A friend emailed this to me and I thought it was worth sharing the ideas in the 2010 HANDBOOK

Sometimes we need to be reminded about simple and inspiring ways to live a more meaningful life, that what the following ideas do for me.

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours..

10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

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This past weekend I attended the National Conference on Widowhood in San Diego, CA.  You may be thinking, why would anyone want to gather with a bunch of people who are probably wearing black, morbid and crying all the time.

Well, as a widow myself,  let me demystify the myth of widows/widowers  -  the attendees were primarily women (there was one brave man) ranged from the ages of 25 to about 75, came from 28 states and 6 countries.  There were no black veils or gloves and yes a few tears were shed but the bond of a group that all experienced the same loss of a spouse was incredibly empowering.

The conference sponsored by The Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation provided educational seminars and social gatherings all with the intent to empower, strengthen and provide hope for the future.

This event truly exemplified the mission of Circle of Strength - to  inspire, empower and have more fun.  The buzz around the conversations were about life… about life cut short and a life well lived and about what is yet to come.

The grieving journey is hard, it is painful and it takes time.  But most people on this journey seem equipped to make their life work in meaningful ways.  I have found more optimism among widowed people than most others, because if they lose their worldly possessions it doesn’t compare to the loss of their spouse.

The lesson learned in general was that a group of like-minded or life-experienced people can be powerful, empowering and provide great strength.  Look for a group of like-minded people in your area, check places like Meet-up.com, or a business associations or a business network group in your area.  Check out community education in your area, they offer short classes in many topics from cooking to learning computer skills.  The point is, there are many ways to connect and be empowered by people, no need to feel alone – so broaden your connections and get out and be inspired!

In following with my goal of sharing inspiration, I thought the following was worth sharing and for you to take a minute to read, kind of puts the day back into a perspective of gratitude for where we are right  now and knowing it is perfect!

Breathe, life is good

I have been buying daffodil’s all spring, I love the bright yellow color and the feel of spring it adds to my house. Here is picture of a bunch in my kitchen.

You’re probably thinking about now that JoAnne has lost her mind and is writing about daffodil’s, or you’re thinking it must be a slow news day and I can’t find anything to write about.  Well, neither is true. I just happened to receive a wonderful slide show called the Daffodil Principle that most of you have probably heard of, originally written by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards, it’s been around for more than ten years as a source of inspiration for those who want to make something beautiful of their lives. I want to share with you again because it inspired me and I want to remind people that  “There is no better time than right now to be happy”

For all of my friends in California, go see the Daffodil Garden, it is located in Running Springs in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Please take a few minutes click  the link to begin. (the page arrows are at the bottom left of the screen to view each power point slide)

Recently met Kim Valentini, the founder of “Smile Network International.”  She is a delightful woman, reserved but with a spark in her eyes.  Kim like many of us reach a stage in life where we search for more meaning and fulfillment, and for Kim that meant making a difference in the lives of children with facial deformities. After witnessing impoverished children in developing countries, with cleft lips and palates, she decided to make a difference. That difference became the non-profit Smile Network which Kim says started in the closet of her son’s bedroom.

Through local efforts, Smile Network International develops international partnerships that enable volunteers to build trust in foreign countries. These global relationships provide Smile Network the opportunity to conduct surgical missions and to impart dignity and quality of life to individuals whose medical needs may otherwise go untreated. All Smile Network surgeries are provided free of charge.

Kim & Peruvian Child

Kim is truly a woman of strength and you can help this great effort. Go to the Smile Network and make a cash donation of any amount, and please visit the Wish List, because I bet we all know someone who can provide things on the list.

P.S. Smile Network has moved from the bedroom closet to their headquarters located at;  420 North Fifth Street, Suite 970 | Minneapolis, MN 55401 | (612) 377-1800

Spring is the time be to inspired and bloom just like the trees and flowers, isn’t spring inspiring, do you feel it too?

We are open to new possibilities to be inspired, perhaps to something new.  It is a time when we shed the heavy clothes for lighter weight and brighter colors, often a reflection of that readiness to bloom.  I’m ready to feel refreshed and open to the new opportunties that spring has to offer, how about you?

Last bit of winter

Today I read that Hallmark Magazine is ceasing publication. Now it is difficult times and maybe magazine sales are down in general but what struck me was that they stated;
“we have done our best to create a magazine that would help you appreciate life’s meaningful moments. We began with the notion that Hallmark Magazine would be built on stories about the true substance of women’s lives – our families and friends, our homes and communities, our traditions and celebrations. And you  responded: This was not a magazine about experts or celebrities; it was a magazine about you. “

What saddens me is the fact more people read the likes of People, US , and the myriad of celebrity rags that never talk about the lives of women with substance, women like you and me.    What inspires me are the dynamic women I know, business owners, volunteers, mothers, sisters, dancers, politicians,nurses – yes all women I know that I appreciate, that I admire and that I want to know more about.

Tell a woman that inspires you – thank you, tell her she means something in your life – ask her to mentor you – ask her who she is and what motivates her….

We all have a story of how some event in our lives has brought
us to where we are today and
often times of how we transition into our life work after some
experience in our lives. Jocelyn Walberg is one of those women.
In 2003 she suffered through the losses of her father and even
her pets.
She had also been dealing with headaches and migraines for twelve
years, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. She was no longer able
to work because the pain was so depilitating.

My children spoke to an empty body and my desire to do anything
fun was gone.  Depression set in and I felt like I was living in
my very own cave of darkness.

For 2 years I was a prisoner of my own home.  My pain was so
excruciating throughout my body that there was nothing much
too live for except I knew I couldn’t give up because I had my
family.   My husband never gave up on me.

In 2002/2003 I decided that I would spend 12 months trying
everything available to me to feel better and if none of those
things worked, I was done with doctors and appointments and this
was how I was to live my life and I would accept my faith.

My 12 months were up and I got little relief and the relief I
got was very temporary and partial.  I kept praying that something
would come into my life that would take me away from my dark
and damp cave and let me be who I use to be.

After months of sitting at home, living with my faith I got an
unexpected call from my best friend from high school who was in
town at a seminar.

The seminar was about medical machines that could be used in
an office setting or at home and they’d been changing people’s
lives. She told me about how well they worked for her sciatica
and how it helped her husband with his aches and pains every day.

I told her to order me one of each machine.  Six weeks of using
those machines 2-3 times a day, 10 minutes each time, my headaches
and migraines disappeared, the pain in my neck and shoulders and
back disappeared.  My depression was lifting and I started living
again.  After 3 months I was able to cut my depression medication
in half and after a year got rid of all of my prescription drugs.

The lesson I learned it that It’s so important that we as woman
are there for each other and that we reach out.  Don’t condemn,
you never know what is happening in someone’s home or in their
heart.   Let’s support each other, ask what we can do or can we
just be there and listen.  With more support from the women in
my life would have made a big difference.  I would not have
slipped so deeply and my recovery would have happened more quickly.

Jocelyn is living pain free and started a business to help those
who may be suffering as she did for so many years.
Her compassion for helping others is evident the first time you
talk with Jocelyn, she truly exemplifies a woman of strength.

Jocelyn Walberg

Jocelyn Walberg, Owner Sooxen Aches & Pains Clinic
www.sooxen.com

(763)-633-5555

If you haven’t read the book, “The Shack”, I highly recommend it to everyone.  It is a loving story of a man’s journey through grief, faith and forgiveness.  He finds strength to  face his great sadness and come to a new understanding about life, love and beyond.   I don’t want to say more for those who haven’t read it yet, but it is a real page turner.

Today I had the honor of meeting the author, William Paul Young at a book signing event and later that evening to hear him speak.  His personal story is incredible in that he started out to write a short story for his kids… Mr. Young refers to his story as a “God thing” and what a story it is.

I believe  Paul Young will help many with this story of  heartache to healing.  He is an inspiration at a time when people want hope and to believe again.

Paul Signing book

Paul Young and me