Welcome To The Real Us.
We’re Elizabeth Kraus and Sheila Lamont. We met as neighbors in Boulder, Colorado in 2010, and our friendship grew during frequent hikes in the foothills. We were great friends until…..we weren’t. Our friendship “paused” for eight years until we reconnected in a meaningful way when Sheila picked up the phone to have an eight-year-overdue honest conversation.
Although we now live thousands of miles from each other, we stay close with our imperfectly honest phone calls and written thoughts. We learn something from each other every time.
We welcome you to eavesdrop on our conversations and read about what we’re thinking. We hope that when you do, you learn a little about us and a lot about yourself.
Candid Conversations
My Sister and Me: Questioning the Road Taken
A year after losing her sister, Sheila reflects on her choice to move closer to her, and the time they got to spend together. In an exchange with her past self, she explores grief, resilience, and the lessons learned.
Online Dating: When Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone is Too Uncomfortable
It can often be a true growth opportunity to try new things that attract us but are also challenging and move us outside our comfort zone. Sheila and Elizabeth discuss their recent forays into online dating.
Criticism: A Mirror, Not a Weapon
What if we made more of an effort to view criticism from others like a two way mirror? We can see how their words reflect something about us and about them as well. Elizabeth and Sheila discuss an Oscar Wilde quote: “Criticism is the only reliable form of autobiography,” to explore dynamics of criticism, weaving in personal experiences for extra color!
My Daughter Has Some Free Advice
In the midst of discord, we can sometimes forget how easy it is to be kind to others. Inspired by a recent dental appointment, Sheila shares a memory of her young daughter’s urgent plea for more kindness.
Would You Want to Know Your Expiration Date?
How would you feel if you were given the choice to know how long your life would be? Prompted by the bestseller, The Measure, Elizabeth and Sheila talk about what their own choices might be, and how that knowledge might impact their lives and the people they love. Or those they may have hopes of loving in the future.
I’m Stuck, and I’m Glad I Can’t Get Out
Due to a nasty winter storm, I am currently buried in the middle of nowhere Montana. Although I could find a way to dig myself out, I’m opting to stay put because I sense that there is something I am supposed to learn from this experience.