We recently connected with Sonja Wendt and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sonja, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
Self-care is important to me, in fact “care” is one of 3 words of daily focus I have for myself in 2023. Self-care by my definition is made up of Physical, Intellectual, Purposeful, Emotional, and Spiritual components. I have made this the acronym, PIPES. When I think of organ “pipes,” one note played can be beautiful. But when a chord is played with several notes at the same time, it feels whole, rich and resonates deeply within me. I need all these components to be whole and complete to be the most effective person I can be. I visited Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert early this year and was in awe. The Organ Pipe cactus is composed of many long stems, like pipes of an organ. The combination of the pieces making this whole cactus was spectacular.
The physical component of self-care involves putting exercise a priority each day, whether I play pickleball, dance, golf, skis, hike, bike, stretch and/or lift weights. I try to challenge my mind, the intellectual component, by word puzzles, and reading diverse media. I try to learn something new every day and develop a new skill whether learning a new instrument, perfecting an old skill, or making a different recipe. Creativity also feeds my intellectual component with music, new places to see and explore, or some kind of art. Purposeful is consciously living an intentional life based on values and principles. The emotional component is addressing my feelings and ensuring they are in check. Sometimes I may feel sad or lonely, but I don’t want to stay in that place long. I focus on gratitude and connect with people to lift my emotions. The spiritual component for me is believing in a higher power, God, and putting my faith and trust in Him.
Self-care impacts my effectiveness by establishing and maintaining a healthy me to function the best possible. I’m not always “in tune,” and can be out of tune at times when something is missing in my life, when I have neglected one of my PIPES. Self-care isn’t always easy, especially as I age or incur injuries, suffer illness or when I allow society to impact me negatively. Not all my PIPES have to be fully primed, though, to be effective. But the more they are, the easier it is. It is simpler to be the best I can be and give the most to society when all my PIPES are at peak performance.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
What I do is based on the second word of focus I have in 2023, which is “compassion.” I wrote four children’s books and a parenting book under the series, Cultivating Compassionate Children. The children’s books address topics such as acceptance, inclusion, and understanding differences. I was inspired to write these stories by current events that were happening. This became my passion, my drive, with what I was experiencing in this world, even in my own community. Each book has different main characters including Suzy Sunflower, Baba-Balu a monarch caterpillar/butterfly to little Joey and Maggie. The two characters that are consistent in each story are Serina and Seymour Seed. They are brother and sister, the seeds to compassion that introduce and conclude each story. All these books have discussion questions at the end to help reinforce the objective of the book.
I am now working to get these messages of compassion out to children and parents. One way I have done this is by having my children’s books available to those that are vision and/or hearing impaired through Imagination Storybooks. Imagination Storybooks creates video and audiobooks that include rich Audio Description (AD) of all the pictures for blind children, and American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for deaf children. The books are accessible for free on the site to these children.
Two of my children’s books developed also into an intergenerational theme. One is called, Can Old Be Beautiful? This book addresses beauty and the social messages we, young and old, get about body image and self-acceptance. This book was written after a couple early teen suicide occurred in my neighborhood community. The other intergenerational book is called, What’s Wrong With Grandpa? It takes place along a Colorado trail where little Joey is hiking with his grandpa. Grandpa is experiencing several disabilities with aging and Joey misunderstands them. Joey thinks his grandpa is mad at him and no longer wants to be with him. Through discussion and understanding, Joey learns what is really happening and gains empathy and even more love toward his grandpa. Related to this, I have created an event called Intergenerational Reading & Seeding at senior facilities. We bring 4–8-year-old children in to interact with the seniors. I read one of my books, acknowledge, discuss, and appreciate differences, make related crafts and have a snack together. High schoolers volunteer their time adding another generation into the event. Young and old alike enjoy this connecting opportunity.
My parenting book, Growing Compassionate Children: Grower’s Guide, is a 12-step guide using gardening steps paralleling growing healthy children. This book started as a series of blogs on my website when readers requested this be made into a book. This book starts with the nutrient rich soil that is needed for a healthy plant to grow. Likewise, a healthy child needs a healthy environment to set roots. There are helpful reminder quotes, such as, “Knowledge is powerful. Knowledge reduces fear. Knowledge leads to greater understanding which can also lead to a more compassionate human race.” There is a summary poem for each chapter. This book brings in current societal issues that today’s parents need to address while raising their children. It makes for a good parent small group discussion book. There is a study guide on my website that can be downloaded to help a leader facilitate a small discussion group for this book. It includes the readings along with actionable steps that can be performed related to the topic of the chapter.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities that were most impactful in my book writing and publishing journey were having a passion, a vision, and a mission. The passion is found by being open, and hearing what you are meant to do. I would “hear” messages but initially ignored them. They would come back to me in different forms until eventually I heard and grasped them. The desire, the passion, was inside of me and consumed me. In my case, it was doing something about the lack of compassion, kindness and understanding in our world, starting with children.
Next, I needed a vision, what did I want to accomplish. This isn’t necessarily a final state but often evolves and expands into different directions . My passion drives me to my ever-evolving vision. I must continue to listen, hear, and understand my next steps. My vision included writing messages of understanding, compassion, and kindness that evolved into books and blogs that were published and shared. Several other paths developed such as finding Imagination Storybooks and creating Intergenerational Reading & Seeding. I don’t know what else I will see. But to have a vision, you need to continue to be open-minded, listen, and hear.
Finally, I needed a mission, a way to get there. My mission sets a path and direction to get to my vision. My mission often requires taking risks and doing things I’m not comfortable doing. It requires faith and trust that I’m doing what I need to do, and not be negatively influenced or pulled away by other people and situations. It requires perseverance in order to get up and try again when something doesn’t work as I had planned. To have a mission requires planning and acting on that plan. It also requires flexibility as a plan will evolve, change, and grow as a vision evolves, changes and grows. Your passion will get you through.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
This question leads me to my third word of daily focus I have for 2023, which is “connection.” I do not have a “single” person that has helped me overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge I needed to be successful. I have several people I connect with at different times, in different situations, in different places, and for different needs. Some people provide practical advice, and some provide emotional support.
The person that has helped me the most in my book writing and publishing knowledge area is Judith Briles, also known as the Book Shephard (@judith.thebookshepherd). She is accomplished in her field writing over 45 books, a well-known speaker, and experienced person in the marketing and book publishing industry. She provides classes, workshops, author get-togethers, cruises, and a multitude of other support opportunities. She stays current and shares information on tools, procedures, and processes in this business. She is direct and challenges her clientele. She emphasizes the need for in-person connections. I have connected to several authors and now friends through her groups. These friends provide empathy and the emotional support that is often needed in this industry.
In addition to the knowledge needed, there are a couple people I regularly follow in social media that give me personal strength and motivation. One person is Brook Hemmingway (@hemingwayhalfdozen). She is mother of 6 children who earns seven figures through her businesses. She is natural, raw, and openly shares real life stories of life’s ups and down, taking risks, failing and winning, and having a strong faith in God to lead her through and make the right choices. Although I’m in a different business than Brook, she has been a real inspiration to me. Another person I follow is Christy Wright (@christybwright), I recently started following her and love her daily inspirational recordings addressing courage and trusting God to lead me in the right direction. She is a well-known speaker and provides a wealth of information in that area, also.
Finally, many of my friends and family have been a huge support in my journey. Some join and assist me in book events. Some have their own businesses and include my books in their stores. I have received pictures of their children or grandchildren to include in my social media. Some provide an encouraging word during difficult times and disappointments. I value them more than they probably realize. Connection is critical. I worked in the Bell System for over 30 years and it changed exponentially during that time. I saw how phone lines, from rural party lines, pay phones, land lines, and now to the expansive communication network we currently have that has allowed connections across the world quickly and effectively. It’s mind boggling. That’s what people connection is all about, one person connection leads to others. Also, freshly in our minds, are the effects of COVID, where many of us were in isolation, and our network of connections cut off. This negatively impacted the health and well-being of many people. Branching out and connecting to many diverse people has been invaluable to me and critical for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sonjawendt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skwendt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonjalangewendt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonjawendt/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sonjalangewendt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5HT1k2eqT16grnLwZmjrkw
- Other: https://dcmp.org/producers/1913-imagination-videobooks