KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE
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Greetings!
Happy New Year! I am mindful that there are some not-so-happy things going on in the world at the moment, but the fact is that this IS a big week for me to celebrate - because
January 5th marks the 10th(!) Anniversary
of these quirky PGG essay eNewsletters and my career as a writer?! That's nuts to me. Thanks to those who took the time to
complete this survey
and
let me know how PGG has helped/inspired/motivated you - and to the rest of you, it's not too late (you obviously won't be included in this email but I would still love your feedback ;) You can read more about PGG's history below, but for some general New Year's inspiration and support check out this
Instagram post
about handling
anxiety or overwhelm that can accompany the beginning of the year
or
this Instagram post
about
how to deal with New Year's resolutions.
You can
also watch my
PGG Video of the week
with
some thoughts about how to cope with stressful situations.
So much gratitude goes out
to all my readers (especially those who stuck through those bad graphics/formats for years!), and a special thank you to
Elise Goldberg
my editor (when I get them to her in time for these blasts..the
website
/
Medium
posts definitely have her handiwork tho!) As always, please feel free to
let me know
your feedback about any and all that I'm doing. 2020 is going to be a wild one, so deep breaths, stay strong and hang on for the ride!
<3 Kristina
P.S.
If you've benefited from any of my PGGs, talks or coaching, please
scroll down to check out 5 ways you can show your appreciation and support for my work
.
T
hank you! And P.P.S. For new folks, you'll get in the loop of regular PGGs starting next week :)
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"
I love your PGG newsletters - one of the only ones I actually read in its entirety. They are excellently written, and spot on. Thanks for being so inspirational and reflective!" ~ Tom D
.
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PGG Turns 10!
At the end of December 2009 I felt unusually annoyed with so much chatter about New Year's resolutions - mostly having to do with diet and exercise - when the timing was just not right for so many reasons. Because of our consumer, materialistic society, especially here in NYC,
the majority of folks operate out of harmony with the flow of nature
and give into the pressure and/or blind credence to an arbitrary calendar and overall commercial hoopla to their detriment. For some reason that year it pushed me over the edge!
Back then I was coaching professionally for just over two years, which overlapped with running
The Women's Mosaic
,
so I hadn't spent much time or effort marketing or creating my own coaching/speaking brand, but it was getting the the point where I should at least have some sort of newsletter. I basically decided to channel my frustration with the New Year's schtick by saying ok I'll write this down and send it out. And that, my friends was how PGG was born on January 5th, 2010 with the essay:
I never thought of myself as writer. I'm somewhat dyslexic, barely read books, have terrible grammar/syntax and limited vocabulary. (Looking back, I did like essay writing and research papers in school, which was something different to me)
But I had something to say.
I had a built-in audience from my clients/TWM and needed content. So I wrote. And got some positive feedback from that initial blast.
I kept writing each week. Each one took me a long time - initially I gave myself a limit of 500 words (clearly I gave that up after a couple years!). The topic had to be relevant to the season or what was happening in the world. Every essay took me a minimum of 8-12 hours to write and edit, and it could be painful! It became the only thing I did without fail on a weekly basis; it turned into a discipline - something I never had before. And
the more I wrote, the more I found my voice
, and a certain kind of format.
I began to think of them as my art
, and still do
.
And then an interesting thing started to happen: People who
I
considered good writers, wordsmiths, bookworms, aficionados and literary-type
folks
reached out to tell me I was a good writer.
This puzzled me greatly because, like I said, to this day - although scratch that, for 2020 I am claiming it!- I had never called or considered myself a writer.
Then, after maybe 4 or 5 months of sending out the weekly PGG, I went to an event with over 75 people in the audience. When asked to introduce ourselves to the person next to us, the women I met responded "Leonardi?" after I said "Hi, I'm Kristina." Shocked and bewildered since she did not look familiar at all, I said, "Yes?" and she said
"I get your emails. They really help me."
So, like my public speaking career, which I also do because I have something to SAY, not because I'm very good at or comfortable presenting (I'm actually an introvert and more of a behind the scenes kinda gal), even though I feel these are not my core strengths, I kept getting such positive feedback
I couldn't ignore the fact that people were benefiting, so I kept doing it.
After not missing a week for two years (there were a few that weren't essays, but I think until now I've only skipped once or twice due to extenuating circumstances), I realized I could repeat PGGs and reduced my original writing to about 1x a month. After four years
I thought, hey I have enough essays I should compile them in a book
- mostly for myself so I could hold something in my hands to represent all of the time and energy I spent on them! Nearly 5 years and 131 essays after that fateful January day (since then it's 10 years and 167!), I published them in a very beautiful, fun and useful
book
which you can
buy on Amazon
or take out from the
New York Public Library.
I won't repeat myself here about my process as
I described in last week's PGG Year in Review
, but know that even if I am not writing an original one,
I am very thoughtful and intentional about the PGG that lands in your inbox
. I want it to be relevant to the what you may be currently experiencing and provide an a-ha, hope or hmmm, chuckle, useful tip/tool, or perspective that is enjoyable to read and helpful to digest and implement.
The most common feedback I get is a simple reply to the PGG email thanking me because
it's exactly what they needed to hear that day
with a sentiment of "how did you know that's just what I was gong through??" It's uncanny. Those responses make me so happy because someone took the time to affirm my intention to be meaningful and inspire:
""I love your messages, Kristina!" "I love the Friday updates!!" "Thank you for all your articles." "Love this! Grateful for you and your wisdom
."
Your writing inspires me to think and write myself. I like seeing how the week’s events get incorporated into your musings..."
"I love your PGG newsletters - one of the only ones I actually read in its entirety. They are excellently written, and spot on.
Thanks for being so inspirational and reflective!""
It has the perfect pick-me-up stories; they keep me centered or inspired."
and that they love
"t
he uplifting, inspiring messages!"
Over the decade I've also heard how a particular PGG has helped you, for example how it might have spurred you to take action, like a client who told me she reached out to an old friend she hadn't been in touch with after she read
People Who Need People,
or a client who said
Leap of Faith
was the affirmation she needed to make a big move; several people tell me they now hug fo
r
Six Seconds
,
or people who journal because they read
Write of Die
.
Or how several African-American women thanked me for my understanding and articulation of a difficult topic in
Carte Blanche
way before the term "white privilege" was in the vernacular.
There are so many PGGs to choose from - like 167! - which meant compiling this list was not easy. How do you choose your favorite children?
It's an interesting thing to look at your body of work. Yes, I have a body of work!
As I write this I realize that's a pretty cool thing to have. Over the past decade I have gotten a teeny bit faster/better at writing/editing, have gained more confidence about expressing myself in all areas of life, and have excavated a whole part of myself I didn't know existed.
So
THANK YOU, dear readers, for being an integral and essential part of this journey.
I wouldn't be here without your encouragement and look forward to having you along with me for the next leg of the adventure!
As always, I welcome any comments and suggestions and don't forget to see below for
5+ ways to show your support and interest in my work and keep PGG going and growing!
Remember, you can always see PGGs from any month or year going back to 2010 on my website at
www.kristinaleonardi.com
and visit my social media pages for more inspiration throughout the week! Want to share my PGG? Use my
Medium
page for friendliest posting version.
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5 WAYS YOU CAN SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE & SUPPORT FOR KRISTINA'S WORK
If you have enjoyed
reading one of my essays, listening to one of my talks, or working with me in any capacity
here are a few ways you can show your appreciation:
....1. Leave a "Tip" in my Tip Jar
(a.k.a
PayPal.me
)
....2. Spread the word
Share PGG and my coaching services on your social media, word of mouth and flyer Times Square (just kidding about that last one! but feel free if you want to compete with the Naked Cowboy and Elmo....) You can also
Invite someone to join my mailing list
....3. Be a follower
....4. Give me your two cents
(unlike #1, this is figuratively ;)
.....5. Book a session with me or gift one to a friend
And don't forget:
You can always buy
PGG: The Book
on Amazon for yourself and your friends and family:)
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STAY TUNED FOR MY NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON!
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WORK WITH KRISTINA
"Kristina patiently helped me to discover and embrace my true north. I was stuck in a past identity that blocked me from the person I wanted to become."
Stay tuned for new dates, in the meantime watch the 12/18 talk
Stepping Stones for Success
Missed my talks from September & October?
Authentic Branding: Letting the Real You Shine in Any Situation
Who Are You & What Are You Supposed to Be Doing with Your Life?
and more... (click on titles)
Kristina's Books:
Read Kristina's Career & Personal Growth Articles:
"Since I last spoke with you, I've had some pretty dramatic changes - New Job, a Big Move, Healthy Dating Relationship. It's been pretty awesome. Emotionally, I've done a 180, and my life is certainly a reflection of that.
My last session with you spurred a lot of wonderful life changes.
"
~ Palanda B.
"I can honestly say that speaking to you was one of the most important events in my life.
It is almost unbelievable how a 2-hour conversation can have that effect."
~
Bozhanka V.
Thank you again for
opening my eyes to a new future
!
~ K. Handa
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Kristina’s coaching expertise is phenomenal — all-encompassing, inclusive of the mind, body & spirit, nonjudgmental, insightful and deeply involved in providing solutions and tools to be a better version of yourself. ~ Audrey N.
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PGG VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
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Click on the image for this week's video to talk about
Looking for more PGG inspiration and tips?
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kristina leonardi - Medium
Looking for more good reads? Check out and follow me on Medium, where you can easily like and share the PGG's that really click. Share the love <3
Read more
medium.com
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