My Village Well with Michelle

John Roedel is an improv comedic who "stumbled" into writing a few years ago as his life began to fall apart all around him.  During his dark night of the soul, John began to have fake conversations with "God" on Facebook to poke fun at his spiritual and personal crisis.

What began as a flippant way of making light of his doubts in the Divine turned into something he wasn’t at all prepared for: God wrote back.

Since creating the popular "Hey God. Hey John." blog on Facebook three years ago, John has tackled such topics as his journey to mental health wellness, his lack of faith, the joy and pain of raising a child with autism, and grief, all in the form of a simple conversation with "God."

Eventually, these conversations transformed straight into poetry that has touched hundreds of thousands of people all around the world.

John’s newest book “Remedy” has been on the Amazon bestseller list for poetry since its release this past November. You can learn more about John at www.johnroedel.com

John will be sharing poetry and story with Village Well on February 9, 2022 from 7-8 PM PST. RSVP to myvillagewell@gmail.com

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Anitra Hooper is a transcension coach, healer, and speaker. She is committed to helping individuals heal deeply, love unconditionally, and live authentically as their best selves in every moment.

She utilizes her emotional empathy, intuitive connection, training in self development, Reiki, Ho’oponopono, and experiences in emotional mastery, to walk with clients through their healing journey to achieve a harmonious life!

She works with leaders who serve powerfully and are ready to show up perfectly imperfect in their lives and businesses. Whether it is by practicing vulnerable communication, creating robust boundaries rooted in deep self-love & forgiveness, healing past trauma, or learning to trust divine inspiration from the Universe and to take their manifestation work to the next level, she is able to guide them to their next best step.

Anitra has said yes to coming to teach at the Self Love Project in the Fall of 2021.  You can learn more about her:

https://harmonious-living.ck.page/d07faf2441

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Amy Thompson is an award winning teacher, enthusiastic wife, optimistic mother who believes that strength comes from adversity; humor helps almost everything; and no one gets tired of hearing how great they are. Amy will be teaching at Self Love Project through My Village Well.  You can find out more at:

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

As a Creative Leadership Coach, Nicole Kleemann empowers curious, and courageous women to transform limiting beliefs and create choices that will bring their lives and careers to new heights. When she went through a burnout, Nicole learned to lean into creativity to find her voice and path again. That's when she decided to leave her international career managing diverse and cross-cultural teams at Google to focus on her true passion of coaching and bringing her experience and wisdom further into the world.  Nicole will be kicking off Self Love Project of 2021 in January.  Learn more at www.myvillagewell.com

You can find out more about Nicole at:

www.nicolekleemann.com

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

My dad, Tom Francois, is the original Love Sprinkler.   The man literally makes friends with anyone, anywhere and at anytime.   My brothers and I lovingly refer to him as: The Mayor.   He is a below the knee amputee, who was hell bent on learning how to take his first steps before my twins did twenty years ago.  He was married to my Foxy Mama for over 50 years before she went Home due to Cancer.  And most recently, my dad rebuilt his home after losing it in the Santa Rosa fires.  

Through it all, his insatiable work ethic, love of family, steadfast faith, and spot on sense of humor, have paved his path.  It has never been about what my dad has done in his life, it's about the way in which he does it.   

And me? Well, I hit the Jackpot.  Dad, I sure do respect you.  And boy, do I love you.

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Own your facts, fail fast, and be okay without things being perfect.  These words perfectly describe Martha Nino's outlook on life.

Born in Mexico, in a grass shack and a dirt floor, Martha's parents risked everything to come America to have a better quality of life. As a baby, Martha was handed to a stranger to pass as her mother, to bring her safely across the border, while her parents crossed the desert on foot.  There was absolutely no guarantee that this family of 3 would be reunited.  Some 40 years later,  this very story is what landed her on stage to speak to an audience of 1,300 people.   

Martha's contagious zest for life, curiosity, and love of trying new things, make her both relatable and lovable. Martha is hoping her voice speaks for those that cannot speak, that her experiences motivate those who live in fear, and allows those who think that the impossible is possible.

You can find Martha Nino : connectwithmartha@gmail.com and on Linked In

Martha will be coming to teach at My Village Well for the Self Love Project in 2021.

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Sean Garcia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has worked in a variety of settings including clinical, educational and currently in private practice.  As one of a handful of trans-identified clinicians in Silicon Valley, Sean is extremely passionate about supporting transgender people and their families as well as the co-occurrence of neurodiversity.  This population is the primary focus of his practice, and he now hosts monthly Trans Brotherhood adult group and a Transgender Tween group.  Sean is actively involved as a speaker and facilitator for educational training and enrichment for parents, staff, and students as well as a consultant for other health care professionals.  You can learn more about Sean at seangarciatherapy.com

And keep your eyes peeled, because Sean will be our first token dude to teach at Self Love in 2021!

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Maria Abelaye is the owner and founder of Heartbox Photography in the Bay Area.  Maria believes that every woman, whether she has loved or despised the camera, deserves to exist in a photograph and works to advocate to further that message through her portrait services.  Maria specializes in everyday real women like you and me, and gives them to opportunity to celebrate every year of her life through stunning images, whether she is 18 or 80.

You can find Maria at : heartbox-photography.com

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Maggie Nazario is a facilitator of change for those yearning to step into the highest vision of their identity through self healing work. Maggie is not only a gifted intuitive leader, she is the founder and creator of a Colorfull Collective: a space where conversations take place with people of color sharing their gifts and stories.  Maggie is a Reiki Master, and helps facilitate ancestry work and work through akashic records.  Maggie will be teaching at the Self Love Project in the fall through My Village Well; register through myvillagewell.com.   You can reach out to Maggie at maggie.guidedintuitive@gmail.com

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

The youngest of the bunch, Charlotte, continues to teach her mama through the Pandemic.  My 9 year old schooled me on emotional intelligence, and how I missed ALL of her signs :)

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Bronwyn has spent the last 20 plus years helping people shine during some of the most important moments of their lives-whether that was helping a client prepare for a judge's seat on American Idol, a "casual chat" on Rel Time with Bill Maher, or a shot at glory on the TED, TEDx, and TEDGlobal stages.  Bronwyn believes that the ability to communicate well has become the number-one sought-after soft skill of our time.  And not just in the workplace, but in their personal lives too.  People want to be spellbinding, charismatic and authentic in front of an audience and in a one-on-one conversation.  Bottom line: people just want to shine.

You learn more about Bronwyn Sglimbeni at www.bronwyncommunications.com 

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

From the Pandemic, to the injustices of our country, to distance learning, to our beloved state of California being on fire.  It is so much to take in.  My dad, like so many others, lost his home just a few years ago in the fires of Santa Rosa. PTSD is real, and it's a trigger.  So what can we do when so many things are out of our control?  Come sit next to me dear one, and we can rage and cry together.

I highly recommend the book, Journey to the Heart, by Melody Beattie

www.myvillagewell.com

Share your peace practices at myvillagewell@gmail.com

Alynn Brutsman offers the world Spiritual Healing through Dream Exploration, meditation, art, and creative writing.  She is a true spiritual dynamo who has overcome addiction, raised six kids (you read that right), and the loss of her home in the Paradise fires.  Through it all, Alynn's steadfast faith has not only remained intact, but has grown stronger.  Her gift is to listen and summon the Holy Spirit to be present in the healing of others.  Her life's lesson: "My deepest sorrows have turned into my greatest work." Alynn will be teaching the Self Love Project in the fall at My Village Well. You can find Alynn at holyspirithouseofprayer.com or alynnbrutsman@gmail.com 

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

I am what I lovingly refer to as a "slow learner".  I get nudges, and hits all the time, and yet, often in the past, I have either dismissed them, or have arm wrestled the Divine because I think I know best.  Does this sound familiar?  I knew we were kindred like that.  

Plot twist: we cannot be in control and trust simultaneously.  The trust fall is so scary.  But so worth it.

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Karen Adamski is a shamanic practioner who works with clients from all over the world.  Karen brings healing in the forms of vibrational medicine, meditation, art, nature, color, and kindness.  By bringing community together, Karen loves to teach others how easy it is to bring balance and beauty into their lives.  The Shama Mama will be teaching at My Village Well for the Self Love Project.  

You can learn more about Karen at www.shamamama.com

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

Why does it seem that when we get stretched the thinnest, is when we grow the most?   For me, I was stretched through my mom's battle with Cancer, as I split my time between my own family and my folks, who lived 2 hours away.   At the time, we had 5 daughters ranging in age from 12 to 2.  And although it was a difficult chapter, my level of compassion grew for anyone who has suffered or is suffering because I was witness in real time.  What is your Survivor story? How did you make it through, and what did your perspective shift from the situation?  

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com

If you believe in self love, empowerment, and authentic connection, Village Well is your one stop shop.  Life can be tricky and uncertain, but we are here to remind you of this: you are perfectly imperfect, my friend.  If you are a sparkly train wreck,  join us! We have been waiting for you.

 You can learn more about our community at www.myvillagewell.com