A Chapter from the upcoming book with my Dad!

Chapter #8 The Wish

    Way back from ages 19 to 34 I carried the mail for the Postal Service.  My regular mail route, which is also ironically my real estate farm area, was in a middle class neighborhood in Granada Hills, California.  It was the "old fashioned" type of route where I carried a leather satchel on my shoulder and delivered mail directly to the front doors of each of the 350 homes.  With the same route for fourteen of those years, I got to know many of the people on the route quite well.  In many cases these people became good friends.  Later when I became a Realtor, many of these same people from the mail route sold their homes through me.  In addition, many grown-up (former children) from the route bought their very first homes through me.

     When making my daily rounds there were many people I looked forward to seeing each day, for they were always friendly, warm and positive.  On the other hand, some people were so negative that I wished I could completely avoid seeing them.  They were mad at the world, and believed they were victims of everything.

 One delightful man who always had a kind word to say was elderly cowboy Joe Walker. (At least he looked and sounded like a cowboy). Joe loved to tease me about any number of things he could think of.  Everything he said was always with a twinkle in his eye.  When it was 100 degrees outside he always had a cold drink waiting for me.  He was someone I truly looked forward to seeing each day.  In our short meetings, we often shared what was going on with our families, and sometimes commented on current news events.

      In 1973 I proudly told him my wife Nancy was pregnant.  Our first and only daughter Kim was born that October. In December Joe surprised me with a Christmas gift for Kim, a baby dress.  From that point on, every December Joe had a gift for Kim who was always excited to open it.  The gifts were always fun and thoughtful. There were a few times that I brought Kim out to proudly walk the mail route with me.  After about an hour, Nancy would always pick her up when she became bored and tired.  One day she was actually able to meet Joe Walker and thank him for his past generosity.  Joe then took a photo of Kim and kept it.

     A period of time passed where Joe was not out to greet me each day.  When I finally saw him again he looked sickly and frail.  He told me that he had cancer, and that he was not going to let doctors poke him and prod him anymore.  Each day when I would make my rounds Joe tried hard to be friendly and positive.  Unfortunately the cancer was progressing rapidly.

He always found time to ask about Kim.  He mentioned that he also had a granddaughter named Sheila who was about Kim's age.

He said, "Wouldn't it be great if Kim and Sheila could meet and become friends?"  I didn't give it much thought since the girls did not live near each other, and went to different schools.

     They cancer finally took Joe, and his daughter Marita and granddaughter Sheila moved into Joe's home with his wife Evelyn.

Kim attended school at the local Granada Hills Middle School.  One day she went to her best friend's home after school.

The two girls looked at a family photo album.  To both of their amazement, the album contained a photo of Kim from many years before.  Both girls were extremely puzzled.  When Kim came home and told me about it, after discovering who her best friend was I realized that Joe Walker's wish for Kim and Sheila to become friends had really occurred. I was in awe.

     Almost 30 years later Kim and Sheila are still good friends.  Kim is co-writer of this book.  She is also the Confidence Expert on the Lessons From Network, TV host, TED-X speaker, life coach, multi-award winning speaker, and #1 Best Selling author of "Getting Your Life To A Ten Plus". Sheila and Kim still share stories about Joe’s wish coming true for them to be friends.

 A SPECIAL LETTER FROM EVELYN (2014)

"Thank you Mike for remembering Joe in the book you and Kim are now writing.  I was surprised and appreciated how accurately you recalled Joe.  He would be very proud that you remembered him as a cowboy.  He was born and raised in Montana. Although he left there and joined the army at 17 and made it his career, he always kept his roots in Montana.

   He always had a true interest in you and your family.  He was the one who went shopping for and wrapped the package for Kim every year.  I'm sure Joe knows that Kim and Sheila became such good  and lasting friends.  I'm so proud of all that

Kim has accomplished.  She has always been like another granddaughter to me.  Thank you again."

Evelyn Walker

Kim Somers Egelsee Featured in the "What's Love Got to Do With It? Summit" with Denise Dominguez

Discover the Tools, Tips and Inspiration You Need to Help You Create the Life and Love You Deserve!

I am excited to announce that I will be a special guest of this powerful self-love summit, "What's Love Got to Do With It…EVERYTHING!" which will be hosted by Denise Dominguez

There will be 21 experts who will reveal the secrets to releasing the blocks that hold us back from truly loving ourselves.  

Empower Your Life with Denise Dominguez

This 21-Day Virtual event begins on August, 18th, 2015.

Claim your FREE virtual seat NOW! http://denisedominguez.com/Kim

Faith Can Move Mountains - By Featured Guest Blogger, Gloria Hass

In 1995, God called me to be an evangelist. Although I was raised in a Christian family and had invited friends to go to church when I was in high school, I wasn’t a person who prayed a lot and I was just beginning to have a relationship with Jesus although I had accepted Him as my Savior when I was 14 years of age. For the next eight years, I would study my Bible, ask pastors questions they couldn’t answer and learned how to be a prayer warrior.

In 2003, I became a full time RVer. I was mocked by some pastors because I was a woman in my late 40’s doing God’s work. I travelled throughout the mid-west, with my dog, as a street evangelist. I settled in Bullhead City, Arizona to be near my mother and God used me mightily there. I evangelized in three local churches and for one year I had my own radio show titled The Glorious Overcomer Show which aired on K-T-O-X AM out of Needles, California.

After a trip to the mid-west to meet with the owner of a Christian publishing house and to evangelize, I moved outside the Phoenix, Arizona area. Then, I met a pastor, who lived in Tucson, to help him with his ministry for one and a half years. After I left there, I attended a church where I met a pastor who was starting his own church. His plans were up in the air and I moved back to Bullhead City to help my mother after her boyfriend had passed away. During this time, I worked with a pastor in Kenya for about three months before his ministry took him elsewhere where he wasn’t connected to technology. During this time, I had prayed for God to use me for revival in the world.

After my mother’s affairs were settled, the pastor called me to Tucson where I was an on-staff evangelist where I was ordained through his ministry. His church was thriving and then I was asked to help plant a sister church also located in Tucson. I accepted and was an on staff evangelist for this church while the other church moved to a different location.

After six months, I left this church to take a sabbatical for rest and rejuvenation. During this time, my mother’s health started to go downhill because of COPD and Alzheimer’s disease. When my brother wasn’t able to take care of her on his own, I moved back to Bullhead City. I missed evangelizing and felt as if a part of me was missing. God told me it wasn’t time for me to return to doing His work spreading the gospel. I wondered if God was ever going to use me again being in my mid-fifties. During this time, a pastor friend of mine had been telling me that God was going to use me again and I would move back to Tucson.

After one and a half years, my work at my mother’s was over and I moved back to Tucson where God called me to go, only my ministry work didn’t start for another 15 months. During this time, I rested a lot to get my health back on track, which had greatly suffered from being a caregiver.

I was also quite ready to evangelize only God didn’t answer which I took as a “no” which was really a “not yet”. I asked God what He wanted me to do. I joined a mentoring group to start my then retired marketing consulting business back up. I had signed on some clients and was making a little money which supplemented my disability income. Then, my business dried up – no business – nothing. I wondered what was going on. I prayed and asked God what did He want me to do now and I heard the word “evangelize”. My heart soared! I asked Him how He wanted me to do that since I was unable to travel because of health challenges. I heard the word “technology”.

In April 2015, I stopped working my business and marketing consulting business since apparently God had closed it and began making ministry connections on LinkedIn and Facebook only nothing was happening. I kept going forward all the time believing God would reveal what I needed to do. I shifted my focus back on evangelism all the time waiting on God while making connections via technology.

On April 30, 2015, I received a friend request from a pastor who lives in Bungoma, Kenya, Africa. He introduced himself and I checked him out to make sure he was who he said he was. His ministry turned out to be a bona fide ministry and then I friended one of his friends who introduced me to an evangelist in Uganda who might be in need of my teachings. Both men requested for me to mentor them to help them build them up in Christ. Their foundation was weak not to any fault of their own. Church planters come in, bring people to Christ, show them how to start a church then leave. I started to mentor these men and ended up writing a home study curriculum “Walking in the Supernatural”. Both men grew tremendously and wanted more teachings which I am happy to say mentoring them as they continue to grow in Christ. The doors opened to mentor two young male college students who have also grown tremendously in their faith.

Starting in mid-June, after the pastor had completed his lessons from Walking in the Supernatural, I started sending teachings for him to preach on my behalf to his congregation of forty people.

During the rest of the month of June, I had pastors on LinkedIn ask me to help them with their ministries. I sent teachings by way of email. I was also approached by a pastor in The Philippines to preach on a Wednesday night service by way of Skype. This event happened on June 24th.

By the middle of July, I added on eight more pastors to helping 15 ministries one of which ministries served thousands of people in India. All the pastors were exclaiming how powerful my teachings were. I told them it’s because of God.

On July 17, 2015, I received the following email from the pastor in India:

“Dear Gloria Hass,

Greetings in His Mighty Name from INDIA.. Who is ALIVE & Works in Us..

I am greatly blessed by the messages you emailed me & I am going to preach & teach among my church planters who are in great need of spiritual food these days. They generally don't get to the internet or smart phones to know more about the world. they stay in the remote & unreached places where no proper communication is there and they used to involve in preaching the Good News of the lord to the people groups who are poverty stricken & in pathetic condition without proper food & clothes.

So I request you to please uphold our church planters (53) & their needs while adventuring into the more dangerous places to spread the Gospel.

This month I am going to meet them in a jungle area where we share about work of the lord and same I am taking your print -out messages and translate into Oriya & Telugu language for their understanding & spiritual growth.

Please continue to encourage us.”

My heart swelled to hear of how God was using me to reach people in the deep recesses of the world! This is what I had prayed for before when I had asked God to use me for revival!

On July 18, 2015, I received a friend request from a young man in Bangladesh who asked me to pray for his ministries. In turn, I asked him to pray for my ministry and told him what I did. We are in the process of discussing my preaching via Skype and on August 7, 2015, I will be delivering an hour long message during an evangelistic and healing conference in Pakistan via Skype.

Each week, my ministry grows more rapidly with evangelizing in depressed countries who cannot afford to pay an evangelist. I speak with other people in ministry to lift them up and pray for them in Bangladesh, India, Africa and The Philippines.

I love spreading the Word of God and He is supplying my needs which He has always done. The bible states the laborer is worth his hire. At this time, God has someone who is helping me financially through December of 2015. After that, I don’t know what God is going to do. He has promised us today and I am being taken care of today. He cares for me more than the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. I know He will continue to provide for my needs.

I am glad I am back evangelizing – it is my passion and fills every fiber of my being. Words cannot express how elated I am. I also conduct a Saturday morning call in church service by phone call in. I record these messages and they are available on my web site as well. I am also filming my messages and placing them on youtube.com.

I evangelize in spite of having Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma and mild seizures. I will continue to evangelize as long as there is breath in me and look forward to edifying believers who need building up in their faith as well as bringing the unsaved to Jesus. This is my passion and calling.

Own It! How To Embrace Who You Are! by Kim Somers Egelsee

There are 7 C's to embracing who you truly are. And the way it can be achieved successfully is if you commit 100% to yourself by actually being it, doing it and owning it!!


Here are the 7 C's and what I do to fully express who I truly am:


1. Check in with yourself regularly throughout the day. It is important to always feel where you are at; to see how you are feeling. And if you are feeling down or upset, allow yourself to feel these feelings but make sure not to let it consume you. Find a healthy way to release it - perhaps journaling, getting into nature, meditating, exercising or talking to a loved one so that you can vent in a healthy way (not in a gossipy way).


2. Be Careful with whom you spend your time with. Sometimes the people we surround ourselves with can be vampire suckers and drain us of our energy. If this is currently happening in your life, you may want to write a list of inspiring people that you would like to hang out with and then start going to gatherings, networking events, etc to meet these people.


3. Choose - remind yourself that you have choices. You have the freedom to choose what will be in your highest good when it comes to your happiness and success in life.


4. Be Clear on your strengths and what you love about you. It is imperative to acknowledge just how amazing you truly are and it all begins with self-love. Write down your strengths and the things you are passionate about and soon you will discover the things that you love about yourself.


5. Communicate - when you communicate respectfully what it is you are feeling in a positive and respectful way, you are more easily to be heard and respected, as well.


6. Connect and collaborate - Get out there and connect with others that inspire you to see if they would be open to collaborating on projects together. When you step out of your comfort zone to network with other like-minded entrepreneurs, magic can happen!


7. Create opportunities and jump into them - along with connecting and collaborating with others, it is important for yourself to connect with yourself in order to tap into your creative self to build opportunities and ideas that inspire others. And when you're creative juices start flowing, make sure to jump in with both feet and commit to yourself!


When you follow the 7 C's, you will begin to fully embrace who you truly are with open arms! So begin by giving yourself a hug then BE, DO and OWN your worth because YOU are worth it!

Needle in a Haystack: Two Solutions to the Problem - By Guest Blogger, Tangee Veloso

That was it! It was the last straw! I had come to my wit’s end today! Now, I am normally a patient mama but I think after 3 weeks of being home with my sick son with only a chance to see the outside world 4 times in that duration was all I could handle. Twice for doctor’s visits, once to go grocery shopping and another time when I went to a business event. So I wouldn’t really call any of these exciting adventures, well except maybe those couple of cocktails I inhaled at the business event. But other than that, my son and I had been glued to the hip almost the whole time (minus the times when I would make calls for work where he was glued to my computer screen watching his shows).


Okay yes there were moments where everything was great. I took the time to create homeschooling activities that were fun for both of us. I even opened up an instagram account and started a whole concept called 365 Days of Conscious Parenting with some great tips and natural remedies to help through the cold season. But the days were starting to merge even blur into each other. I think I was actually experiencing for the first time what cabin fever feels like! Now add a fussy four-year-old who isn’t feeling good, sensing negative energy around him and having big feelings every few minutes – it was not a pretty sight!


Yep - I was starting to lose patience my 3rd week into it. Both my son and I could feel it. And he could feel it especially today. Children must have this 6th sense that when they know we are tired, stressed out and annoyed that their feelings become just as intense. I’m sure you can all relate!? And I completely get it. Normally I would be able to empathize with him – knowing that he is sensing my energy and perhaps it is scary for him. And normally I would empathize that he has been sick for the past 3 weeks and that lately the home environment just hasn’t been a fun place to be submerged in.


Yes that would typically be me, using the tools that I wrote about in my book. Using the amazing tool with Staylistening as he thrashes about and releases his big feelings. I guess today I had had it with the big feelings, the kicking and lashing out at me every few moments. Yep – I blew my top. Not just once, twice or three times a lady. To tell you the truth, I actually lost count. Today was definitely an off day for both of us.


Thank goodness my son was feeling better so that we could actually get out of the house and do something! And thank goodness we still have libraries to retreat to to stay out of the cold – where the hi-tech world of iPads, Kindle, Nook and whatever else is out there in the digital realm just can’t compare to the solace of the comforting smell of old books. There’s just nothing like cuddling underneath the blankets and being able to physically turn the pages of a book while reading to your child.


Anyways where was I? Ah yes – the part where I was feeling frustrated. The part where I started feeling awful and guilty for using tactics that I swore I would never use; those oh too familiar tactics that I detested as a child and teenager that was starting to slowly creep back into my subconscious. Was it happening? Was I becoming a broken record and reflection of my parents? Aghhhhhh!!!


Ok that was the wake up call. I had to find my way back to my center. I had to get really present and keep those old recycled patterns at bay before any foreign words like “Go to your room” (which would basically be our room since we co-sleep) or “Time out” could even seep its horrendous words from my lips. Because I knew if that day ever came then there would have to be a serious check-in with myself.


Thankfully I knew what was happening. The problem: I wasn’t getting any of my needs met. And even though I do my damnedest to be as conscious as I can be, I have my days. But the days were beginning to add up with how short my fuse was starting to amplify. I knew if I didn’t find a way to fill up my love cup soon I was gonna blow!


And filling up our love cups are very, very important! Heck that’s why I even started Family Love Village in the first place – was to have a sacred place for us parents to learn, to grow and support one another. Because conscious parenting isn’t always easy. Especially since we are constantly battling to stay clear of the parenting patterns we grew up in as children ourselves.


But wow…none of the tools I was suggesting for my son to calm his energy was working. And when he gets frustrated, boy does he get frustrated! It’s to the point where he is hitting himself. I can’t count how many times after an episode where he had finally calmed down when I would suggest tools, such as counting down from ten to one or taking deep, relaxing breaths with me or to play Sea Monster (a game we play where he chases me and pretends to tie me up and runs away to hide)…none of these were working. I was feeling helpless and seemed like there was no solution to helping him with his frustrations. It was like trying to fine a needle in a haystack – that’s how hard it was to find a solution to help ease his pain.


And then it hit me – like a ton of bricks! How is he going to be able to use the tools to calm himself down if half the time I am not using the tools? Sure there were moments when I would be able to count from ten to one or take deep breaths where he would witness me more calm and responding to him with love but then those others times I wasn’t. So how could I expect him to use these tools when he wasn’t seeing me use them consistently either?


Eureka! I think I found the needle! Actually two needles:
Taking the time to get my needs met, and
Consistently role modeling how to get through my own frustrations with ease so that it can help my son get through his frustrations with ease, too


Which brought me to another realization: as parents we are always telling our children to be patient but if we are not able to model patience to them when they ruffle our feathers whenever they have flooded feelings, then how do we expect them to learn about patience when we haven’t yet learned this valuable tool?


And to go even deeper, could the flooded feelings that our children are feeling that are frustrating us really be a reflection of old past hurts of how our parents treated us that we have yet to heal from?


I’d like to quote a few paragraphs from my book, “Taming Your Wild Child: 7 Proven Principles to a Deeper Connection that Fosters Confidence and Compassion While Transforming Behavior, Too!” that I felt was very relevant to the above question.


“In retrospect, if we are to lead the path for our children, one that imprints a conscious, loving and compassionate livelihood for their upbringing, we must also know what is and isn’t working in order to evolve.


And just as it is important to help children heal their trauma, it is imperative for we adults to heal our past trauma, as well. If you are not able to heal your past hurts, they will continue to trickle onto your children.


Chris Morasky, founder of Ancient Pathways of SoCal (a nature class for home-schoolers), shared his thoughts on trauma and an intriguing point of view about how our children’s ability to push our buttons is a gift. (C. Morasky, personal communication, March 20, 2013):


“Whatever traumas are not dealt with in childhood continue through adulthood, then through old age, and finally to death. Traumas that are not dealt with eventually are physically expressed as illness or injury and via a lower vitality (it is no coincidence that auto-immune diseases are steadily rising, partly due to this). And… you pass your traumas on to your children. The way this happens is fascinating and actually quite beautiful. Your child intuitively senses your traumas and unconsciously finds ways to engage your issues (we call this “pushing your buttons”). Nobody can push your buttons like your own child, right? THIS IS A GIFT. Remember, you can only let go of your limitations when your “stuff” is “up”. Children are born to raise up their parents, not the other way around.”

And then this reminded me of another quote that I wrote from my book:

“Parenting through connection may seem like it takes longer; but, when you look at the overall picture, it takes just as much time to connect with your child and find strategies that elevate towards empathy, trust and loving cooperation, as it would if you were to try and find ways to repair the damage that tend to usually follow the use of bribes, coercion and punishments.”

In the end, we have a choice. There is always a choice. It is just a matter of whether we choose to respond from a place of love or to react from a place of fear.

About Tangee Veloso

Tangee Veloso is the founder of Family Love Village (FLV), the world’s leading conscious community, website and iMagazine called the FLVillage Crier for families passionate about parenting through connection and eco-holistic living. She is also a life coach and author of a conscious parenting book called “Taming Your Wild Child: 7 Proven Principles for Raising Connected and Confident Children!”

Her commitment in creating a supportive forum and a conscious parenting movement by co-creating FLVillages globally where families can be educated on parenting through connection from the many legendary trailblazers before her, as well as learn about becoming eco-friendly advocates and supporting a more natural, holistic lifestyle is the main focus for FLV. Tangee is an eco-mamapreneur, a performer, and a devoted and loving mama to her 6 year old son.

Preview of Chapter 3 from book with my Dad

NEXT SPRING will be the launch of the book I am co-authoring with my Dad; Mike Somers on his offbeat stories of triumph, tragedy and life as a mailman and realtor that he shared with me through the years. A lot of life wisdom packed into the book! Here is a sneak peak a Chapter 3! Chapter #3 GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
In 2006 I represented Barry and Donna in the sale of their Reseda, California home. They had purchased their home at the peak of the market in 2005, and were having great difficulty making the monthly payment. Barry became more and more moody and frustrated, coming home wanting to sleep or just watch TV. This caused Donna to feel depressed and helpless. To make matters worse, their 15 year old son Anthony had just been arrested after being involved with drugs involving some of the neighborhood teenagers. He had been spiraling out of control since hanging out with a rough crowd. The matter of selling the home was now urgent. 
With only a small amount of equity in the home, escrow then closed, and Barry and Donna began to rent an apartment that a family member owned at a highly discounted rate in Glendale, California. Although their son Anthony improved a bit in who he was hanging out with, and in his behavior,in 2008 the recession hit hard and Barry's contractor business completely failed, causing him to go into a severe depression. Some days Barry found that he could not even get out of bed. He felt worthless not being able to provide for his family, and was unable to communicate with them positively. Donna now had to take on three difficult jobs as a waitress, cleaning lady and crossing guard just to pay the rent and feed the family.
Six years later in 2013, matters had not improved. Barry and Donna were still living in the same apartment, and their son Anthony now wanted to go to college at California State University Northridge. Unfortunately there was no extra money to send him there. The entire family felt hopeless, sad and deflated. However, Donna had an inner feeling of hope and promise.
On July 4, 2013 Donna had the urge to buy scratch-off lottery tickets at a local convenience store. She borrowed a quarter so that she would have the $2.00 needed to buy two tickets. When she scratched them off she discovered she had won $10.00. 
She went back into the store and purchased a special $10.00 “Golden ticket”. Before scratching it she prayed with faith to give her family a house once again. When she scratched it she was overwhelmed to discover she had won $77,000.
She rushed home excited, to show her family, and her sister happened to be at the apartment. Her sister grabbed the ticket out of Donna’s hand and realized that Donna hadn’t scratched the entire number away. Her sister started to cry huge tears of joy, shouting to Donna that she had actually won $777,000! Barry and Anthony ran out of their rooms bug eyed, realizing that indeed, Anthony would go to college and they would buy their dream home.
As Donna's former Realtor, I had kept in contact with them over the years. On that same July 4 day she called me to make an appointment to come to her Glendale apartment to discuss buying a house. She did not tell me at that time about her big win, but she did sound thrilled. Three days later we met. They showed me photos of her big win at the convenience store, and had already received a letter from the California State Lottery Board telling her that she would receive her funds in 4 to 6 weeks. We immediately began looking at homes. In a short time we found an extremely nice one with a pool and gorgeous yard not far from California State University Northridge where Anthony would now be attending. We used the letter from the California Lottery Board to prove the buyers' funds to the seller. By the end of July the real check had arrived, and by mid-August (1 1/2 months from the big win) Barry and Donna were in the completely paid for dream home. As soon as they had called me, Barry felt huge weights lifted off of him, and his depression ended. He made plans with a good friend to open a new business.
Miracles do happen. God does answer prayers....Many times there are happy endings....JUST BELIEVE!

Life Changes - By Kim Somers Egelsee & Mike Somers

CHAPTER #11: LIFE CHANGES 

- Excerpt from upcoming book by Kim Somers Egelsee and her dad Mike Somers

It was a beautiful sunny morning. 78 year old Lou waved to his neighbor as he picked up the morning paper.

Once inside he poured himself a hot cup of coffee and thought about the tasks he planned to complete this day. Lou had settled nicely into retired life after spending 39 years as a top psychologist. He still worked part-time helping his wonderful wife who he had been married to for over fifty years, Jeanne plan tours for her travel agency which she had run for more than 40 years. In the early years of Lou's business, Jeanne once asked him for assistance with setting up a tour to Africa. Lou balked at first, worrying about a lengthy absence affecting his psychology practice. Jeanne chimed in that either Lou was going, or she would get someone else to go with her. This was an important lesson for Lou of keeping the balance in his life. Jeanne won, and Lou accompanied her on the trip of his life, with many more to follow.

Lou had now been reading the paper and drinking his coffee for over 1 1/2 hours. He wondered why Jeanne had not gotten up yet and joined him. When he went in to check on her he could sense something was terribly wrong. Jeanne was completely unresponsive. Lou called 911 and a paramedic team responded. Jeanne had suffered a major stroke, never to be the same again. Despite doctors giving Lou very little hope for Jeanne's improvement, Lou wanted the very best for the love of his life. He had Jeanne admitted to a local assisted living facility with a medical staff that specialized in stroke victims. The cost of this treatment was over $9,000 per month.

To make sure he had enough funds to indefinitely pay for this care, Lou decided to sell his rental house where he had close to $400,000 in equity. This was certainly not what Lou wanted, but he knew it was necessary. We both knew this would be a tough sale. The house was located on a busy street and the market was going through a major slow down.

Three weeks into the listing, we had only one showing. We had also done three open houses with dismal results.

Then an amazing thing happened. At the time, every Sunday we would visit my wife Nancy's elderly dad Ben, and have dinner with him. He was now alone, and welcomed our company and meal together. He always ate well when we brought the food. I really don't think he was eating much at all during the rest of the week. That afternoon I bought him a CD set of old Christian spirituals sung by old-time country greats like Eddy Arnold and Tennessee Ernie Ford. That night we played those songs, and for about an hour Ben was the happiest I had seen him in years. We discussed the home with him, and the three of us said a little prayer for Lou, Jeanne and the sale of their home. We came home feeling uplifted and joyful energy.

When I walked in the door our phone immediately rang. A man claiming to be a doctor announced that he wanted to buy Lou's busy street home for "full price all cash". No one would make such a declaration so I was skeptical. At that time cash offers were extremely rare. I asked the doctor if he had actually seen the house, and he responded "No” but he was sure he wanted it. I arranged to meet him the next day to see the home. I told him that we would need his proof of funds to submit an offer. The doctor arrived on schedule with proof of funds for $7 million dollars!! The sale went through without a hitch and closed escrow in just 7 days. It was truly the strangest and smoothest transaction ever. I truly believe it was a gift from God.

Lou now had the money he needed to assure that Jeanne would get the best care possible. For the next year Jeanne did progress well. Lou visited her daily and spent a lot of quality time with her. Sadly, at the one year point she suffered another stroke which took her life. Lou knew in his heart that he had given her all of the love and care that were humanly possible. One year after her passing Lou set up one last African tour in her honor and memory. He had a great time...

30 Mindful Ways to Pay It Forward - By Tangee Veloso

I’m sure most of you have heard or seen the movie, “Pay It Forward” featuring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. This movie was based on the best-selling novel by the same name written by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

The movie is about a young boy who did 3 good deeds for others in need. All the child wanted in return was for them to pass on the good deed to three other people so that the practice of helping one another could spread exponentially. Thus, creating a conscious social movement that could impact with making the world a better place.

I remember watching this movie when it first came out in 2000 and was so moved by its message. I also remember definitely being inspired to pay it forward to others and I’m sure I did (exactly what I did I can’t recall because it was 12 years ago). And then it dawned on me just now (as my fingers are quickly touching the keypad to express my thoughts onto the screen) that it was that long ago! The question that pondered in my head was “How often have I done random acts of kindness for people since then?” I mean, I know I have definitely given food and money to several homeless people standing by an exit of a freeway but how about other strangers I’ve come across? Have I really gone out of my way to help in a meaningful way to strangers that has created such an impact in their lives that has inspired them to also pay it forward to others? I honestly don’t know.

Sure, I’ve inspired several people and have actually moved them in some way that has impacted their lives but I truthfully don’t know when the last time I did a random act of kindness to a stranger that possibly moved them in the sense that they would want to spread the joy to other strangers too. Well I think it’s time I do!

Often times, we get so caught up in our own lives that the true meaning behind “paying it forward” can be but a faint, distant whisper in the breeze. Too often the phrase gets tossed around and used so loosely that some people don’t even know what the term even represents anymore. And sometimes the act of being kind can get buried beneath our own issues that we feel we have nothing more to give. We become too overwhelmed with our own lives, our own families, our own kids…too tired, too stressed out, too much in a hurry to be present. Present to the fact that when we give freely from our hearts, how much more we truly receive in our own lives…just the feeling of giving is so rewarding.  But trust me, I get it.  Sometimes we have to do what we have to do in order to take care of our our own lives and nurture self-love and self-care.  But in times when we CAN give back - it can put a smile not only on someone else’s face but our own, it can decrease the stress and overwhelm that we feel as parents, and can even attract more ease and happiness in our lives.

And an even more gratifying feeling is knowing that when we model this to our children, we get the opportunity to show them another wonderful way to become compassionate and unconditionally loving towards others. Wow! Talk about bringing a whole new level of awareness to the phrase, right?!

When we do random acts of kindness, it actually shifts our way of thinking, our way of being. Instead of saying to ourselves, “What’s in it for me?”, we start to ask ourselves, “How can I create a little happiness for someone with no strings attached?”

So if you haven’t paid it forward in awhile or would like to do more of it, now is the time. It’s time to move beyond our own “stuff”, our own stories and create a new story to tell. It’s time to find ways to actually give it forward.


What are several simple ways you can start doing this today? 

1. Pay the highway toll fee for the vehicle behind you. 
2. Buy food for a homeless person (or participate with an organization to feed the homeless). 
3. Give a warm jacket or blanket to a homeless person. 
4. Put money in someone’s parking meter that is about to expire. 
5. Pay for someone’s food behind you in line. 
6. Bake some goodies for a new neighbor or any neighbor for that matter! 
7. Let the person in line behind you go before you at the cash register. 
8. Volunteer at a non-profit organization that helps the needy 
9. Support a good cause either financially or physically 
10. Visit an ill patient at a hospice 
11. Volunteer at an elderly home or an animal shelter 
12. Offer to baby sit for a family 
13. Make a meal or help clean for a family who recently had a baby 
14. Loan something to someone and don’t ask for it back 
15. Put money in a street performer’s jar 
16. Spend time with children at an orphanage 
17. Donate clothes, toys, books to a shelter for battered women and children during the holidays and/or anytime of the year 
18. Be a mentor 
19. Invite the less fortunate over for dinner during the holidays (or anytime for that matter) 
20. Donate time/money/energy towards a fundraiser for a school 
21. Give your services pro bono 
22. Help grow a community garden 
23. Donate your hair to Locks of Love or other organizations that make wigs for people who need it 
24. Plant a tree or clean up garbage at a park or the beach 
25. Pay for a stranger’s meal at a restaurant 
26. Pick someone at the bank, post office or grocery store and make a special card with your child and/or buy a gift to give to them 
27. Give all your recyclables to a homeless person so they can collect the money 
28. Give a loan to this organization, Kiva that is helping and empowering people around the world 
29. Get your neighborhood/community to donate toiletries to Children of the Night which helps to keep kids off the streets 
30. Continue to be present and keep your eyes peeled for anyone you see that looks like they may need a helping hand, i.e. holding the door open for an old lady, helping to carry groceries out for a single mom with kids, etc. 

These are just some of the ways that you can give a helping hand. There are many other ways to do it, too. But there is one way that is definitely important and that is spreading the word! If someone wants to thank you and pay you “back”, let them know that you’d prefer for them to pay it “forward” and do something thoughtful for three people they don’t know and then ask those three people to do something thoughtful for three more people and so on. This way it continues to consciously increase unconditional love throughout the world.

Just as Ghandi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. So let’s continue to be the “pebble” in the pond that creates a ripple effect of consciousness!



About Tangee Veloso

Tangee Veloso is the founder of Family Love Village (FLV), the world’s leading conscious community, website and iMagazine called the FLVillage Crier for families passionate about parenting through connection and eco-holistic living. She is also a life coach and author of a conscious parenting book called “Taming Your Wild Child: 7 Proven Principles for Raising Connected and Confident Children!”

Her commitment in creating a supportive forum and a conscious parenting movement by co-creating FLVillages globally where families can be educated on parenting through connection from the many legendary trailblazers before her, as well as learn about becoming eco-friendly advocates and supporting a more natural, holistic lifestyle is the main focus for FLV. Tangee is an eco-mamapreneur, a performer, and a devoted and loving mama to her 6 year old son..

HOW TO HAVE A SEXY, SPECTACULAR, SHINING LIFE ~By Kim Somers Egelsee

Do you want to have the kind of life that is excitingly appealing, glamorous and filled with adventure; a life where you reveal the real you, your truest self, living on purpose with passion? You truly can!

Here are some tips and tools for living the life of a sexy, spectacular star. You do deserve it.

1. Plan something exciting at least three times per month; this can be a trip, an event, dinner with friends, going to a fabulous art museum, horseback riding and more.
2. Schedule vacations. 
3. Hang around exciting people; decide who you'd like to know and take steps toward that. This is living with intention. 
4. Follow your heart and do something you're passionate about daily.
5. Make a list of things you dislike doing but need to do and make them fun, creative or unique
6. Turn on music and dance.
7. Dress up.
8. Reward yourself.
9. Watch, attend, read or listen to  something meaningful...learn and grow.
10. Get bold and out of your comfort zone and try something new.

"9 Ways to Overcome Growing Pains" ~ By Tangee Veloso

“Self love is accepting yourself, as is. 

Reach for the stars…but love yourself right where you are.” 

~ Unknown

In the last issue, “5 Ways to Create Space and Feel Clutter-Free”, I shared tips on creating more space for yourself emotionally. This has been the on-going theme for myself for the past month or so. Finding the balance and peace within myself so that the eye in the storm doesn’t get swept into the tornado’s whirlwind cadence has definitely been challenging to say the least. But the more space I make and the more clutter I clear while being able to silence the chatter in my head, the more I am able to listen to the answers bubbling up within.

I remember awhile back when the noise was just too loud to fully listen to my intuition back then. I can recall being swept away in the tornado ten years ago in a situation that seemed like a very similar situation that I am in now. Where I had lost everything: my job, my home, my relationship. Yet this time around, although somewhat familiar, there was something different. I was different. I had grown from that once lost girl who was desperate to find a way to get things back to “normal” or back to the way things were before to me now having a deep sense of knowing that I no longer wanted things to be the same as they were. Back then I spiraled down a dark hole of self-destructive behavior while now I am reclaiming my power and facing my fears head on.

This time around, I am not getting the same sense of me losing everything. As painful and challenging as it may feel a lot of the time, I actually for the first time feel like I am gaining something: ME. I am finally at a place in my life that loving myself comes first. This is the only way that I can model this to my son to love himself is if I embrace it myself, too. And sometimes loving oneself requires letting go of situations that no longer serve the person you are evolving into.

Another thing that I have noticed is that this time around there are no agendas or expectations from anyone or from any particular situation. I just continue to practice being really present. Present to my feelings and allowing myself the space to truly feel the emotions as opposed to numbing them. Present to taking moments like this to ponder through my writing so that I can place my attention on the Truth and see the bigger picture beyond the circumstances, beyond the pain and feel gratitude for everything that I am experiencing; knowing that everything is supporting my growth. I still have those moments where I go into a place of lack and fear as I consistently look for a job while building my businesses at the same time to pay the bills and put food on the table. Yet I keep placing my attention on the present moment and continue to do what I love, as well. Like writing, for instance. This is my first love and has always been a healthy way for me to release. And although the changes feel scary at times, there is something definitely different this time around and it is feels liberating.

It has been told by doctors that when children go through growing pains, the pain is triggered when their bones grow and stretch over the bone’s thick covering. To me, metaphorically, the pain that triggers us adults when going through drastic changes is a gift that allows our inner strength to stretch beyond Ego’s thick covering, as well.

At least for me, it’s an opportunity that allows for choice; to choose whether I am going to become a victim of my circumstances or to rise above them, to trust and to continue following what feels True for me. To make decisions that intuitively feel light and come from a place of love rather than making choices out of need and fear that tend to feel heavy. This too reflects on all aspects of my life: how I choose to parent with my son; whether I respond from a place of love or react from a place of fear. It is all relative to one another and all begins with a choice.

Just like growing pains for a child is considered a rite of passage so too are the moments when we experience change on an emotional and spiritual level. Unlike most rites of passage that are usually celebrated, some transitional periods require a more intimate healing process.

I recently wrote a book for my son about change to set the stage and help with the transitions that were about to occur in our lives. This is a great tool for whenever you are introducing something that might feel foreign and scary for them at first (i.e. going to their first dentist or doctor visit, going to school for the first time, or when a parent goes on their first business trip away from the family, etc). I learned this wonderful tip from Ruth Beaglehole from Echo Parenting and Education.

The book I wrote for my son is called “From Caterpillar to Butterfly: When Things Change” and it talked about the different stages of a caterpillar’s life. Its message shared that just like caterpillars shift their form so too does life for us humans. Towards the end I gave reminders of ways that he can release his frustrations in a healthy way in case any of the changes felt a bit overwhelming and scary.

As important as it is for us to support our little ones through their emotional growing pains, it is also crucial for us parents to find tools and resources to help us through our own, as well. And it all begins with taking the first step towards loving ourselves.
The following are a couple of tools that can support more self-love:

1. Acknowledgement - becoming aware of our emotional pain seems like an apparent thing to do but often the emotional trauma lies beneath the surface; below the energy field that we are sometimes not aware of that has most likely stemmed from our childhood. And then surprisingly, the emotional distress that we are feeling sometimes isn’t even our own!

Do you ever sometimes feel sad or angry for no apparent reason? According to Gary Douglas and Dr. Dain Heer from Access Consciousness, 98% of our thoughts, feelings and emotions aren’t even our own! If this is the case, that is a pretty insane percentage of just how much of other people’s emotions and programming that we carry on our shoulders that take up space. Precious space that could be used to create what we really want to experience in our lives.

The good news is there is a simple and amazing tool from Access Consciousness that you can do and teach your children to do, as well when big feelings arise for either one of you. It is called “Who Does This Belong To?”. This link shares a short video and brief description on how to use the tool that can give you more freedom and joy when you are willing to ask this question.

After you acknowledge the pain, the next step is:

2. Forgiveness - too often we are hard on ourselves and judge our own behavior (of course something that was most likely passed down from our childhood). Sometimes it seems easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves but in order to model the real value of forgiveness to our children, we must learn to give our inner child empathetic connection, as well.
After forgiveness, it is about making the decision to move forward towards feeling complete joy in our lives.

In order to say “Yes” to ourselves and begin to heal our own wounds, the next several steps are a summarized version from an excerpt from my book, “Taming Your Wild Child: 7 Proven Principles for Raising Connected and Confident Children!”.

These steps involve:

1. Actually choosing you - Taking the time to get your needs met
2. Breathing to get grounded - Allow the brain gibberish to dissipate by focusing on the breath.
3. Listening to your heart’s true desires of what you love doing - Once you have chosen to start loving yourself and have slowed down the brain chatter through breathing, now it’s time to listen from your heart to feel what drives your passion.
4. Honing in on a list of things you love doing and writing them down on a piece of paper- You may know what gets you ticking and ignites the passion, but writing it down will be a good reminder for you to start doing more of the items on that list.
5. Then actually doing what you wrote on that list - What is actually possible when we are actually doing what we truly love doing that enriches who we are being in the world? What if by beingwhat you love to do awakens you to your Truth and fills you up, instead of just filling a void?
6. Smiling - Whether you’re looking at yourself in front of the mirror or walking past a stranger, smile! Research has shown that smiling doesn’t only affect one’s mood; it can affect one’s health, as well.
7. Being thankful - Being grateful is such an essential piece to the whole puzzle of manifesting what we love to do. When we give thanks, it is vibrating to the Universe that we are ready to manifest more of what we want to attract in our lives.

So if you are going through some emotional growing pains, and are finding it challenging to move past the stress, the first thing is to forgive and love yourself by taking steps (whether it is the suggested tips here or your own resources) to continue staying in the energy field of unconditional love and connection to and for yourself. Even if it feels like a death of an old life, being re-born into a new one that will continue to be a milestone, is a journey worth embarking on!

Just like the beautiful quote in the beginning of this article states that self-love is acceptance of who you are yet still having the willingness to continue “reaching for the stars” – meaning to always discover ways that intuitively guide you in following what is True for you but still embracing the love for yourself wherever you are at on your journey.

Tangee Veloso-Pueblos is the founder of Family Love Village (FLV),  the world’s leading conscious community, website and iMagazine called the FLVillage Crier for families passionate about parenting through connection and eco-holistic living.   She is also a life coach and author of a conscious parenting book called “Taming Your Wild Child: 7 Proven Principles for Raising Connected and Confident Children!”

Her commitment in creating a supportive forum and a conscious parenting movement by co-creating FLVillages globally where families can be educated on parenting through connection from the many legendary trailblazers before her, as well as learn about becoming eco-friendly advocates and supporting a more natural, holistic lifestyle is the main focus for FLV.  Tangee is an eco-mamapreneur, a performer, and a devoted and loving mama to her 6 year old son..

Two More Days until the Celebrate and Shine Retreat! Your Spot Is Still Available!

Two more days and about 15 spots left!

I am bursting with great vibes, excitement, gratitude and more for the Celebrate and Shine Retreat!

This will be one of those "remember it forever" events!

Register at www.march8womensretreat.eventbrite.com

70 extraordinary women already attending!!

March 8 retreat

We are offering Celebrate and Shine Retreat tickets for March 8 or just $45 each.... we are half way to sold out!www.march8womensretreat.eventbrite.com 
Power women panel for wealth manifesting secrets, weight loss and stress relief strategies, and more, food by Jenn Wildtree Cooking with Jen Warr, Drinks by Just Chill, speakers include Tanya Brown - Mental Health Public Speaker and Life Coach, KIM Life Coach, Xiomara Escobar, and Susannah Sprague-Lerma and more!

FREE GIVE AWAY at a Women's Celebration Retreat with Kim Somers Egelsee & Xiomara Escobar

EXCLUSIVE:

Ok ladies and gents, Xiomara Escobar and and myself will be having a Celebration Retreat on March 8, 2015 (also it is International Women's Day) and we are having contest to GIVEAWAY A FREE Ticket to the event!

We all know everyone loves FREEBIES! I sure do! Well we are starting the contest TODAY until February 22, 2015!!!

All YOU need to do is be a fan of my page and Xiomara's:

https://www.facebook.com/tenpluslifecoach

www.facebook.com/XiomaraBeauty

SHARE this post, and COMMENT "Done" once you have completed all 3 and you'll be entered in the drawing to WIN (Bonus points will come randomly throughout these upcoming weeks):

Details:

You get a FREE Ticket to the Event

AND a complete Makeover at the event with hair and makeup so you will feel and look like a ROCKSTAR!!!

Added Bonus: you will also getting a goodie bag with my "Life at a 10Plus Book"!