Grit, Elbow Grease, and a Good Lipstick: Life Lessons from My Mom

TakeawaysTalking about the people we've lost is one of the most powerful ways to keep their memory alive, even years after they're gone.The small, specific details, a lipstick shade, a perfume, a favorite movie, are what make someone's memory feel close and real.The values, confidence, and grit a parent instills in their children carry forward in everything those children do, long after that parent is gone.In this deeply personal episode of Find the Joy, host Courtney Vroman takes a pause from her usual format to honor a very special day. May 26th would have been her mom Carol Mensen's 66th birthday, and Courtney uses this episode to share memories, celebrate her mom's life, and keep her legacy alive through storytelling.Carol was a cosmetologist, salon owner, interior decorator, community volunteer, and above all, a devoted mother and grandmother. Courtney paints a vivid picture of a woman who was always well put-together, endlessly community-minded, and the kind of mom who would show up to a volleyball game in a coconut bra just to win a costume contest and make her kids laugh.From the kitchen sink haircuts and frosting caps to homemade pizza and late-night baking, Courtney shares the little details that make her mom impossible to forget. She also reflects on how her mom shaped the woman she is today, from her love of painting and being on stage to the confidence to chase her dreams and the grit to keep going when things get hard.This episode is a reminder that grief doesn't have to be quiet. Sharing memories keeps people present, and the best way to honor someone you've lost is to live out the very best of what they gave you.Key Topics CoveredCelebrating a late parent's birthday and why it matters to speak their name out loudThe life and personality of Carol: cosmetologist, volunteer, mother, grandmotherSmall but meaningful memories that preserve a loved one's identity over timeHow a mother's encouragement shapes a child's confidence and direction in lifeCarrying a parent's legacy into your own motherhoodFinding joy in grief through memory, gratitude, and a Diet Cokehttps://www.empowerhermn.com/