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No-Nonsense Life Coach
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Sandwich. It’s not a word people often associate w

Sandwich. It’s not a word people often associate with motivation or personal development. So, why is it my word for October? Here’s why…

I had a very dear friend who tragically passed away in October last year. He had an unrelenting love for sandwiches. He even had a Facebook group dedicated to them. Now, whenever I have a sandwich, I will always think of him–my wild and wonderful friend Nate Marks 😢 @natemarksnthesquirreltrappers

Nate was impossible not to notice. The way his boldness shone so unapologetically was truly disarming. His delightful absurdity is something I will carry with me forever. It’s been nearly a year since he left, and I’m not quite sure I’ve made it back to Earth’s surface yet. Grief does that sometimes.

This year has taught me that life can feel so ordinary right up until it isn’t. Real life is the filling in the sandwich. Surrounded by other layers, held between what comes before and what comes after. Yet, so much of our time is spent looking back at what happened, or forward to what is coming next. But all we ever really have is THIS moment. Right here. Right now.

A sandwich. A coffee. A stupid joke. A conversation with someone you love. Sitting around a table. Laughing until you can’t breathe. Saying the thing you’ve been meaning to say. The moments that matter.
This month, I’m paying closer attention. I’m going to appreciate people while I have them. I’m going to laugh more. I’m going to make deliciously imperfect memories. Because the truth is, none of us is guaranteed a magical future when everything finally falls into place. We have today. The people sitting at our tables. The ridiculous little things that make us happy.

And sometimes, we have a sandwich.

So that's my word for October. In memory of a friend who loved them, and as a reminder that life is short, complicated, beautiful, unfair, funny, heartbreaking and completely worth showing up for.
Don't wait for the perfect moment. Be here now. As Nate would say, ‘keep your sandwich hand strong’.

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#grief #sandwich #mindfulness #suicidepreventionawareness

This month, cultures around the world engage in ri

This month, cultures around the world engage in rituals and celebrations related to death. That makes it a perfect time to get into some real and raw conversations about how thinking about death can improve the quality of our lives! Join meeting number 60 of The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development on 24 October to discuss the New York Time's bestselling book Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End, by death doula Alua Arthur. @alualoveslife

📖When? Time/Date: Saturday October 24- 3-5 pm AEST (12-2 pm ICT)
📖Where? Online via Zoom or in person in Vietnam - The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City
📖How much? It's free to participate!
📖How to RSVP? Through our Meetup.com page bit.ly/VanguardBrieflyPH (or DM me)

Publisher description:

Thinking deeply about your death --whether it's imminent or not-- will breathe wild new potential into your life.

Warm, generous and funny, Alua Arthur is a death doula supporting people at the end of their life. What emerges in these tender moments is the unfinished business of life, when enduring regrets, secret loves and simple pleasures are uttered aloud, in resignation or delight.

Weaving together these vivid experiences along with her own personal life path full of wonder, Briefly Perfectly Human is a soul-gathering memoir. Alua's intimate storytelling, compassion and wisdom are a beacon of comfort to us all as well as a tour de force appeal to cherish every part of who we are, including our own mortality.

'Hold that truth in your mind,' Alua says, 'and wondrous things will begin to grow around it.'
~

We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽 We're also not into 'positive vibes only'--we want real and raw discussion, so we welcome ALL the vibes. It's more fun that way 😁.

At this meetup, we will discuss Arthur's insights on how to live with 'the end' in mind and how they may (or may not) relate to our lives. Agree with her perspectives? Disagree? Either way, we WANT your insights!

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense, Perfectly Human Life Coach-

#deathpositivity #personaldevelopmentbooks #selfhelpbooks #onlinebookclub #lifecoach

I recently knocked out my best Nicole Watterson co

I recently knocked out my best Nicole Watterson cosplay for my kiddo's 'Amazing World of Gumball' themed 10th birthday party 🥳.

Thanks to @sweetandsourvietnam for another epic cake and to @thesnapcafe for hosting and arranging our custom-made 'Rob' piñata!

I do, however, have to take full credit for the 'many faces of Alan' balloons 😆. Driving helium filled balloons to the venue on my motorbike wasn't exactly the easiest thing I've ever done (especially when I got the bill--having been unaware of the worldwide helium shortage)! Luckily, it was a short drive.

(no kids/guests pictured due to privacy, but trust me, there were smiles all around 🥰)

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia

-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#amazingworldofgumball #lifecoach #familygoals #birthdaycake #birthdaygoals

Ah, yes, what was once the battle cry of every 90s

Ah, yes, what was once the battle cry of every 90s kid is my word for September. It's more of a recap word, of course, given that it's literally the last day of the month. So why has this been a 'whatever' month? Well, because it has been full of ups, downs, and all-arounds that have best been navigated through a lens of radical acceptance.

September has seen my child reach an important milestone in the midst of my grief over the upcoming anniversary of the loss of a dear friend. It has seen celebrations and frustrations over the expected and the unexpected. It has provided multiple opportunities to re-assess what I really want out of my personal relationships, while bolstering my pride over my family. That said, it has also reinforced my choice to not post their business all over my socials, even when I want to shout about them from the rooftops!

So where have I landed at the end of this month of ups and downs? On a big, fat shrug, and I'm totally cool with that 🤷🏽‍♀️.

So, October, what have you got for me? I'm ready 😎.

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#whatever #radicalacceptance #lifecoach #personaldevelopmentcoach #nonfictionbookclub

Instagram post 18055471862801220

Instagram post 18055471862801220

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Instagram post 18145708309483072

No real bullets were involved. Don't worry 😆. Howe

No real bullets were involved. Don't worry 😆. However, I do now know what my role will be in the zombie apocalypse 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️ Thanks @saigonsniper_

Thankful that I didn't "shoot [my] eye out, kid!" IYKYK

With gratitude,

Leslie V 💜

#saigonlifestyle #saigonlifecoach #vietnamlife #thaodien #saigonlife

I do love the view from my bed. And I'm still goin

I do love the view from my bed. And I'm still going to wake up stupidly early. Who am I kidding? 😆😆😴😴

Happy Independence Day, Vietnam! 🇻🇳

With gratitude,

Leslie V. 💜

#vietnamlife #fireworks #lifecoach #saigonlifestyle #bedtimeselfie

Calling all creatives, established and aspiring! J

Calling all creatives, established and aspiring! Join the Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development in September to discuss The Creative Habit, by one of the US's most legendary choreographers Twyla Tharp. This one isn't just for dancers and artists, it's for anyone with a burning desire to make space to create something meaningful in the world.

As always =You don’t have to read the book to participate!= And this isn’t a ‘positive vibes only’ space. We want you to bring ALL the vibes. It’s more fun that way 😉 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽♾️

📖When? Saturday 26th September, 12-2 ICT (3-5pm AEST)
📖Where? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop in HCMC, Vietnam @theloopvn
📖How much? It’s free! Just buy something from the venue if attending in person
📖How to join? Click on the link in my bio (bit.ly/VanguardCreative ) or DM me

Publisher description:

All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use, The Creative Habit provides you with thirty-two practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable thirty-five-year career.

In "Where's Your Pencil?" Tharp reminds you to observe the world--and get it down on paper. In "Coins and Chaos," she gives you an easy way to restore order and peace. In "Do a Verb," she turns your mind and body into coworkers. In "Build a Bridge to the Next Day," she shows you how to clean the clutter from your mind overnight.

Tharp leads you through the painful first steps of scratching for ideas, finding the spine of your work, and getting out of ruts and into productive grooves. The wide-open realm of possibilities can be energizing, and Twyla Tharp explains how to take a deep breath and begin.
~

So, you in? See you there!

With Gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#personaldevelopmentbooks #nonfictionbookclub #bookclubstagram #bookclubsofinstagram #creativecommunity

Join meeting number 58 this Saturday from wherever

Join meeting number 58 this Saturday from wherever you are in the world! And, as always, you don't even need to read the book 😉.

📖 What book? The Good Life and How to Live It, by Dr. Robert Waldinger and Dr. Marc Schulz
📖 When will we meet? Saturday 22 August, 3pm AEST/ 12pm ICT (2 hours)
📖 Where will we meet? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📖 How much does it cost? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.
📖 How can I sign up? DM me or visit our Meetup.com page - bit.ly/VanguardGoodLife

Note: This is not a 'positive vibes only' space. We welcome ALL the vibes! It's more fun that way 😉

We value intersectionality and insist on respectful and inclusive interactions 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽🍉

from the book jacket:

'In a crowded field of life advice and even life advice based on scientific research, Schulz and Waldinger stand apart' - Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

Based on findings from the 80-year-long Harvard Study of Adult Development, this landmark book reveals the simple yet surprising truth: the stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying and overall healthier lives.

Revealing the ground-breaking research behind the world's longest study on happiness, programme directors Dr Robert Waldinger and Dr Marc Schulz bring together scientific precision, traditional wisdom, incredible real-life stories and actionable insights to prove once and for all that our own wellbeing and ability to flourish is absolutely within our control.

'Waldinger and Schulz are world experts on the counterintuitive things that make life meaningful' - Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology, Yale University

~
See you there!

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#onlinebookclub #nonfictionbookclub #personaldevelopmentbooks #personalgrowth #relationshipadvice

My word for August is 'practice'. This is me pract

My word for August is 'practice'. This is me practicing some stuff on my new guitar (yes, of course it's purple) just because it feels good. I'm not striving for perfection, but I do want to sharpen my skils as I re-learn how to play this instrument.

And yeah, I know I'll never be @finneas , but I'll always be Leslie V. and that's pretty okay 😁. The song is called "Break My Heart Again". Go listen to the original sometime and marvel at the man's talent 🥰.

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#mindsetcoach #practicemakesprogress #brisbanelifecoach #personalgrowth #personaldevelopmentbookclub

Forget 'practice makes perfect'. Go ahead and indu

Forget 'practice makes perfect'. Go ahead and indulge in the beauty of practice, just because 😎

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense, Practicing Imperfection Life Coach-

-link in bio to book a free intro consult-

#practicemakesperfect #lifecoach #personaldevelopmentjourney #mindsetcoach #mindsetmotivation

What if the key to a longer, happier, healthier li

What if the key to a longer, happier, healthier life isn't productivity, discipline, or positive thinking…but your personal relationships? Our next book club pick examines this topic in depth, so let’s talk about it!

Join The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development in August to discuss The Good Life by Robert Waldinger & Marc Schulz. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill self-help book. This one’s based on the Harvard Study of Adult Development–the world’s longest study on happiness. Eight decades of research. One surprisingly simple finding. Get ready to dive in!

As always =You don’t have to read the book to participate!= And this isn’t a ‘positive vibes only’ space. We want you to bring ALL the vibes. It’s more fun that way 😉 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽♾️

📖When? Saturday 22nd August, 3-5pm AEST (12-2 ICT)
📖Where? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop in HCMC, Vietnam @theloopvn
📖How much? It’s free! Just buy something from the venue if attending in person
📖How to join? Click on the link in my bio (bit.ly/VanguardGoodLife ) or DM me

See you there!

With Gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#personaldevelopmentbooks #nonfictionbookclub #bookclubstagram #bookclubsofinstagram #relationshipadvice

I wear the same few outfits on repeat, and this is

I wear the same few outfits on repeat, and this is one of them. Ohhh well 🤷🏾‍♀️. Please don't mistake my 'fit as some sort of endorsement of Andrew Tate or the manosphere 🫠.

💜 Leslie V.

#lifecoach #manosphere #feminist #purple

It’s pretty late in the month to post my word for

It’s pretty late in the month to post my word for July, but it tracks perfectly with the reason I’ve chosen this word, so I’m not sorry 😉 ‘This’ is more of a reflection on this month, rather than an intention. It’s a grounding word, which I’ve really needed over the past couple of weeks.

I spent most of July in Brisbane, Australia, a city that holds so much of my story. The city where my child was born. Where my child’s ‘forever friends’ are growing into even fuller humans at an alarming rate. During that time, I moved through moments that seized me when I wasn't expecting them to. Joy, grief, connection, the particular ache of watching time move through the people you love. Profound things, arriving without warning, the way profound things do.

And now I’m back in Saigon. It’s a very different place with a very different rhythm, but it’s also ‘home’ now. It’s an exquisite challenge trying to be fully present in each home. I want to be IN Saigon when I’m in Saigon and IN Brisbane when I’m in Brisbane, but my desire to gently fold the two lives into one has me looking at life a bit differently…again.

Coming back to This has helped a lot this month. Not perfectly. Some might even say quite clumsily. However, when the feeling of being between two worlds (again) got too loud, coming back to This at any given moment has given me somewhere to stand.

Remembering This has been a nice anchor for me. Now, when I need a break from the frenetic dance of my very full life, I know that to bring things back into focus, I need only squeeze myself into a cozy corner, take a deep breath, and gently sigh the word ::this:: And just like that, I’m back.

What word helps snap you back into the present? Let’s talk about it!

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense, vibing-with-the-THISness Life Coach-
(link in bio. to book a free intro consult)

#brisbanelifecoach #saigonlifecoach #mindfulnesspractice #gratitude #onlinelifecoach

Book club this Saturday! Join meeting number 57 o

Book club this Saturday!

Join meeting number 57 of The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development to discuss Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after, by Chloé Hayden!
@chloeshayden
📖When? Sat 25th July, 3pm AEST/12pm ICT
📖Where? Online via Zoom and In person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, HCMC Vietnam
📖How to join? through our Meetup.com page - bit.ly/VanguardDifferent, or DM me
📖How much? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.

As always, you don't have to read the book to participate!

We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽♾️. We also don’t do ‘toxic positivity’. Bring ALL the vibes. It’s more fun that way 😉

Publisher description:

An empowering lived-experience guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence from 24-year-old actor, social media star and disability advocate Chloé Hayden.

'Fierce, unapologetic and joyous . . . This book is a marvel.' -Jordon Steele-John, Disability Rights Advocate and Australian Senator
Growing up, Chloé Hayden felt like she'd crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And why are you people so touch-oriented? She moved between 10 schools in 8 years, struggling to become a person she believed society would accept, and was eventually diagnosed with autism and ADHD. When a life-changing group of allies showed her that different did not mean less, she learned to celebrate her true voice and find her happily ever after.
This is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive communities and much more.
Whether you're neurodivergent or supporting those who are, Different, Not Less will inspire you to create a more inclusive world where everyone feels like they belong.
~
See you there!

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#adultautism #onlinebookclub #autismacceptance #nonfictionbookclub #bookclubofinstagram

This Disability Pride Month, The Vanguard Book Clu

This Disability Pride Month, The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development is putting Autism and ADHD at the center of the conversation again! Join meeting number 57 to discuss Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after, by Chloé Hayden!

@chloeshayden

📖When? Sat 25th July, 3pm AEST/12pm ICT
📖Where? Online via Zoom and In person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, HCMC Vietnam
📖How to join? through our Meetup.com page - bit.ly/VanguardDifferent, or DM me
📖How much? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.

As always, you don't have to read the book to participate!

We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽♾️. We also don’t do ‘toxic positivity’. Bring ALL the vibes. It’s more fun that way 😉

Publisher description:

An empowering lived-experience guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence from 24-year-old actor, social media star and disability advocate Chloé Hayden.

'Fierce, unapologetic and joyous . . . This book is a marvel.' -Jordon Steele-John, Disability Rights Advocate and Australian Senator

Growing up, Chloé Hayden felt like she'd crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And why are you people so touch-oriented? She moved between 10 schools in 8 years, struggling to become a person she believed society would accept, and was eventually diagnosed with autism and ADHD. When a life-changing group of allies showed her that different did not mean less, she learned to celebrate her true voice and find her happily ever after.

This is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive communities and much more.

Whether you're neurodivergent or supporting those who are, Different, Not Less will inspire you to create a more inclusive world where everyone feels like they belong.
~

See you there!

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#disabilitypride #onlinebookclub #autismacceptance #nonfictionbookclub #bookclubof

Actually, yeah, I'll definitely fly to Brisbane 😊.

Actually, yeah, I'll definitely fly to Brisbane 😊.

Tenderness and strength go hand-in-hand. After May

Tenderness and strength go hand-in-hand. After May’s focus on ‘reckoning’ I knew that a slow sway into June was the best way forward. Hence why I’m posting my word for June over a week into the month. Slap a dang grin on my face, cuz I’m being tender AF with myself this month.

I strongly value being aware of the harm that personal development media often causes when it intersects with social justice movements. That awareness can be exhausting, if I don’t manage my energy properly. That’s why it’s crucial to make intentional time to unburden myself, especially as someone who identifies with a number of marginalised communities. Sometimes, the outspoken among us just have to ‘nope’ out of certain conversations for a minute and challenge the silent ones to rise to the occasion.

One thing I’m NOT wasting my energy on this month is engaging in bad-faith arguments about human rights abuses:

🚫Homophobic comments under Pride Month posts? ←I’m not taking the bait from someone who just wants to sound off.

🚫‘Devil’s advocate’ questions about racism/sexism/ableism, etc? ← No, these are not things you get to ‘play devil’s advocate’ about. Stop talking.

🚫Tone-deaf suggestions that ‘healing your triggers’ is better than dismantling the systems that created them? ← I may enjoy reading other people’s comments explaining why that’s so out-of-touch.

The social media anti-intellectualism wave has made one thing certain–that people with dangerous opinions have been emboldened to demand ‘debates’ in contexts where they have no interest whatsoever in having their opinion challenged. To them, word counts win arguments, likes and shares indicate validity, and critical thinking = contrarian thinking. I don’t play these games.

The chronically silent (especially those with massive platforms) have a lot to answer for. So start answering. I’ll catch y’all in July 😉.

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense, Anti-Fascist Life Coach-

#restisresistance #pridemonth #antifascist #brisbanelifecoach #saigonlifecoach

Are you a people-pleaser? Do you get so caught up

Are you a people-pleaser? Do you get so caught up in what other people think that it distracts you from living your own life? Maybe you don’t, but still want to chat about the topic. Either way, join us for meeting 56 of The Vanguard Book Club for Personal Development to discuss the New York Times Bestseller, Are You Mad at Me?: How to stop focusing on what others think and start living for you, by world-renowned psychotherapist Meg Josephson.

@megjosephson

📖When? Sat 20th June, 3-5pm AEST (12-2pm ICT - Vietnam - in person from 11:30 am)
📖Where? Online via Zoom and in person at The Loop, 49 Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam @theloopvn
📖How to join? through our Meetup.com page -bit.ly/VanguardMadAtMe (link in bio)
📖How much? It's free! Just buy something to support the venue if you're coming in person.

You don't even have to read the book!

Publisher description:

Are you constantly worried about what people think of you, if they like you, if they’re mad at you? This book will help you understand why. We’ve all heard of fight, flight or freeze. Psychotherapist Meg Josephson reveals a fourth common yet overlooked trauma response: ‘fawning’, or people-pleasing. If you ever:

• Leave social situations overthinking something you’ve said
• Overlook your own boundaries to make other people happy
• Struggle to say what you really want – even to yourself

. . . you might be fawning. In Are You Mad at Me?, Meg explodes the idea that people-pleasing is a personality trait, exposing it to be an instinct learned in childhood to become more appealing to a perceived threat in order to feel safe. Yet many people are stuck in this way of being for their whole lives.
Weaving her own moving story with case studies and thought-provoking exercises, Meg will show you how to identify your needs, rethink conflict and build stronger connections: empowering you to stop focusing on what others think and start living for you.

--

We insist on respectful and inclusive interactions! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏽 ♾️

See y'all soon!

With gratitude,

Leslie Crudup Villagarcia
-Your No-Nonsense Life Coach-

#personaldevelopmentbooks #nonfictionbookstagram #onlinebookclub #bookclubpick #peoplepleasing

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