Alice Lemmer on Being in the Moment, Embracing Change, and Mary's Dog

This week’s episode features Alice Lemmer (aka Mary’s Mom).

Alice Lemmer is a mom, dog whisperer, and volunteer who has brought a pretty awesome improviser into the world (that’s Mary in case that isn’t clear :)

Prior to retiring she worked at places including Edward Jones, the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, Iorio Gelato, Hotel Information Systems, Lansing Community College, and the American Red Cross. She has a Bachelors of Science in Child Development, Child Psychology, and Spanish from San Diego State University.

During this episode we discuss…

• What inspired Alice to take an improv class
• How taking improv classes has helped her in her life
• Mary’s dog, Magi’s emergency vet visit and how Mary’s mom handled it
• How Mary’s mom reminds Mary to improvise
• Improvising as a mom and teaching kids how to accept versus fighting the reality around them
• Embracing the “scenes we’re in”
• Children are natural improvisers
• How to foster more of the ability to improvise as we get older
• Adapting to new environments, like living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after San Diego
• Embracing change
• Alice’s “mom-ism” that inspires presence
• Worrying
• Balancing caring and concern with presence
• How improvising has improved her relationship with her adult children
• How the world would be better if everyone took improv classes — spoiler: it involves listening!
• The gift Mary’s mom always asks Mary to get her as a holiday/birthday gift

From Alice, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “Improv has improved my mental flexibility and ability to ‘pivot mentally. It has improved my outlook by helping me to ‘see the whole picture’ and choose the perspective that is positive and empowering.”

Connect with Alice on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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