Estimated Reading Time 22 Minutes
Hey You! I hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving. I hope you had some good food and were able to make some beautiful memories with your loved ones. I sure did. My name is Emily Romrell and I’m excited to have you back for another special interview edition of The Vibrant Life Podcast.
Today is extra special because I interviewed one of the most important people in my life, My Mom, Diane Romrell. I’ve thought about wanting to interview her and when would be the best time and I honestly can’t think of a better time or theme than the day after Thanksgiving and talking about gratitude. My mom has always put a strong emphasis on thankfulness and gratitude and she made sure that we knew how blessed we were growing up, and how blessed we all still are.
My mom is passionate about people. She kind, generous, and all about being a good human. She likes to watch people and see what they will do as they go about life. She also loves interior design, reading, and playing games.
One of her favorite quotes is by Ralph Waldo Emerson and it says, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
So enjoy Peeps. Here is a great conversation between me and my beautiful mom:
Emily Romrell (00:20):
Alrighty. Well, we are here with my mom, Diane Romrell. Thank you so much for being on the podcast with me. It means a lot to me that you’d do that.
Diane Romrell (00:29):
I’m glad you asked me.
Emily Romrell (00:31):
All right. So today is the day after Thanksgiving. It’s kind of crazy. It’s already almost towards the end of the year, but one thing that I love about you and about the holidays is it’s all centered around the family, but you go all out, you go all out with decorations, with the food, we love playing games together, and it’s just so much fun. And, um, what, how did you come about that? Like what made you love the holidays so much?
Diane Romrell (00:58):
Well, I think part of it is the way I was raised. My mother loved the holidays and my father too. My dad’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. And it’s funny because he didn’t watch football and he didn’t like it for all of those things, but he just loved everybody being together. And so I learned that from my dad and then my mom just went all out for holidays, too. Um, on Halloween she would dress up like witches and crazy people to answer the door and we would laugh and she loved Thanksgiving too, but she loved Christmas, most of all and made everything just sparkle. And, you know, we weren’t super rich or definitely not rolling in dough, but she just made it magical. And I think that’s where it came from.
Emily Romrell (01:48):
That’s awesome. Yeah. I remember her dressing up for the holidays and it was always so much fun. And I just think having that spirit just makes your life better. It makes it more vibrant. Right. And I mean, I did want to, uh, focus on gratitude it being the day after Thanksgiving. And I think with black Friday and all the other stuff that we can kind of, we have like one day where we’re like, okay, Thanksgiving. And a lot of that is like, yay food and whatever. But I love that you specifically have taught us to be grateful as kids growing up and in our family. Um, and what are some of the things that you’re most grateful for?
Diane Romrell (02:28):
Well, of course family, my husband, um, I heard a quote years ago, I’m gratitude that I have loved so much that said, it says gratitude is when everything you have is enough. And I just feel like that’s so true just to be grateful for what you have. And I’m very blessed to have an amazing husband who is kind and good and been such a good father to all of you. And I’m so grateful for him then just my children. I mean, I have six amazing children that I just look at and think, wow, you’re so much better than I am.
Emily Romrell (03:08):
No.
Diane Romrell (03:08):
And than I was at that age, you know, I can just see so much potential in so many gifts in all of you. And so I would say my greatest treasure is my family.
Emily Romrell (03:19):
Oh, well I think the same thing. And I think we’re lucky as a family, because not everyone has that where we do have a very supportive, loving family and we’re all friends and that is a huge blessing in our lives. Um, and then I kind of just, you know, thinking about a vibrant life, that’s kinda my whole theme, you know, uh, what does a vibrant life mean to you?
Diane Romrell (03:43):
Well, honestly I think a vibrant life is being happy and I think happiness is a choice. And I think again, along with gratitude, if you think about all the things that you’re grateful for, you’re happy. And if you just, it’s a choice, you can choose to be happy with what you’ve been blessed with. And if you have that attitude of gratitude, it does make you happy. So a vibrant life to me is a happy life.
Emily Romrell (04:09):
Yeah, I think so too. I know one of the movies we would always watch is Pollyanna growing up, just kind of an old Disney movie, which it’s a little bit cheesy, but it’s also really good about the little girl who finds the best in everything, even when people are grumpy or whatever. And I definitely feel like that’s something that you have passed on is like, even if you’re having a hard time or going through something that’s not fun, you can always find something to be happy about.
Diane Romrell (04:36):
Wow. Well, I just loved that movie. I think I made you guys watch it because she just plays the Glad Game. And so we’re no matter what goes around, she goes, let’s change it to the Glad Game and think why we can be happy about that. And one of my favorite parts of the whole movie is they have a preacher who’s just boring. And every Sunday they have to go to church and listen to him and everybody’s little, you know, like, oh finally his sermon is over. And then she’s talking to the maids in the house one day and they said, well, there’s nothing to be glad about. Um, I hope I get this right about Sunday
Emily Romrell (05:18):
Because the preacher, they hate his sermons.
Diane Romrell (05:20):
Yeah. And so then they, she says, yeah, we can be glad that there’s six more days till Sunday or something like that. I’m probably spoiling it, but I love that she even finds joy in crazy things.
Emily Romrell (05:35):
Yeah. And I think one thing, what about Pollyanna and just about life in general, that growing up is finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, like good food or just having a pretty garden or I don’t know, but just like the little things are what make you happiest. Right.
Diane Romrell (05:51):
Very true. Yeah.
Emily Romrell (05:52):
And, uh, I, I just think about how lucky we are to live in Utah with the mountains and the nature. Like how did you, one thing I think about you is that you just really appreciate nature and the beauty of the world then where do you think that comes from?
Diane Romrell (06:10):
You know, I have loved nature ever since I was a little tiny girl and my mom, this is a funny little story I used to sneak out, not really sneak out. I, we lived on a, like a couple of acres place and so it wasn’t like sneak out, but I would go out and I’d sit on our fence and I would watch the sunset. And I did that when I was little like 9, 8, 9, and my mom was, she couldn’t find me, she’d walk out there to see if I was out there. Cause she didn’t know I did that, but I just kind of came that way. I don’t know. I’ve loved nature. I love the mountains. I love, I used to love hiking. I’m getting kind of old for that, but just beautiful scenes just thrill my heart. I, I don’t know. Honestly, I think I just kind of came that way. I don’t know if it’s something I really developed. It’s just part of who I am.
Emily Romrell (06:57):
I think so too. But I think everyone has that in their hearts, honestly. Like not everyone is so lucky to experience nature the same way maybe, but that, I think that’s just part of the human heart is that we love the beauty of the beautiful nature around us.
Diane Romrell (07:11):
For Sure.
Emily Romrell (07:13):
And then I know that, you know, we talk about like finding joy and being happy, which is really important, but you have had some pretty, I mean, everyone does, but you’ve had some pretty big struggles in your life. Can you think of maybe a time in your life where you were struggling, um, and how maybe gratitude helped you overcome that trial?
Diane Romrell (07:37):
Well, one of my struggles has been, um, just kind of some physical pain I’ve had, I’ve suffered with some sciatic pain. That’s kind of on my left side and it goes down and I’ve suffered with that for a few years. And some days it’s really hard, you know, I just wake up and think, well, this is hard, but honestly you can always find someone who’s suffering more than you and that doesn’t make your sufferings not real or not. You know, yours are very real to you, but sometimes I think, wow, I feel for that person, they’re going through this and this and this. And I think, well, compared to that, my struggles really aren’t that much. And I think that’s helped me to try to just, you know, live through it and try to see the good even in that. Yeah.
Emily Romrell (08:25):
You are very compassionate too for other people. And I always think about, even though, I mean we’re members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And so we in our church sometimes there’s like your, you have like ministering people that you work and you kind of take care of or whatever, but even if it wasn’t necessarily someone who was assigned to you or, uh, something that maybe even anyone else maybe knew, if you knew that was a family that was struggling in the ward, you would take them dinner and you still do, or you would find little ways to serve. And that has always meant a lot to me to watch you do that.
Diane Romrell (08:59):
Well, I appreciate that. I just feel like, you know, sometimes I just honestly just think about someone too, you know, and I think that, I think you’ve said in your podcast before never suppress a generous thought and I just think that’s so true. And I, I don’t know. I just, sometimes people will come into my mind and they think, oh, you know, I just want to take them something or do something for them. And honestly, you know, sometimes I think, well, I wonder why I did that. They didn’t really need anything, but I just think you need to just go with kind of what you feel at some times.
Emily Romrell (09:34):
Yeah. Well, I think we do get inspired and get prompted with those things. And even, maybe, even if it’s just a generous thought that just comes from you. I think everyone loves to be thought of and to be remembered. So I think I learned a lot about that from you. So, um, can you think of maybe, uh, some resources, I mean, we were talking about gratitude, but maybe other things that have helped you during challenges in your life?
Diane Romrell (10:01):
Well, honestly, a big part of my help is just my faith. I, uh, I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ. And there are so many times when honestly I have felt him near me and felt Heavenly Father near me. And I just think that gives me strength to carry on and to keep going when things are hard. And, um, also I have an amazing husband, like I said, who’s so supportive and loving and it just helps me keep going. When I think about him and how much I want to be there for him and do things for him. And that keeps me going too. Yeah.
Emily Romrell (10:39):
I think when you love someone, you want to serve them and that helps you have more drive and more, not ambition, but like more motivation to, um, to move forward and help people. Yeah. Um, if you could turn back time and talk to your 18 year old self, uh, what’s maybe a couple things you might tell her?
Diane Romrell (11:03):
Well, one thing that I have learned is not to compare yourself to other people and maybe that’s a big one because when I was, you know, a young mother and, and younger, I would think, wow, well, you know, she’s had four kids and look how thin she is. She’s, you know, so smart and has all these insights. And sometimes I would kind of compare myself and think, wow, I wish I was that amazing. Or I wish I was that good at things. And I’ve learned over the years, I think that you, you really can’t compare yourself because people are just who they are. And they come with gifts and towns and abilities, and everyone is unique and everyone has something to give and share. And so really it’s just, it’s, it’s really a thief of joy.
Emily Romrell (11:50):
It’s true.
Diane Romrell (11:51):
If you compare yourself other people and to what their life is and what you think maybe your life should be. It’s just so important to not compare ourselves to others.
Emily Romrell (12:01):
Yes. Which is so easy to do. Like, I feel like the world in general, or just society tries to get us to compare, especially women about like how we’re looking and how, what the perfect family is like or what the perfect career is like or whatever. Like, it’s so easy to compare yourself to others. I think that’s a big lesson to learn.
Diane Romrell (12:22):
It’s true. It’s just really Important.
Emily Romrell (12:24):
And I, I remember reading somewhere, I don’t even remember where this quote came from, but it’s like with all of the galaxies, I’m totally messing with stuff like paraphrasing it or like the beautiful world and everything that’s been created. Isn’t it amazing that God decided he needed one of you to, you know, and I totally butchered that quote. It’s just like, uh, it’s just like, that gives me a lot of confidence. I mean, I still kind of struggle with confidence in myself, but like with all of the amazing people that are out there and with all of the nature, like we talked about and stars and galaxies and the ocean and anything like all the wonderful creations in the universe and then Heavenly Father or God decided that you were needed also.
Diane Romrell (13:09):
That’s really cool.
Emily Romrell (13:10):
Yeah. So that helps me too. Um, and then how do you think, I know we talked about a kind of bouncing around, but going back to gratitude, um, how, how is it? I know we talked about Pollyanna, but like sometimes I feel like that can come off as like not genuine or fake or I’m really struggling. I’m really having a hard time. Um, and then you’re like, what? I don’t want to be fake and just pretend like everything is easier, or I don’t know how to say that correctly, but how do you find like true gratitude during really difficult times?
Diane Romrell (13:46):
Well, we all have difficult times and it’s something that’s just a part of this life, I think is that we’re supposed to struggle and do and have hard things and have to do hard things. Cause that’s what makes us grow and makes us become the people that we’re meant to be. But I just think gratitude is, it’s something that you kind of have to focus on and you have to really think about because there are days when you don’t think, wow, well I’m, you know, I’m this and this, and this is wrong with me. So now I gotta think of something to be thankful for? There are days that are hard. It’s hard to do that, but I do believe that if we can kind of train ourselves to, to look for the good to think of all that we have to be grateful, but that really helps. And I don’t know if that really answers your question, but
Emily Romrell (14:37):
Yeah, I guess you’ve always been very genuine and I can feel that and I try to be genuine, but I think sometimes people think, oh when I’m having a really tough time, I don’t want to pretend like everything’s okay. You know? So how do you, how do you balance that feeling of like, it’s a really tough time and I’m really struggling and things are not necessarily okay with it’s okay to still be grateful.
Diane Romrell (15:03):
Um, well, I don’t know. It, it kind of is a balancing act, but I think I’m not really sure how to, how to say what I’m feeling. Um, you just, I feel like the part of being genuine is just accepting some things, you know, I’m not sure exactly. I can’t remember exactly what the first question was, but I think you do need to accept that there are hard things you do need to accept that everything’s not all rosy and everything every day. But again, it’s just back to making it a habit kind of, I don’t know. It just kind of comes naturally to me. I don’t know why. I think I just sorta came that way a little bit. Is that when you are super struggling to try to think of, you know, but I have this and this and this, and I’m so thankful and
Emily Romrell (15:58):
No, that makes sense. I think you answered it. And that was kind of a repeat. There might be a little bit repetitive in the questioning, but I think that’s just important to remember. And that is a big lesson that you have taught us is that even when we do have hard times, that gratitude is what makes it bearable a lot of times, is it, you know what? I might be really struggling, but I do have so many things to be grateful for, which puts a positive spin on things, even though you can be struggling. So, yeah, that’s really good. And is there something that maybe people seem to misunderstand about you?
Diane Romrell (16:34):
Well, I’ve always been a little bit quiet and a little bit shy. I’m not one that in a big group can just go up to people and say, hi, I’m Diane. Who are you? I mean, I think I’m friendly and I love people. I love people, but I think sometimes maybe people think I’m not as friendly because I’m a little shyer and I’m a little quieter and I really love to watch people and I’d love to sit back and just watch the whole situation and people interact with each other. I love that. So I’m not one to just be right in the middle of it all. So I think sometimes people may think I’m maybe a little bit, not as friendly, but really, I, I love everyone, but I’m, I’m a little bit more laid back and quiet and shy. And so maybe that’s misunderstood. Sometimes
Emily Romrell (17:24):
I love that. I think I inherited a lot of that from you too, because you are very friendly, but I think sometimes we don’t like to be the very center of attention, kind of like to sit back and, and watch how things play out. What is the biggest surprise you’ve had in the last few months?
Diane Romrell (17:44):
Biggest surprise. Um, can you think of anything I’m thinking maybe just, uh, I’m just pondering here for a minute.
Emily Romrell (17:58):
It’s okay.
Diane Romrell (17:59):
Uh, the biggest surprise, maybe just that everyone just really has good in them. And I mean, I guess I’ve always really known that. Not sure it’s really call it a surprise, but as you kind of look for the good in people, you think, wow. Cause actually, okay. Here’s case in point, there is a, uh, a lady that I know, and for a long time I thought, I don’t think she likes me. You know, I thought, well, she’s not friendly. And you know, when I talk, try to talk to her, she’s kind of reserved. And I thought, wow, you know, I don’t think she likes me. And then one time I was talking to your dad and I said, I don’t think this person likes me.
Diane Romrell (18:45):
And he said, well, how could she not like you, she doesn’t really even know you. And then he said, maybe she’s just shy or maybe she, you know, and I thought about that and I thought that’s so true. So often we, we kind of put a label on someone or judge someone and think this and this and this about them when really in reality, it’s not that way at all. So I don’t know if that’s really a surprise, but it’s something I’ve thought about a lot, the last few months that I’ve tried to realize that maybe people aren’t what I think they are in first impressions. Really. Aren’t what we think, you know? And then as you get to know someone or think about the situation you realize, oh yeah, that’s probably, it, it’s probably a lot different than I thought it was.
Emily Romrell (19:33):
I love that. And I think we always are worried about what other people think or how they feel about us. And then they’re always the same, right? It was one of the biggest lessons that I realized, which I’m still working on is that people are more focused on themselves than they are on you. You know, not, not, not that they’re like full of themselves or whatever, but that they just, they are worried about what you think of them, not whether they like you and that’s the same for everyone. And so if we could just realize to take people for who they are, but not at the first impression that they kind of see where they’re coming from, I think was really cool.
Diane Romrell (20:10):
Very true.
Emily Romrell (20:12):
What makes you feel inspired or like your best self?
Diane Romrell (20:18):
Well, I think I really believe in prayer and honestly I think when I really pray and really talk to him, when we father, I feel like I get little inspirations and I get things that I need to ideas of like, wow, I need to do better on that. And it inspires me and helps me to think I can work on that. I can be better at that. And I think we all have things like that that we know we could do at, but I think praying and trying to be in tune with the spirit and like my Heavenly Father, it helps me too to just think about the ways I need to do better things I need to do better in. And, um,
Emily Romrell (21:02):
And also giving you a little bit of extra strength probably too, right? Through prayer. I think that’s true where I don’t know if you can, you know, I don’t want to like force or voice. I totally believe that prayer is inspired and that you can get tell Heavenly Father, how you’re feeling, but also like he gives you when you reach out to him, it’s like, when you ask for things, you get what you ask for that. Not that he doesn’t help you anyway, but also it kind of, as a parent, you were like that. I remember sometimes when we were even little kids, we’d be like, Hey, can I have a candy bar or whatever? And you bet sure. Because you asked, you know, not because you wouldn’t want to give us a candy bar or not, because you wouldn’t help us do something like, Hey, can you help me where, how to do something or how to make a blanket or something like, it’s just because we asked, that’s what we get.
Emily Romrell (21:52):
And I think that’s a lot of the same with prayer is how the father has blessings that he gives us. But he’s also happy when we ask for things, because then he gives us a little bit extra support. Yeah. I hope I said that in a good way. Yeah. So I love that, that, and I think prayer is very powerful.
Emily Romrell (22:09):
Um, and I know this is one thing I’m excited to talk to you about because, uh, there’s a lot of opinions these days about women and how they should be, whether they should stay at home with their kids or whether they should work or what the combination of that should look like. And you’ve stayed home with us kids as we grew up. And I think that’s the hardest job ever honestly, is raising kids and trying to provide a home for people. But what are maybe some myths about being a stay-at-home mom that you’d like to be debunked? And what are maybe some of the highlights of being a stay at home mom?
Diane Romrell (22:44):
Well, I felt really blessed because, um, your dad, we really felt like when we had children that I needed to be home with them. And I really know that women do what they have to do. And sometimes you have to work outside the home. And I think that’s a hard choice. Sometimes you want to work outside the home and that’s a choice too, and that can bring lots of blessings and lots of good things, but I’ve just been really grateful that that I’ve been able to stay home when you kids were little and that I was able to be there. And one of my favorite times was when you’d get home from school. And sometimes I would just say, how was your day? And wow, it was either like, oh, this was so fun. We did this and this and this. And sometimes it was like, I would see this cloud come over you.
Diane Romrell (23:30):
And I would think, oh, and then they, you know, you would tell me, the kids would tell me, oh, this was really a hard day. And I did this and this and this, but I think a myth is that sometimes women say, oh, I’m just a homemaker. Oh, I’m just, I just stay home. I don’t work really outside the home, but the home it’s huge. And so that’s the greatest thing you can do in the world is to teach these children and to be with them and to be there, to share their ups and their downs and their highs and their lows. And I feel like it’s just such a great blessing. And I hope that women never feel like, well, I’m just a mother or I just, I I’m just a homemaker and just a housekeeper or what, you know, you should never, ever, ever feel that because it’s the greatest joy. And I am so grateful. I was able to stay home. And when you were all little.
Emily Romrell (24:25):
I’m grateful for that too. Kinda hate that word. Just, you know, it’s like in that Finding Neverland movie, you remember where he’s like, just what a word, it’s just a dog or whatever, because whether you’re at home with your kids or whether you choose to have a career or a mix of whatever, I think people should do what’s best for them. But don’t say like, just because a lot of what you do is amazing and it diminishes that.
Diane Romrell (24:50):
Yeah. And I love the quote, the hand that rocks, the cradle is the hand that rules the world. I love that because you know, sometimes as a mother and I remember times when I was discouraged, when I had a, I mean, I had six kids in 10 years, so I had discouraging days and I felt like, wow, you know, I wish I was better at this or that or whatever. And then I read that quote and I thought, well, it’s so true. You shape little minds and hearts. And it’s huge. It’s one of the greatest things that you could do.
Emily Romrell (25:22):
I love that. And just kind of wrapping up here, we’re getting towards the end, but is there anything that you’ve always wanted to tell me, but you haven’t, I know I’m your daughter, so probably I don’t know what that would be. Um, um,
Diane Romrell (25:40):
Well, I can’t really think of anything. I think I’ve pretty much shared most of everything that I know and love with you, but, uh, I can’t really think of anything that I wish that
Emily Romrell (25:50):
Just to kind of a fun question. Um, and then I guess just kind of going back to the vibrant life situation, um, what is maybe one or two key things that you’ve learned in your life like that will help you achieve a by real life?
Diane Romrell (26:10):
Well, like I said earlier, it’s truly a choice and you can choose to have to be happy or not. And I really believe that the happiness is the key to a vibrant life. You know, things might be rough and, but we can choose to be happy. And I, I think a vibrant life is one where you are happy and appreciate what you have and are grateful for what you have. And you can see the world through love and gratitude. And that is what a vibrant life is.
Emily Romrell (26:47):
Last question. If you had a billboard on the side of the road, what would it say? What is your message to humanity?
Diane Romrell (26:53):
Yeah. Well, um, I have another quote that I love and it’s, it’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that defines the life that you live.
Emily Romrell (27:07):
I love that.
Diane Romrell (27:08):
And so maybe that, because it truly is what we give away that, you know, loving your heart, wasn’t put there to stay love. Isn’t love to give it away. And now they’re kind of on the same line is it’s that we just need to think of others and, you know, try to share and help others. I love that.
Emily Romrell (27:27):
Well, I love you so much, Mom. I think anything good that I am is because of you and dad. So I really appreciate you sharing your time and your thoughts with me today and is there anything else that you want to say really quick?
Diane Romrell (27:39):
So I love you more. I love you so much, and you have so many gifts and abilities and I truly am in awe of you. Oh, well, I think that you’re far ahead of me in so many ways.
Emily Romrell (27:53):
I don’t know about that, but I love you too. Thanks mom.
