In this empowering episode, Sarah is joined by international bestselling author, speaker, and founder of Inspired Tenacity Publishing, Cathy Derksen. Together, they explore the healing power of storytelling, how women can rise from trauma to triumph, and the surprising journeys that lead us to purpose. Cathy opens up about her own transformation from medical genetics and financial planning to helping women become authors and changemakers — proving it's never too late to rewrite your story. This is for the storytellers, the late bloomers, the over-50 warriors, and anyone wondering if their voice matters. Spoiler: it does.
“Everyone over the age of seven has a story that will inspire someone else.” – Cathy Derksen
“Life is too short to stay stuck. Don’t just survive—create your next chapter.” – Cathy Derksen
“Our older people are an untapped natural resource. Let’s listen to them before we lose them.” – Sarah Jordan-Ross
Cathy is the founder of Inspired Tenacity Global Publishing, a platform that helps women worldwide become published authors by contributing chapters to powerful multi-author books. Her work spans over a dozen published titles, international retreats, Times Square billboards, and a growing global community of empowered women lifting each other up through story.
📍 Website: inspiredtenacity.com
Sarah Jordan-Ross (00:01) Hey everybody, welcome back to Taboo Talk with Sarah, the podcast that breaks the silences, fosters hope, and talks about the tough stuff so you never feel alone. If you're new here, I'm Sarah. I'm a mum of three amazing boys, a wellness coach, and a lifelong storyteller of the human experience. This is a space for real, raw conversations about healing, growth, and the moments that shape us. And today we're diving into a conversation that celebrates
courage, transformation, and the power of women's voices. I'm joined by Cathy Dirksen, international bestselling author, speaker and founder of Inspired Tenacity Global Publishing, where she helps women step into authorship and share their stories with the world. I was actually introduced to Cathy by our dear friend Nicole Cowley, who wrote a chapter in Cathy's newest book, Passion, Purpose, and Possibilities. And when I started reading,
I was struck by how deeply each story resonated. These are stories of ordinary women doing extraordinary things, facing adversity and rising stronger for it. They've found their purpose in what they've been through. Cathy, I'm so thrilled to have you here.
Cathy Derksen (01:15)
Well, thank you for having me. And yes, and I'll just show everybody the beautiful book. There's the passion, purpose and possibilities.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (01:21)
Thanks.
It is a wonderful book. If you haven't got it yet, I strongly suggest you grab a copy.
Cathy Derksen (01:29)
And I think it's still on sale prices. And I think like the Kindle, I think it's still only like a dollar, dollar and a half.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (01:29)
because you'll probably be like me and not be able to put it down.
which is a brilliant deal.
Cathy Derksen (01:39)
Yes, yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (01:40)
So let's start with your story. Because you spent years curating and amplifying other women's stories. But what's the story behind you stepping into that path? What made you say, I need to go and share stories?
Cathy Derksen (01:56)
Well, it definitely is a twisted story. And I always like to say if you'd asked me even five years ago, if this is what I would be doing, I would have laughed at you because there was nothing in my other lives that pointed in this direction or had any overlap at all with what I'm doing right now. So my original career was in medical genetics. I was there for 25 years, mostly hospital labs and public education. And from there, I...
decided I wanted to do something that was really more one-on-one with people and really felt that I had this passion for really helping women change their life. So I went into financial planning thinking, well, this is how I can help them and change their life. But after roughly a decade in that, I realized that it was just still wasn't the right fit. And I knew there was something bigger and different that I was supposed to be doing. And so I guess it's been...
Oh, it's been almost five years now since I left my job behind and started my business to really figure out, what is it that I'm supposed to be doing with my life? And really it was just a matter of bumping into opportunities, listening to my intuition, following the path that kind of I could feel that it was inspiring and just felt like the right direction. And that's...
how I ended up here and really the main thing that I do these days is create multi-author books. So that book we were just looking at, The Passion, Purpose and Possibilities is the eighth book that I've released in the last two and a half years. And so by the end of this year, probably be close to at least 10, possibly 12 by the end of the year. So a few more just almost ready to come out.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (03:45)
And Passion, Purpose and Possibilities is such a beautiful book with...
Lots of amazing stories of shifts and changes. how did that book come together? And it's probably how you put a lot of your books together. So I'd like to know how that process works. Yeah.
Cathy Derksen (03:58)
This one was actually a little bit different.
Because
in general with my books, I create the theme and title and then I literally go out in the world looking for women who want to share their story based on that theme. With this particular book, the title is actually based on a podcast I was on. So Candice Snyder, who is one of the authors in the book, I was on her podcast a couple of years ago. And her, of course, the name of the podcast is Passion, Purpose, and Possibilities.
And we got talking and I said, that would be a perfect title for a book. So, so in this case, we actually started the process by inviting the other women who had been part of her community. So had either already been on her podcast or were, you know, on her list of guests coming up. And so that's where we started. And then from there, we branched out looking for other women that were interested in sharing their story based on that theme. so it's been a slightly different adventure with this one.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (04:57)
It sounds like all of them are bits of an adventure. And I did admit when I first saw the title, I wondered if there was a connection to the podcast, so I'm really glad to learn that, yes, it was.
Cathy Derksen (05:00)
yes.
Yes. Yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (05:14)
Yep.
And that essence of community that came out of that as well. And that seems to be a bit of a theme that I'm noticing in a lot of the guests that I'm interviewing too is how important community is to healing and to just living the best life that you can. And you don't just create books, you have created a
community as well. So do you want to expand on that a little bit for us?
Cathy Derksen (05:45)
Yeah,
and really every book is its own little community because you've got roughly 20 women from around the world who work together on this project for several months. So most of the books take, I would say, eight months to up to a year. And so we have chats on LinkedIn and group chats where they can meet each other. We do group Zooms so they can actually come together.
in the squares and introduce themselves, chat a bit more about what they're each up to, how they can connect and collaborate. And then sometimes also I bring in guest speakers and for those guest speakers, there are various training things that especially entrepreneurs might be interested in. So LinkedIn skills, speaking skills, business processes and that sort of thing. And when I do those, I invite my whole community. So now that we've got eight published books and
four more in the works. It's roughly 200 women with a few men in there as well that are part of the community now. So it's always fun getting them together. Again, always looking for collaborations, community, all of those ways of really kind of lifting each other.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (06:56)
that's what it's about is lifting each other up. So you already touched on that there's a few more books in the pipeline. What other things have you got got planned? Is there retreats or get togethers with with your community? And if somebody's listening and they're thinking, I really want to tell my story, but
Cathy Derksen (07:11)
in
Yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (07:20)
I'm scared, I'm nervous, I don't know where to start. What would you say to them?
Cathy Derksen (07:25)
Hmm to that I would say that these multi-author books are definitely the the best way to get started Because you're only writing one chapter So you're not trying to write a whole book and and you're like I'm saying you're doing it together with the group So there's a common theme that you're all working under and and so there's that shared experience of
getting past that feeling of, I'm not an author. Who am I to think I can write a book or my story is not important enough or crazy enough that you really kind of get over those feelings the more you come together and share your story and get to know the other women in the group. So really everyone, I would say everyone over the age of seven has some kind of story that would help and lift, motivate, inspire.
other people who are coming through similar things. So never let that little voice tell you that you don't have a story that needs to be shared.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (08:22)
because we all have stories and we never know when it's sharing our story that is going to be the thing that changes somebody else's story. And one of the things I love about your books is that these women, they aren't professional authors. They are just people sharing their stories of what they've been through, of what they've learnt along the way.
Cathy Derksen (08:29)
Exactly.
Yes, and the nice thing is we do have a professional editing team, so you don't have to worry that your writing might not be perfect because you do go through several layers of fine-tuning and then perfecting before it gets published. So not to worry there.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (08:58)
That's what editors were invented for.
Cathy Derksen (09:00)
That's
right, that's right.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (09:03)
You write something good
and then they polish it and make it even better.
Cathy Derksen (09:06)
That's right, that's right. And you were also asking about kind of what other things are going on. And one of the things that I've added into my book projects is a billboard in Times Square, New York City. So we did our first one in January. So with that billboard, it was just one of my books. And we had a billboard and did a three day retreat and had a great time. And so we're going back to New York in
just a few weeks. So actually I was just looking at the calendar and realized it's just over two weeks from now that we'll be back in New York. And this time I brought together women from five of my books. So this retreat that we go on will be a collection of women from different books coming together. We've got women coming from Australia, Germany, US, Canada. And so we'll have our billboard up in Times Square. We've got a photographer coming. So we'll be getting some pictures that we can all then
put on our social media and post and share. And so probably going forward, will, I think I'll probably do a New York trip like once a year and bring together different collections of my authors, who's available at that time and wants to join us.
So that is one of the newer things we've added.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (10:19)
sounds like so much fun but I'd say you should perhaps warn the Australians that are coming that New York's a bit chilly in November for us.
Cathy Derksen (10:21)
Yes, yes, you'll have to join us more these times.
Yes,
yes, you guys are just warming up and we're cooling off.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (10:33)
Yes. And I was in New York in November several years ago. It was actually the year that Obama got elected the first time. And I remember going up the Empire State Building and I had to take my gloves off so I could take a photo. I think I got very good at taking photos really quickly because my fingers felt like they were going to freeze.
Cathy Derksen (10:57)
especially if you're up there.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (10:58)
And then I came back home
a couple of weeks later and it was 35 degrees.
Sorry, what was that?
Cathy Derksen (11:04)
Yes, I'm laughing at what that feeling must have been like.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (11:08)
do it again just I think for myself I'd like to go back to New York in the summer and see what it's what it looks like then
Cathy Derksen (11:15)
Yes, the next time we go, we'll definitely pick a time of the year that's a bit more pleasant. actually, can't, looking back at why I chose November this time, I'm actually not sure.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (11:26)
Thanksgiving's always good.
Cathy Derksen (11:28)
Yes, so we're a bit before Thanksgiving, so we're beating all that rush.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (11:32)
Yes.
Now, with all of your books, but particularly with Passion, Purpose and Possibility, did any of the stories surprise you, either in their depth or the challenges that people had faced or the insights that that had brought to them?
Cathy Derksen (11:46)
would say really every story that I've read.
kind of surprises me in some way. You know, it's funny how, you know, in life we go through our own ups and downs and adventures and we often kind of feel like everybody else is going like it's smoother for everybody else. And you know, that you're the one having the challenges and then you kind of read some of these stories and you realize, wow, you know, probably the people around them didn't even realize what they were going through.
and see the challenges and the drama and trauma that some of these people have been through. And one of the women, actually, I think it was in this book, she was hit by lightning twice in her life. How can anyone get hit by lightning twice?
Sarah Jordan-Ross (12:29)
Shhh!
Yeah, isn't
it not supposed to do that? Doesn't lightning never strike twice?
Cathy Derksen (12:35)
Exactly, And
then I hope she went and bought a lottery ticket after that because your numbers are up. So one of the other women's
Sarah Jordan-Ross (12:42)
Yeah
Yeah, you wouldn't want
to be by a third time.
Cathy Derksen (12:50)
Yeah,
it's one of the women in one of my other books shared the story that she used to run a lot of marathons, like long, long races. And one time after, I guess the next day after one of her marathons, she literally couldn't get up. She couldn't move. And when she went into the hospital, they realized that many of her bones had shattered. Like she had multiple broken bones all over her body.
And it was just from the running. And I guess her bones just, and now she is someone who is like at the top of her league in everything she does. She's someone who's always poised and well put together and looking at her, you would never guess that she had come through that. And they literally had to rebuild her spine and things like that. you know, it's again, you you look at this person and you think you never would have guessed. And even
once you've heard the story, you still think, wow, that can't be. So there's so many stories that are just stop you in your tracks.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (13:55)
And so many stories that we need to hear to realise that we're not alone and that you can have horrible things happen but that doesn't have to mean that your life ends up being terrible there is and that's the thing I noticed in some of the stories and with some of the people that have been on this podcast.
so many times they go through a traumatic experience and then they rise from that as better, stronger, more wonderful people than they were going into it.
And the same so often we what we see out in the world like other people's stories or we see the highlight reel on on Facebook and we compare that to what we're going on in our lives. And there's that bit of a disconnect. So what I'm really loving about the stories that you share and the stories that I'm getting to share is that we get to show
Cathy Derksen (14:40)
Yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (14:55)
For most of us, the highlight reel is just that. That's the stuff that we show to the world, but we're so much more than that. And there's so many more stories of struggle that connect us rather than divide us and make us different.
Cathy Derksen (15:12)
definitely, definitely. The number of factors that are in common among people all over the world are far more than, what separates us or makes us different.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (15:25)
and there's so many stories of life knocking you down. But it's what you do after that. It's the getting back up.
So if you got some stories of that that you could share.
Cathy Derksen (15:33)
Yeah, no, exactly.
Yeah, let's see. There are just so many, definitely stories of women that were in very negative relationships and really feeling trapped and stuck and feeling like they didn't have options. They had nowhere else to go. And then quite often, it's a person they met, whether it was somebody who was a counselor or just a neighbor or someone that gave them that
Sarah Jordan-Ross (15:37)
that resilience.
Cathy Derksen (16:03)
that strength and that hope to think, okay, I can get through this. I can change my situation. know, people that grew up in the foster care system and feeling like their life was hopeless and nobody cared and they were in a dead end life. And again, kind of bumping into the right people at the right times that kind of gave them a different opportunity or even just gave them that feeling that somebody else cared and that they were worthy of.
trying to do something different, to stepping into something new. And there's just so many stories like that. And one of my favorite stories, one of my authors, she was in my very first book. And before she was in that one, she had always wanted to be a published author, but had really suffered from that feeling of, nobody wants to hear what I have to say. Everybody just thinks I'm woo woo. And it's really feeling like, I guess, most of her life.
Her family had made her feel like she was just strange and that's that yeah, just go be quiet in the corner kind of thing. And then she did a chapter in my first book that was called Embrace Courage. And she talked about a lot of the things that she did. And she's into a lot of the crystals and all kinds of other energy healings and things like that. And and she realized that the response that she got from her chapter
was a an international group of people suddenly interested in what she had to say and wanting to learn more about what she was doing. And next thing you know she was in another one of my books so then the next one was called Midlife Awakening. And so she was in that one as well and with just the the momentum that she built from being in those two books it gave her that feeling of wow people do want to hear what I have to say.
people are interested in what I do. And then she went from there and released her solo book. So in one year, she went from feeling like she'd never be a published author because nobody even cared what she had to say to being in two of my books and her own solo book in one year.
And the icing on the cake of that is that she is 75 years old.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (18:07)
Jessica's to show what.
It just goes to show what having just one person
give you that word of encouragement or show up for you can do. Misty Kerrigan in episode she was on said and she does a lot of work with foster care and at risk youth and kids who've aged out of the foster care system. And one thing she said and was backed up by a couple of different research studies too was one caring adult.
Cathy Derksen (18:22)
Exactly, exactly.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (18:41)
is all it takes to make the difference in the life of a child. So one caring adult stepping into their lives and encouraging them can be what shifts these kids from being at risk to not just surviving it but then actually thriving. And sharing that kindness and sharing
Cathy Derksen (18:45)
But definitely, definitely.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (19:03)
those stories of resilience which I know is a little bit of inside information. That's your next project or one of the books that will be coming out this year is about resilience. Do want to share a little bit about that?
Cathy Derksen (19:15)
Yes, that's the one that we're still,
we are still bringing together that group of women. So that's very exciting. Yes, that one is called Rooted in Resilience. And so we are still filling a few spots. So if anyone listening is interested, then definitely let me know. And, and again, one of the other books that I had done, I it was last year, was called Ripple Effect of Impact.
And so it really hit on some of those stories, like you were saying, how it takes one person, one adult to say, yes, you matter. And looking at that ripple effect of what we create, even with a simple smile, at the cashier at the grocery store or the stranger walking down the street or helping somebody out with something, just those things that seem so little really are the things that change lives.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (19:43)
Boom.
Cathy Derksen (20:07)
It's really acknowledging that we all have that power to change the world around us, to change other people's reality, experience. So yes, and I'm always coming up with new themes and titles as well. So if people have an idea of what they, you know, a new book, a new theme that they would like to see us put together, then I'm always open to ideas.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (20:31)
And if somebody did want to send ideas your way, how's the best way for them to do that?
Cathy Derksen (20:36)
Well, as far as social media goes, LinkedIn is where I hang out the most. So definitely find me there. And you can also check out my website, it's inspiredtonacity.com. And on there you'll find spots where you can download, free downloads of several of my books. And also you'll see the list of my current projects that we're bringing people into right now. And a lot of just other information about what we're working on. So.
That's the best way to find me.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (21:03)
just want to take a little change of direction because your business name inspired tenacity. I love that and I'm pretty sure that there's a story behind that. So how did you come up with that name? Because they're not generally words that you put together.
Cathy Derksen (21:22)
Oh, no, they're not. And yeah, when I first left my first career, left medical genetics, part of what I was going through at the time, I had come to the realization that my marriage was very toxic and abusive. The workplace I was in at that time was also very negative. And it just made me realize that life is too short to be living.
in this constant negative world. And so I had left the marriage behind, two teenagers with me at the time, left that whole career behind, started all over again, know, with something different. And it really just kind of came to me that a couple of the major things that we need, you know, the secret sauce, I guess, of getting through big changes in life are inspiration and tenacity.
And as I was coming through all of those big crazy times in my life, just, it's funny, I would say it really came as kind of an intuitive download. Just that, that those words together came to me. And to me, I knew exactly, thought, yes, that describes perfectly how I want to help other women and what I want to bring to the world. And yes.
I've had some people hear that name and they're like, well, that's a silly name. It doesn't even mean anything. but then I've had so many people like you that just look at and go, wow, that's perfect. Okay. You're my tribe.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (22:50)
it. And it's so important that we find our tribes because we all need those spaces where we can just be who we are, where we're at, that group of people that if we've got something amazing we want to celebrate, hey my book just got on a billboard, that they'll jump up on the table and and celebrate with you. And you also need those ones who when you just want to say
Actually, it's pretty crappy right now and I just want to sit here and cry They'll hand you the box of tissues. They'll sit down beside you and say okay. I Can't do the work for you, but I can I can walk beside you while you do it We need to have those spaces where we're at that. I just need to go blah That's something you go. Yeah, Go for it Okay. Now, what do we do about it?
Cathy Derksen (23:19)
Yes.
Yep.
No, exactly.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (23:40)
And some of us get to find that tribe online, some of us get to find it in books of reading those stories that we go, these are my people. And then you tend to reach out to those people. So where did you find your tribe?
Cathy Derksen (23:54)
Yes, yes, and in all of my books there's a bio page.
I would say it really has been on this journey as an entrepreneur and getting involved with different communities of women. I always say one of the benefits of the whole COVID chaos was that it forced us all on Zoom or onto online platforms. And so it really did make the whole world in the room together. And so...
I would say that's really what helped me. I can't even imagine the business I'm doing now I could not do if the whole world hadn't opened up like this. And that's where I found my tribe is by different communities, making connections, getting to know people and reaching around the world. And it's not just at home in your little circle. At home, most people don't even know what I do.
because everybody just finds it too weird.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (24:45)
Yes.
Yes, our world has definitely gotten bigger since COVID, think. that, we're more inclined to find those spaces that we belong in, not necessarily that we fit in, but that we belong in, because those two things are different. And yeah, we've noticed now that
Cathy Derksen (25:01)
this.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (25:06)
Connection doesn't have to be just that physical face-to-face connection. Sometimes it's a connection of of minds of experience of Even stages of of life that you're at will be the thing that connects you I'm discovering as I get older Yeah, and I was was talking to somebody
Cathy Derksen (25:21)
Yes, yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (25:29)
yesterday and this is actually for an upcoming episode 2. We were talking about
All sorts of interesting things of...
Let's go.
Cathy Derksen (25:40)
am I disappearing? Am I?
Sarah Jordan-Ross (25:43)
Yeah, you disappeared for a second, but it's okay, we'll...
I thank you back.
Cathy Derksen (25:48)
I hope I'm back.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (25:48)
Yep, looks like it.
Cathy Derksen (25:50)
Yay!
Sarah Jordan-Ross (25:51)
Now I've just got to remember where I was at.
But I was finding as I get older, more connection with other women who are going through similar things to what I am and the realization that perimenopause does not actually make you crazy, you just feel like it sometimes.
And actually being able to have those conversations really changes things because it's like, yep, okay, somebody else gets it.
Cathy Derksen (26:08)
Yes.
Exactly, we're a whole community.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (26:19)
And that there's lots of wisdom to be gained as we get older. And one of the things I love about your story, you've had three completely different careers and possibly at the time that you were in them they were what fitted but then you noticed that it wasn't fitting that that wasn't quite
Cathy Derksen (26:19)
Bye.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (26:39)
who you were and you listened to those little whispers and shifted to where you are now living the life that you meant to live. So what kind of advice would you give to somebody who's a little bit younger in that, am I doing what I'm meant to do? What kind of advice would you give them?
Cathy Derksen (26:49)
Yes, definitely.
definitely say to make sure you are listening to yourself and following your intuition. Sometimes, you know, when you're younger you do take jobs because they fit your family schedule. You know, you've got enough sick time or vacation time or just the hours of the day that you do. I mean sometimes with a young family you have to go with that kind of thing. But definitely as you always be thinking about is this feeding my soul?
because when I was still working in medical genetics, the place I was working was so negative, I could literally physically feel the stress every day when I went to work. As I walked towards the building, I could feel my stress building, I could feel like my blood pressure going up and yeah, don't tolerate that.
feel, make sure that you feel happy, make sure you feel like you're respected and follow, definitely follow your heart and your intuition.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (27:55)
Follow your joy because life is far too short a time to be happy but it's way too damn long to be miserable. that feeling like you don't belong where you are is probably a hint that no you don't and you need to find where you do belong.
Cathy Derksen (28:13)
Yes, I agree.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (28:14)
Now, the one question I always ask everybody, what conversation do you think we as a society need to be having that we're not? What's that thing we need to talk about?
Cathy Derksen (28:27)
Well, I mean, like you mentioned earlier, the whole thing around menopause and perimenopause. And I think that is something that is finally getting to be a conversation that we can have in public with people instead of just mentioning in the back dark corners of that we are finally talking about women's health, what makes us different. And one of my other big things is around the whole retirement model.
that I guess the aging model that that's our our old model was after 50 were old and obsolete and we should just disappear in the corner because no one needs us. Whereas really these days I like to say 60s the new 40. So really we are all capable of doing productive things that inspire and interest us well into our 70s and possibly into our 80s or longer. The oldest person in one of my books right now is 85.
So to me, it's to get away from that model of you're getting old, just go sit in the corner to, okay, I'm in a new phase in my life. What is my purpose? What's my passion? What can I do next? That's really where we need to focus.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (29:38)
I just realized my battery's about to die because I thought I had it plugged in and I didn't.
Cathy Derksen (29:45)
hate when that happens.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (29:47)
So there's a little thing for Harrison to edit out.
But I agree, because I'll be 50 in about a
Cathy Derksen (29:56)
So wow.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (29:58)
or possibly already by the time this episode goes to air. And I feel like in so many ways I'm just getting started in that I've learnt a lot in my 50 years of life but now I'm at that point where it's like, yeah I've learnt a lot and now I can pass it on to the next generation. And I'm also in that space where...
Cathy Derksen (30:05)
Yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (30:19)
I am a Gen Xer so I am part of that sandwich generation between elderly parents and little kids but I think our older people are an untapped natural resource and we really need to start, for want of a better way to put it, exploiting them. Use them for what they know. have a, my boys, yeah, it's like don't put them out, don't.
Cathy Derksen (30:31)
definitely, definitely.
Or least including them.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (30:45)
Yeah, don't say that they have to go sit in the corner and be quiet because you never know, they just might have some really interesting things to say. And there's an older lady who my boys both go, or my older two, go to a youth group. And a beautiful older lady from our church occasionally goes along and she just sits in the corner and chats with them. Now, my 13 year old son
absolutely adores this 80 year old woman because she listens to him, she doesn't judge him and she gives him really helpful advice because she's seen a lot.
Cathy Derksen (31:21)
perfect.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (31:30)
And he really loves and respects that. And I think that's the kind of relationship we need to foster with our older people. And I also remember I read, I think it's in Sweden.
but that they have, they've started putting crateshires or childcare centres in nursing homes because those two groups of people really, really help each other.
Cathy Derksen (31:49)
That's funny.
I love that idea.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (31:54)
Yeah, so we need to remember that our older people are a resource. And yeah, they're not ready to be put on the rubbish tip and people never should be.
Cathy Derksen (32:05)
No, no, exactly. You look at traditional cultures and it was the whole family, all generations working together. Everybody had a role. Everybody had a purpose.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (32:17)
Like, multi-generational homes were not an unusual thing in the past. I think maybe eventually we'll get back there.
Cathy Derksen (32:23)
Yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (32:24)
I really want to thank you for sharing your wisdom that you've collected from other people's stories and from from your own and for that reminder that we do have stories to share and that our stories can impact other people. for everyone who's listening today
If you've ever felt like your story doesn't matter or that it's not one that needs telling, I hope that this conversation has helped you to realise that that's not true. That each and every one of us is made for something special and each one of us has a story to share. So let's keep living like it matters. Make every day special.
Cathy Derksen (33:08)
Yes.
Sarah Jordan-Ross (33:12)
and carry that wisdom that we've gained over years forward in how we live, how we love, how we serve and show up for each other. I'm Sarah Jordan Ross and this has been Taboo Talk. Until next time, remember your story does matter so share it because it could just be the thing that changes someone else's life. Until next time, take care of yourselves, take care of each other.