Hosts: 🎤 Marc A. Pitman, CSP – Speaker, coach, and visionary wall demolisher 🎤 Emily Pitman – Systems and spaces designer, master planner Episode Summary In this episode of Still Figuring It Out, Marc and Emily Pitman reflect on life, marriage, and the evolving ways they celebrate birthdays (or, in this case, not celebrate them). They dive into the pressures around gift-giving, family expectations, and the freedom that comes from rethinking traditions. From birthday pies to self-care, the couple explores what it means to be intentional about celebrations while staying true to their values. Timestamps & Key Topics ⏱ [00:00:03] - Welcome! Emily kicks off the episode with a lighthearted question: Does the weekend start now, or in six hours? ⏱ [00:00:26] - Who We Are Marc and Emily introduce themselves as life partners, business partners, and co-hosts who are still figuring things out. ⏱ [00:01:59] - The Math of Marriage Reflecting on their nearly 29-year marriage, they joke about how counting years (or months) changes as you get older. ⏱ [00:02:46] - Living from Strengths The couple discusses their shared mission: helping others embrace their strengths and gifts. ⏱ [00:03:02] - "We Didn't Have Birthdays This Year" Marc and Emily talk about skipping traditional birthday celebrations and opting for something different—a September celebration instead of their usual January and February birthdays. ⏱ [00:04:02] - Why Change the Tradition? Marc explains that his birthday, falling so close to Christmas, has always been a challenge for gift-giving. Emily shares how their kids are now financially independent, making gifts more of a financial stress than a necessity. ⏱ [00:06:04] - The Kindness of Letting Go of Expectations They discuss how choosing to forgo gifts and big celebrations was not just about them but also a way to relieve family members of unnecessary pressure. ⏱ [00:08:32] - Birthday Pies & Small Traditions Instead of a big party, Marc enjoyed a homemade chocolate bourbon pecan pie, while Emily had a French silk chocolate pie with pretzel crust—a delicious alternative to gifts! ⏱ [00:10:57] - The Shift in Mindset Marc opens up about the weirdness of not celebrating in the usual way and the unexpected joy of receiving birthday wishes on Facebook. ⏱ [00:14:09] - Looking Ahead to Next Year What will birthdays look like next year? Marc and Emily explore ideas, including a trip just for the two of them (Disney, anyone?). They also discuss how prioritizing them over obligations feels both freeing and indulgent. ⏱ [00:17:57] - Gifts Without Obligation Emily shares her philosophy on gift-giving: she prefers spontaneous, heartfelt gestures over obligatory presents on specific days. ⏱ [00:19:46] - Wrapping Up The episode ends with a reminder that life—and celebrations—are things we're all still figuring out. Notable Quotes 💬 "We exist to help other people live from their strengths and their gifts, and to celebrate those with them." – Emily Pitman 💬 "Gifts are frosting on the cake. The presence of loved ones is what truly matters." – Marc A. Pitman 💬 "I didn't know the rules. I thought we said 'no birthdays,' so I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to celebrate in my own way!" – Marc A. Pitman 💬 "It's easier to say no to something than to say yes to ourselves." – Marc A. Pitman Key Takeaways ✔ Reevaluating Traditions: Just because you've always done something a certain way doesn't mean you have to keep doing it. ✔ The Pressure of Gift-Giving: Sometimes the best gift you can give is removing the obligation to give. ✔ Prioritizing What Matters: Birthdays don't have to be about gifts—they can be about self-care, quality time, and personal reflection. ✔ Navigating Family Dynamics: Making space for new traditions can be an act of kindness, both for yourself and others. Listener Engagement 💡 What about you? Do you have a non-traditional way of celebrating birthdays or milestones? 📩 Let us know! Share your thoughts with us on [social media] or email us at [podcast email]. 🎧 Loved this episode? Subscribe and leave a review to help others find Still Figuring It Out! 🎙️ Until next time, we're still figuring it out! Thank you Lexi Moreno and Caleb Pitman composing / mixing / mastering / guitar / trumpet; Zoe bass

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