What Does It Really Mean to Put Yourself First?

What Does It Really Mean to Put Yourself First?

Virginia reflects on what "putting yourself first" has come to mean in her own life, discovering that it's less about selfishness and more about paying attention—to her body, emotions, faith, relationships, and what truly matters. She shares the quiet shifts that have brought more peace, intention, and clarity to everyday life. This week I've been thinking about one question: What does putting yourself first actually mean? For a long time, I thought it meant choosing myself over everyone else. Lately, I've realized it's something much quieter than that. It's learning to pay attention. To listen when my body is asking for rest—or movement. To notice my emotions without immediately trying to fix them. To ask what really matters today instead of trying to do everything. And maybe the biggest lesson of all: listening is only half the equation. Responding is the part that changes your life. Whether you're building a career, raising a family, caring for aging parents, starting over, or simply trying to create a little more peace in your days, I hope this conversation encourages you to slow down long enough to hear what you've been trying to tell yourself all along. #LivingOnTheVirg #PersonalGrowth #SelfCare #IntentionalLiving #Mindset #LifeLessons #SelfAwareness #putyourselffirst Follow up on YouTube! Tea, tips, blind items or hot takes? Interested in being a guest or have a great idea? Email or DM us LivingontheVirgPodcast.com, Livingonthevirgpodcast@gmail or on Instagram & TikTok @LivingontheVirgPodcast PLEASE SHARE WITH A FRIEND & Don't forget to Follow/subscribe, Rate and Review! Five Star reviews, we will thank you on the podcast just send a screenshot of your review to our IG Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Dress, the Dumbbells & Bravo: A Week of Unexpected Lessons Alternate Titles

Some weeks teach you lessons in places you never expected. This week I'm sharing a little bit of everything—from realizing I'm finally getting stronger in the gym to finally trying on the dress I'd been thinking about for months (and discovering it wasn't the dress that mattered after all). We'll also catch up on family, brunch with my daughters-in-love, the Temecula Business Woman Connection, my thoughts on Real Housewives of Orange County, the latest Tom Sandoval drama, and why I'm so excited for an upcoming Vine Van Tour through Temecula Wine Country. Plus, I'm giving you a preview of Tuesday's episode about what "putting yourself first" has really come to mean in my own life. Grab your coffee—or your wine—and let's catch up. Episode Summary In Episode 134 of Living on the Virg, Virginia reflects on: • Getting stronger at the gym and learning smarter strength training • Why consistency beats exhaustion • Finally trying on "the dress" that had lived rent-free in her mind • Meaningful conversations with the Temecula Business Woman Connection • Fourth of July with family • Brunch with her daughters-in-love • RHOC Season 20 premiere watch party • Tom Sandoval, Victoria and a surprising look back at meeting them • GBV Winery's new Cabernet Sauvignon • Upcoming Vine Van Tour • A preview of Tuesday's episode about putting yourself first #LivingOnTheVirg #WomenOver50 #HealthyAging #Midlife #StrengthTraining #BravoTV #RHOC #WineCountry #Temecula #Podcast #WomenSupportingWomen #LifestylePodcast #FitnessJourney #Menopause #WinosOnTheVirg Follow up on YouTube! Tea, tips, blind items or hot takes? Interested in being a guest or have a great idea? Email or DM us LivingontheVirgPodcast.com, Livingonthevirgpodcast@gmail or on Instagram & TikTok @LivingontheVirgPodcast PLEASE SHARE WITH A FRIEND & Don't forget to Follow/subscribe, Rate and Review! Five Star reviews, we will thank you on the podcast just send a screenshot of your review to our IG Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Conversation You're Avoiding

Have you ever replayed a conversation in your head before it even happened? Filled in the blanks? Assumed the ending before you knew the facts? This week, I realized just how often we do that. In this episode, I share three very different conversations—from a family meeting about my mom's dementia, to questioning a friendship, to thinking about future conversations with my own children—and how each one taught me the exact same lesson. Sometimes the hardest part isn't the conversation. It's the story we create while we're avoiding it. If you've ever lost sleep over something that hadn't even happened yet, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways * Why our brains naturally create stories when we don't have enough information. * The surprising peace that can come from difficult conversations. * How assumptions often create more stress than reality. * A simple question that can stop anxiety before it spirals. * Why facts and stories are rarely the same thing. #LivingOnTheVirg #Conversations #PersonalGrowth #SelfReflection #Mindset #Relationships #MentalWellness #Communication #LifeLessons #Podcast Follow up on YouTube! Tea, tips, blind items or hot takes? Interested in being a guest or have a great idea? Email or DM us LivingontheVirgPodcast.com, Livingonthevirgpodcast@gmail or on Instagram & TikTok @LivingontheVirgPodcast PLEASE SHARE WITH A FRIEND & Don't forget to Follow/subscribe, Rate and Review! Five Star reviews, we will thank you on the podcast just send a screenshot of your review to our IG Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Life Lately: America at 250, Amazon Wins & California Dreaming

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I'm reflecting on one of my favorite childhood memories—attending the 1976 Bicentennial celebration at the Los Angeles Coliseum as a ten-year-old. That trip down memory lane leads to everything from the documentaries I've been binge-watching to Amazon Prime purchases I didn't keep, why my robot vacuum "Rosie" may be the best purchase I've ever made, and how I'm trying to be a little less impulsive these days. Then we're diving into Reality on the Virg with my latest thoughts on The Valley and The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, before switching gears for Travel on the Virg, where I need your help planning California road trips beginning in Santa Barbara. Finally, it's time for Winos on the Virg, where I'm comparing three popular Temecula wine club memberships and sharing which perks might make each one worth joining. If you have favorite wineries, restaurants, hidden beaches, or unforgettable California experiences, I'd love to hear from you. This is just the beginning of exploring our own backyard together. Takeaways * Why America's 250th birthday sparked a childhood memory I'll never forget. * How documentaries can reconnect us with history. * Why "return day" feels like payday. * The unexpected purchase that completely changed my weekly routine. * My latest Bravo thoughts on The Valley and RHORI. * A new listener-powered California travel series begins. * Comparing three Temecula wine club memberships. Call to Action I'd love your help planning future California adventures! Send me your favorite wineries, restaurants, hotels, scenic drives, beaches, and hidden gems anywhere from Santa Barbara to Northern California. Your recommendation may be featured in a future episode of Living on the Virg. #LivingOnTheVirg #Podcast #California #RoadTrip #SantaBarbara #TemeculaWineCountry #WineClub #BravoTV #TheValley #RHORI #History #FourthOfJuly #America250 #LifestylePodcast Follow up on YouTube! Tea, tips, blind items or hot takes? Interested in being a guest or have a great idea? Email or DM us LivingontheVirgPodcast.com, Livingonthevirgpodcast@gmail or on Instagram & TikTok @LivingontheVirgPodcast PLEASE SHARE WITH A FRIEND & Don't forget to Follow/subscribe, Rate and Review! Five Star reviews, we will thank you on the podcast just send a screenshot of your review to our IG Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The State of the Virg

We're officially halfway through 2026, and instead of setting new goals, I decided to look backward. I read all 44 podcast transcripts from the first half of the year expecting to find a list of accomplishments. Instead, I found a story. In this episode, I'm reflecting on what six months of journaling, podcasting, faith, health goals, Women in Business interviews, Camp Nana, ordinary Tuesdays, and everyday life have quietly taught me. We talk about: * Why my word of the year, Alignment, ended up meaning something completely different than I expected. * How systems stopped being about productivity and started creating peace. * Why this podcast finally found its voice. * The surprising lesson I learned from looking back instead of always looking ahead. * And why I can honestly say... I like June Virginia. If you've ever wondered whether you're actually growing—or if growth is simply happening too gradually to notice—I hope this conversation reminds you to look back once in a while. Sometimes the biggest changes don't happen all at once. Sometimes they happen one ordinary day at a time. Key Takeaways • Alignment changed from a goal into a way of living. • Systems create peace—not just productivity. • The podcast didn't need a niche. It needed honesty. • Protecting your calm is just as important as chasing your goals. • Growth usually reveals itself only when we stop long enough to look back. • Ordinary life is worth paying attention to. #LivingOnTheVirg #PersonalGrowth #MidYearReflection #Alignment #IntentionalLiving #WomenOver50 #SelfReflection #LifeLessons #Mindset #Podcast Follow up on YouTube! Tea, tips, blind items or hot takes? Interested in being a guest or have a great idea? Email or DM us LivingontheVirgPodcast.com, Livingonthevirgpodcast@gmail or on Instagram & TikTok @LivingontheVirgPodcast PLEASE SHARE WITH A FRIEND & Don't forget to Follow/subscribe, Rate and Review! Five Star reviews, we will thank you on the podcast just send a screenshot of your review to our IG Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.