40. Season Two Finale: Reflections, Growth, and Gratitude
“I don’t think we have had a single episode where....I have not learned multiple things”
It’s June! Tara and Tina are ready for swimsuits, sunscreen, and slower days. But before they head to the beach, they want to bring their second season of Messy Middlescence to a close. This season finale has no fireworks, cliffhangers or special guests. Just two sisters sitting down to process what this season has meant to them.
In this short but heartfelt finale, they look back on the 20 (!!) episodes of Season 2 and discuss their favorite episodes, the moments that moved them, and the conversations that made them laugh, cry, and grow. They also share some behind-the-scenes information, talk listener growth, and dream aloud about what’s ahead for Season 3. This episode is as much about looking back as it is about looking ahead—with gratitude, perspective, and hope. If you’re in your own season of change or reflection, we hope it helps you feel seen, inspired, and ready for summer.
🎧 Highlights include:
The success of using a theme throughout the season and how that allowed us to delve deep into a topic but still explore and discuss other issues and ideas.
The continual presence of grief and loss in our lives.
The episodes that made us laugh the hardest and cry the most.
Why Anne Marie’s insights were a game-changer—and why Steve Toman’s episode was the perfect season closer
The evolving rhythm and confidence in our podcasting process
Why listener connection and feedback matter more to us than downloads
What we’re hoping to explore next (hint: “elder-essence” might be on the horizon!)
Summer intentions: from triathlon training and beach weeks to fresh tomatoes and Great Gatsby rereads
The bittersweet beauty of this phase of life—and how Messy Middlescence helps us feel a little less alone
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[00:22] Tara Bansal: Hi, this is Tara Conti Bansal, and I want to welcome you to season two of. Of our podcast, Messy Middlescence.
[00:30] My sister Christina Conti Donovan and I are in the thick of midlife and trying to help ourselves and others to learn about and hopefully thrive in this unique phase of life.
[00:42] Like adolescence, Middlescence is a time of tremendous change,
[00:47] touching almost every aspects of our lives.
[00:50] There are the physical and hormonal changes,
[00:53] but also many of the rhythms, relationships, and frameworks that have dominated our lives for decades all start to shift in various ways.
[01:02] Tina and I are figuring this out as we go, and we hope you will join us as we dive into and discuss topics and ideas that will help all of us grow and understand this special midlife phase and how to live it better,
[01:17] more meaningfully and joyfully, one day at a time.
[01:22] Tara Bansal: Hello,
[01:22] this is Tara Conti Bansal. I'm here with my wonderful sister, Christina Conti Donovan.
[01:30] And this is our last episode of season two.
[01:34] And Tina and I decided to sit and talk about looking back over the season and what were some of our takeaways and highlights and sharing even some of, like, behind the scenes that stood out to us.
[01:53] I mean, we started planning this season back in September,
[01:57] and Tina and I discussed what we wanted to do with this second season.
[02:05] And Tina, you jump in. But I just remember we came up with four,
[02:12] I felt like four different topics that we had wanted to dive into.
[02:17] And one of the things we wanted to do with this next season was dig a little deeper and go deeper into some of the topics.
[02:29] And the topics were around grief because Tina and her family had just gone through very recently,
[02:37] a very close friend passing away unexpectedly.
[02:41] One was menopause,
[02:44] one was empty nesting or open door.
[02:48] And then I felt like the very next week after Tina and I decided this, Brene Brown came out with. She was doing a mini podcast series and she was doing one on grief and menopause.
[03:00] And I was like, we had done this before her,
[03:04] but it just seemed kind of funny.
[03:08] Christina Donovan: Timely.
[03:09] Tara Bansal: Yeah, timely. I guess great minds think alike. But. But thinking back, Tina,
[03:15] I think, I mean, we're doing our seasons according to the school year. So we started in September and here we are at the end. I feel like,
[03:25] I don't know, a lot has changed, even just in the past nine months.
[03:30] But what do you remember about,
[03:32] like, our planning session and now thinking back over the season, did it change?
[03:37] Christina Donovan: Well, I think,
[03:38] as you said, we had talked about sort of four different things that we were interested in talking about. But as the season developed.
[03:47] I mean, grief and loss became the theme in addition to, you know, some other topics that we sort of moved in and out of. I mean,
[03:57] continuing our interviews with people, going through Middle Essence. And then I feel like the other focus, the other real theme underlying continual theme was grief and loss.
[04:10] Feel like those two were sort of the. I don't mean that we didn't cover other topics, but that those were the two main.
[04:16] And I guess I sort of like the idea of having a theme for.
[04:22] Tara Bansal: The season, the season.
[04:23] Christina Donovan: I felt like that worked well and it allowed us to sort of take breaks and keep it a little bit more interesting because it wasn't just one topic that we kept beating over and over.
[04:39] I don't know, that's sort of my. My take on it.
[04:42] I agree.
[04:44] Tara Bansal: What do you feel like the vibe is now, you know, coming season two coming to a close and thinking back over the season, I don't know, I.
[04:54] Christina Donovan: Mean, I guess,
[04:57] you know, the podcast is very, at least for me, tied into the rhythms of my life just because I'm smack in the middle of,
[05:05] you know, middle age and, you know, all the things we talk about are things that are constantly ongoing in my life. So,
[05:12] I mean, I think,
[05:14] you know, the grief and loss,
[05:16] even though it was a theme through our podcast, I mean, it was. I just feel like this year has really been,
[05:27] I don't know, an eye opener in terms of just,
[05:30] you know, dealing with.
[05:33] With grief and with loss. And as,
[05:37] you know, Ann Marie,
[05:38] who we had on our show,
[05:41] you know, she talked about, you think of grief and loss. Those words are very much with connected to people.
[05:47] But she pointed out they're not. They're. You can grieve and lose lots of different things, you know, And I think,
[05:56] I guess that's the thing. When I think back on this season,
[06:00] it's a very bittersweet,
[06:02] I guess, talking about some really difficult topics. And I don't think those feelings of grief and loss that have been kind of intertwined in my life and with the podcast are completely over, I guess.
[06:15] Tara Bansal: Oh, yeah.
[06:17] Christina Donovan: I mean,
[06:19] I don't know if that was kind of a very long winded place to get to, but I mean, what do you think the vibe is coming off the second season?
[06:30] Tara Bansal: I feel like I'm proud of the season and as like,
[06:37] I.
[06:38] I know there's a lot more grief and loss coming in our future.
[06:44] I don't know. I.
[06:46] I'm glad just that we took the time because I do feel like I learned a lot and I don't think there's any way you can ever fully prepare,
[06:58] but just.
[07:01] I feel like there were takeaways for me to remember and keep hopefully going forward as we continue to experience grief and loss.
[07:18] Just like the first season,
[07:20] I felt like we were scrambling just, like,
[07:27] to learn things and figure. Yeah, finding our footing. That's the. And I feel like now just doing the podcast, we kind of are more comfortable with how to do it and with the rhythm and kind of even the division of labor of who does what and.
[07:46] But it's a passion project. Like, we're not, you know, doing this for money or.
[07:53] But I just.
[07:55] I.
[07:56] I enjoy doing it with you, Tina.
[07:58] And I also enjoy hearing from other people, like, their takeaways or their different things,
[08:06] and that's. That feels good, I guess.
[08:10] Christina Donovan: I mean, what. What would you say some of your favorite episodes were of the season?
[08:16] Tara Bansal: Oh,
[08:17] that's when I went back. I mean,
[08:20] there was almost 20 episodes,
[08:23] and so there was a lot.
[08:26] The episode with Anne Marie, I feel like, was just so helpful,
[08:33] and I really loved our first one on air. On the side of Presence. I felt like that one.
[08:44] Hearing Brett Vanko talk,
[08:49] you know, I felt like that.
[08:51] I don't.
[08:53] I just feel like everyone was almost special in its own way.
[08:57] Like Colleen's story.
[09:00] Those are the ones that just jump out at me right now, especially around the grief and loss.
[09:06] Yeah.
[09:07] How about you?
[09:09] Yeah. I mean,
[09:11] it's hard.
[09:11] Christina Donovan: You don't want to, like,
[09:14] make somebody feel bad by liking somebody else's episode. But,
[09:18] yeah, I mean, Anne Marie's was a real eye opener.
[09:23] I just.
[09:24] To me, it was not. There was, like, this practical piece of it that came across, but then also just very.
[09:32] I don't want to say emotional, but there was a very almost philosophical and emotional piece that combined, I think, made it very powerful to listen to and to walk away from with real.
[09:44] Like, I learned from that, and I feel better having listened to her, and so, yeah, hers definitely stands out.
[09:55] I don't know. I really. I guess some of it, too, is because he's a close friend and we just did it. But I really love Steve's episode.
[10:04] I know when we first talked with him back in November, I kept thinking he'd be perfect for our show, and he really was. And I don't know. Yeah, he's.
[10:16] Part of me feels like people in.
[10:19] People with children who are leaving for college or for heading into the workforce should listen to Steve's episode, because I feel like his is very much like a life planned well and Seems to focus on the right things.
[10:39] I don't know. Like, I almost feel like it's better for somebody in their 20s to listen to that episode than somebody in their 40s or 50s, maybe. I don't know.
[10:50] Tara Bansal: Yeah. I mean, and I think that's.
[10:54] I think anyone can listen to it and have takeaways. Have takeaways. I mean, to your point, like, I do feel like Stephen Kelly planned well and do like really,
[11:09] I feel like live a well lived life and he.
[11:16] He still admitted how hard it was.
[11:19] Christina Donovan: Yeah. Yeah. No, I am. Yeah. So I guess those would be a couple of my highlights from the season.
[11:30] Tara Bansal: My one friend always is like, you get teary every single episode and I always say I am a crier.
[11:38] But what episode do you think you cried the most in?
[11:42] Christina Donovan: Yeah, I think it was the opening episode.
[11:46] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[11:47] Christina Donovan: Because that was still really raw.
[11:51] Tara Bansal: Yeah. I remember. I feel like Anne Marie's and Colleen's.
[11:58] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[11:59] Tara Bansal: Felt like both were very emotional too.
[12:02] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[12:04] Yeah,
[12:05] yeah. I mean the opening one was just. I think it was just a couple weeks after our loss and yeah, I'm getting teary just even thinking about that.
[12:17] How.
[12:17] How hard that those couple weeks were immediately after.
[12:22] Tara Bansal: I feel like Tim's episode we laughed the most in.
[12:25] And even that, I feel like we were on mute a lot. So the audience didn't get to really hear how much we were laughing.
[12:34] Christina Donovan: But.
[12:36] Tara Bansal: And that's just Tim.
[12:37] Christina Donovan: So hear us. Yeah, yeah.
[12:40] Tara Bansal: Why. Why did you want to do the season wrap up?
[12:45] Christina Donovan: I don't know. I just think it's always a good,
[12:47] a good thing to do to have closure on,
[12:50] you know, and also looking ahead. I mean, I guess one of the things.
[12:55] Looking forward to the next season. I mean, I really wish we would hear from listeners on topics that they would like us like. I wish we heard more from our listeners on things they would like to hear about or possibly want to come on.
[13:16] I don't know.
[13:18] Tara Bansal: And that was one thing. I feel like that shifted some this season as people did reach out and did volunteer to be on with us. But yeah,
[13:35] that's something I think we both would love more of, is interaction with our listeners and hearing topics that would be helpful or pertinent to them.
[13:46] I see the stats and it's interesting just that during this season, especially in the past, like 30 days more our numbers are going up and as I said, that's not why we're doing it.
[14:01] But it is nice to see that more and more people are listening. And I feel like now we have listeners outside Just our immediate family and friends.
[14:12] Christina Donovan: Yeah, I know. For me, I mean, one of the things we've now done two seasons where we've interviewed mostly family and friends on the process of going through Middle essence or their Middle essence journey or experience.
[14:28] And I mean, one of the things that really stands out to me is how similar so many of our stories are in terms of the challenges, the things people worry about,
[14:42] even just a lot of the views of retirement and that next phase seem more similar than dissimilar.
[14:50] And in a sense it's reassuring.
[14:54] But also part of me does wonder how much of that is tied to culture and.
[15:02] Tara Bansal: Class and our segment of the population.
[15:05] Christina Donovan: Our segment. I'm not saying it well. Thank you. Yeah.
[15:08] So I guess part of me would. I'd really like, I think, to get some alternate viewpoints on the middlescent journey, you know, maybe somebody that's not,
[15:20] you know, a middle class or upper middle class white person, you know.
[15:26] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Well, it's interesting.
[15:27] I haven't even talked to you about this. I don't think, Tina. But looking ahead, one of my ideas I wanted to propose was to talk to almost elders.
[15:42] Those.
[15:43] My one friend, she calls it elder essence,
[15:46] but like for words of advice they have for us in middle essence.
[15:52] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[15:53] Tara Bansal: And to hear middlescence,
[15:56] it's not based on certain age. I think, you know, we took that out of our intro because I feel like it doesn't have to be any age and you can be going through different things,
[16:09] you know, at different times.
[16:11] Yeah. I don't know, it's almost more just like I view it often, like your next phase and that can be whether.
[16:19] Christina Donovan: You'Re anybody going through. Yeah. Like it ending of something in the beginning of something. Yeah, makes sense.
[16:26] Tara Bansal: How do you feel like the podcast is helping you in middlescence? Or maybe I should ask, do you feel like it's helping you?
[16:36] Christina Donovan: I think to me it's very helpful to hear what other people are going through and to know a. Like you're not alone and these things that you're struggling with are. Are.
[16:50] I don't want to say common because that kind of, I guess, makes it seem less significant.
[16:57] But yeah, you know, this idea that we're all in this right now and, you know,
[17:04] it helps to listen to other people and their struggles and how they're working through it. I don't know, I find it immensely helpful.
[17:13] How about you?
[17:14] Tara Bansal: Yeah, me too.
[17:16] And I do feel like even for hearing about people who have been through great loss and grief,
[17:31] I don't know, I Still felt like it.
[17:36] I don't know how to say this. It didn't depress me. It made me, like,
[17:42] almost more grateful and appreciative and hopeful of, like, just,
[17:51] you know,
[17:52] appreciate what you have now and.
[17:56] But I agree with you on.
[18:00] I just feel like I learn.
[18:02] That's right.
[18:03] Christina Donovan: I was waiting for you to finish so I could say that I don't think we've had a single episode where we've walked away, that I haven't learned something.
[18:12] Multiple things. I don't. I at least learned one thing, but I think in most cases, I've learned more than one thing and just really felt like it was worthwhile. Yeah.
[18:21] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[18:22] And even. Just like, even with our siblings or, you know, I feel like I've learned a lot.
[18:30] And it sounds kind of.
[18:34] But I don't know, it makes me want to do this with everybody because I just feel like you do learn things about people, and I just love that, you know, like, that's my personality and part of why we're doing this.
[18:50] And to me, it's. You know,
[18:53] it gives Tina and I an excuse to connect.
[18:58] Yeah. Be together and do it together, too.
[19:02] So.
[19:04] Anything else?
[19:05] Christina Donovan: No, just congratulations on a great second season. I'm proud of it, too, I think. I didn't think about saying that, but when you said it, it definitely resonated.
[19:16] Tara Bansal: I mean, anything for you with all of your graduations that you've been through or.
[19:25] Christina Donovan: No, I mean, I think we did not. One of the topics we really wanted to do was empty nest, and we didn't get there this season. But I'm officially starting September will be empty nester.
[19:43] I have my last one graduate high school this week, so. Yeah, hopefully that's something we can revisit.
[19:51] Tara Bansal: And it may be, I think, helpful to have a little. You're kind of going to be in it then.
[19:58] Christina Donovan: Yeah. Right.
[19:59] Tara Bansal: Versus. Versus guessing and thinking about it.
[20:03] Christina Donovan: But yeah, it's. Yeah, it's very similar to all of Middle Essence is very bittersweet. You know, you're. You're happy, but at the same time, you're sad.
[20:15] Tara Bansal: One thing I feel bad that I wanted to share,
[20:21] like, from Tracy Gates,
[20:23] like, a few kind words.
[20:26] I was trying to write one letter a week,
[20:31] and I haven't been good about it lately. But when I was doing it,
[20:38] I mean, I didn't get reactions from everyone. And as she said,
[20:43] you can't expect a reaction.
[20:46] But really was.
[20:50] I mean, she didn't oversell it, I guess.
[20:55] I.
[20:57] You know,
[20:58] my. I wrote one to my doctor and she, like, left me this voicemail that just was like,
[21:04] I'm gonna keep, you know.
[21:06] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[21:07] Tara Bansal: So, yeah, I encourage people to give it a try. You don't have to do it that often, but.
[21:16] Christina Donovan: And especially, I don't know, for those with children in school, this time of year is a great.
[21:22] My son wrote thank you notes to the three teachers that impacted him.
[21:28] And it's a little different in high school, but I know, like, I wrote letters to the administration for speaking of the teachers that really helped our family. So that the administration, you know, got a sense that I don't know if it does any good, but you hope it does.
[21:48] You hope it does that they get recognition, you know,
[21:52] that people, you know,
[21:54] unasked or are volunteering, that these are great teachers and an asset to the school district.
[22:02] Tara Bansal: The one thing that stood out to me, and I felt like Steve's episode was a great one to end on because it brought us to me, full circle back to first season around retirement and thinking of the changes and pivoting to your, you know,
[22:25] next phase.
[22:27] And that's,
[22:29] I don't know, to me that's comes together with the grief and loss of the bittersweetness, but I'm getting teary. But just that there's these different seasons of our life and each have beautiful things, but also some hard things too.
[22:50] Christina Donovan: Yeah, no, I think that's true.
[22:53] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[22:54] And,
[22:56] yeah, a little bit of. With the finite of time thinking and appreciating each phase for what it is and almost trying not to.
[23:13] I think when you're young,
[23:16] when you're really young, you want to be an adult, and then you're just often rushing to the next phase.
[23:25] And I don't want to do that.
[23:29] Yeah.
[23:29] Christina Donovan: I also think, I mean, that was one of the things that in reviewing for this episode, I mean, I do think that is one of the key differences between middlescence and adolescence is that adolescence, you're.
[23:43] You're thinking about that next phase. People are asking you, you know,
[23:48] what.
[23:48] Tara Bansal: Do you want to do? What do you want to be?
[23:50] Christina Donovan: And I think everyone that we have interviewed, one of the questions we gave was, is this time what you thought it would be? And almost across the board, everyone is like, I never really thought about what being middle aged would be like.
[24:05] And,
[24:06] you know, I think some of that is just the busyness of life. Like, I mean, the years prior to that are just very hectic. It doesn't matter whether you have children or not, with your career, with your job, with homes.
[24:17] I mean, it just,
[24:19] it is, it is a very hectic time and I think a lot of us just end up here. Like, wow,
[24:26] I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't thinking about this. And I think that that is a really.
[24:30] It's a common thing. And it's also. It's very different from where we talk about menolescence and adolescence being similar. It is a big difference.
[24:40] Tara Bansal: And I think that's part of what we're trying to shift is like, be more intentional and start thinking about it. It's never too.
[24:48] Christina Donovan: Right.
[24:49] Tara Bansal: Early or late.
[24:50] Christina Donovan: Late. Right.
[24:51] Tara Bansal: Think about it. Yeah,
[24:53] I, I feel like for me,
[24:57] a takeaway theme,
[24:59] and it was my theme last year, but it keeps coming up of, like being instead of doing, of being present and how to slow things down instead of the rush, rush, rush and all the hustle.
[25:15] And it's definitely a struggle for me.
[25:19] Christina Donovan: I think it's a struggle for everyone. It's hard. It's hard to do that.
[25:23] Tara Bansal: And the first part, I always say in coaching is noticing. Right. So that's where you. You start and notice what you want to change and look for ways you.
[25:34] Christina Donovan: Can and where you want to go. Yeah.
[25:36] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Well, thank you, teen. It's always fun. Thanks for your questions and did we miss anything else? I always. I think it's.
[25:48] Christina Donovan: I think we're all set. Hopefully we'll see everyone or hear everyone next, next season in the fall.
[25:54] Tara Bansal: And I hope you everyone has a relaxing, enjoyable, fun summer and can take some time. Happy summer.
[26:03] Christina Donovan: Yes.
[26:04] Tara Bansal: Happy summer.
[26:05] Tina and I thought it would be fun for our season finale to talk about what we're looking forward to this summer.
[26:15] And it's just a list, but Tina and I are going to share hopefully what the summer will hold.
[26:23] My first one, which I feel like people probably get tired of hearing this from me,
[26:29] but is just to try to slow down.
[26:31] Part of me was hoping mornings will be a little less hectic with an extra half hour or so of time,
[26:41] even with the boys going to camp.
[26:44] But I'm not sure if that'll happen. But that's my intention of being able to try to do less and relax and slow down this summer.
[26:55] That's one of the things I hope to enjoy.
[26:59] What about you, Tina?
[27:02] Christina Donovan: My family has two I would call small trips planned, both related to family. We will be in Kentucky for what I would describe as an extended weekend with the larger Conti clan.
[27:18] And then we also have a week in Maine in July with my husband's family, extended family.
[27:25] So those are two things that Definitely will help define our summer.
[27:30] Tara Bansal: Where in Maine will you be, Tina?
[27:33] Christina Donovan: We will be in Harpswell, Maine, which is. It's about an hour northeast of Portland.
[27:43] Tara Bansal: And have you guys been there before? It seems I have go to different places. Yeah.
[27:47] Christina Donovan: Yeah. Matt's family rented this house in October.
[27:53] Tara Bansal: Oh, okay. And it's the same house?
[27:55] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[27:55] Tara Bansal: Oh, nice.
[27:56] Christina Donovan: There was a group that went, but I was not part of that. That contingent, so it'll be new to me.
[28:01] Tara Bansal: Nice.
[28:02] I also had the trip to Kentucky.
[28:05] Six of the seven Conti siblings will be there.
[28:09] Not all of the cousins, but a good number.
[28:14] And our family generally only gets together one time a year,
[28:19] so I know my kids are very excited and looking forward to it.
[28:24] And we're going to Richmond, Kentucky, to this giant,
[28:28] I call it sprawling estate.
[28:30] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[28:31] Tara Bansal: That can house 25 or 30 people.
[28:34] So that will be fun.
[28:37] I'm.
[28:38] My family is going to the beach for three weeks in August. We've never gone that long.
[28:46] We are going to Manasquan, which, the more I go there, the more I love.
[28:53] And it's just a cute little town.
[28:56] I love the beach and super excited for that.
[29:01] And I think some family will come and visit us, too.
[29:04] Christina Donovan: Yeah. Hopefully me, hopefully Tina.
[29:07] Tara Bansal: Hopefully some other siblings also.
[29:10] Christina Donovan: One of the other things that I look forward to every summer and is definitely a defining part of our summer is shopping at our local farmer's market here. Easton has a thriving farmer's market every Saturday,
[29:28] but even if I can't get to that,
[29:30] I love buying local fresh produce. We have a series of farm stands. There's one in Bethlehem, and then actually Lafayette College has a garden that they sell their produce for every Friday, which is literally 30 seconds from my house.
[29:45] So that is a big part of our summer is,
[29:51] you know, just the local produce is so delicious and planning meals around it and cooking with it and, of course, eating it.
[30:03] Tara Bansal: One of our. Mine is my boys are going to Disney without Nimit and I.
[30:11] And so Nimit and I are going to go on a trip together,
[30:17] just the two of us. I don't. We haven't even fully decided where we're going. It will be within driving distance. I think it's going to be in New England somewhere.
[30:28] But just looking forward to some time alone with my husband.
[30:33] Christina Donovan: I don't really consider this a trip,
[30:36] but I have signed up for a triathlon in Minneapolis with my college roommate.
[30:43] And a big part of my summer is actually training for that.
[30:48] It's the second Sunday in August,
[30:52] so it's a big deal. I started swimming.
[30:57] I do run regularly, so I'm not changing that piece,
[31:01] but I am adding biking, in which I usually bike in the summer. So again, it's not a huge change, but definitely adding these additional segments of exercise are exciting and fun.
[31:16] I guess something different this summer.
[31:19] I am lucky that I am swimming with a friend. And then even the biking I'm hoping to do in groups versus by myself. So that's both a social and exercise component that I'm looking forward to this summer.
[31:35] Tara Bansal: Have you enjoyed the training?
[31:37] Christina Donovan: I do exercise pretty regularly. Swimming and running.
[31:43] I mean, just running and then strength training, not swimming. So adding the swimming's been different,
[31:48] but a lot of times in the summer I don't run as much because of the heat.
[31:54] And one of the things with the way our triathlon is scheduled is the older people go last,
[32:03] so our start times won't be until late morning.
[32:07] So there's a very good chance I'm going to be running and biking in the prime heat of the day. And it's really made me want to keep running on days before where I'd be like, you know what, it's too hot.
[32:18] I'm not going to run today. I want to get my body acclimated to running in the heat. I struggle running in the heat. So anyway, yeah, like, I ran this morning, which normally I think I would have been like, you know what?
[32:30] I'm not going to run today because we have a heat advisory here.
[32:33] But I did run and it is this.
[32:35] There's a motivation there to.
[32:39] To kind of get out and deal with the heat, which is good. It's.
[32:43] Yeah,
[32:44] so far it has been a positive motivation. So, yeah, stays that way.
[32:48] Tara Bansal: Nice.
[32:50] Christina Donovan: I.
[32:51] Tara Bansal: My, my last one is just hoping to hike some more. That's, you know, one of my 25. For 25, I haven't really done any hikes.
[33:02] Reading more and biking more. That's not.
[33:08] I don't know, as a coach, it's like, that's not very specific.
[33:11] How do you define success with that? But right now I'd say almost because I've. I do read,
[33:19] but I haven't been biking or hiking, so anything will be more than what I've been doing. So I will say that that would be a success. But just being outside and trying to be active is part of what I enjoy in the summer.
[33:33] And hopefully, as. As Tina is doing, do it with other people, if possible.
[33:39] Christina Donovan: With the social component.
[33:40] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[33:41] Christina Donovan: Yeah. My last one is actually to read the Great Gatsby, which kind of seems a little specific. But I mean, I read a lot all year round.
[33:52] And I don't know, I decided this summer that in addition to kind of the summer beach reads to add maybe a little bit more heavier classic read. And it is the hundredth anniversary of the Great Gatsby.
[34:08] There's been a lot of coverage on the importance of the book and its relevance to today and our culture and our society now.
[34:20] And I haven't read it. Well, I know I read it in high school. I think I have reread it once since then. But yeah, I'm excited to kind of add that as a specific book to my summer reading.
[34:33] Tara Bansal: I may read that now. You've inspired me, Tina. Cause see, there is events happening here in Princeton around that. Some of them, I think may have already happened.
[34:42] Christina Donovan: But because, yeah, I think the anniversary of the publish date was, I think in April. Yeah.
[34:50] Tara Bansal: So I think there were events back then, but that would be interesting.
[34:54] Well, Tina and I both would love to hear from you of what you're looking forward to this summer,
[35:00] either via email or phone call or comments on the website.
[35:06] And most of all, we hope you enjoy this time with ones you love and get to enjoy some sunshine, too, and relax. That's what I hope that to me, that's what I want my summer to be.
[35:19] So, anything else, Tina?
[35:21] Christina Donovan: No? All right, great summer, everyone.
[35:23] Tara Bansal: We'll see you in the fall.
[35:26] Christina Donovan: For show notes and other information about our podcast,
[35:29] please Visit our website,
[35:31] messymiddlesence.com if you enjoyed listening, please help spread the word about our podcast by sending a link to a family member or friend.
[35:41] And don't forget to leave a positive rating or review for us.
[35:45] As always, we hope you will return for more.
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