Hi everyone. It's Anne Duffy and welcome to the Just DeW It podcast. I am so happy that you're with me today. I have a delightful young, beautiful, dear friend that has helped me in my journey as an entrepreneur with me today, and I can't wait for you to meet her. Let me tell you a little bit about her before we get started.
Anne: Lori Bulloch is a woman of faith who is passionate about wellness. If you can't find her, she's either leaning against a tree in the woods or stretching and breathing on her yoga mat. That sounds just like you. Welcome, Lori. How are you?
Lori: Great, thank you. How are you?
Anne: I'm doing great.
It's a beautiful fall day here in Charlotte, North Carolina. I hope the sun is out where you are.
Lori: Oh it is. It's a crisp fall day in Massachusetts as well. Very beautiful.
Anne: Oh my gosh. So beautiful. And the leaves are, the leaves starting to change a little bit up there.
Lori: Yep. Few on our street that are really starting to be orange and gold and all the pretty
Anne: killers.
Oh my God. All God's treasures. I swear it's, this is beautiful. I love the seasons. Yeah. You've been such a big help for us. if you're listening here and you are a do or wanna be a do or you're a woman and you happen to be in dentistry, you know you're welcome to sit at our table and come to the do Connect on Wednesdays.
'cause Lori and I really got to know each other. She showed up at our DO Connect, which is nine 30 to 10 30 on Eastern Standard time every Wednesday morning. Everybody's welcome to show up, and as we've seen people wrap their hair in a towel or in their pajamas or, you know, laying in bed doesn't matter.
You just show up as you are. Right? and Lori has graced us with giving us breath work and her little yoga tips. And I will tell you. It has just been such an eye-opener for me because I never took time before to breathe and I never realized it was important. Yeah. So everyone that's listening right now, I want you to just close your eyes.
Lori's gonna take us through a quick breath and just wherever you are, unless you're driving. Lori, take us, take us through a little breath Works.
Lori: Absolutely. So let's place one hand on heart, or both hands on heart, whatever's comfortable, and let your shoulders roll down and back. Soft eyes or closed eyes.
Let your jaw be soft and your tongue melt in your mouth. Breathing in and out through your nose if you can.
Or in through your nose, out through your mouth with a sigh. Just stay relaxed in your body, feeling your feet on the earth, feeling your head in the sky, feeling your heart right there in between. Just breath and heartbeat and being present. And
as you open your eyes, maybe a smile across your face. Grateful to be alive, grateful to be here.
Anne: I'm so ready now to begin this podcast. Thank you so much. Amazing what that does. And you can do that at home. Everybody that's listening.
Lori: Yes.
Anne: We always
Lori: have our breath, we always have our heartbeat to come back to.
Anne: And you're always ready. I didn't even tell you that we were gonna do that. And it felt right. And you've been a due for three years
Lori: now. I was counting this morning. It is three years. I started in 2022. So,
Anne: 2022. Who introduced you to me? Uh, do you remember how Laura, you found you?
Laura? SchOh, Laura Swintt. Mm-hmm. Yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I loveher. that's how I introduced her to Karen Tyndall. And this is how we say principle number three. Good dues. Find good, good dues. So tell me, what's your, what has your experience been since you started and joined Dew? And actually tip here, you not only joined Dew.
Lori, you dipped and do you showed up. So tell me what your experience has been.
Lori: Yeah, I would say the first do connect call, I think we called it coffee chat back then that I showed up to. I was nervous. I felt like I have no idea what's happening here, and it didn't take long for me to be like, oh, these ladies are really nice and welcoming.
And I could tell like, you know, everyone was very attentive to my introduction and welcoming me and I just listened and thought. I think I feel like I belong already. And so I just started coming right away. And I don't know how far into it that we decided that Caitlyn, Parson and I would take turns, leading a little breath and stretch.
But that became something I looked forward to, like on Wednesday morning, anytime I was available, just jumping on and, and doing that. here's a thought for someone who's maybe new to do, is to come with a question in your mind of something that would help you, a question that you can ask your do sisters.
And so I did that the first few months. I would just always think, okay, what's a good question? And,would sometimes just say, okay, What's on your mind? What's going on? And just open it up. And I would.I have a question and everybody was so sweet to just help me. And being a solopreneur is lonely.
It's hard, you know, you're not so sure that you're doing anything important, and so I would just get the input and encouragement that I needed, and then it just became really natural, like to be there and just. participate in the conversation. But I think that was what helped me at first to not be so nervous and to get the most out of it, is having a question in my mind to ask when I came to those.
So they've been great. And then the retreats, oh my goodness. So great. you know, I had connected with a lot of the women on the Wednesday calls, but when I came to that retreat in 2022, it was like. You know, I just was glowing and floating and so were you. And so was everyone. And it just is that fun energy of being together and learning and just so much support and encouragement.
And so now this year will be my third retreat, cause I had to miss a year. We were having our son come home after two years, that next year. But, um, it's been, I feel like each time I come home with connections that are. People who are willing to introduce me or encourage me or mentor me.
And that's the culture that you encourage. It's just, it works. So you, you just instill that in us to support each other and to think outside of ourselves. Who can I help? Who can I serve? And who can I ask for help? Who can I ask to be served by? So, yeah it's been a blessing for me.
Anne: That is so beautiful. I have goosebumps that you just said that, and I didn't know what your questions were gonna be today. I was like, oh my God. That is such a beautiful, beautiful question for me to ask and to hear that is what do meant means to you and continues to mean to you? Yeah, because I just am amazed how you, took a step, in faith to be there. And then now you're helping so many women. you actually are running our yoga, time in the morning for each day of the retreat, which is lovely. actually it's funny, I saw Kaitlyn
In, uh, Philadelphia at the nachos thing, and then I,saw her in the back of the room and just during the whole program, I said, Caitlyn, we need a breath. And of course she can just whip it out there and it would just, the whole room kind of calmed down. Lori, I think your experience and your,demeanor has helped us realize that it is.
Really important to take care of ourselves. To take a minute.
Lori: We're busy women, and we often get caught thinking, well, I don't have time to stretch and breathe. I don't have time to take a bath or take a walk or anything, but. We do have time, and it can be just a little time and it does make a difference.
it's amazing what just two minutes in nature or two minutes breathing or praying, just can bring us back into a heart space instead of a head space. And it's good.
Anne: Oh, I love that heart space instead of Headspace. That's just. So beautiful, and I've seen you grow through this too.
I mean, you started your own business and two things that stuck with me when you were talking first of all, you were introduced by somebody, which is, that's the model of do, we love connecting.
Lori: Yes. You
Anne: showed up, and that's number two.
You've gotta be able to show up. I know that you and I are the same. We're both, not necessarily joiners. I mean, we, we join our particular churches, right. But we're, we don't join otherthings. Right. So much. Yeah. So that was a little bit, but you did, you took a leap of faith in that as well.
And then now you're just giving back so much to everybody. And that's the gift. You know, if you're a little, having a stress day, whocan I serve? Who can I help? Yeah.
you're so wise, I look to you, you're young and all that, but I look to you as the wise sage of many of our, do connects and I love that you guys are all staying together. So this is the other way how do's work. plug a lot of do's in one room with the retreat that's where the magic happens.
Lori: Oh yeah,
Anne: I know. It's just so wonderful. So you're also, are you still practicing dental hygiene?
Lori: Yes. One day a week, sometimes more. But my standard is Tuesday and I was actually thinking about this because you, a couple years ago and I were talking and I told you, my boys are all gonna be moving away. I am gonna be an empty nester. I'm starting to get sad already. And you said. Alright, how often do you work?
And I said, just Tuesdays. She's like, sweet, you and your husband need to just travel. You need to go on Wednesday and come back on Monday. And we have done that so many times. It's been really good for us in this stage, just to be able to go and we were just on a trip and. The only thing that was holding us back from extending for a week was my one day of work.
we prayed about it, prayed about it, and I finally texted the office manager and said, can you move my patients for next Tuesday onto this and this Friday of September? And she said, no problem. So we stayed an extra week. It was so great. Wow.
Isn't
Anne: that so? Ask and you shall receive. Yeah. You've grown in that and we've learned that through Dew. Yeah. To be bold in our request. Yeah. They can say no and what you said is it can be very lonely as an entrepreneur, especially when you're just getting started and it is isolating. We're all working from home and remotely and things like that, and.That's a beautiful part of our community is we're not alone anymore. if you're having a tough day, just call a dew and they'll snap you out of that and they'll give you, and so it's so beautiful to have, that resource as well.
I did want to touch on that, but you have,three children that are grown up. and flown far from the nest.
Lori: Yes, they have. So what are Denmark
and Utah? And we're in Massachusetts in the middle, so they're all far away.
Anne: Wow. And so now what have you learned? this is another stage for you now.
Would you look too young to have that happen? But what have you learned from this and what are you looking forward to in the future?
Lori: Yeah, so I,I remember, maybe like four or five years before I knew they were all gonna be gone, I was so excited and looking forward to it and thinking I have all these interests.
I'm just gonna have so much fun doing all the things. And then it hit and it was real and I was like. Actually, this is not fun and it's way too quiet. And I would yearn and still sometimes do for the front door to open and have a teenage boy come and just be loud and noisy and clumping around and telling me about all the things.
And it just, they don't come home that much. They're not close. And so, um, yeah, it's been. Really, Really big shift. And I know my friend Kristen Evans had been through this like a couple years before me and when we met, we've talked about this. I feel like that's one of the reasons we met is so that she could tell me over and over before it happened.
It's gonna be hard. It is gonna be harder than you think. It was hard on me. It took me a year and sure enough, like a year into it, I was like. Okay. I think I'm finally likegonna be okay with them being gone, but it really did it.hit me hard, so.
Anne: First of all, you did a darn good job raising them.
Thank you. Our job on this earth as a mom is to raise our kids to be independent. Yes. And be, servant leaders, if you will, and, and keep their faith and walk in love. And you did it, Lori. You did it. And congratulations. I hear your second son just got engaged and you're happy about that.
Oh, we're so thrilled. So we'll have, the daughters that we never had, we've got our oldest. Married a beautiful young lady that just makes my heart so happy. I had no idea I was missingwhat I was missing without thoughtful daughters, you know? And now we get one more. So yeah, there are such sweet things happening, and then the grand babies will come, and that'll be fun too.
Lori: But yeah, it was just this in-between stage where it just felt. I do not like the word emptiness, but it just felt so empty around here and it's like, oh. So for anyone who's facing that, hold on. It could be harder than you think. I was so optimistic that I'd be just fine 'cause I had all my hobbies, but.
Anne: Yeah. it is a life change. But that's the cool thing about Dee, sometimes I think, you know, good, bad, or indifferent, when we have things that come up with our kids, like we're more than, dental, we're, we're really women first, right? Yes. And so, I used to say that, you know, it's.
Sometimes easier to share some problem I'm having with my kids or my husband, with people that don't know me. Yeah, they know me, but they don't live down the street, so that, that's not gonna go anywhere. the zoo community is a vault and back to, I'm not alone.
you weren't the only woman that, right. I could show up and
Lori: say that, and I probably did several times. Like I'm really struggling and have people in all stages of young moms all the way to, you know. All the range.The age.
Anne: Thank you. Yeah. I've been there, done that.Yeah. I know. I think a lot of us are on speed dial for young moms.
you can tell me anything and I probably can top it, But I love that. And then you've done some other things. You've,your business I've seen grow. Likeyou know, I love that you keep hygiene and,
I think that gives you some structure in your week at least. It always did for me. Yeah.I worked Tuesday mornings at the very end, so it was five hours. Oh. It was kind of nice to say, bye everybody, have a great lunch. I'll see you next Tuesday. But it gave me the structure that I still needed. I like knowing on Monday that I gotta get my act together 'cause I am going to go to, to work tomorrow.
Yeah. Work tomorrow.Yeah. Yeah. And, and, and what a beautiful profession. If everybody could see dental hygiene is like, It's just a layer of who we are as women. One piece of it, and you can still do, your side gigs and yoga became your big side gig, which has turned into your newest offering, and I want you to tell us about that.
The wellness toolkit experience. What is it? Where do you see that going?
Lori: Oh goodness. So I, in my twenties. Was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and so I have learned a lot. God has taught me a lot through these past almost three decades. I'm almost 50 about what I would call tools, just how to be healthy, how to stay mentally healthy, and so.
Over the course of time, I have added to what he's taught me to, you know, a formal education of yoga instructor and a certified natural health educator. And so all of that led me to create a 12 part wellness series that aired on our local cable TV a couple years ago. And then they gave me, access to all the links.
And so I had my own content and was praying about what to do with it. but this is my wellness toolkit and so in it are the 12 principles that I teach. So something to remind me of each of the 12 principles. And it's really fun to have like tangible. Fun things in there, give you a sneak peek. one of the connections that I made at the last retreat, Catherine Gilliam, she introduced me to Mark and a LeBlanc. And he met with me and he said, alright, you need a book? And I was like, oh, that sounded scary. But he said, you've already got your videos. And I had written a story for each video, like a little short story.
He said, send me the script for all of your stories that are in your videos and let's see what I think. And he read it all and said, I think you've got enough content for a workbook. so people who sign up for the Wellness Toolkit experience, they watch a video, they take notes in the workbook, and then they come to a live Zoom gathering with the other women.
And we talk about that tool, that wellness principle, and what we've learned and. how we're putting it to practice. So by the end of the 12 weeks, the last principle is change and we just celebrate how much we've changed and grown and all the tools that we've learned. So it's just been really fun.
I think we're on the third round, and I'll start a new round in January of 2026, if anyone's interested. But yeah, it's been so good. Just such a blessing to be able to teach what God has taught me, basically.
Anne: Oh my gosh, that is so beautiful. And I love the toolkit. Do you actually send everybody a toolkit, but when they get started, how does that work?
Lori: Right now I ask people to find their own. So this was in my garage. It's an antique. It's old, but Oh means something. It's one of my favorite colors. Yeah. And I just, you know, I want, I love that. I want people to find something that makes them happy, that brings them joy, and then put things in it that bring them joy so that when they're having a hard day, they can open it and say, okay, I know nature helps me, and so I'm gonna go out in nature, you know, or I know.
music helps me, so I'm going to listen to music, things like that. So, very simple principles, but, yeah, I have people choose their own toolkit.
Anne: Well, I love that 'that's a very thoughtful way to get started. how yummy would it be to go find the toolkit that you have?
'causeI think women. can speak for myself. Like even in my home, everything has some kind of a meaning. Yeah. And so to be able to have something like that and then actually intentionally have things in your toolkit and here, cheers to you. We've got both of us. Oh, I got, I'm got zoom here, but my dew coffee.
Lori: And you've got your dew, uh, Yeti. That is beautiful. Lori. And I,I can imagine. That totally transcends Dew. So, you know, we do have a lot of women that listen to our podcasts that are not members of Dew. Yeah. And that's okay. How does anybody get ahold of you and how do we reach out to Lori Bulloch and yeah, find out more about the Wellness Toolkit experience andThe best way right now, breathe with [email protected] and then I can send the website and the information and I have a YouTube channel one wholehearted hygienist. So if anyone wants to do yoga with me, they can use that or come to my live yoga classes Wednesday nights. So yeah, I would love an email from anybody that listens and I can just connect them to whatever feels right.
Anne: That's beautiful. You'll meet them where they're at, which is beautiful. Well, I just love you. I'm gonna see you at the retreat in November in Charlotte. It's the 13th through 15 and you know, we've already secured that event there for 26 and 27, so
Lori:
Anne: and nobody will not get their rooms and all that kind of stuff.
Yeah. So we've got seats available.Check it out. Come meet Lori Bulloch because she's gonna be doing yoga every morning. We're gonna sign up for yoga, by the way. So if you haven't signed up for yoga in the morning, please do. And I gotta tell you, Lori I told my team yesterday, I said when I came back, I'd been on a, Tom and I were on our 50th wedding anniversary tour, whatever.
So we got back last night. I was overbooked for my yoga today, and I was like, oh my God, I, I cannot overbook yoga because it's just my time. Yeah. It is my time and I need it an all women, you know, we deserve it. deserve is a tough word. I just feel like we, need it.
To have a full day, a full life to be present, not only to ourselves, but to our families and our God and what is in front of us today so we can be our best, so you have led the charge and do I appreciate you so much. I can't wait to give you a real hug. Uh, yeah, a big one, in just a couple weeks.
Actually. It feels like a month and a half. Something like that.
Lori: It'll be
Anne: here so soon. I'll be here a few. And sothank you for joining me today on the Just Do It podcast. And if you're listening here, anybody, don't forget to keep doing you. Thank you so much, Lori. I'll see you soon. Bye. Heart. Heart. Bye.
Thank you.
