by Danielle Tantone | 4:04 pm | Mindset, Mental Health & Entrepreneurship
We are already two weeks into the new year, but I still catch myself humming “Auld Lang Syne” in my head. I can’t be the only one, right? The melody has this haunting quality that sticks with you, even long after the confetti has settled and the excitement of New Year’s Eve is a distant memory. It’s as if the song keeps tugging at something deep inside, reminding me to pause, reflect, and appreciate the journey so far.
What’s the Deal with “Auld Lang Syne”?
So, what is it about this song that makes it so unforgettable? “Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish folk song written by Robert Burns back in 1788. The title translates roughly to “old long since,” or more simply, “for old times’ sake.” The lyrics reflect on old friendships, shared memories, and the passage of time—ideas we can all relate to, especially as we close out one year and start a new one.
Burns asks, “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” Of course, the answer is no. The song encourages us to honor the people we’ve met, the moments we’ve lived, and everything that’s shaped us along the way.
Why We Sing It on New Year’s Eve
I’ve always wondered why this song is the one we turn to when the clock strikes midnight. Why not something more upbeat or festive? The truth is, “Auld Lang Syne” has become a tradition because it’s not just about celebrating the new year; it’s about looking back on what we’ve been through and the people who’ve been a part of it all. Singing it marks a moment of transition—not just from one year to the next, but from one chapter of life to another. It’s about recognizing what’s come before, while getting ready for what’s next.
Why It’s Hard to Shake Off
You know how some songs you can just listen to a couple of times and then forget? Not “Auld Lang Syne.” There’s something about it that lingers. Maybe it’s the way the simple melody and the wistful lyrics bring up so many emotions—nostalgia, gratitude, even a little sadness for things we’ve lost. It captures the essence of time and change in a way that resonates deeply, even long after the year has ended.
Taking Time to Reflect and Reset
In life coaching, I often encourage people to do a personal audit of the past year—taking a moment to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and what we’ve learned. The start of a new year is the perfect time for this kind of reflection. It’s a chance to appreciate how far you’ve come and set your sights on what you want to achieve in the year ahead. Whether it’s making space for new relationships, focusing on personal growth, or accomplishing specific goals, taking the time to reflect helps you reset with intention.
This song always feels like a natural cue for this kind of reflection. “Auld Lang Syne” is a reminder to honor the past while also letting it go, creating room for the new. As you hum the tune (or maybe just hear it in your head a few weeks after the year begins), it’s the perfect moment to think about what you want the next chapter of your life to look like.
by Danielle Tantone | 3:32 pm | Mindset, Mental Health & Entrepreneurship, Uncategorized
What if you apply for that job (or 50 jobs) and you don’t get it?
What if you ask her out and she says no?
What if you go out with him and it’s not everything you hope for?
What if you throw the party and no one shows up?
What if you tell your family the truth and they reject you?
What if you publish your book and no one reads it?
What if you try something new and you end up hating it?
What if you get the screening and find out it’s cancer?
What if you try and fail?
What if they don’t like you?
What if you talk to him about that thing and he breaks up with you? 
Sometimes we get so up in our heads, we’re afraid to do anything.
We spend our whole lives just going through motions and focusing on urgent tasks, putting out fires, but never taking a risk to go after what we really want.
We continue down the same path because it’s well-worn and comfortable.
But what if we’re traveling in a rut? What if we’re going the wrong way entirely? What if we need a course correction?
If you feel a nudging in your heart, a desire to do something bold and different, I’d love to chat with you about it.
Because, what if it turns out amazing?
What if it is cancer and you catch it early and take care of it swiftly, and go on to live an amazing life afterward?
Or what if you do realize you only have a little time left? Would you live differently?
Wouldn’t you rather know? Wouldn’t you rather try?
You can always pivot. You can always go down a path and turn around and come back home, make a slight course correction, or hop onto a new trail.
(I’m all about the pivot. I’ve pivoted more times than most people, and I’ve learned how to bounce back from failure, heartbreak, and loss. I’d love to help you with this!)
Because you only have one life to live – and it’s yours. You are worthy. You are important. You are special.
No matter what has happened. No matter what mistakes you’ve made.
by Danielle Tantone | 1:36 pm | Mindset, Mental Health & Entrepreneurship
As a life coach and breast cancer survivor, I often receive questions about what I do and how it can help others, especially those going through challenging times. Here are the top three questions I get asked, along with my responses. I hope you find this insightful and inspiring.
1️⃣ What do you do as a life coach/what even is a life coach?
As a life coach, I guide individuals through personal and professional challenges, helping them to set and achieve their goals, find clarity, and cultivate resilience. Think of me as a partner in your journey towards a more fulfilling and joyful life. I provide support, accountability, and tools to help you navigate life’s ups and downs, especially during challenging times like facing a breast cancer diagnosis and recovery.
2️⃣ How is life coaching different from therapy?
Great question! While both life coaching and therapy aim to help individuals improve their lives, they are quite different. Therapy often focuses on healing past traumas and understanding emotional issues. Life coaching, on the other hand, is forward-focused. It’s about setting goals, creating actionable plans, and making positive changes. I help clients build a vision for their future and work towards it.
3️⃣ What qualifies you to be a life coach?
My qualifications include a blend of professional training, personal experience, and a deep passion for helping others. As a breast cancer survivor, I understand the unique challenges that come with this journey. I have developed the 5R Method, a unique process for building resilience, and offer a course called B.O.U.N.C.E – A Course in Resilience. Additionally, my background as a nurse, author, and life coach equips me with a holistic approach to support my clients effectively.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about how life coaching can help you, feel free to reach out. I’m here to support you on your journey.
by Danielle Tantone | 1:33 pm | Health & Wellness, Mindset, Mental Health & Entrepreneurship
I often get asked how coaching is different from therapy, and which one is better to try.
Here’s what I tell my clients:
Coaching and therapy are BOTH incredible tools. It depends where you’re at in your life and your current struggles as to which one you want to choose. (It could also be extremely beneficial to do both at the same time.)
Therapy can help you work through problems and issues, and can be a treatment for mental illness. Coaching can help you truly create the life you want.
Coaching is more future-focused, while therapy tends to be about processing the past.
Coaching can save you money and time as you work through something difficult. It can help you move forward in a powerful way and create the future you want, regardless of your past.
Coaching helps you see things in a new way and handle situations differently. It takes esoteric ideas and turns them into practical tangible solutions.
It breaks down complex pathways into actionable steps.
A coach can’t cure your anxiety…but she sure can give you tools and strategies to regulate your nervous system and manage your own emotions effectively.
Both a coach and a therapist can help you feel heard and seen. And sometimes that’s the most important place to start.
Are you dealing with something big and scary… or exciting and happy, but still overwhelming in its magnitude? I’d love to help. Let’s hop on a call and see if my 1-1 coaching program would be a good fit for you.
by Danielle Tantone | 10:41 pm | Breast Cancer, Faith, Family & Relationships, People Stories
Saturday, October 14, 2023
I try to keep my voice light and untroubled as I quickly tour the movers through the home Mike and I bought only a year and a half ago, pointing out which furniture will go to my new place and which will stay here. Mike had told me to just take everything but the mattress – and maybe the futon so he could still watch TV in the loft. But I figured 2500 square feet of empty house would be depressing for anyone, and our daughter Grace would be here with him half the time, too.
My eyes angle down as I descend the carpeted stairs in the too-short Lululemon skirt I recently treated myself to from the sale rack while shopping with my daughter Alex. I discreetly tug the hem as I walk, trying to keep my curvy thighs under wraps.
“Sorry. We’re getting divorced and it’s just hard,” I say, not really sure what I’m apologizing for. “I had a pretty rough night. I almost canceled you guys, I was so overwhelmed and unsure…” my voice breaks as I look up and into the warm hazel eyes of the main mover guy.
He leans in and says softly, “ I understand. I just went through it myself a year and a half ago. It’s hard, but it’s for the best. Or at least in my case, it was,” he shrugs. His voice is low and calm. He looks right into my bloodshot eyes, and I feel seen. He has wavy salt and pepper hair and his face is lined from years of smiling. Around my age, I guess.
“I think it will be for the best in my case, too. I’m the one who asked for the divorce. But it’s still hard. Still complicated. Still sad,” I say.
“Yeah, divorce is basically an agreement that you’re giving up on your marriage, on yourselves really. You’re admitting defeat.”
“Yes, admitting you failed at marriage… again,” I say, shaking my head. “This is my third time. I never saw myself as someone who would be married three times, let alone divorced three times.”
Yesterday was the 22nd anniversary of my wedding. October 13, 2001. Not my wedding day with Mike. The first one. The starter marriage that lasted less than a year. It’s crazy to think that if Ian and I had stayed married, we’d be celebrating 22 years together. I would be someone who had stayed married for 22 years. Instead of who I am.
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