Category Archives: aging well

Health Perspectives with Karen Gilroy

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Every human being is the author of his own health or disease. ~ Buddha

karen gilroyThere is a new blog talk radio show called, Living a Richer Life that will be premiering on Thursday, February 6, 2014. The first show will be featuring one of our We Write Steamboat authors, Karen Gilroy, author of Nourishing the Healer Within.

Gilroy has her Master’s of Science degree in Holistic Health and she will be speaking with listeners on the power of the body to heal itself and the interconnectedness of the mind, body and spirit. In order to have good health, she says “all three must be in balance.”

When one of these aspects of our lives is out of sorts, symptoms of illness may occur. Gilroy contends that we need to listen to the messages our bodies are sending us because “the inner intelligence of the human body is constantly assessing and analyzing all the cells.” When we are not well, we need to rest which allows our bodies do the work it needs to do in order to self-heal. Positive results will follow.

Gilroy will also be focusing on how the mind plays an important role in the self healing process on the February 6th radio show. I encourage our readers to listen in to this 45 minute talk to learn more about how to be in charge of your own health, and understand the body’s natural healing abilities. Gilroy says “You can stop fearing illness and lead a more fulfilling life with mind, body and spirit in balance.”

Living a Richer Life with hosts, Dr. Charlotte Grant-Cobb and Ervin (Earl) Cobb will air every Thursday, featuring a diversity of guests who will have inspiring and motivational things to say to Americans who are looking for positive change in their lives. Listeners should tune in at 9pm from the East Coast, Central time zone at 8pm, 7pm Mountain Time and 8pm Pacific through this link.

Bookmark it! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/richerlife

Look forward to your return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow! This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

How Sweet the Sound

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Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:23-25

Some of the most powerful words I heard as a child came from a person who had great significance in my life but she was someone other than my parents. I can hardly wait for you to meet her.  I will introduce you to her in my memoir when it is published this spring.

Her words to me went something like this:

Fanny speak

Oh…how sweeeet the sound! Enough to make anyone feel they are the bestest! I’ll always wonder if the person who I have included in my life story had any idea what impact her simple words  meant to me as a little child?

The words we speak to one another truly matter because they have the capability to influence and inspire us, help us to realize our potential and fill us up with love and all kinds of things that bring us fulfilling feelings. Words such as these can be better than a snug wrap around someone’s shoulders. http://awarmembrace.com.

January is National Mentoring Month, so on this last day of the month and because it is Film Friday, I would like to share a link that lists some of the best movies that have insight into how an ongoing relationship of learning, dialogue, and challenge between two people can change lives. http://growingleaders.com/blog/great-mentoring-movies/.

I look forward to having you join me again on Monday on this space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.  This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Shoes Bring Back Memories

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We can not change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us. ~ David Seamons

Antique photos can be very stirring because some times they dredge up old and difficult memories we’d rather not think about. Yet some images have the power to help us recapture feelings that are as sweet and fulfilling as thoughts of vanilla pudding.

saddle shoesWhen I came across this photo of saddle shoes and white cotton socks, my recollections of standing at the bus stop on my first day of school came flooding back. My saddle shoes and white socks went everywhere together, like my twin sister and me. One was never without the other – kind of like the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were in our school lunchboxes. I recall how the socks felt around my ankles – flimsy, insufficient and weak like my body. I can’t associate them with any warm feelings. My sister by my side was my strong, fuzzy security blanket.

When I look at the picture, I can even remember the precise smell of the white shoe polish our classmates used to keep their shoes looking new and unscuffed. Mine never really needed to be polished. My shoes didn’t get knocked about or hard use. In fact, just outgrowing a pair of shoes was a big accomplishment.

This image of saddle shoes has brought back an entire childhood worth of memories. Now six decades later I look forward to sharing my story. My hope is that parents who have kids dealing with childhood illness will find something comforting and hopeful in the memoir. Most of all I want the book to bring to a smile to some faces.

Did you own a pair of saddle shoes? If so, you must be a baby boomer. Did your shoes have band of black, brown or navy blue leather at the instep? What thoughts of childhood do saddle shoes stir up for you ? Are they happy memories or difficult?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling.

Road to Providence

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“All that I know of tomorrow is that providence will rise before the sunrise.” ~ Jean Baptiste Lacordaire

If you know me, you know I feel very fortunate. Some of my pre-publication readers have remarked that my life must have been very difficult as a young child. Yes, I suppose it was but it’s all about how you look at it. I’ve learned all kinds of life lessons from my past experiences that I will share in my book.

providence roadMany people write memoirs for cathartic reasons. A cleansing of the emotions, if you will. Often stories attract interest because they are filled with regrets, grit and grime. Mine is vastly different – it’s about healthy attitudes, influences and outcomes. Not a “whine-fest.” Writing about our past is not always safe or pretty, however, some people write for a release and admission of gratitude. According to Jerry Waxler, M.S. memoirs have become a more popular form of non-fiction for readers in recent years. http://bit.ly/LnTUGP.

When writing about my life memories, everything fulfilling or not got stirred up. I began recalling songs, hairstyles,  our family’s automobile travels and school yard activities. Even conversations with significant others that influenced my life and things I learned about human relationships came out throughout the writing process. I remembered an awful lot, yet the things that brought me faith and joy  were more enduring than any of the bad stuff. Thank God for that!

johns hopkins

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Mentoring Women in Business

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To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone. ~Reba McEntire

Have you ever wondered why people chose the professions they do? Sometimes there is little choice as to how people support themselves and others make very deliberate career choices, according to what fits their passions and personality.

cookie lockhartCookie Lockhart, a member of our We Write Steamboat networking group for independent publishers, couldn’t have chosen a career path more suitable to her temperament. Her “pioneering spirit” led her to become the only female student  among 126 men in the Class of 1963 to pursue a career in an industry that was dominated by males. As a woman auctioneer she was featured on the TV show To Tell the Truth back in 1966. To see a video clip of the show, please follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bRI-H9g5zw.

Lockhart followed in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, and has been a real driving force in the auction business. She has served as an outstanding mentor for many women in business because of her leadership qualities including her love of people and her fortitude. If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Cookie, you’d never forget her. Her personality is larger than life and she has a winning spirit.

It’s been a fulfilling career for Lockhart. She is the only woman who has ever been inducted into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame, and she’s also a member of the Colorado Auctioneers Hall of Fame.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 pm Mountain Time,  Cookie and her business, Lockhart Auction and Realty will be featured on American Pickers, a popular TV show on History Channel. To read more about the casting of the show when it came to Steamboat, here is a link to an article that appeared in the Steamboat Pilot newspaper. http://bit.ly/1hLjMtW.  

Tune in on January 29th. It is bound to be a lively show because Cookie is like a character you read about in a book. She portrays the epitome of “Western spirit.”  Here is a quick preview of the show. http://on.fb.me/1fikAUd.

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Facing the Sun

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“If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god.” ~ Napolean Bonaparte 

One of the top reasons I’ve loved living in Colorado for the past five years, is the high percentage of sunny days we are able to enjoy. Typically, the sky is clear blue and for people who spend a lot of time outdoors, over-exposure to a warm weather or high altitude winter sun is a concern. We hear many warnings about too much exposure to  the sun from doctors but still, many bask in it fulfilling an indomitable need to soothe mind, body and soul that comes with being outdoors.

cover sydney P waud Sun book

Author Sydney P Waud has written a book called Loving the Sun… Exposed without Fear which provides a fascinating look into the biological imperative that drives some 300,000,000 people around the globe to vacation annually in warm climates, think Hawaii, the Caribbean, Palm Springs, the Seychelles, Marbella and Cancun. The book gives up-to- date information on the dos and don’ts when spending time in bright sun relaxing, attending outdoor sporting events, gardening, playing sports, sunbathing, fishing, boating, hiking or swimming.

In spite of ample warnings not to sunbathe, the author realizes people will persist in doing so and therefore takes the pragmatic approach providing sound advice on how to prevent over-exposure to limit as much as possible damage to your skin and importantly what to look for when it has suffered the effects – both early and cumulative – of too much ultraviolet radiation. He emphasizes the importance of using quality sun screen products and having check-ups for anything that looks “suspicious” on our skin. With the use of sufficient protection, the book encourages people to get away to sunny vacation spots, take cruises and participate in outdoor recreation without fear of damaging effects. As the author points out, being in the sun and  having skin tones that do not resemble “winter whites” helps us to maintain an uplifted spirit and feel more youthful.

If you enjoy nature and getting outdoors, this book should be part of your inventory of “stuff” that you take with you when going off to sun-soaked destinations. If you like basking in the sun, purchase Loving the Sun… Exposed without Fear as a resource to keep near, so you will be prepared to face the sun with the right kinds of protection and advice, the medical parts of which have been vetted by a noted dermatologist.

Sunny spots located all over the globe are beautiful places to luxuriate, but sun spots on the skin can be damaging and even life threatening, problems this book can help avoid. As is quoted on the cover, the book is “interesting, provocative and ultimately compelling.” All in all, it is informative and a light read – perfect to take on a vacation or cruise – with idyllic photos that will make you wish you were there.

Waud’s book can be ordered through Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/19vjhRR  or through Amazon. http://amzn.to/KjZjxs.  Buy now. so you’ll be prepared for your next excursion outdoors.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling.

Revisiting a Fulfilling Subject

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Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~ Oscar Wilde

High school was not a fun time in my life. I could have cared less about academics. My theory why? At that time all my energy was being tapped into physical, and perhaps, emotional growth due to delayed development. Things changed when I became a college student, however. I began to excel and catch up.

joy de vivre Taking French in high school was one of my better subjects. I liked it, and studied it for four years. I’ve decided this year to reacquaint myself with the language. I’ve begun taking an on-line French class through www.duolingo.com.  My twin sister told me about the program, and we are having fun trying to advance ahead of each other in the lessons.

It’s been a blast except I have been hung up on the part about food. There are so many forms of the word “manger” or “eat.” Trying to match the right conjugation with he, she, we, they or you has been challenging. For a culture that makes cuisine such a fulfilling part of their lives – the French sure make things difficult when it comes to expressing the word “eat.” I wouldn’t care so much except that I am trying to keep up with my sister! Hummm….that sounds familiar, when you read my memoir you will realize why this lesson has maybe been especially frustrating – it stirs up the pot of my history. No, you won’t be reading a story about eating disorders. Its a story about twins and one helps the other to keep going.

As I mentioned in a recent blog, over the next year I have personal development goals that I look forward to achieving – continuing to brush up on my French speaking skills is one of them. Life long learning keeps us vibrant and mentally stimulated.

What fulfilling things do you wish to pursue for personal growth and development in 2014? I’d like to hear from our readers.

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How to Be 2014

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Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist. ~ Mary Kay Ash

bigstock-stone-granite-heart-with-puddl-19529690-180x120

I don’t make New Years resolutions every year because sometimes I am still aspiring to reach some of the goals I have set for the previous year. For 2014 my goals are simply to be healthier, wealthier and wiser than the previous twelve months.

  • Healthier – to know if my work and personal life are out of balance. I tend to not realize when to set my work life aside and when to take more time to do the things I like to do.
  • Wealthier – more financial resources would be great, but primarily I am thinking I’d like to be richer through self development. It feels good to grow personally. I did well last year by tackling a public speaking course. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
  • Wiser – With age, comes wisdom, so hopefully the natural aging process will benefit me in positive ways. I hope discernment in all decision making will create exciting, new opportunities that will bring me even more personally fulfilling things in the New Year.

cornerstonesHere is an article I’d like to share with our readers about good habits to get into to start a successful day.  http://bit.ly/1cmR4ah

I hope you find the article informative and it will help you to be healthier, wealthier and wiser in the New Year. Cheers! May the year you create for yourself be one of the most fulfilling of your life!

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Nostalgic Images Stirred

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“When people…rethink their personal stories, they begin to build a sense of connection and responsibility…they begin to view their personal stories as intertwined with history.”~ Paul Rogat Loeb

I have kept it no secret that I have been writing a memoir over the past few years. For those who knew me in my early childhood days, they’ve asked “has writing a life story  been painful?” I have to laugh.

I laugh because as I have written the personal narrative, it has stirred and returned me to some fulfilling memories of an era that has gone by and will never come again. That’s life. That’s progress – ever moving forward.

I realize how woven history is with my story. I am a survivor and have lived through times of great historical importance. As an author, in telling the story, I’ve tried to capture those nostalgic times. If you are of the baby boomer generation, what societal changes do you think has had the most impact on life in America since the 1950’s? I’m interested in your opinion.  

This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

Fulfilling Potential

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“The choices you make now, the people you surround yourself with, they all have the potential to affect your life, even who you are, forever.”   ―     Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever  

Do you feel like this Weimaraner puppy – up a tree without a paddle? Knowing you are not living up to your full potential?

up a treeYou are not alone. There are many people feeling the same way you are in this economy. It may not be a good time to quit the full time job or change careers, but that does not mean you are stuck forever. Above all, maintain the faith that better things are in store for you, believe it and work toward it.

Next, recognize that change begins within ourselves There are always little things you can do to make your life more fulfilling. For instance -perhaps you’ve always wanted to be a hiking guide but are stuck in corporate America. It may not be a good time to let go of that full time job – but maybe you can get outside everyday to take a jog, a walk or a hike around the block before or after work. On weekends or on days off, take to the hills – no excuses!

Here is an article from Shake off the Grind about finding something positive in every situation. http://bit.ly/1cmCuq1. The tips might help you.

Remember, change begins with little things. What is it that makes your heart zing?  What ever that is find a way to do it!

weimariner

This blog is brought to you by  www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Come on back tomorrow, and we will see what else we can get into that leads to All Things Fulfilling.