Backward Sweater

The Messy Middle

Catherine closes out her personal series with an honest look at “the messy middle”—the in-between chapter that sits after the hardest seasons and before the next expansive one. She shares what it’s like to live alone in a new city for the first time, to come home to silence after years of chaos, and to navigate deep loneliness while still growing into a career, leadership, and a fuller identity beyond motherhood. Catherine talks about the shifting roles that come with aging parents, adult children, and changing faith, and how isolation can plant seeds of clarity, self-awareness, and direction if you stop running from it. She also shares the surprising freedoms of this season—choice, stillness, journaling, self-care, and learning new things—while holding the real tension of paying bills and planning for the future. She ends by inviting listeners into the next chapter of the show: bringing guests into the room to explore their own messy middles, pivots, and “backwards sweater” moments. 💬 What You'll Hear   * What Catherine means by “the messy middle” and why it’s lonelier than people admit   * Living alone in a new city: silence, stillness, and no built-in community (yet)   * The emotional shift of aging parents and the fear of being “orphaned”   * How loneliness can plant seeds of clarity, self-awareness, and direction   * The freedom of choice after years of caretaking (including the surprisingly big “what’s for dinner?” shift)   * Balancing being a mom to adult kids while becoming more of herself   * Holding multiple identities at once: mom, partner, leader, and “just a girl” evolving   * Staying true to purpose while still paying bills and thinking about retirement   * Why uncertainty can be scary *and* exciting—and how to follow the breadcrumbs   * How Catherine learned leadership by observing what *not* to do   * What’s next for the podcast: inviting guests with different stories into the room ✨ Takeaway   The messy middle may feel quiet, lonely, and uncertain—but it can also be the most clarifying chapter of all. If you stop running from the silence, it can show you what you want, who you’re becoming, and what you’re ready to build next. ⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If you’re in a messy middle right now, you’re not behind—you’re becoming. Share this episode with someone who’s in a transition season, and send Catherine a message with this: *What’s one “seed of clarity” your lonely or uncertain season is teaching you right now?* Follow Catherine on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catherinegracedennis?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux [https://www.redtruxwa.com/] Productions Snohomish, WA

What I Need

In this episode, Catherine reflects on what it means to tell your story without turning someone else into the villain. As listeners ask for more “details” about her past, she explains why she chooses to share from a place of insight rather than exposure—especially when other people’s lives and experiences are part of the story too. From there, she opens up about a deeper truth beneath her marriage, grief, and growth: for years, she struggled to name, express, and honor what she needed. Catherine explores how losing her voice, over-accommodating, and explaining things away kept her disconnected from herself, and how everything began to shift when she stopped seeking justification and started getting clear about her values and needs. She shares the core things she now requires in love and life—psychological safety, honest communication, active listening, support for her full self, and the feeling of being chosen—and offers a gentle but powerful invitation for listeners to do the same. 💬 What You'll Hear * Why Catherine doesn’t feel called to share every “juicy” detail of her story * How to tell your story without making someone else the villain * The difference between justifying your exit and naming what you needed * How losing your voice can quietly shape a marriage, a family, and your identity * Why communication is not optional in a healthy relationship * Catherine’s clearest needs now: psychological safety, honest communication, active listening, support, and being chosen * What psychological safety actually means in everyday love * Why you don’t need permission or approval to live in full alignment with who you are * A loving challenge for anyone in a hard relationship: learn what you need, then say it clearly ✨ Takeaway You do not need to justify your needs to make them valid. The more clearly you understand what you require in love, friendship, work, and life, the more honestly you can live—and the less likely you are to disappear inside someone else’s version of the story. ⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it. Follow Catherine on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catherinegracedennis?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux [https://www.redtruxwa.com/] Productions Snohomish, WA

Mining Miracles

Catherine introduces “mining for miracles” as a daily practice of training your attention toward what’s good—especially in a world that can feel heavy, sarcastic, or stuck in complaint. She explains that after witnessing sudden loss (and remembering how quickly life can change), she refuses to coast through this season of her life on autopilot. Instead, she starts each day with a simple invitation: “Show me how good it can get,” and looks for ways to be both an observer of miracles and a source of one for someone else. Through stories—like a last-minute rental car upgrade, an unexpected schedule opening, and the quiet beauty of a sunrise—Catherine shows how gratitude becomes the “portal” that helps you notice the magic you might otherwise miss. She also acknowledges that hard mountains still exist (job loss, grief, uncertainty), but argues that you can walk those mountains with people through generosity, presence, and perspective. She closes with a clear challenge: don’t wait for life to get better—start noticing the better that’s already here, because it changes everything. 💬 What You'll Hear * What Catherine means by “mining for miracles” (and why it’s more than cheesy positivity) * A morning practice to set your focus: “Show me how good it can get” * How attention works: the more you look for good, the more evidence you start to see * A real-life “miracle” story: needing a rental car and receiving an unexpected SUV upgrade * Small, everyday miracles: a meeting moving, a hard conversation turning into connection, a calm nervous system * Why gratitude is the “floodgate” that opens a day full of miracles * A perspective shift from travel: noticing ease (a bed that fits, coffee at home, a car that starts) * Holding space for hard things without letting negativity steal your joy * How to be a “mini miracle” for someone else through generosity and support * A full-circle adoption moment: the 9/13 birthday synchronicity and her daughter becoming “just like her” * The weekly invitation: jot miracles down, speak them out loud, and thank them ✨ Takeaway Miracles aren’t only the big, dramatic moments—they’re often the small, steady proofs that life is supporting you. When you practice gratitude and look for the good on purpose, you don’t deny the hard stuff—you build the strength and clarity to move through it with more peace, more joy, and more impact. ⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it. Follow Catherine on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catherinegracedennis?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux [https://www.redtruxwa.com/] Productions Snohomish, WA

Revising the Story

Catherine dives into the power of “revising the story”—the internal narrative that quietly shapes what you believe is possible for your body, your money, your relationships, and your future. She starts by naming the old ticker-tape thoughts that used to run her life: scarcity, shame, religious guilt, fear, comparison, and the belief that she was flawed or stuck. Then she shares the turning point: when she intentionally changed what she told herself every day, her life began to change from the inside out. Through practical examples—fitness, finances, and love—Catherine explains how a new story creates new focus, new choices, and new outcomes. She closes by inviting listeners to gently rewrite a few words in their own narrative so they can thrive, not just survive, and teases the next step in her process: “Mining for Miracles.” 💬 What You'll Hear * What “revising the story” actually looks like in real life (not just positive quotes) * The harsh inner narrative Catherine used to live with: lack, shame, fear, comparison, and self-blame * How she stopped waiting for outside validation and started giving herself the words she needed * A mindset shift around fitness: moving from “I can’t” to “I’m an athlete” and letting actions follow * A mindset shift around money: from “I’m always broke” to “everything is working out for me” * Why she learned to feel gratitude for paying bills—and how that changed her relationship with money * A mindset shift around love and worthiness: from “who would want me?” to knowing what she brings * How to spot old feedback loops and ask: “Is this the new story—or the old one talking?” * Why you’re allowed to write your own rules instead of letting society define your worth * A closing prompt: what words do you need to change so you can thrive instead of survive? ✨ Takeaway Your life follows the story you repeat. When you change the words you tell yourself—especially in the areas where you feel stuck—you change what you notice, what you choose, and what you believe you deserve. A few new sentences, practiced daily, can become a new direction. ⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it. Follow Catherine on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catherinegracedennis?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux [https://www.redtruxwa.com/] Productions Snohomish, WA

Regrets and Reflections

Catherine reflects on regret through a compassionate lens—less “what I should’ve done” and more “what I wish I could lovingly tell my younger self.” She shares a grounding quote about mountains (obstacles) and how the growth you earn while climbing them stays with you long after the hardship is behind you. From there, she talks candidly about how silencing your voice can shape major life decisions, and how she wishes she’d cultivated joy and identity earlier instead of trying to become who the world wanted her to be. Catherine also offers heartfelt reflections on parenting—moving from control and perfection toward connection, curiosity, and nervous system regulation—plus the ways divorce, grief, and financial insecurity impacted her kids. She closes with hope: mountains are inevitable, but with grace, resilience, and self-trust, what feels impossible today can become a distant view in the rearview mirror. 💬 What You'll Hear * A powerful “mountain” quote and why obstacles can become opportunities * Catherine’s take on regret: reflection without shame, compassion without rewriting your life * How silencing your voice (and listening to the loudest voice in your head) can shape your choices * What she wishes she’d cultivated earlier: joy, identity, and self-trust * The perspective shift of parenting adult children—and how every child experiences family differently * Unsolicited (but loving) parenting advice: presence, eye contact, listening, and connection over perfection * Why kids don’t need rigid control to become good humans—they need safety, love, and boundaries * A reframing of “skills”: why bedwetting, emotions, and behavior are learned like riding a bike * Reflections on divorce, bankruptcy, grief, and the hope that time can soften even the hardest seasons ✨ Takeaway Regret doesn’t have to be punishment—it can be a gentle teacher. When you look back with compassion, you can keep the wisdom without carrying the shame. And when you parent (or re-parent yourself) with connection over control, you create the kind of safety that lasts. ⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it. Follow Catherine on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catherinegracedennis?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux [https://www.redtruxwa.com/] Productions Snohomish, WA