Hal Elrod: Hello, friends. Welcome to the Achieve Your Goals podcast. This is your host, Hal Elrod, and I am here today with my mom, none other than Julie Wilson. Obviously, my guest today has shaped me more than anyone else. If you followed my journey, you know that my sister died when I was eight years old in my mother’s arms. I was a troubled teen. You may not know that. Then my mother got a phone call that I had a car accident and may or may not be alive when she got to the hospital. Then at 37 years old, I was diagnosed with rare cancer and given a 30% chance of surviving. She got that phone call as well, and there’s a lot more in between. But you’ve heard my story. You haven’t heard hers. And so, this is a long time overdue. Mom, I’m really excited to talk to you today.

Julie Wilson: Thanks for having me, Hal. I’m always happy to talk about you.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. There you go. Wait, I want to talk about you more than me. Yeah.

Julie Wilson: Okay.

Hal Elrod: And you don’t mind talking about yourself, I mean, if we’re honest.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. It’s alright.

Hal Elrod: And by the way, this is the first, this is also a very special moment in the podcast in that I’m not set up in my home office to do home interviews and this is the first. Thanks for the patience in getting all of this set up to work.

Julie Wilson: I don’t mind. That’s what moms are for.

Hal Elrod: Alright. So, I’ve got a list of things I want to talk to you about because I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to miss anything. And part of what prompted me for the interview is we were talking yesterday and what our listeners probably don’t know is a year ago or a little less than a year ago, you fell off of a ladder. The ladder broke and literally caved in. It broke, and you fell from how far? How tall?

Julie Wilson: About six feet.

Hal Elrod: Six feet up. And you landed on your heel. You shattered your heel. Liquified it, I think, is what the doctor said.

Julie Wilson: Yes.

Hal Elrod: And you broke your wrist. I mean, your hand literally came off, like it broke off of… It was off to the side, right?

Julie Wilson: Yes.

Hal Elrod: And we were talking about that yesterday and you were saying how every day is the best day ever and you’ve never once let your injury, which you’re still not fully recovered from, you’ve never felt like a victim, never felt sorry for yourself. You’ve still done everything in your power to, like, you’ve been creative to be self-sufficient, although you have a lot of friends helping you as well. I want to start with, we’re going to go into the details of adversities you’ve been through, but we’ll just start with that one and just, in general, what is your view of life and your view of the challenges that we all faced and you I think have faced, especially as a mom, some more difficult than most.

Julie Wilson: Yep. Well, I know like with the accident, they wanted at first to put me in a home, rest home, or whatever, and I just knew I could take care of myself. I mean, I’m in the emergency. They’re casting me up and I go, “I need a chair on wheels. If I have a chair on wheels, I can get around with one leg and one arm.” So, the whole time I was home, I was by myself pretty much except for friends coming by, but I lived alone and I just knew I could do this. I didn’t even have a doubt. That was what I found kind of interesting. I didn’t feel sorry for myself. Didn’t think it was a horrible thing. I just was going to go home and take care of myself. That’s it.

Hal Elrod: And you’ve told me before that like when I went through the car accident and the five-minute rule that I learned from my mentor, Jesse, and the “Can’t Change It” mindset, that you’ve applied that to your circumstances into this accident in particular.

Julie Wilson: Well, I love ‘Can’t Change It.’ I mean, I use that all the time. Doesn’t matter what it is, traffic or anything I do. Any mistakes I make, “Eh, I can’t change it,” so I just move on and try not to make it again.

Hal Elrod: I love it. It’s such a simple philosophy but those three words are so liberating.

Julie Wilson: They’re wonderful.

Hal Elrod: Right? Yeah. “Oh wait, I can’t change it. There’s no point in dwelling on it. No point in feeling sorry for myself. No point in being angry. Got to move on,” right?

Julie Wilson: Yep, that’s right.

Hal Elrod: So, I want to go back to what… It’s got to be one of the hardest experiences of your life as a mom. And it’s when Amery passed away. Amery, I was eight years old and she was 18 months, I believe.

Julie Wilson: 16 months.

Hal Elrod: 16 months. Her birthday happens to be tomorrow, which is…

Julie Wilson: Yes, it does.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. The timing is interesting in that regard.

Julie Wilson: Yes.

Hal Elrod: So, talk about Amery. So, she was born with a rare heart defect.

Julie Wilson: She was born with dwarfism. And one of the side effects of her type of dwarfism is an enlarged heart.

Hal Elrod: And what’s dwarfism?

Julie Wilson: She’s a little person. Yeah. She had a very rare type of dwarfism. It was called metatropic dysplasia. So, she had a lot of physical disabilities, joints, and her back. And so, kyphosis, scoliosis. She was probably never going to walk. The interesting thing was she was 24 inches at birth and at full grown, they said she would probably not be over 48 inches tall.

Hal Elrod: So, she would only double her height from birth. Wow.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. But 24 inches for a baby is really big.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. And weren’t you told to have an abortion?

Julie Wilson: No, I wasn’t. We didn’t know she was going to be born disabled. We had no idea. And I wouldn’t have gotten an abortion anyways. But, yeah, her 16 months was absolutely joyful so, yeah.

Hal Elrod: And what were those 16 months like? How often were you and dad in the hospital with her?

Julie Wilson: In the beginning, we took her down to LA to go to UCLA to have her just diagnosed and figure out what is it, what she got. And then after that, not very often actually, just X-rays. And then we had just taken her to have a special car seat made for her, and we took her to Shriners Hospital where they did a complete evaluation of everything and she died just a few days after that. Then we got the results of her tests about three days after she had already passed away where they found the heart defect. We never knew she had a heart defect until then.

Hal Elrod: Oh wow.

Julie Wilson: She was already gone at that point.

Hal Elrod: So, it was a Saturday morning the morning she passed. Was that right?

Julie Wilson: I don’t remember what day of the week. I just know your dad was at work.

Hal Elrod: Dad was at work. Hayley was at grandma’s house, my sister Hayley. And you were nursing?

Julie Wilson: Yeah. We were in bed that morning. It was maybe eight o’clock nursing her, singing her a lullaby just like every other morning. And her heart just stopped.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. You say that you looked down and her eyes were just glossed over.

Julie Wilson: I saw it in her eyes.

Hal Elrod: And my memory and I don’t know how accurate it is. It was so long ago. It was what? 37 years ago. But I remember waking up to you wailing, essentially, “My baby! My baby! Oh, my baby!” And I remember as I was coming to thinking, “Oh, mom’s playing with Amery, my baby, my baby.” And then I sensed like what, I can’t even describe, was going through the fear, the desperation that this can’t be happening. And so, I ran across the hallway and I found you I think at that point you were performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Julie Wilson: I brought her in the living room. Yeah.

Hal Elrod: In the living room, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. And then you told me, if I remember correctly, you said, “Run to Grant, to the neighbor’s house.” And we lived in the mountain, so we lived on an acre. So, it wasn’t like a subdivision where you’re right next door. So, I’m running across the yard, across pine needles to Grant’s House. And Grant was how old at the time?

Julie Wilson: 75, 80.

Hal Elrod: 75, 80-years-old and he was on oxygen. Is that why you wanted me to get him?

Julie Wilson: That is, yes. That’s the only thing I could think of. But we called 9-1-1 too in there.

Hal Elrod: I called 9-1-1, right? You relayed what to say. I remember it was in between breaths that you were performing CPR. And you’re trying to tell me what to say and answering where we live, all the questions. And then I remember going to Grant’s and saying, “Grant, hurry, hurry. Bring your oxygen.” And poor Grant’s 80 years old trying to wheel this oxygen across pine needles and rocks and sticks. And then when we put it on Amery’s face, it was too big.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. It didn’t work.

Hal Elrod: Right? Yeah.

Julie Wilson: But the ambulance was there really fast I think like six minutes. It was very fast.

Hal Elrod: Okay. And then how did we call? Because I know I went to Janine’s house, my friend, Ben’s mother, our family friend. And what made you decide to send me? Was dad home at that point? How did that…

Julie Wilson: No. He met me at the hospital.

Hal Elrod: Okay. And then did I call Janine or did you? I’m sorry. Personally, I’m trying to recall.

Julie Wilson: I think after the ambulance got there.

Hal Elrod: We called Janine.

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

Hal Elrod: And she came and picked me up.

Julie Wilson: Right.

Hal Elrod: And then you went to the hospital. Now was Amery, did you know she was gone at that point or were you hoping that they could save her?

Julie Wilson: They were still trying to save her.

Hal Elrod: Got it. Okay.

Julie Wilson: They were trying everything. Yeah. They worked on her for a long time.

Hal Elrod: I remember I was playing at Ben’s house and I just assumed, “Oh, Amery’s going to be fine. Ambulance is there. That’s what they do. They save people.” Like, I wasn’t worried at all. And then I got a call from dad and it was probably the first time I heard him cry, I think. And he just said, “Amery’s in heaven.” And I remember I don’t know if you know this or not, this is a defining moment I think in how I process grief. So, I walked out in the living room after dad told me that.

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

Hal Elrod: And I don’t remember what I was thinking. I just know what I said, which is I went out into the living room where Andy and Ben, his little brother, they’re playing and Janine, and I said, “Hey, everybody, guess where Amery is,” in this really upbeat voice. And I remember Janine, I can picture her furrowing her brow. I think she knew. And I said, “She’s in heaven. Isn’t that great? Heaven’s supposed to be the best place, right? Isn’t that the best place ever?” And I think as an 8-year-old kid, and I’ve done this in therapy like I’ve talked through this and tried to psychoanalyze or whatever that I think I don’t know what’s happening and I don’t know the emotions. I’ve never felt this. I don’t know how to process this. I don’t understand this. And then I immediately was like, “Oh wait, if you just find the positive in it, it feels better.”

Hal Elrod: Yeah. But you were so young. I mean, yeah, you were so young, and I know you wanted to pray. You said, “Mommy, should I pray?” And I said, “Yeah.”

Hal Elrod: While we were waiting for the ambulance, right?

Julie Wilson: While waiting for the, yeah, the ambulance. And you just were on your little knees.

Hal Elrod: So, when Amery passed away, how did you find the strength to keep going? What followed that?

Julie Wilson: It was hard at first. Very, very hard. And then I have to say I talked to the priest, Father Tunasi, at church, and he said, “Are you angry and you’re hurting?” And he says, “Just talk to God.” He said, “And yell at Him. If you’re mad, yell at Him. Tell him off.” So, I went to church and the church was empty, by myself, and I just let God have it. And then I got this feeling of just peace, just absolute peace.

Hal Elrod: Wow.

Julie Wilson: And I drove home from church and I was okay. And I knew I was okay and I was going to be okay. And then of course changed the direction of my focus on life after that.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. How so?

Julie Wilson: Well, grief, I had to learn how to grieve and get through the grief process and I realized in our little community, there was no place to go for grief work. And so, I started my own grief group like a Compassionate Friends group. And I was amazed to find out how many people in our little town had lost children that I didn’t even know about.

Hal Elrod: And Compassionate Friends is a national or international organization for parents who’ve lost young children?

Julie Wilson: All ages.

Hal Elrod: All ages. Okay. Got it. For parents who lost children.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. So, I did that and then of course your dad and I started doing Kid’s Day to raise money for Valley Children’s. It did change our lives, definitely.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. And Valley Children’s was a hospital where Amery received a lot of care.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. She had gone there before for some care. Yeah.

Hal Elrod: I remember every year we would sell Kid’s Day papers. That was a big annual tradition for our family.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. Raised a lot of money.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Compassionate Friends, how long after Amery passed away did you start the chapter in Oakhurst?

Julie Wilson: Probably started it within a year and ran it for about 10 years.

 

Hal Elrod: Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah. And I tell that story a lot if somebody asked me in an interview once, “Where did you get this mindset of helping people from your accident?” And I just went, “Wait a minute. It was my mom and dad learning how they took their tragedy,” and you turned your pain into purpose for helping. How did that help you? Like, what was the meaning? What did it mean to you? How did it help you to lead a group of people who you were helping them get through what you were still going through, I mean, after only a year?

 

Julie Wilson: I think, because when I went to Compassionate Friends in Fresno originally when I first started, I got a lot out of it and it helped me understand grief a little bit better. And it helped me. And I’m reading a lot of books. I read a lot of books on grief. Yeah. And that was so helpful. And so, when I started my group, I had a lot of books to add and I started a library for anybody else that wanted to read all the books that I’d read.

 

Hal Elrod: How did that change you as a mom after that? Meaning so Amery passed away, your youngest, and then you’ve got me at eight years old, Hayley, around six or seven, a year and a half younger than me. Were you more grateful? Were you more protective? Like, what was it like to be a mom after you lost a child?

 

Julie Wilson: I think I was always protective. I don’t know if I could have gotten any more protective than I’d been already, but just grateful for you two. And you were, of course, a huge catalyst in knowing I had to keep going. I had to raise you two because you were just as important as Amery was. All three of you were the same. And so, I had to just do what I had to do for you guys. And you were, of course, a big part of keeping me going. I had to wake up every day, get your breakfast, and get you off to school and all that. And we just added the extra Kid’s Day stuff and the Compassionate Friends. I added things, but I still did everything else the same.

 

Hal Elrod: Fast forward a little bit. What was going through your head, I guess, during my teenage years when I was getting detention, getting in trouble, getting suspended from school, stealing the car, getting brought home by the police on New Year’s Eve? What was it like being…

 

Julie Wilson: Let me start that first. You were the best baby ever.

 

Hal Elrod: Okay. Alright. We’ll start there.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. Nine pounds, seven ounces, and slept through the night at two weeks old. Napped four or five hours a day. You were so good. Potty trained at 18 months. So good. And then your little sister was born, Hayley was born, and then that all went out the window and the terrible two started and it lasted until you were 18. But you were a little bit, you were like me. I was hyperactive but I was probably ADHD. You were probably the same. We’d never diagnosed anything, but I was hyperactive like you were too. I just didn’t get in trouble as much as you did, but you never did anything bad.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. I was never mean-spirited.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. Never mean-spirited.

 

Hal Elrod: I was just a class clown, basically.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. Class clown, hyperactive, but so smart. I mean, you tested 99% on the state tests. You were chosen for the school spelling bee. You were so smart. You used to amaze me and you used to amaze your teachers too because you were so smart. You could be fooling around on one side, but you could quote everything, the lecture that was given to you by the teacher because they would question you, “Okay. Hal, what did I just say?” You said blah, blah, blah, blah and the teachers were amazed. “How did he hear me after he was doing, yeah, pulling the girl’s ponytail or whatever?” Yeah. So, you were never a bad kid at least in other things I knew.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. And so, yeah, I mean, I definitely gave you some gray hairs, I’m sure.

 

Julie Wilson: A few.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. I do remember being brought home, I was probably 17, by the police on New Year’s Eve. I had gotten intoxicated.

 

Julie Wilson: With your cousin.

 

Hal Elrod: With my cousin, and we got brought home. It was like 11:30, midnight, I don’t know, late around midnight-ish. And I remember the police officer walked us to the back door and you answered the door and you just were not happy. He said, “Ma’am, I can leave. You can take him or I can take him to juvenile hall.” And you said, “Take him to juvenile hall,” and dad in the background, the softie, “No! No! My sister will kill me if you take your son for 4th of July to juvenile hall.” Now, what is your thought on kind of like tough love kind of parenting?

 

Julie Wilson: Oh, I was tough love. Oh yeah. And the next morning you two boys had hangovers. I had a pot in a pan with a spoon and I’m banging them in your ear and you’re both just moaning. And I said, “Get up. You are going to remember this hangover. You’re not sleeping through this hangover. You’re going to get up and you got chores and whatever.” And I made you get up and you two were miserable. You never brought home drunk again.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. No, that’s true. That’s true. Where was I going to go with that? Oh, during high school, what were your thoughts on my future? Were you like, “He’s in trouble,” because I think I sit in detention for like the most hours or a record for the most hours of detention at high school? So, I was always getting in trouble and, again, never mean-spirited. I wasn’t getting in fights. I was just talking a lot essentially. So, what were your thoughts on like were you worried at all like what Hal’s going to amount to in the future?

 

Julie Wilson: Well, you were getting Saturday school a lot, which meant I had to get up on Saturdays to take you. So, I talked to the vice principal because you would come home and go, “Yeah, we had pizza,” and I’m like, “I’m up at dawn to get you to school on a Saturday.” So, I talked to the vice principal and I said, “Look, I want him to clean the bathrooms while he’s here.”

 

Hal Elrod: Nice.

 

Julie Wilson: So, that Saturday you came home mad. “You can’t believe what they made me do, mom. They made me clean the bathrooms.” And I said, “And if you get Saturday school again, you’ll be cleaning out the septic tank with a toothbrush. So, it’s not going to get better for you.” But then when you started doing your deejaying and your radio show, and you were so dynamic and so confident and so hardworking, well, you worked hard in the store. You and Hayley, both hardworking kids. You had great work ethic, you know?

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah.

 

Julie Wilson: So, I mean, I saw that and I knew you were going to do good.

 

Hal Elrod: That’s a good point, right? I was 11 years old when you bought the grocery store, for those that don’t know, the Oakhurst Market, which dad worked at, was a manager at, and his dream was always to be a business owner. And so, he made it happen. And that was built in 1945, right? And then we bought it in 1991. So, it was what? 46 years old. And for those that don’t know as well, we lived in the grocery store, which was so cool. The house was behind in the building. You literally walked. I always tell people like if you’re checking people out in the check stand and you take six steps, just the front door to our living room and our kitchen, right?

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

Hal Elrod: And it was so cool because if we wanted cereal or milk, we would just come out in our pajamas, grab food, go back. We’d roller skate and turn it into a roller skating rink at night when it was closed. It was a blast. But, yeah, so then I got hired, really, I think at 11. I mean, I think it was right away I started working at the store.

 

Julie Wilson: Oh, yeah, you and Hayley both Immediately. You guys were checking, stocking, bringing in grocery loads. You did it all.

 

Hal Elrod: And then at 15, Jake Williams, who you were still in touch with, my best friend back then. We got to deejay a school dance because his brother got sick, his older brother, and couldn’t do it. And then that’s when my deejay career kind of took off. And then Larry Gamble, the owner of the radio station, heard I was a deejay, called, invited me to, yeah. And I remember I was using your, you guys had a computer and a printer and, I mean, that was like a computer like no color graphics I think. And I remember I made flyers and put them all over town. I got a pager. Yeah. Anyway, it’s all coming back to me as I’m talking right now.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. And you had those huge speakers for the deejay business and we used to have to haul them and take them.

 

Hal Elrod: That was a blast. Yeah, that makes sense that you would go, “Okay. He’s got a chance of, you know.”

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. You were doing great at that point.

 

Hal Elrod: Being entrepreneurial at a young age.

 

Julie Wilson: Well, I challenged your energy. You were just energetic and you’re so smart. Your brain was just going and going.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. I get it from you.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: Both of those, yeah, talkativeness, energy. So, fast forward to when I was 19. So, first of all, I go off to college at 18 to live with my friend. His parents say, “Nope, Hal can’t live here.” So, I’m sleeping in my car. You remember that? Like, what was that time like?

 

Julie Wilson: You didn’t tell us you were sleeping in your car until later.

Hal Elrod: Okay, got it.

Julie Wilson: I had no idea.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. So, I’m living in my car. And after my first year of college, I get hired at Cutco. So, that’s what I’m really curious because I know you told me later. You didn’t tell me at the time you were very supportive. I think you were a little like warning hesitant or just kind of, “Hal, are you sure? And what is this?” But it’s a commission-only job, essentially. I’m selling kitchen knives, which I’ve never sold anything in people’s homes. And so, what were your thoughts when I came home and said, “Hey, I got hired. I’m going to sell Cutco”?

 

Julie Wilson: I never heard of it before for one thing. And then I was skeptical. I was. But when you wanted to get that radio show at that big station in Visalia…

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Which was right before Cutco. I got the job and like a week or two later I got hired at Cutco.

 

Julie Wilson: And I told you, I said, “Well, Hal, honey, you’re only 18. You haven’t gone to broadcasting school. They’re not going to hire you. They may not hire you, honey.” And you went, “Mom, if I can just get in the door, they’re going to hire me.” You were on the radio that night at midnight and your dad and I drove all the way down to Coarsegold to listen to you because we couldn’t get you in Oakhurst.

 

Hal Elrod: How funny. That’s wild. Yeah. So, that was my dream. I was like, “Okay. I’m a radio deejay now, officially.” And then my buddy talks me into… Teddy Watson. Remember Teddy?

Julie Wilson: Yep.

Hal Elrod: Talks me into going and interviewing at Cutco, which he had worked for a year or so. And I get the job and so then I’m doing both. I’m deejaying midnight to 6:00 AM and then I’m driving at 6:00 AM to Fresno, an hour and a half, to go through training from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM then drive back to Visalia. Deejay midnight to six and then go back to training. It was crazy. And I ended up falling asleep at the wheel my second weekend and then I was like, “I got to pick one,” and Cutco was it. So, what I remember is you and dad telling me later though that you, maybe it was dad, I don’t know, but that you guys didn’t like the idea of me doing Cutco, which I would imagine for any parent, like.

 

Julie Wilson: I didn’t know anything about it. I think that was my biggest thing.

Hal Elrod: Unknown.

Julie Wilson: And I thought, “Oh, sales is so hard.” Even though I know you did the online phone sales for a while for that…

 

Hal Elrod: Telemarketer, whatever, yeah, for vacation rentals or something.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. You were funny. They loved you because you were really funny when you did it. I think we talked a little bit about what I remember, stories, using accents. If you were calling somebody with a certain last name, you would try to sound like them.

Hal Elrod: Like them? Yeah. That’s funny.

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: So, I’m selling Cutco and then I remember you guys turned support. I mean, in my first 10 days I broke the fast start record. So, it’s like I remember you guys telling me that you went from being skeptical and unsure and kind of worried for me to like, “Oh wow, he’s committed. He’s dedicated.” So, was there a shift and you were like, “Hey, let’s like go.” I remember you guys got really behind it and supportive because you’re the one that referred.

Julie Wilson: All my friends. Yeah.

Hal Elrod: You referred. All my initial customers came from you.

 

Julie Wilson: That’s right. Everybody bought it. Everybody. All of our friends. Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: So, a year and a half into my Cutco career, I get hit head-on by a drunk driver driving home from a Cutco speech. And I’m found dead at the scene. Heart stopped for six minutes. My best friend at the time, Jeremy Katen, found me. He was a minute behind me on the freeway and when he found me, I was in a coma. So, he thought I was dead. My eye was crushed, 11 broken bones. I’m bleeding down my face, I mean, he’s described. I get into tears when I hear him describe what it was like to find me like that. What was it like for you to get the phone call from Jeremy?

 

Julie Wilson: Well, the weird thing was your dad and I weren’t supposed to be home that night. We were supposed to be staying in a hotel for this event that we had never not gone to. Your dad had been man of the year the year before so he was going to pass the torch to the next, the new man of the year. I was on the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and just earlier that day, we both went, “I don’t want to go.” We just didn’t want to go. And we’ve always gone. And so, this was before cell phones. And had we gone that night, nobody would have been able to find us. Nobody…

 

Hal Elrod: Knew where you were, yeah.

 

Julie Wilson: And you were alive when we got to the hospital, but maybe if we wouldn’t have gotten there and talked to you like we did and hugged you and kissed you and everything, it could have made a world of difference.

 

Hal Elrod: What was the drive like? Because it was roughly two hours from Oakhurst to Modesto. So, when Jeremy called, what did he say? I remember he said he called you and I think Dad answered, and Jeremy…

Julie Wilson: I answered.

Hal Elrod: You answered?

 

Julie Wilson: We were asleep.

 

Hal Elrod: Initially, Jeremy said you hung up the first time. He couldn’t get the words out of his mouth to tell you. I can’t imagine breaking that news to a parent, right? So, then when you do answer the phone, he calls back. I think you answered the phone. What did he say? What did you say?

 

Julie Wilson: He just said, “Hal’s been in an accident. It’s bad.” And at that point, I just handed the phone to your dad. I couldn’t listen to it anymore. I think I just started getting dressed because I think he said that he’s in Modesto. And I gave the phone to your dad and I just started getting dressed. I’m, “We’re going.” Yeah. And then I think your dad called his brother, Michael, and Wendy, and they came with us. And your dad drove…

 

Hal Elrod: 100-something miles an hour.

 

Julie Wilson: No. Really fast. Really fast. Oh, and Hayley came too.

 

Hal Elrod: Okay.

 

Julie Wilson: That’s right. Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: Was she at home with you at the time?

 

Julie Wilson: She was still living at home.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Okay. So, you get there. I’m in a coma.

 

Julie Wilson: Yes. In fact, when we got there, they said, “Oh, the Elrod family,” and they took us to a small room with Kleenex and the counselor or chaplain or something came in the room and gave us the news, “He’s not going to make it tonight.”

Hal Elrod: Oh really?

Julie Wilson: “But we’re going to let you go in and get some goodbye and everything.” And you were just — they hadn’t cleaned all the glass. You had glass all over you and pieces of metal, all kinds of stuff. You were just in pieces. And they had cut your shirt off and stuff, so it was just your bare chest. And I just went in there and kissed you and kissed you and told you, “You better not die tonight because I’m your mother and I’m the boss and you’re living. That’s it. Period. You’re not going to die.”

 

Hal Elrod: I can’t even imagine seeing me just because I was so broken up, you know, bloody and broken.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: And then you all slept at the hospital that night?

 

Julie Wilson: We never left forever.

 

Hal Elrod: So, for seven weeks that I was in the hospital, you all never left.

Julie Wilson: Never went home.

Hal Elrod: Somebody was always with me. I remember that.

 

Julie Wilson: Yep.

 

Hal Elrod: And so, obviously, you’re praying. I’m in a coma. And so, I was in a coma for six days. During that time, you’re just hopeful?

 

Julie Wilson: Oh, yeah. In your room, yeah, talking to you and all your friends were very supportive coming by supporting your dad and I and Hayley. Yeah. It was a lot of support. And then, yeah, that sixth day you came at… Well, Brian Bedel, as I remember, said to you that he was going home and that he was going to take care of your girlfriend while you’re here if you know what I mean. And you gave him the bird.

 

Hal Elrod: From my coma, I flipped him off.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. And we went, “Oh my gosh.” The doctor said you were brain-dead.

 

Hal Elrod: Oh, wow.

 

Julie Wilson: Oh, yeah. They said you were brain-dead.

 

Hal Elrod: Because of the brain damage.

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

Hal Elrod: Oh, wow.

 

Julie Wilson: They said you were going to be brain dead and never walk, never talk, nothing. And then I saw that bird and I thought, “Oh, my gosh, he’s in there.” And then we asked you questions and we said like, “Hal, yes, one finger. No, two fingers.” And we asked you all kinds of questions. “Honey, are you in pain, yes or no?” Just kept trying to think of questions. And you answered them.

 

Hal Elrod: I mean, that’s so picture perfect that the way you… I come out of the coma as I flip off Brian, my high school friend, Brian Bedel, for telling me he is going to take care of my girlfriend.

 

Julie Wilson: Well, and another funny thing was the whole time you were in your coma, we tried to make light of it when you were in your coma. We tried to be lighthearted and talk lighthearted and joke, not serious.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. No fear or anything.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. And the nurses and the doctors, “He’ll probably never talk or anything.” And I said, “Well, if he does start talking, the first thing he is going to do is sell you a Cutco. He’s going to try to sell you a Cutco.” And they’re laughing at me, “Oh, you know? No, he’s not.” And I said, “Oh, yes, he is.” Swear to heaven, Hal, after you woke up out of your coma, “Mom, did you ask him if they had Cutco?” I mean, I knew it.

 

Hal Elrod: It’s funny. My whole world was Cutco at that time.

Julie Wilson: It was.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, a year and a half into my Cutco career.

 

Julie Wilson: That gave you a lot of purpose, though, to get better.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Well, what it helped me do is I feel like other than the deejaying, which was kind of cool, I just felt like I was very mediocre my whole life in terms of like compared to other kids, I didn’t get great grades. I wasn’t an athlete. I wasn’t popular. The deejaying was very cool, but I always felt like just like most of us. I’m nobody special. And then Cutco was like, “Oh, wow. When we make a decision to do whatever it takes to achieve a goal like I, we, we can do anything.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. You were funny in the hospital and we made light of it, and I think that helped you heal too. Just, yeah, not being serious. Just…

 

Hal Elrod: Just light, loving, fun, happy.

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

Hal Elrod: So, over the years, obviously, I’ve gone through a lot with the car accident and then the financial crash in 2008. I don’t know how much I… How open was I with you guys about that? I don’t remember.

 

Julie Wilson: Pretty open. I mean, we knew about the house and losing the house and, you know.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. And then Miracle Morning starts. Well, it was slow. I self-published it. No one knew who I was, but I just kept sharing it, kept sharing it, and kept sharing it, and starts taking off and I’m getting invited to places. I’m just curious. Is there any aspect of the Miracle Morning, like, was there a moment where you’re like you can remember, “Oh, Hal’s going to Brazil or Paris”? I’m just wondering if there was something that, for you as a mom where you’re like, “Whoa”? Because I know now you tell me people talk to you about it all the time.

Julie Wilson: Oh, yeah.

Hal Elrod: You always meet people. So, I’m just wondering like if there was a moment where something clicked and you’re like, “Wow, this Miracle Morning thing is…”

 

Julie Wilson: I think with the Miracle Morning, well, even with your first book…

 

Hal Elrod: Taking Life Head On

 

Julie Wilson: Taking Life Head On, I mean, yeah, but that was great that you could do that too.

That was amazing that you wrote that book and then The Miracle Morning. But I think I was just always just proud. I was just, yeah, whatever you did, and I promoted it and anything I could think of for you to do to sign books at the local library, the local bookstore in Oakhurst, whatever it took. I thought I just wanted to promote you and sell you to everybody.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. You’re always my biggest promoter, mom. All right. One more question about something that I went through that, again, I’m just really wanting your perspective of what it was like and then I want to transition to really talk about you in terms of some of your values and your mindset and perspectives and all the things, but cancer, right? So, at 20 was my car accident. You went through all of that. And then at 37, when life’s great, I’m married. I’ve got two kids. I’ve moved from California to Texas. Miracle Morning is taking off. Everything’s going really well.

We have a great, well, that’s one thing that’s been cool is you and I and me and dad, like I’ve had a great relationship with you guys through all of it, right? Literally, I can’t remember a moment where I’ve ever not felt great about you as a mom.

Julie Wilson: Yeah, me neither.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, which is cool. Sadly, not everyone is that fortunate, but I’m very blessed in that way. So, you’re with Ursula, my wife. You’re with Ursula in Colorado with the kids. I was having trouble breathing and so I stayed back. But I didn’t want to keep the kids and you and Ursula away from grandma. You were so excited to see them.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: And then you all were at the zoo when I called Ursula when I got diagnosed with cancer. Tell me about that phone call. When did she tell you? How did it happen?

 

Julie Wilson: It was devastating. Yeah. And then we need to get her home. Get her and the kids back to you and I was just at the point we’re praying.

 

Hal Elrod: Was there a little bit of like, “Again, God? Are you…”

 

Julie Wilson: That was it. I said, “Lord, you know what? You took my daughter and I still loved you. You almost took my son and I still loved you. But not again and I know you don’t give us more than we can handle, but you’re really pushing it.” Because I can talk to God like that because Father Tunasi gave me permission.

Hal Elrod: That’s how I talk to God too.

Julie Wilson: I can talk to God like, “Hey, buddy, you know what, you’re really pushing me on this one. You know?” But, yeah, and I think we still even got through that with some laughter and some trying to be positive even though it was hard. But I know you. You’re such a positive person, but I know you had your downtime too like in your movie and stuff. But, again, we just stuck by you. Your dad was always there. I got there when I could when I wasn’t working. Hayley was there. Yeah. We just weren’t going to leave you. Well, you were never left alone. Never. Same thing with your car accident. You were never left alone. And then when you had your cancer, you were never left alone. There was no way.

 

Hal Elrod: And was there a mindset around that? “My Hal shouldn’t be alone,” or, “We don’t want to be without him”? Or was there…?

 

Julie Wilson: Well, because the nurses don’t come and check on you like they’re supposed to. I didn’t want you to ever have to suffer or anything. And then we were cooking for you in the bathroom and stuff.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Making smoothies in the hospital, organic smoothies. Yeah.

 

Julie Wilson: Had the skillet. Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: So, through everything, Amery, my car accident, the cancer, I still have brain damage, you’ve remained strong, optimistic. What do you credit that resilience to?

 

Julie Wilson: I think it’s just how I’ve lived my life. I don’t know. I’m just…

 

Hal Elrod: Was there anybody that you were modeling or anyone in your life that was that way?

 

Julie Wilson: My dad, I guess, to a point, yeah, because he had cancer three times before he finally died. Suffered a lot. A lot. And always cheerful. Never complained even at the end when he was so, so, so sick. Just never, he never complained. Because he died right after you were born. You’re named after your grandpa.

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Hubert Al Wilson. And he went by the initial H.

 

Julie Wilson: Hobert Al Wilson. Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: Did he not like Hobert? Which is why he went by…

 

Julie Wilson: He didn’t like Hobert so he went by Al.

 

Hal Elrod: H. Al Wilson. Yeah.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah. He got to hold you after you were born. He was even at the hospital when you were born, even though the doctor said he should be dead. The only thing keeping him alive is seeing you born. That was it. And we didn’t know if you were going to be a boy or a girl.

 

Hal Elrod: Oh, yeah.

 

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

 

Hal Elrod: Alright. Now, let’s talk about you. I want to shift gears, you as a woman, not just as a mom. So, start with the most recent tragedy, which you already mentioned. Last year, you fell off the ladder. You broke your heel. I mean, your whole side of your foot, right? I mean, it’s…

Julie Wilson: Yeah, just disintegrated my heel.

Hal Elrod: Disintegrated your heel. And when you fell off, you said your wrist like broke off of your, like you were…

Julie Wilson: My hand broke all the way off.

Hal Elrod: Off. Broke off the wrist.

Julie Wilson: Yeah.

Hal Elrod: Ugh, gruesome. Let’s start with you didn’t call me and tell me because it was around my birthday and you didn’t want to upset me on my birthday. You called me like four or five days after it happened.

 

Julie Wilson: Because you were on a trip with Ursula or something. I mean, you couldn’t do anything.

 

Hal Elrod: But I wanted to. Now, I remember I was in my closet and you called. I go, “Mom, you should have told me when it happened.” I want to know. I’m here for you.

 

Julie Wilson: Gosh, I didn’t tell anybody else. Grandma or anybody.

 

Hal Elrod: Oh, yeah.

 

Julie Wilson: Until for a month, over a month.

 

Hal Elrod: So, most people would’ve been discouraged, right? I mean, your hand breaks off your wrists, very severe. Your foot breaks. So, you’re laying there on the ground. By the way, let’s actually start in the moment. You’re laying on the ground. How did you get to the hospital?

 

Julie Wilson: Luckily, I’d been taking pictures. I was power washing. I was proud of how…

 

Hal Elrod: Yeah. Talk about what you were doing, by the way. Why are you power washing your own house? How old are you, mom?

 

Julie Wilson: I was 66.

 

Hal Elrod: 66. Power washing your house on a six-foot ladder.

 

Julie Wilson: Six-foot ladder. Yeah. And I’d been taking pictures, so luckily my phone was close by. So, when I fell, my phone was already close by and I just called a friend. I didn’t even think about 9-1-1. I don’t know. I just called my friend, Greg, and I said, “Hey, Greg, get over here. I fell and I need to go to the hospital.” And then I dragged myself with one arm and one leg to the front door. But the funny thing was I thought to grab my purse. I thought they’re going to want ID or something. So, I stop and I’m dragging myself to the front door. Get to the front door, open the front door. By the time Greg gets there, I’m sitting there. Then I realized, “How am I going to stand up?” I got one leg and my foot’s disintegrated. My hand’s gone. So, I was able to get myself up, and then I hopped down six stairs to his car.

 

Hal Elrod: With one hand and one leg. Geez.

 

Julie Wilson: I know. And then I got to the hospital. When they saw me, they went drama!

 

Hal Elrod: So, first, what was the psychology? What was it like seeing your hand off of your wrist?

 

Julie Wilson: First thing I thought, when I saw it, I went, “Ooh, that’s bad.”

 

Hal Elrod: Geez.

 

Julie Wilson: I didn’t…

Hal Elrod: You’re in shock, I imagine, right? You’re just in shock.

Julie Wilson: I didn’t freak out.

Hal Elrod: And was there a pain or was the adrenaline…

Julie Wilson: No. No pain.

Hal Elrod: No pain, okay. Wow. Pain came later when you…

Julie Wilson: I never really had pain.

Hal Elrod: Never had major. That’s wild. Huh?

Julie Wilson: No. Didn’t have pain.

Hal Elrod: And so, you continued to have karaoke parties at your house.

Julie Wilson: Oh, yeah.

Hal Elrod: You continued to do everything humanly possible. But most importantly, your mindset was just– was this is my reality. I’m going to make the best of it. I’m going to– well, I mean, talk about that a little bit more. Like, most people, again, I think most people would’ve been completely discouraged having had that happen. Also, maybe pessimistic being 66 years old, your body’s not going to heal potentially the way it used to. And you still can’t make a fist with that hand. I mean, you’re not completely healed. You’re doing physical therapy, you’re doing everything you can, but yeah, what kept you going during recovery?

Julie Wilson: Laughter. I laughed. My doctor was just shocked just when he first saw me, the surgeon, because I’d have two major surgeries to fix. I’m made out of metal like you and I just– laughter and he just couldn’t believe that I could be laughing and joking and…

Hal Elrod: Yeah.

Julie Wilson: He goes, “You have the two worst breaks there are for both foot and hand. You do it so well,” whatever.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, no, I get that from you then because I just– everything’s funny to me. There’s nothing that’s off the limits of finding the funny in it, right?

Julie Wilson: Yeah. And then when I was, my casts on, I made them match my toenail polish and my fingernail polish, so they’d make a, whatever color I had, and I thought it was kind of funny. Yeah, I just– and I got around the house so well, and I could open a bottle of wine three days after I fell with one hand. That was my big claim to fame because I said, “I know I’m going to live. I can live because I can open a bottle of wine.”

Hal Elrod: As long as I can open a bottle of wine…

Julie Wilson: I’m good.

Hal Elrod: I’ll figure it out. So, you’ve had a lot of setbacks in your life. And we didn’t even talk about childhood. I mean, obviously, we left out 95% of the challenges you’ve been through, just some of the big ones, and especially the ones since it’s for Mother’s Day, we’re going to release this episode, I thought, what’s it like being a mom, losing a child, having a child, almost die twice, all of those things? You’ve always bounced back. I’m curious around happiness specifically. Again, 66 years old, you’re now retired, what does happiness look like for you? Or what does it mean to you at this stage in life?

Julie Wilson: I just love every day. Every day. Every day. You can remember when you were kids and I’d get up in the morning and I’d sing to you, and you’d always be like, mom, why are you always happy first? And I used to drive my flight crew in the morning if we had a 5 o’clock AM show on the airplane and I’m just smiling and they’re grumpy and…

Hal Elrod: This is when you were flight attendant, you’re saying?

Julie Wilson: When I was a flight attendant and I would sing first thing in the morning to passengers and they’d be all asleep and then, all of a sudden, their heads would pop up. And people were like, “How can you do that at this–” and I’m not a morning person, I know.

Hal Elrod: I know.

Julie Wilson: I am not a morning person.

Hal Elrod: Shouldn’t mom– we’ll cut that part out. I’m just kidding.

Julie Wilson: Yeah, and I don’t know, I don’t know if it’s in me. People used to ask your dad, we were younger, like, what is she drinking? What is she? And he goes, she doesn’t drink at all. At all. Not a drop. And they always thought, I was, because they said, I want what she’s having. But then nothing. I don’t know, I always think it’s my blood, my O negative blood, I don’t know. I don’t know.

Hal Elrod: That’s an interesting story. I want to just touch on is you becoming a flight attendant at 4– you just told that story to someone the other day, one of my kids, I think, one of your grandkids. At 42, you had sold the market and the grocery store and looking for your next career. How’d you end up applying for a flight attendant? And tell me about that cattle call that you somehow– even though you were older, had no experience, you somehow got picked amongst all your…

Julie Wilson: Your dad, he saw an ad in the paper in Fresno. They were looking for flight attendants, and the only category was a two years customer service and over 21 years old. And your dad said, “You’re both of those,” because I thought you had to be 5’8 and 120 pounds and, like the old days, but not anymore. So, at the time, because I had gained a lot of weight when you were in the hospital for your car accident, so I was almost 200 pounds at the time.

Hal Elrod: Wow.

Julie Wilson: But your dad took me down there and there was a whole bunch of young girls in their 20s, high heel shoes, 120 pounds, 5’8, like you’re supposed to be. And I almost left and I told your dad, I go, “I’m not staying here. Look at– I don’t belong here.” He goes, “Just stay.” And so, I did. And at the end of the day, because it was an all-day process, I was the only one hired.

Hal Elrod: Wow. Wow. And then part of it’s your confidence, right? Don’t you tell anyone that’s interviewing you that, “Hey, I’ll be the best employee you ever had”?

Julie Wilson: Yeah. If you don’t like me, fire me. But yeah, I mean, if you don’t hire me, you’re crazy. Why not tell them that? I mean, if I don’t like myself and if I don’t have confidence in who I am, why should they? That’s how I look at it.

Hal Elrod: Let’s piggyback on that. What are some of the beliefs that you think that’ll help you stay positive throughout your life or habits? Are there any beliefs? Are there habits?

Julie Wilson: I think, the thing that I remember the most growing up is, because I was always kind of a chunky kid, I had a pug nose, I’ve had some work done on it, but it was a lot– it was a big nose. I had buck teeth as a kid and I had braces. So, my dad told me, he said, “You have to be able to laugh at yourself. People can’t laugh at you.” So, if you can laugh first, I mean, there are things you can’t change. I was born with this stuff. But he said, “If you can already find humor in it,” and I swear it worked. That was the best advice I ever got. Be able to laugh at yourself. I mean, and I think a lot of comedians do, like Phyllis Diller, she wasn’t attractive, Joan Rivers. They were able to laugh at themselves and not take it seriously. So, no one can really hurt your feelings because I know who I am, I know what I look like. And that was the best advice my father ever gave me. And from then on, I soared through school. I just– yeah.

Hal Elrod: That’s awesome. So, just be able to laugh at yourself and then nobody else laughing at you is going to make any negative impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing. Yeah, and I think that’s, as you talk, I always try to think of where I reflect you and me, and that for sure, I have no problem making fun of myself or…

Julie Wilson: Yeah. I mean, can’t change it.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, exactly.

Julie Wilson: Right?

Hal Elrod: Let’s zoom out a bit, life lessons, legacy, what you want to leave behind. What advice would you give to other parents who are raising a child who– well, let’s go back to when I was struggling, when I was struggling in school, getting in trouble all the time. What advice would you give to a parent going through something like that, where they’re not sure that their kids are going to make it?

Julie Wilson: Just be consistent for one thing. Always be consistent. If you say you’re going to do something, if you’re going to do a punishment or– don’t just say it, do it. Do it. And even if it’s hard, and I always said, if your teenagers don’t hate you when they’re growing up, you’re not being a good parent, because we have to save teenagers from themselves. Their brains aren’t developed. I have to make the hard decisions. And you remember, when you were guys were teenagers, I told you, you couldn’t dye your hair, pierce your ears, or get a tattoo because I owned your body till you were 18. And remember, you came home with a pierced ear one time.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. And you pinned me down and took it out, didn’t you?

Julie Wilson: No, I just– well you argued because you are a really good talker. And you tried to give me every reason why you should keep that earring and you were good at it. And I said, “Yeah, but Hal, you knew you weren’t supposed to do it.” And I said, “And I’m a fair person and I believe in choices.” So, I said, “You can take it out painlessly, and if I do it, it’s going to hurt.” You took it out, you never did it again.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. And I still don’t have any piercings.

Julie Wilson: No tattoos.

Hal Elrod: Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I don’t have any, for sure. No, that’s good advice. Yeah, consistency is so important. And I struggle with that as a parent. Like, part of it is just energy, like I’m exhausted.

Julie Wilson: I know, but you have to, you got to push through that. You’ve got to, even if it’s going to be 10 times harder to follow through than it would be just to say, okay. Now, you do the 10 times harder. You just do.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. No, it’s true. That’s tough love, right? But it’s like true love, tough love, making sure that…

Julie Wilson: That’s why you were going to clean the bathrooms and the septic tank with the toothbrush because it wasn’t going to be easy.

Hal Elrod: Well, I think you just said you have to. How did you say it? Teenagers, you have to, what did you say?

Julie Wilson: We have to make all the tough decisions for them.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, because their brain’s not fully developed and I think that’s one way to look at love is holding someone to higher standards than they will hold themselves to.

Julie Wilson: That’s right. Kids don’t– I mean, I did stupid stuff when I was a teenager. I can look back. And now, I’m going, oh my– and I was a good teenager. And I still did some stupid stuff. Luckily, nothing bad happened. Yeah, but kids just do that. And I think just, yeah, consistency, and don’t let them control you. You have to control them, yeah.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. If you could go back and give your 30-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Julie Wilson: What was I doing at 30? Well, I wasn’t a flight attendant yet. Don’t feel old, because really, 40 was better. Fifties have been better than 40. Sixties have been better than the forties and fifties. I’m going to be 70 in two and a half years. I can’t wait. I feel…

Hal Elrod: And you’re having a big party, a big 70s disco party, right?

Julie Wilson: That’s right. And I feel 25. And in my brain, I’m 25. I’m energetic still. I got a little limp now and my hand’s a little gimpy, but I don’t care. And I just love my life every single day and I wake up and I’m grateful I’m awake. But then, again, when my time comes, I’ll be okay with that too, because I’ve lived my life.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, fully. To the fullest, yeah.

Julie Wilson: Fully, yeah. I’m one of those people someone says, “Hey, you want to?” “Yeah. What?” Say yes.

Hal Elrod: No. Yeah, and you have, I don’t know where your energy comes from, but we can’t even, us younger folks struggle to keep up with you. What was I going to ask you? What do you hope that your grandkids, Sophia and Halston, my kiddos, learn from your life?

Julie Wilson: No toys, just imagination. I’m one of those grandmas. I believe in really, I guess like enjoying yourself, you were given– you don’t need so many…

Hal Elrod: Love yourself.

Julie Wilson: Love yourself and you don’t need so many things. Life is more than stuff. I mean, I’m a pretty much minimalist. And yeah, just– and love yourself and enjoy yourself. And again, if you don’t like yourself, love yourself, why would somebody else? But you’ve got to feel it, you’ve got to really, I think, really love yourself and realize you are a gift from God and you are the best you. No one else is you.

Hal Elrod: Sure.

Julie Wilson: You’re the best you. And wake up every day, just happy and grateful. And even when things go, I mean, I’ve had a lot of bad things. But just be grateful for it anyways. You just have to be, because what’s the alternative is…

Hal Elrod: Miserable, right? Either you’re grateful or you’re miserable.

Julie Wilson: That’s right.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, whichever you choose.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. And I choose to be grateful and joyful and happy. And I have people that come over it because they go, “Julie, when I’m around you, I’m happier.”

Hal Elrod: Yeah. You always bring up the vibe.

Julie Wilson: I try.

Hal Elrod: If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, two max, one to two sentences, what would it be? And take your time.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. I really believe in giving. I think, in giving, you receive rather than always wanting someone to give to you. Find the joy in giving to others because there’s a lot of joy in that.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, talk real quick, just list some of the things that you’ve done in terms of giving, from donating blood to sitting with people in hall. Like, just off the top of your head, what are some of the things that you’ve done to selflessly add value for others to give back to others, because I think that you’re my model, who I…

Julie Wilson: Brief support group.

Hal Elrod: Yeah, Compassionate Friends.

Julie Wilson: Compassionate Friends was good. I volunteered at the church. I did catechism, started the Women’s Guild at the church. I volunteered, babysitting kids at the high school. I did that Christmas service that you and Hayley and your dad, we all participated in, and some of your friends or people that had lost someone at Christmas time or were grieving Christmas and weren’t able to really find the joy and the ho-ho-ho in Christmas. And we did a service just for those people that I think really touched a lot of people and I was grateful that you kids got involved in that. Yeah, volunteering for hospice 18 years, just sitting with patients, holding their hand.

Hal Elrod: 18 years, you did that? Wow.

Julie Wilson: Yeah. I volunteered for Catholic Chore Services where I went and helped clean houses or whatever people needed. We took them to hair appointments or doctor’s appointments or whatever they needed. Elks, lots of volunteering at the Elks. Now, I’m volunteering with the shipmates at the yacht, Tacoma Yacht Club. We do a lot of charity work for families, feed them, get clothes for them, toys at Christmas. Yeah, so there’s always something to do.

Hal Elrod: A big part of your life philosophy is definitely giving and helping people that are in need, right? Yeah, and even my inspiration in that regard. Last question, when you’re no longer here, how do you want to be remembered?

Julie Wilson: Oh, it’s just a fun person. I want, because I mean, I’m donating my body to science, because my motto is, I’ve enjoyed it, somebody else might too.

Hal Elrod: Nice.

Julie Wilson: I just want to party. Just have a party. Remember the good times. Do some karaoke, dance. No somber. Don’t be sad because, of course, I’ll be haunting you once I’m gone forever, but yeah, just joyful. I hope I was a good mom and brought you joy and…

Hal Elrod: That one’s already in the bag. You already, that one you can check off. So, mom, thanks for doing this.

Julie Wilson: Well, thanks for letting me do this.

Hal Elrod: This is long, long overdue.

Julie Wilson: Yeah, this was fun. Anything with you is good.

Hal Elrod: Yeah. You’ve been through more than most people and you’ve never stopped loving, you’ve never lost your faith, and you’ve never stopped helping other people. And I love you and I admire you. And I hope that someone listening to this, especially if they’re struggling and they’re going through adversity, whether it’s their own or someone that they love or they’ve lost someone that your mindset around can’t change it and make the best of this life you’ve been blessed to live and love yourself and love your body and give to others and help other people. And yeah, I hope it helps them.

Julie Wilson: Well, thank you. Love you.

Hal Elrod: Love you, mom.

[CLOSING]

Hal Elrod: All right, goal achievers and members of the Miracle Morning Community, thank you for tuning into this, the first ever interview with my mom. I love you so much. Thanks for tuning in and we’ll catch you next week. Take care.