Hello, friends of fellow neighbors. Happy 2021.
And we thank you for joining us for another edition
of Live like Fred. And today I am pleased to be joined by Diane Scaloni.
She is a children's author who has, who has excused me published two books.
They are my friendship with doubt
and rules don't measure Diane.
Thank you so much for taking some time out of your day to be with us.
Um I'm so grateful to be here with you Colton. This is awesome. Thank you. No problem.
Uh Not a problem, Diane. So,
so let's uh get started here. So, um why did you decide to uh write the books?
Yeah, it's kind of funny because I,
I've always wanted to be an author
and I knew that that was like a bucket list, important thing for me.
And um one day I was, and I've always been like on this personal growth journey,
like wanting to improve myself and just,
you know, live my best life, you know, kind of like what Mr Rogers,
how he would talk about, you know.
And so I remember having a conversation with my um business coach at the time
and I was all excited to tell her that I don't need doubt in my life anymore.
And she was like,
that is so cool and you should write a book about
it
because she knew that, you know,
I would journal and would like to write and do stuff like that.
And so I don't know, probably you can relate with this.
Like, I had one of those moments when like my heart just like exploded
when she said you should write a book about
it. It was just like, oh,
I was so excited and it was like, I, you know how you know that, you know,
and it just totally made sense
and, but I had no idea like what I was gonna do. But as soon as I was open to that idea,
the idea, it just, it just flowed.
And so I got my notebook out and I had all,
I was started journaling and just writing all these ideas down.
And then I was like, oh my gosh, this is gonna be a children's book.
And I was like,
good because I don't really wanna write some kind of a novel about doubt, you know,
it's like,
so it was just, and then the picture just came into my head and,
and so that it just happened.
So it's just as a result of personal exploration, you know,
and the same thing happened with my other book too about
rulers. Don't measure is, I was um
just talking with
exploring again and like thinking,
you know what I compare myself to people an awful lot
and I really don't need to do that.
And um, and then it just came up, you know, the in my brain,
I got the picture of the little measuring stick.
That's the, on the, you know, that is our character in the book. And it just,
you know, it kind of flowed through me more than me really having a,
making a decision to do this.
Just
what are like the messages that you wanted Children and parents to um learn from,
from both my friendship with doubt and all rules don't measure.
Yeah. You know,
it's funny because they do have similar themes
and it really is about
how we are loved,
you know,
by the creator of the universe that we
really are loved regardless of what is happening
in our outer world.
You know, I, you know, I believe,
and there's like an imagination in the book that talks about how
the, the characters were with God
in heaven and then came down into earth
and, you know,
the special message that God had passed on to them about them being special.
And so I, that's what I wanted kids to know. And I know when I was a kid,
you know, I had kind of a tough growing up and, and I didn't know that I was special.
I wasn't told that ne necessarily very often
or the things that were happening around me were
scary and so much like the world today.
So I feel like the books are so appropriate for now,
you know, doubt is happening quite a bit
in our world, you know, grownups and parents, you know, grown ups and kids alike and,
and comparing ourselves is just, you know,
it's just really so common nowadays with social media.
So
it's just really kind of like perfect timing the way it's all working out. So,
so bottom line is us to know that
we are loved by our creator who, how whoever that is for you
and then it, and also that we all have our special gifts and talents.
I mean, look at what you're doing like with your broadcasting and, you know,
and putting this amazing show together
like this is a gift, you're talented, you're good at talking to people, you know,
you love to get to the heart of the matter.
And so that's your gift. And so
you're living your gift and I just really want that to be the message for, you know,
for kids just you're loved and you're special, you're loved and you're special.
And so that's why I feel like I'm so glad I'm on your show because that's kind of,
you know, the live like Fred theme is, you know, he would say that to everybody so much
d and I really, really,
I appreciate that. So
I wanna go back to something you said earlier.
So what do you have to say to people who might be experiencing doubt right now?
Knowing that you are right knowing that we are living in some tough times right now.
Yeah. Yeah. You know,
II I would say just like I would say to, to kids too,
don't stuff it down like I feel like we need to acknowledge
our feelings and understand that they are there and that we have to
look at them and explore them and then just find
some trusted people to share them with because we're,
I mean, if anything, I'm finding that
we're sort of like this is really making us, we're all in this together, you know.
And so if you're feeling doubt,
I'm sure you can find friends that are having the same experiences
and then just try to focus on like, ok, what, you know, these things are scary.
I don't know if I'm gonna get, if my job is secure, I don't know,
you know, what's gonna happen financially. But what can I focus on?
Because maybe right now I can't control things, but I can at least focus
on what's good,
you know, like spending time with family, having good friends eating a good meal.
Like, even though it's cold, this isn't my favorite weather.
I mean, the sun is the,
when the sun comes out that's something to celebrate in Pittsburgh,
you know, and the snow can be beautiful.
So, I think it's, you know, kind of like trying to focus on the, the good things.
So,
yeah,
I love that. And, um,
what about with rules? Don't measure what about with people who
might unfortunately maybe
struggle with, comparing themselves to other people?
Yeah, it is hard. That is definitely a hard one.
I mean, I, I can't say that even, like, now being a complete grown up
you just still don't have the same thing. And,
and it's interesting because
even, like, with my kids, I only have two, I have two teenage boys and
it seems like when I would be like, telling one of them, oh,
you're doing such a good job.
The other would be like, oh, well, then I must not be so good. And it's like, no,
so it's not a teeter totter.
You know, if something amazing and is good is happening for one person
that doesn't mean that you're less than, and that's the message in the book.
Like, the little measuring stick would walk around that
because this guy was like this strong muscle guy and he was so healthy and strong.
That means I'm less. No, that's not true. What do you have?
Like,
maybe you don't have all these muscles but maybe you got some good smarts about you
or, you know, like to find like, what are the things that you're good at?
And if it's hard to find it for yourself, then let's talk to people that, you know,
and love and trust and have them tell you what your strengths are.
So, you know, like if you're not, if you're 5 ft,
you know, eight,
you're not, maybe gonna be a professional basketball player,
but maybe you have other things that you're really gifted at. So
I think like, it's just not, it's not, it,
if them, they're better that then I'm less.
I just think, you know,
we all have special gifts and talents and we all have our own inner, like rock star
and we just need to find what those things in. Like, look at Mr Rogers, you know, like
he pro, it doesn't seem like he was necessarily like Mr Sporty guy
where maybe, you know, like he didn't go to a Super Bowl.
Like we see that's coming up right now,
but he was so beloved, you know, he had his own gifts
and, and now he's been, he's passed for quite some time and we are still here,
you know,
putting in the hot him in the highest of his teams. And I just think that's awesome,
you know, so we, we all have our, our own inner Fred.
Yeah, that's
it. In a Fred Diane.
I love,
yeah, that just came to me.
I love that.
What does it mean to you to
live life? Right.
Oh, my gosh. Well, I think I talked about it a little bit
but, um,
one of the things that I just find is so amazing about his life is at least what we saw.
Um,
he was so peaceful
like he was Joe Chill
and, and I know that sometimes people would, like,
make fun of him because he was like, he was so methodical and slow and, you know,
fed the fish.
So, like he fed the fish for like, you know, a couple minutes
and we're like, in such like this fast paced, you know,
we got to jam a bunch of stuff in.
I love that. He was, like, calm and centered
and thoughtful
and wanting to, like, get the most out of every moment.
Like, ah, that is so much needed in our world today
and just, you know, and just his imagination, like,
he could take the simplest little things and, like, even just like feeding the fish
and having this conversation that I know that he calmed
so many people's blood pressure
just being on, you know.
So that's one of the things and you didn't judge.
He was just so open and really, truly seeing people's gifts,
no matter who he spent time with.
He saw their inner self. I just thought that was so beautiful. Yeah.
Those are all trades. I love of Fred as well.
And then, uh, what, what makes a snappy new day for you, Diane?
Yeah.
Um. Oh, wow. Like today, like this,
I love this,
you know, spending time with you,
um, having a conversation. About uplifting things and trying to make a difference.
Like that is totally snappy.
Um,
spending time with my dog,
you know, just like chilling and petting and, you know, and I,
our family will sit together and we're like, look at him,
look how cute he is and I didn't even want a dog and they talked me into it
in the last like three years but
like, you know, just, um,
journaling and writing and giggling with friends and
having like that knowing look with your,
with my husband.
Um
you know, just like living life and,
and making a difference and um
inspiring people and helping someone
like those are all really valuable things in a day for sure.
What kind of dog do you have?
He is a Jack A po. So he's a Jack Russell and a Poodle mix
and then he has some kind of terrier in him too.
So he's like £20 and scruffy and just super cute and I'm glad he's not being,
making noise right now.
Yeah.
And then I finally Diane, oh,
where can folks purchase the books if they have um any interest?
Oh, thank you. Yeah, that would be great. They are on Amazon.
So self published um through Amazon,
both available there and then I have a website which is Diane
Scalone dot com
and I'm sure you probably like, can you put the link,
like put a link in the introduction or something or
do you want me to spell out my scalone?
He's a tricky name. Of course then.
Yeah, I'm, I'm, we're gonna put a link down below to on the
uh Amazon link to purchase your books and also your website as well. Awesome.
Awesome. I appreciate that. Ok. Yeah, I would love to connect with anybody and
have conversations. I've been doing like some virtual things with kids and um
you know, I love having this conversation. So thank you so much. No problem Diane.
And we thank you so much for joining us.
We hope you enjoy the rest of your day and
we wish you nothing but the best in your future.
Um Have you ever thought about maybe May um
um writing some more books or is this maybe the end of the line for you?
Number three is in the works? Oh, awesome. Well,
great
to hear about Diane. Thank you so much for joining us today. I appreciate it.
Thank you so much, Colton. It's a pleasure.