Staying Grounded and Joyous Despite Inner or Outer Pain

B'SD


11 Tamuz, 5775

One of the things I advocate for well-rounded emotions is having a hobby. I enjoy several, and thought to let you have a look at some of my dried flower arrangements

 and candelabra plate 

creations.

Care to guess which hobby I longed to resume though 2005 brain surgery had resulted in my surgically broken jaw (and my need to learn how to speak, all over again)?

There's a reason that I whistle as I walk. I've needed to strengthen my damaged emboucher (the relevant muscles of my face and lips) so that I can resume flute-playing. 

As of this past April, I've been able to get sweet sounds from my flute. 

Now that I've recovered from moving across the country, I hope to hire a music instructor so I can play in a pleasant manner. Stay tuned for developments. I'm still thrilling to the fact that my recent singing performance was well-received despite a long time off the community theater stage.

Please share the fun. Let me know what you do to stay grounded and joyous despite inner or outer pain.





Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Find the coping mechanism that soothes you.

When Your Voice Comes Together, Your LIFE Comes Together!

B'SD

28 Kislev, 5773

Here I am, interrupting my week of fun to cheerfully let you know of a marvelous means to healing your life, perhaps your singing career.

My friend Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman is listed in The Worldwide Who's Who for her ground-breaking method at training singers. One of Miriam's maxims is that "When your voice comes together, your LIFE comes together."

Check out her sites, Voice Institute and Music Visions. 

Miriam posted a recent message on Facebook and permits me to share it here. Read it for your improved health even if all you want to do is to sing in the shower (keep reading for a surprise ending to this blogpost!):

Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman

about an hour ago · 

• I am sure you all remember the article I wrote after the tremendous loss of Whitney Houton - here is some true confirmation of Brandy on the subject, up close and personal. What of paramount concern is that the same people who are responsible for her vocal demise are out there and doing to other singers over and over again --- their teaching, their philosphies on singing, their methodologies are responsible for the constant loss and destruction of voices - no need to mention the stars that go to them and are on vocal rest, are taking off to have babies, have built in larynx , etc. lets not talk about the steroids, injections etc. These "Vocal Great" who charge a fortune for their 'work' - WHEN SHE GOT INTO TROUBLE - long before she died, WHERE WERE THEY when her voice began failing??? WHO WAS THERE TO HELP HER of all those GREATS who are nothing more than a glorifacion of their own fallen stardom. I am sick of students being ruined, coming to me in desperation - beautiful voices that have vocal cord nodules, stress, hematomas on their cords, endless ---where are the EXPERTS whom she could have and did pay any amount to get her voice back????? The people who made money off her on the way up??? who used and abused her vocally??? no one wants to take responsibility not for her vocal demise - which is the real truth for her untimely death, nor for those fantastic voice which have such short lived careers because of the vocal practices they are taught. I had a student write to me that his voice teacher at BERKLEY COLLEGE OF MUSIC has herself vocal cord nodules....WAKE UP WORLD- this is not an advertisement for certain, HERE IS A VIABLE AND REAL OPTION TO MAKE A CHANGE, NOW AND IN A BIG WAY!!
  
    

  

  
  

  http://www.theboombox.com/2012/12/10/brandy-whitney-houston-voice-loss/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-sb-bb%7Cdl28%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D243379

Here's a surprise ending to my post for today: Miriam's tutelage this past November resulted in improvements with my vision! 

I recommend her work highly.

Buy the E-book or print edition today for a brighter holiday season: Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. 

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

How to Take the Chance Before You

B'SD

7 Cheshvan, 5773

Last night I was in on a training session for paraprofessionals helping chronically and/or terminally ill people to face their situations with dignity and compassion. 

The group leader reminded us of a wonderful song by Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying. It teaches us to take the chance before us, not to let it go neglected.

 Here are the lyrics/words to the song: 

He said "I was in my early forties 

With a lot of life before me 

And a moment came that 

stopped me on a dime 

I spent most of the next days 

Looking at the x-rays 

Talkin' 'bout the options 

And talkin' 'bout sweet time" 

I asked him "When it sank in 

 That this might really be 

the real end 

How's it hit you 

When you get 

that kind of news? 

Man, what'd you do?"

He said "I went skydiving 

I went Rocky Mountain climbing 

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull 

named Fu Man Chu 

And I loved deeper 

And I spoke sweeter 

And I gave forgiveness 

I'd been denying" 

And he said "Someday I hope you 

get the chance 

To live like you were dying" 

 He said "I was finally the husband 

That most of the time I wasn't 

And I became a friend a 

friend would like to have 

And all of a sudden going fishin' 

Wasn't such an imposition 

And I went three times 

that year I lost my dad 

I finally read the Good Book, and 

I Took a good, long, hard look 

At what I'd do if 

I could do it all again

And then I went skydiving 

I went Rocky Mountain climbing 

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull 

named Blue Manchu 

And I loved deeper 

 And I spoke sweeter 

And I gave forgiveness 

I'd been denying" 

And he said "Someday I hope 

you get the chance 

To live like you were dying 

Like tomorrow was a gift 

And you've got eternity 

To think about 

What you'd do with it 

What could you do with it 

What did I do with it? 

What would I do with it? 

 Skydiving 

I went Rocky mountain climbing 

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull 

named Blue Manchu 

And I loved deeper 

And I spoke sweeter 

And I watched an eagle 

as it was flying" 

And he said "Someday I hope 

you get the chance 

To live like you were dying 

To live like you were dying 

To live like you were dying..."

 
Thought-provoking stuff, eh?

Buy the E-book or print edition today for a look at what you can do despite, and because of, your diagnosis. Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.  

The book will soon go out of print so I can have a clear conscience while completing the 3rd, updated edition. It will hold even more Global Resources and more tips about coping with your medical and/or mental health situation.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. 
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Play it Like a Musical Instrument: Looking at Your Life a Bit Differently

B'SD

19 Av, 5772

You've read the EMPOWER Yourself book and this blog. You've made productive changes in your life or plan to do so. Want to rev up progress?

Play your life  like a musical instrument. Have fun, think outside the ordinary. Not one of the guys pictured needed to have all the other skills other men are using in the video. 

Each one does his job.

Pick yours. And share the fun with your family, friends and/or medical team. JAM!




Go ahead, try that trick and see what it does for you.



The musical score for a healthier, happier life. Buy E-book or print edition when you click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Music and Melodies: Life Goes On

B'SD


4 Sivan 5772


I apologize for not updating this blog much the past week. I'm helping a friend who is desperately ill, working hard at my writing life (I'm preparing the manuscript for my next book, The Comfort Foods Cookbook: Recipes to Calm You Down FAST Without Widening Your Waistline) and living the details of my daily life, too. My online activity was minimal at best for several days.


One of the repeated messages in EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge and the medical-mental health world is that optimism is a great coping mechanism for stress. Sometimes we have to pretend that we feel optimistic. After doing it enough to earn Oscars, we begin to realize that we're actually feeling as lighthearted as we've pretended to be! Yes, practice can perfect our behaviors, though emotions tend to rise and fall with a life of their own, it seems. As you'll read in

The purpose of this workbook is to be a tool for strengthening your resolve. Emotions go on a rollercoaster when a person learns of the medical and/or emotional/spiritual crisis that seems to be engulfing them. That’s a sign of being human, of being normal. Despite your yearning to master and to control the situation you’re in – or even to get rid of it, reality dictates that you remain calm and logical. The temptations to go ballistic are innumerable. We all suffer with that problem.


The mark of a refined human being, a "decent person," is that he or she behaves pleasantly and intelligently despite the pain, setbacks and sadness of the problem in their life. In the 21st century, however, a huge sense of confusion clouds our thinking: we became used to instant solutions back in the 20th century. Technological advances gave us instantly cooked food zapped in microwaves. We advanced from s-l-o-w snail mail or telegram-facilitated communication to real-time Faxes, Instant Messaging, quickly received and responded to E-mail, cell phones, PDAs, blackberries and more. We lost the sense of having to wait for results.


That loss of perspective affects our understanding of emotional restraint and spiritual growth. They develop with the repetition of polite behavior despite inner turmoil. Time and patience are crucial factors for becoming refined individuals. They’re critical coping tools for medical challenges.


You turn every mistake into a blessing when you decide that it will not weigh you down and choose to use it to rise to greater heights. Growth means rising above present limitations, after all.


I pray that the humorous content and insights within my manuscript will help you to renovate your inner life, your very soul and mind. Persist at making your character over into that of a more tolerant and flexible person. And when you fail after making or approaching success, know that our spiritual ancestors went through the same trials and errors. Psalms/tehilim are full of those thoughts. King David knew of what he wept. You do, too.


Persist in your efforts to improve your behavior and thinking patterns. Make it a hobby. Your accomplishments and lofty goals join the spiritual power of Toraitic lessons. None of your efforts can be wasted. A universal reality makes this so.

***

Okay, enough of the book. Here's an illustration of the reality that going forward with life as much as possible despite illness or a disability can help mere mortals. Click on the words The Beat Goes on, Despite Cancer.

Still feeling a need to cry now and then? A medical crisis - you'd cry too, if it happened to you. Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To." There's a heavenly license to cry inside the book!




Buy the E-book or print edition EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge today for a brighter outlook and sense of well-being: Click on http://booklocker.com/books/3067.html

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Healing and Coping with a Giggle

B'SD

23 Tishrei 5772

It's been an exiting start to the new Jewish year! Here's a photo of me in Shilo, the site of the ancient tabernacle (Mishkan in Hebrew) this past week.

Friends and I enjoyed lovely holiday times, company and meals. Here and there someone wept to me about the sadness of a diagnosis or life situation, asking how to cope with life's harsher side. Among other things, I gently explained the wisdom of seeking out pleasure, promoting pleasure and nurturing that Inner Giggle all of us. We yearn to laugh, to be free of worry and fear. By taking on life with a sense of humor, we let ourselves relax, grow courageous, insightful and stronger. Those are coping skills!


Click on this sample of what I mean: The world's first-ever senior citizen LipDub! Residents from Clark Retirement Community in Grand Rapids, Michigan teamed up with Grand Valley State University Film & Video Production students, alumni, and professors to create this sassy video to the jazzy 1965 hit song ‘Feeling Good’ by Michael Bublé. (Hat tip for the video to my good friend Jesica Myers)




Learn how to nurture YOUR Inner Giggle when you read EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Let me know if YOU make a fun video that brings smiles to many faces!


Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

A Flower Cure for Stress

B'SD

20 Tisrei 5771



I'm confident that you'll feel much better after enjoying this video. It's a lovely lesson about how to look deeply into life for the beauty in it.







Get more insight into having a healthier, happier life. Quick and convenient: E-book EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Buy it at http://www.booklocker.com/books/4244.html

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Yellow Bus FUN 4 Kids!

B'SD

15 Iyar 5770


I don't know how well Justin Roberts's songs are known outside the USA. Here's a heads-up for my Asian, European, Middle East and UK readers: Justin Roberts Sings to Make Serious Tunes Fun.

Have fun on The Yellow Bus song! Sing it in your medical transport van and I bet the driver will sing along ;^ )


Want to learn about FREE & FUN stuff for sick kids? Read EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.




Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

The Healing Power of Music

B'SD

27 Kislev 5770



Oooohh, I am hearing from people and medical/mental health professionals about emotional pain at the holiday season. I suggest that you strenghten your mind and soul with the Healing Power of Music before and after that becomes necessary.

If you want another mind-developing lesson about Hanuka/Chanuka click on Rebbetzin Shira Smiles on Chanukah. I hope it fills you with inner strength.

Simple. Memorable. Inviting to look at. Fun to read. Filled with can-do ideas about coping with medical issues: EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Raise Your IQ with Music - or Your Child's!

B'SD

11 Cheshvan 5770

If your children believe that studying music is for dweebs, nerds, name that epithet, then let them know that

Proof Exists: Music Makes You Smarter!

Don't let the children have all the fun! Sing, dance, study an instrument. Music is good for the soul. And THAT can only improve your physical and mental health.

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.


Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Must-See TV!

4 Tishrei 5768

I don't generally advocate watching television (see my earlier post about a 2-Step Plan for Coping with Negativity), but today I make an exception. If you have access to American cable television broadcasts, be sure to watch what is sure to be a heart-warming program:

http://virtualtrials.com/news3.cfm?item=3989
YOUNG SURVIVOR GURU MATTHEW ZACHARY LENDS REAL LIFE CANCER EXPERIENCE TO LIFETIME TELEVISION SERIES “SIDE ORDER OF LIFE”

Ignore the commercials and focus on the program's hero.

And here's an item I just located on one of Israel's news services, YNet.com. It's about a pianist who raises the morale of seriously wounded and disabled hospital patients: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3384620,00.html

Easy listening that puts a smile on your lips as well as your heart. To your good health, Yocheved