Life Lessons
Life Lessons
FBI Sacramento Diversity and Inclusion
So very privileged and grateful to have and share my VOICE in conversation with the community of FBI agents at their head quarter in Sacramento to inform and educate ( trauma , resilience , self care) , in my FOREVER pursuit and quest for TIKUN OLAM
Light Dispels Much Darkness
Holocaust Remembrance Day 2022
The Only One in The Room with Laura Robbins
The Brave Talk Show
A Fresh Agenda with Cristina Mendonsa
Rewiring Your Life Podcast: Rewiring Your Trauma
Interview with Rabbi Levi November 2021
How to Live a Long Life and Live it Well with Hilary DeCesare
One World in a New World with Zen Benefiel
Honorary Speaker at Stars Academy School
Lead Up For Women- Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Do It!
Surviving the Holocaust as a Child- Unarmored Talk Podcast with Mario P. Fields
Tap Into Your Ancestral Resilience
Tap into your ancestral resilience
Maintaining a positive mindset during present, uncharted, challenging times of the COVID-19 environment is not easy but definitely doable. Wars, epidemics and natural disasters are ALL part of OUR human history and experience. Keep in mind, we are the most resilient species in the universe. Our ancestors before US, survived and thrived through thick and thin — so will WE.
Meantime, practicing a positive, can-do attitude is essential to see US through these unexpected, scary days. You Can Do It! Keep calm and adapt to the temporary ‘new normal’ of social isolation.
Zoom, Skype, FaceTime with your family and friends, ‘visit’ your drawers and closets, get rid of excessive treasured clutter to be donated to charitable organizations. Thoughts of future acts of kindness, positive memories of past adventures and visions of our life journey still to be is bound to empower, uplift and promote resilience and inner strength as we weather this temporary trauma.
As a Holocaust survivor and Israeli Air Force veteran, I KNOW ‘This to Shall Pass’. I will survive and thrive in my ongoing, amazing Life Journey. So will YOU 
If I can Do It, so Can You
Life is an amazing, adventurous, uncharted journey: what to do when the unexpected happens
When the unexpected happens
Did you know that when the unexpected suddenly happens, our first tendency is to “freak.” It’s just human nature. Fight or flight is part of our ancestral DNA (coping, survival skills) in response to an imminent or imagined danger.
Wars, epidemics and natural disasters are part of our ancestral experience. We’ve survived those from the past. We shall survive and weather the temporary crisis at hand. Remember, we are not dinosaurs. We have evolved for many generations and are the most resilient species ever. This too will also pass. 🖐
As a Holocaust survivor and an Israeli Air Force veteran, I have a ‘can-do’ attitude ✌. I not only plan to survive, I am doing everything I can to stay informed, keep my distance, wash my hands etc. so that I can continue living healthily to 123. If I can do it, so can you. 🎸
Five Tips for Preserving Memory
Memory is just one of the brain’s many functions. Many people are concerned about losing their memory and developing dementia. While changes in memory occur throughout our lifetime, they become more noticeable as we age. But there are ways to manage the process and preserve memory functions. Here are five tips to help accomplish that goal:
- Strive to create new memory connections. This means seeking out more social interactions and opportunities to engage with people.
- Maintain a positive attitude. Recognize the brain has plasticity, so you can learn or re-learn skills throughout life. This requires commitment and practice.
- Mentally stimulate yourself. Whether through brain games, reading, or intellectual pursuits, these activities promote memory and cognitive functioning.
- Stay healthy. Exercise regularly and practice good nutrition to keep your brain healthy.
- Enjoy hobbies and other activities. Think about what you’ve lost interest in and find ways to replace or develop new pursuits.
Change the perception
So how can we extend our lives? Tune out the negative. Focus on the positive. Instead of using the word “old,” substitute “wise,” “mature,” “seasoned” and “experienced.” Think about it: in most cultures, elders are typically revered for their accumulation of knowledge and experience. Even those who haven’t accomplished much of special merit exhibit a time-tested combination of cultivated skills and experiential wisdom that rightly inspires humility in younger people (who do well to capitalize on their insights). So, almost by default, age demands more than a modicum of respect.
With the right information and mindset, people can learn how to approach one’s later years with optimism and determination, recognizing that no one ever has to lose their cultural edge. After all, people are living longer, healthier lives every day, all over the world. A huge part of why aging seems to come upon people suddenly and overwhelmingly is because people don’t take the steps early on that will give them the best possible chance of living long, healthy and meaningful lives.
Consider the aging process with a healthy mixture of acceptance and enthusiasm. This mind shift leads people to live happier (and often longer) lives. Known as the chronologically gifted, these people regard their age as a gift, the seal of a lifelong journey for which they are profoundly grateful. It’s a journey that began at birth and one they hope to continue through a personal legacy that immortalizes them in the memories of others. Facing their own mortality, the chronologically gifted are determined to live with significance, passion, and purpose in the here and now.
References:
https://news.yale.edu/2002/07/29/thinking-positively-about-aging-extends-life-more-exercise-and-not-smoking
https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-832261.pdf
10 Principles and Beliefs Adopted by the Chronologically Gifted
What you are to be, you are now becoming. Here are 10 principles that when practiced, will lead to longer, happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives.
- Get rid of the phrase, “I’m too old for that.” Eliminate it from daily vocabulary and from all thinking. Instead of approaching old age as an imposition of new limitations, focus on opportunities to overcome challenges and acquire new skills.
- Find a reason for getting up in the morning. It’s important for everyone to figure out what makes him or her tick when others want to just give up. Write it down. Create a life mantra. Any time the difficulties of life threaten to overwhelm, let your inner sense of purpose be the reminder that life matters now.
- Connect with something bigger. In addition to daily pursuits and occasional travel, volunteer for a worthy cause. Plug in to a spiritual community. Meditate. Pray. Read thought-provoking books that address life’s “big questions.” Get in touch with a Higher Power.
- Look on the bright side. Embrace a positive style. Hardship is temporary. Victory is just around the corner. Find little reasons every day to be grateful for life—even in the face of negativity. Resolve to live mindfully and savor the best gifts that life has to offer. Focus on solutions, not problems.
- Get moving. No excuses. Pick a physical activity that brings true enjoyment and real passion, and do it—regularly. Take a lot of walks. Use the stairs. Bike to the store instead of driving. Plant and tend a garden in the backyard. Find ways to incorporate low-intensity exercise of all kinds (strength, balance and aerobic) into daily life to ward off the potentially debilitating effects of aging.
- Stay fueled. Eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer simple carbohydrates. Avoid processed foods. Drink lots of water and an occasional glass of red wine. Consume smaller portions. Don’t eat “on the go.” Put unhealthy foods out of sight and out of reach to purge temptations.
- Create personal Blue Zones. A home can be organized to facilitate good sleep, healthy eating habits and spiritual well-being. Get rid of excess technological “noise,” and create a space for meditation. Shed the clutter and add some greenery. Invest in comfortable pillows and light-blocking drapes for the bedroom. Display pictures of family and friends and souvenirs of treasured life experiences.
- Don’t do it alone. Connect with like-minded, loyal, authentic people who will help their loved ones reach their goals. Spend time with them regularly. Share their burdens and vice versa. Rejoice in victories together. Learn to forgive and reach out to estranged family members before it’s too late to be reconciled. Life is too short for grudges.
- Believe in yourself. Give credit where credit is due. Focus on becoming the best you can be. Remember, obstacles are only temporary setbacks that can be overcome.
- Seize the day. Live today as though it really matters. Don’t do anything to cause regret, and don’t let fear prevent the full experience of your life in the here and right now.
Have You Created Your Legacy?
What exactly is a legacy? It’s your story that communicates how you want to be remembered. It covers your life’s events, your contributions to family and society, your ideas, advice and wisdom accumulated over a lifetime that you want to be a “forever” memory for people… not only friends and family members but for others who can benefit from your story as well. For many, leaving a legacy is a part of the human condition, a desire for immortality. When crafting your legacy, here are three questions to answer: How do I want to be remembered? What is the greatest gift or message I have to share with others? How can others benefit from what I share? Remember, legacy is about what matters most. It’s about life lessons and how to overcome loss, disappointment, tragedy and trauma. It’s about inspiring others by providing hope, encouragement, and gratitude for a life well-lived. Create and share your legacy. You can do it!
Tackling Trauma and Adversity
As a Holocaust survivor, I understand what trauma is and how to cherish the moment I’m in and enjoy it, in spite of it and because of it. As a young girl, I spent four years in a Nazi holding camp during WWII. I saw starvation, cruelty, disease and death daily. As a result I learned to be detached, but more importantly, I learned to believe in myself, to see what I had, not what I didn’t have. While everyone experiences loss, sadness, disappointment, it’s how we respond to those events that matters. I made the decision at an early age not to become a victim. I adopted a mindset of gratitude in the face of adversity. I learned to make decisions in the present and live life with no regrets. When we surround ourselves with positive people and focus on what’s good in our lives, we lessen the impact of trauma and adversity. In this way, we learn to take charge of our destiny and live the life we want to live. You can do it!
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