen: still. It is. It...
[00:00:06] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: that's good
[00:00:07] Deanna Kitchen: Yeah, it really is. Well, welcome back to Growing Kindness Podcast. I am so glad that you are joining us today.
[00:00:24] Deanna Kitchen: Rembiaza an entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of the International Association of IT Asset Managers, which is an organization that helps companies in over 120 coun- countries now to better steward their tech and resources. But behind all of that leadership and that organization, is a message that feels deeply personal.
[00:00:49] Deanna Kitchen: Dr. Barbe believes that the smallest things that we have to offer, the things that we can often dismiss as insignificant or ordinary or even not enough, can end up meaning everything to someone else. Her upcoming book, "My Nothing Is Someone's Everything," is a powerful reminder that impact doesn't begin with big platforms or big money or big influence, but instead it begins with a small act of kindness.
[00:01:18] Deanna Kitchen: So that's very much at the heart of the Growing Kindness movement and our organization and what we do. So I'm very excited to get to learn more and hear more from you today, Dr. Barbe. Welcome to the podcast. We're so glad you're here.
[00:01:33] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Thank you. I'm excited to be here, and congratulations on your podcast
[00:01:37] Deanna Kitchen: Thank you. It has been an absolute honor and joy to get to sit with people and share their stories. I think which we can dig into more, and it's very much even something you share in your book is that simply listening is an act of kindness in and of itself. It's been an absolute honor to get to share these stories.
[00:01:54] Deanna Kitchen: Can you start with sharing with us just where in the world are you growing kindness?
[00:01:59] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: So every day every day I try to grow kindness. The book, if you wanna know how that started I've always been a giver just by nature. When my kids were young, we'd go out to dinner, I'd , have them take turns like picking a table to buy their dinner, and we'd sneak out, and we kind of made it a game, so that was always very fun as they were growing up.
[00:02:20] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: , The quote of, "My nothing is somebody else's everything," came from a project that I did that I helped with in Lotts Creek, Kentucky, which is in the Appalachians. It was a settlement school. , My now brother-in-law had called my husband and asked for a donation. For some reason or a bigger power I asked, "Do they have any technology?"
[00:02:45] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And the answer was no. Here's a school with zero computers, zero SMART Boards, zero internet in the homes. So I made a few phone calls. My nothing was reaching out to some of our members of the International Association, and they delivered. They brought all this technology. We took three 26-foot trucks down to Kentucky, was able to set it up.
[00:03:13] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: One of the providers also helped get internet running. , This was in '18, '19 timeframe. So we know what happened in 2020 with COVID, and who would have not thought at that point bringing that in would help those parents be able to continue to provide for their families during COVID? That was something we didn't see.
[00:03:36] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: That wasn't the ripple effect that we really thought we would have. But these kids had a requirement as well to take an online class to graduate, and a lot of them weren't graduating because they couldn't take that class. But after we got in there and was able to do that, they were, and everybody kept saying thank you, and it was like, "It's nothing.
[00:03:58] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: It's nothing." And then, it hit me, my nothing is somebody else's everything. So I looked at that. That was just a few phone calls. I don't take credit for that because everybody in the community came in and helped. But, it meant so much to them and to those kids. I have pictures of the little computer workstations and the kids sitting there, and just the doors that it opened for them was amazing.
[00:04:25] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: So that's where the my nothing is somebody else's everything came from. And then through the years, I've used it at every event that we do, and I close, kind of explain what a nothing is, and I tell everybody, "You know, I really expect you to go out and do nothing. Until I see you next year, you go do nothing."
[00:04:43] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And it's kinda caught on as a, an, a movement, I guess. And I... one of my friends, Andy Andrews, who's a incredible author, , we suggested a book, and here we are, so
[00:04:57] Deanna Kitchen: Amazing. What an incredible journey. I would love to backtrack a little bit more because I think your journey is so unique or perhaps maybe, , an unexpected or conventionally unexpected correlation because I don't think we necessarily think of the world of IT, being a place where this forward-thinking leadership and leading with kindness , is going to take root.
[00:05:22] Deanna Kitchen: Can you share more? And how your work in IT and with these companies and organizations led you on this path and journey to leading with kindness in the way that you are
[00:05:35] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I would love to talk about that because our the community that we have built there is so much giving within the community. And big companies, Huge companies. , We have members, , Microsoft, , NASA, United States government, Canadian government, UK government NATO, and then, all the way down to Walmart and Target and, a much
[00:06:00] Deanna Kitchen: Which makes me smile because all the way down to, like we think of Walmart and Target as, tremendously large organizations. So these are very big, powerful, impactful companies and organizations that you're collaborating with
[00:06:13] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: and they do give back. When we did our best practice library, one of the things in there and about managing tech, 'cause we're not the techies. We're-- we manage technology. So how to do the negotiations, what standards to put in place, how to train the employees on best practices, how to dispose of technology.
[00:06:35] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And that's a big one because a lot of that we talk about the charity piece of that. When they're getting rid of hardware, they can actually donate it and provide for communities that really need that and different organizations. So it has really become a lens that companies look for. When I was at our event last week, I heard, one lady has given almost $5 million for rescue animals by donating technology that was no longer gonna be used, and then the company also got a write-off.
[00:07:10] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: It was very good all the way around.
[00:07:12] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: It's a very giving community, and y- we started that right at the very beginning before we were even a true profession, is, you can help others by doing this.
[00:07:23] Deanna Kitchen: Which absolutely highlights, I think, the very message of your book. And I loved it was woven throughout every story and every page of your book is this very simple, very impactful reminder that when we just use what we have, it's going to be more than enough to make a difference. , And clearly through your work, it's using what you have and encouraging the people through th- these different organizations that are technology forward to use that tool that they have to impact and help others.
[00:07:57] Deanna Kitchen: So the heart of your book just, it resonates with me so much. There's a quote that I have held very tightly to and repeat very often because I think it's so very true, but it's also something that I personally need to be reminded of over and over again. It's an Arthur Ashe quote, and he said, "Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can."
[00:08:22] Deanna Kitchen: And I think your book truly embodies that in every single way. So when we think about-- I love this idea of naming that what feels little or insignificant or nothing truly can be somebody else's everything. You break down for us, there's kind of three categories that our nothing can fall into. Can you share more about that?
[00:08:48] Deanna Kitchen: It really... Reading your book really helped me to reflect in way, unexpected ways about what it is that I actually have that I'm overlooking. And so I love the way that these categories help kind of break down and help us look at where are the areas in our life that we may have a lot that we could be sharing actually, but we're just seeing it as nothing?
[00:09:12] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: So the three categories in the book, of course, are financial. Everybody can think about the notifications or sorry, notifications, the financial impact on giving. You do a drive and you give a couple bucks and you go on. But the other two are time and networking. So your time, , just listening to somebody, just , doing something that takes your time that really means something to somebody else.
[00:09:40] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And then networking would be, , making an introduction, , posting a job, for somebody else where they may get a new hire. And that's a twofold 'cause they're getting something they need, and then the person getting hired would be. Whether it's a five-minute phone call or it's, making an introduction to people or giving something financial, those are the areas that we could really make impact on other people
[00:10:09] Deanna Kitchen: I love how deeply you , went into each of these areas in your book. Like I said when we were first talking before we opened the podcast, there is such heart and beauty in the stories that you're sharing in each of these examples of people who have given or shared in these very exact ways, and the impact that it had both in their life and in the ripple impact, of that impact throughout their communities or throughout other lives close to them.
[00:10:38] Deanna Kitchen: As well as, Sorry, I am so sorry. I'm really runny today. Oh, you're being so
[00:10:43] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: You're
[00:10:43] Deanna Kitchen: Thank you.
[00:10:44] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: When I said notifications, 'cause I thought I turned them all off and one popped up, I was like, "Notification."
[00:10:48] Deanna Kitchen: Isn't that funny how our brain, when you read the word, you say the
[00:10:51] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I know it's like, "Ugh
[00:10:52] Deanna Kitchen: That's great. We can edit, which bless, bless podcast editors for making this work for us. I guess what I was really trying to a- ask and say is, , when I read your book, I found it tremendously impactful and empowering to think about these very small and specific ways that we can share and give in each of these areas of time, networking, and finance.
[00:11:17] Deanna Kitchen: I actually have the book completely dog-eared and highlighted because I would say that, as a person who's leading an organization whose mission is kindness, you think like, "Yeah, I'm pretty wired and attuned to looking for ways that I can move in kindness in my community."
[00:11:35] Deanna Kitchen: And then reading your book, it was just so many ahas of, "Oh, I've never thought of that." I really particularly resonated with your chapter on networking, and the... Like you share, like your story of just making that connection, how powerful that is, and how often we can even overlook that as a way to make a tremendous difference in somebody's life. But really overall, each of these chapters in your book is broken down to such specific, unique ways, things that maybe we hadn't ever thought about. Ways to give resources ways, ways to give time that we wouldn't have been on our radar before. So I really love that. Out of all of those, I'd love to ask, what is your personal favorite way to...
[00:12:25] Deanna Kitchen: I'm sure you give in many different ways all the time, but what's something that you find on repeat in your life?
[00:12:31] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Oh, I try to g- I try to give every day something, and I use different avenues to be able to do that. If you're talking like a financial we have a grocery store here, and every time you buy stuff, you get points that you could use later on, or if you buy gift cards, you get... So I like to save those up and then buy the person behind me's groceries and just leave without them ever knowing that it happened. And I think that kinda, going back to when I took my kids, we would sneak out after we purchased and, you know that it made somebody feel good. You may not know the full ripple effect but you can leave feeling like you did something and you did something good. Later in life, I found that just showing people sometimes that there is good
[00:13:25] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:13:25] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: is all they need to get back on track.
[00:13:28] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm
[00:13:29] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I think that's very important. And when I wrote the stories, I did the story, then I did the power, w- what power does this have, practical ways to implement it, and then the ripple effects. I think sometimes we don't always look at the ripple effect of the small things, and that's so important.
[00:13:49] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: So yeah I f- I like doing anonymous things,
[00:13:53] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Where people don't know or it's very unexpected. That's very much my thing. I sometimes play games in restaurants where I'll hide, money in each hand and have the server bring me somebody in need. They're gonna get one hand, you're gonna get the other.
[00:14:08] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I don't know what's in what, but... And they do. And then you'll hear a story about, they just picked up a shift because, their child's been sick, and they're trying to make rent and this and that. And, y- so listening to your voice inside is so important, and you could get in tune.
[00:14:27] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Once you start figuring out what your nothing is, because we all have nothings. We all have the little thing that's, it's so easy to do. , in , the... my book right in the front, cover of it says, it's... I can show you actually. "Give what comes naturally, and God will do the rest."
[00:14:47] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Because, if you listen and it's easy for some people to write a note. It's easy for some people to give $1,000. It's easy for somebody to run a whole networking event. But for others, that's not easy But I can tell you, I have a whole drawer full of notes from people because those mean so much to me all the time.
[00:15:13] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:15:13] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: and to be able to look at those and say, "Hey, they th- you know, they took that few minutes. It was, they thought about me." So
[00:15:21] Deanna Kitchen: I, I love that. I love that it doesn't take much, but it does take a attunement or what's the word I'm looking for? It takes being tuned in and being aware and seeing people. And I love the practical application in each chapter in your book of what are the ways that I can train myself to be watching for those needs, and what are the simple ways that I can then take action?
[00:15:52] Deanna Kitchen: And some of them are so small and so simple, and I think that's where true impact can happen is when, like you said, it doesn't have to be big. It doesn't have to be pre-planned. It's just being tuned in to see people and to be ready to take action
[00:16:12] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: A- and tuning into the resources that you have, I think is so important. I talked about the points at the grocery store, or, we all have credit cards, and they all, a lot of them give cash back, a lot of them give the points. A lot of them, you could do couponing or what have you.
[00:16:30] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And using those resources as well, you don't have to have a lot of money. But if you start looking at different resources that you have, then you can use those. During COVID, one of the grander things I did was for a long time, I would use points on a credit card that you shop on, , Amazon. I was buying diapers.
[00:16:54] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I didn't need diapers. I don't know really why I was buying diapers, but I always thought, young moms or young families, we struggled when we first had kids and, that's a hard thing. So if I heard somebody was having a baby, I'd give them a year's worth of diapers. But then COVID hit, and we gave close to 20,000 out during that timeframe, 'cause they needed them.
[00:17:18] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And I just had them in... I have a building here, but I had them down in the basement and, why I had them? I can't tell you. I think that was a greater power. Another example during, , COVID, we were doing, We always pick a charity at our events. That's very important to us to really highlight a different charity every event that we do, and bring our members and our partners in to be able to help with that.
[00:17:43] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And that particular year, it was the Bridge Network in Nashville. We were doing our event down there. And one of the things that they had said was sleeping bags and tents, okay? So we got hundreds of sleeping bags, hundreds of tents. , Then COVID hit, and our event was canceled. And I had one of our staff go ahead and take the stuff down there
[00:18:08] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:18:09] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: about five days later, that big tornado went through Nashville and wiped out so much.
[00:18:16] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And they were out there, The Bridge got all their people together, and they were out there handing these sleeping bags and tents that very next morning for these people that, that ended up homeless. And, that was a huge impact on me personally because, why we decided to do it right then, why weren't we saving it for when we rescheduled?
[00:18:37] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I don't have the whys.
[00:18:39] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:18:40] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: is, we followed that voice and it made such a difference. So those little things, and I say little things 'cause it, when you listen it's little. And, your resources will come one way or another if you look for them.
[00:18:54] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm. I love that. And what a beautiful reminder that just say yes. Just say yes. When we have that nudge in our heart, sometimes it doesn't make sense. We don't understand why. Like you said, it, it didn't make sense at the time of why you would go ahead and take those tents down, but did it anyway, and it was the perfect thing at the perfect time.
[00:19:14] Deanna Kitchen: So it's just so powerful to remember what can happen when you say yes to those nudges on our heart.
[00:19:21] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Yes. Yes, you see a person sitting in the corner and, a lot of people are afraid to walk over and say hi. It's a stranger. We don't wanna do that. But going over and saying hi to somebody sitting by themselves can make all the difference in their world. They may just need that little bit of kindness to keep going. You never know what's going on in their lives, so say hi. Say, "How are you doing today?" A- anything. Just make those human connections
[00:19:51] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm. I love that you had a chapter or a section in your book on cheerleading.
[00:19:56] Deanna Kitchen: And just the power of speaking kind and encouraging words and helping people remember that you see them, and you see their strengths, and you see their hard work, and you see their efforts. And you think about that even that a well-timed and thoughtful compliment can change everything.
[00:20:14] Deanna Kitchen: It can change your day. It can change your trajectory professionally. It has so much power, and it's so small. It cost us... All it cost us was a moment to observe and then say yes. And I find for myself, and I think maybe I'm not alone in this, is I think we let that idea of the what we have is nothing keep us from giving anything.
[00:20:38] Deanna Kitchen: And I love the reminder that you've given us , in practical ways And I'm sorry. That's why I struggle with words. Thank you. But I love the reminder that you've given us over and over through your book that really all it is saying yes to sharing what we have, not questioning is it enough or will it have an impact or will they think I'm weird?
[00:21:00] Deanna Kitchen: It's interesting, like I don't-- I can't think of a specific experience in my life, , and maybe the... it's the same for you, where someone has turned down or turned away or disliked something that I've held out in kindness whether that is a bouquet of flowers or a kind word or a moment of encouragement or a listening ear, whatever it may be in that moment.
[00:21:24] Deanna Kitchen: The-- Actually, as I say that, I'm like the only time that's ever been turned away, specifically with gifting flowers, is when it's not clear that it's unexpected or that it's un- there's no expectation of a return that it's truly freely given kindness. I think in our world today, we're so cautious about receiving things because we're afraid there's a string attached, and I think that's the only time that people are afraid to receive that kindness.
[00:21:52] Deanna Kitchen: But truly what it highlights for us is any reservation that we're feeling hesitancy about it's not enough is only our perception. It's our perception, not the receiver's perception.
[00:22:04] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Yeah, absolutely correct. And today I find so many young people afraid to do anything because they don't wanna be seen as weird. They're afraid to talk person to person. They'll do it all day long on the technology, but not really person to person. My daughter went through that.
[00:22:21] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: She had ordered some items for a birthday party, and the lady threw in some extra items, and she was like, "It kinda reminded me that it's okay to do that little extra." And so her giving her those helped her go on and do more things later on. , But it was nothing for her to put a couple extra cookies in the basket or extra chocolates. And that I saw that impact happen, and it was just like, great, . And then she's going to the grocery store, and she's helping other people, and, so that ripple just kept going and that's incredible to watch. But don't be afraid. Don't be... people need it out there, and, we need that human.
[00:23:05] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: There's too much divide. There's too much negativity. We need that positive connection with each other
[00:23:12] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. It's very clear to me in listening to more of your story that impact... Sorry, what was I gonna say? Imparting a heart for others and imparting the significance and importance of kindness to your children has been really important to you. Do you have any practical advice for parents listening today?
[00:23:33] Deanna Kitchen: How can we raise kind kids?
[00:23:36] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Ooh, that's hard. Raising kids in itself is hard. There is no manual. I don't think there's any great, roadmap to doing it. I would just, I would say lead by example. I mean, that's what I did., I got them involved in different things. We've done Habitat for Humanity. We did... Mine are all grown now, but we did, , like I said, when we go out to dinner, I'd let them, each one take...
[00:24:01] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: It's like sitting in the front seat. "It's my turn. It's my turn." No. When we go, each one , would pick a table to buy their dinner. Get them writing notes, get them doing those thank you cards. All those things are important. I mentioned Andy earlier, and he has some great advice out on his website for raising kids.
[00:24:21] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I'm not an expert. I only had four.
[00:24:24] Deanna Kitchen: Four
[00:24:25] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: only four and a few extras that, that came along with, friends of friends and... But , you look back and there's so many things that, 'cause you mature, and there's so many things I'm like, "Oh, I wished I would've done this or that." And you can't go back, but you just start today and keep going.
[00:24:43] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: But yeah, just leading by example I think is the best way to show your kids. And they may not get it right away, and they may lose it for a period, but it comes back around. You're watching them become adults, and that's the hardest parenting piece in the whole parenting package, is when they become adult, 'cause then you're on the sidelines.
[00:25:03] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Y- you're watching and you can't give that advice or, say what you want but you g- you gotta watch them go through it. , And but it's also the biggest blessing because when that comes back around and you see them giving or you see them doing something and you're like
[00:25:18] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: I think one of the best things ever was my, my middle daughter doing holidays, and I sat back and watched her and I'm gonna get teary-eyed here, but I saw so many things that I did with them as kids that she was picking up and carrying on. So just naturally, though. It was just, it wasn't, a hard, "I gotta do this."
[00:25:41] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: It was just, it came natural. And that's really what this book is about too, is what comes natural.
[00:25:46] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:25:47] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: we're humans. W- we have that need a- and a natural urge or an, to connect with each other.
[00:25:56] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:25:56] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: need to do that. And it's so powerful when we do, and it's so helpful when we do
[00:26:03] Deanna Kitchen: Mm-hmm.
[00:26:04] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: So
[00:26:05] Deanna Kitchen: Absolutely
[00:26:06] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: that's just the basis of the book is just connect and watch and listen and follow that little voice inside you.
[00:26:15] Deanna Kitchen: It's something that we all can use more of in our lives in every way. And it's something that just this practical reminder, , to have it... I think kindness is a practice, right? It's not something that we are just born with. So strange
[00:26:37] Deanna Kitchen: Oh,
[00:26:38] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Are you back? There we
[00:26:39] Deanna Kitchen: Yes. Okay. Was that... I think I- my thing came up and warned me that, which is odd because I'm actually at a co-working place where internet is always stable, so interesting that we'd have a little glitch in that today.
[00:26:51] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: just froze
[00:26:53] Deanna Kitchen: yeah. I guess, let's see, go back to what we were saying. That kindness is a practice, right?
[00:26:59] Deanna Kitchen: And I think that anything, the more that we can do that helps us , to build those muscles and for us to, do the lifting day in and day out and build awareness of how we can improve our practice, the easier it becomes, the more natural it feels. And I think that your book is just a , lovely user's guide for us on how to be kinder people.
[00:27:31] Deanna Kitchen: And like I've said over and over, I really truly, I wish I had my copy I'd shared at the beginning. Of course, I ran out the door with my copy on my bedside table because I've just been deep in it the last few days, and I love how many specific, very specific, very small suggestions that it gives us to just be able to put kindness into practice every day, and it not have to be something outst- outstanding , and out of the ordinary, but it can be something practical and every day, and it can be something that pours out of a place where we're already naturally strong, something that already feels easy for us.
[00:28:10] Deanna Kitchen: And I really have just really appreciated m- for myself kind of lifting, doing that lifting of building the muscles of what is it that I can be doing to be more kind.
[00:28:23] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Thank you. Thank you. The we had the... I talked about the event that we had last week, and there was , a pre-copy there, and I'd let people look at it up at the registration desk. And one of the ladies there, she took it, and she read the whole book, I mean, between the three days. And she came back, and it had a different message that she told me about that I hadn't thought about, a ripple effect that I hadn't thought about.
[00:28:54] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: She had been really down on herself and she went through the book, and she, , was pointing out things that she was doing consistently that was easy that she didn't think was anything, her nothings. And she said, "Hey, I'm really not a bad person. I'm really... I shouldn't be getting down on myself because here I am doing these things that are good, and I need to go a little bit easier on me, on myself because I am doing okay." And I got a very long email, and it was... I was doing it for other people, but for the readers, it could help them understand that their nothing is truly meaningful and what it means to others and that, that, hey, you are a good person, you are doing okay, and you don't need to get down on yourself.
[00:29:52] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: You're out there doing, you're out there cheerleading, you're out there helping, you're, , that kind word in the grocery store and the restaurant. And really it helped her in the opposite way, but it was a very impactful way. So I
[00:30:06] Deanna Kitchen: Wow
[00:30:06] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: really appreciated that email a lot
[00:30:09] Deanna Kitchen: Yeah, absolutely. We all need someone to hold that mirror up for us and show us the best parts of ourself that we're forgetting to see. So how incredible that's another way that this book is serving and helping is to show people, look at all the ways you already are kind.
[00:30:25] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's, that was very special email that I got. Out on our website, I'll talk about the workbook just for a minute, 'cause there is a workbook that goes along with it, and , it talks about the three areas, and those areas are where your giving shows up, but it has the seven motifs about how it works and how it carries the weight and impact for others.
[00:30:48] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And I c- there's kind of a grid in there and when I look at the grid, it's not a checklist, but it's where things through different lenses. You see the same giving through different lenses. And I could really look at that and see where my strong suit is. So I hope people get that and use it and really see what their nothings are that's, that come very naturally.
[00:31:11] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And then you could build from there, like you were saying, like start developing other areas as well. But that's out on the website at drbarb.com.
[00:31:20] Deanna Kitchen: love this reminder though, that it's recognizing what's already at our core and what we're already doing. It actually makes me think of, are you familiar with it's a personality assessment called StrengthsFinder?
[00:31:31] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Mm-hmm. Yes
[00:31:33] Deanna Kitchen: really highlighting and showing us back to ourselves, these are the areas that you're already really strong, and allowing that to be a tool to empower us to use those skills and characteristics even more in our lives.
[00:31:45] Deanna Kitchen: And I love that this book is like the StrengthsFinder for kindness. , It's giving us this tool to see, look at all the ways that you are already naturally talented and naturally able, to give and to share and to have impact. Now, , what can you do next with that?
[00:32:03] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Yes. Yes, absolutely. And, the examples, I didn't want a preachy book. I didn't want a book, "You've gotta go out there and do this." I wanted just the book of examples, so when a situation comes up, hopefully that example will pop back in and you can say, "Oh, if I do this, I remember the book saying the ripple effect could be this."
[00:32:24] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Just to give people those ideas out there of going out and doing good. When we talk about giving, it's all through, it's, there's a thread all through our lives about giving, whether , it's through, , your religion, 'cause every religion talks about giving through , your community or your school, through assessment tests to tell you about yourself, or just naturally through your heart.
[00:32:52] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Giving is always around us and just making it a priority of being able to recognize it
[00:32:59] Deanna Kitchen: Absolutely beautiful. Dr. Barb, if we would like to get our hands on a copy of the book or the workbook to work through alongside of the book, how can we do that?
[00:33:11] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: So it's on pre-sale now. It will ship on June 5th, but you can order it now 'cause we're doing, like I said, the pre-sales. You can go out to drbarb.com. There's links there to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, , different bookstores out there. Or you could go directly to Amazon, it's out there, or any of the other bookstores.
[00:33:30] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And then the workbook is only available on drbarb.com, and it is set up for pre-orders. You put in your pre-order number, and I'll send you the book. But honestly, if anybody needs the workbook, just go to the Contact Me page, and we'll get one out to you
[00:33:47] Deanna Kitchen: amazing. Generous in every way. I really, really enjoyed reading this. It has... It, I, that felt like a little bit that, , same feeling for myself as it was a little bit of a mirror to be able to feel encouraged and inspired by being able to see the just the ways this is... Sorry, I am really rummy today on words.
[00:34:07] Deanna Kitchen: Wow, you're being so gracious. Thank you. , Let me see. Let me go back. , For me, the book was really incredibly uplifting just to be reminded that what feels like nothing really truly has the opportunity to be everything for somebody else, and what an important message to spread in the world right now.
[00:34:24] Deanna Kitchen: So I'm really hopeful and excited that listeners today will get connected and dig into the book as well, and they'll get to enjoy that experience of being reminded that what they have to give is enough, and it will always be enough. So Dr. Barb, thank you for being here with us today. Before we close, I would love to ask you one question that we ask each of our podcast guests, and I feel like it's especially especially significant in light of the work that you are doing.
[00:34:54] Deanna Kitchen: But the question is, what is one small act of kindness that someone once shared with you that you still carry in your heart today?
[00:35:03] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: Oh, that is a very difficult question, and I think it's gonna be difficult for anybody 'cause there's so many out there that really have an impact on you. I talked about an email or a card. Those really mean a whole lot to me always. Just that message , of, "Hey, I'm thinking of you."
[00:35:24] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: But as silly as it sounds, I do have one is Christmas pre- presents, and not the present. My, my sister is very good at going way above whenever she wraps a present, and she puts, she spells out my name in little wood letters or puts an extra bow on it or she always does that little extra touch in wrapping whatever it is.
[00:35:52] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: And I find myself, th- I had to really think about things and those little details that she does really just makes my holidays because I know when she brings something over it, it's gonna have the bows and the little details and she loves doing it. And it just means so much to me every year that, that, the way she does that.
[00:36:20] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: It's just incredible, so I wish I could do that. If I get it in a paper bag, I'm doing good. So you know, that's her nothing. It's definitely not my nothing. If I get tape on it,, I feel accomplished. Just that little extra that she does to make the holidays, , special , and personalized.
[00:36:40] Dr. Barbara Rembiesa: That's, the big piece is the personal... I don't... Whatever's in the package is in the package, but the way she puts it together is always so personal, and she takes that time. So you know, I, I think time is my big love language, if you will. Whether it's the note , or an email or how something is wrapped it really makes a big difference, .
[00:37:04] Deanna Kitchen: That's beautiful. Oh, isn't it? Sometimes it is just that it's being seen. , I've really, I don't know
