Lemonade Legend Magazine – Featuring Tina Torres - Issue 2 by michelle-lemonadelegend

Issue 2

•

June 2020

Shining a Spotlight on

Self Discovery

Magazine Connecting people with their stories and their stories with the world.

STORYTELLING Heritage of Mankind

It is the foundation of history, legends and genealogy. It’s cutting edge in both personal and professional growth. The new generation of storytelling has arrived and it’s dynamic, real, and a little bit raw.

Next Generation

LEGENDS

Brilliant minds forging their own path

Lemonade

LEADERS

What’s on Their Minds

Angel

LEGENDS

See who is featured on our Giving Page

Lemonade

Love

Community Needs

Tina Torres

The Power of Gratitude PAGE 13

When Great Trees Fall

Is this Your Time to

– Maya Angelou

SQUEEZE the Day? Day

Sharing your story essentially serves an important role in both your personal and professional development. At Lemonade Legend we are dedicated to ensuring your voice be heard. Even if you feel you have no voice, or don’t know how to express it or develop it. We will elevate your This is about YOU, story to be heard above the your story, and crowd, to resonate clearly amongst the noise by giving what you want you unique stages to share to do with it from. Storytelling is a powerful means of healing yourself, helping others, and creating a personal brand for yourself. We offer several platforms for sharing to help you find the best fit for you and where you want your story to be heard. This is about you, your story, and what you want to do with it. Even a story that is written and tucked away in your private spot is an empowering process. But, sharing it to the world and showing up brave, courageous and real is an extraordinary place to reside and rejoice in who you are, and all that you offer. You have a personal experience that is a sacred and treasured life story that you have lived and survived. It is your passionate gift to yourself and the world.

“When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, lions hunker down in tall grasses, and even elephants lumber after safety. When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear.

Lemonade Legend offers: • The Lemonade Stand Series • Lemonade Legend Magazine • The Lemonade Legend Podcast • Self-Publishing Services

Get Ready To SHINE! Exposure • Credibility Authorship • Marketing/Branding and much, much more!

It will also boost your brand, because your ideal market will resonate with your story. They will know, like, and trust you for your honesty and authenticity. It’s how people do business now. Schedule a call today to talk about the story that’s bubbling up inside you now. https://scheduletimewithMichelleFaust.as.me 1

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When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. We breathe, briefly. Our eyes, briefly, see with a hurtful clarity. Our memory, suddenly sharpened, examines, gnaws on kind words unsaid, promised walks never taken. Great souls die and our reality, bound to them, takes leave of us. Our souls, dependent upon their nurture, now shrink, wizened. Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance, fall away. We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of dark, cold caves. And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.”

Magazine Connecting people with their stories and their stories with the world.

PUBLISHER

Lemonade Legend

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Faust

Copy Editor Michelle Faust

Graphic Design

Aaron Tutunick - 2TUcreative.com

Digital Coordinator Aislinn Ellis

Contributors Judy Pearson

Chelsea Collie Tracy St Croi Christine McKay Tina Torrie Alison Miller Daniella Platt Beverly Grandison Davina Lyons Vickie Mudra

Media Consultant Angel Tuccy

Marketing Consultant Fanntastic Media

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From the

Editor’s Desk

Rise up and reach out to create the best YOU This edition’s spotlight is on finding your true authentic and intentional self. The common theme in this issue is the contributor’s opening up and sharing their journey to self discovery. Who they are and what they are made of. Even our chosen charity, A 2nd Act, featured on our Giving Page, is about helping women to express their newfound purpose through storytelling and entrepreneurial support. I never tire of hearing how people rise up out of the ashes and create a version of their Phoenix. In this new era of Covid-19, more people than ever are having to pick themselves up and grasp a new reality for themselves. We are seeing pivots, and changes like never before. To thrive in this environment one needs to dig deep inside the soul, give rise to self discovery, and find the courage to take a leap of faith. As you read through this magazine, it is my hope that you will think about where you have been, where you are now and where you are going. With those thoughts consider how the content within can provide a prosperity compass. I have vetted the magazine contributors and advertisers, selecting those with a philosophy of serving others, and providing honest value for people to grow and thrive with changing times. The BeeUnited event series starting June 27th is designed to bring people together and form a community of upbeat and optimistic messaging to dominate over creeping darkness that can seep into our psyche during this time of uncertainty. I hope you will join us as we celebrate people and positivity. Also coming up is the Women’s Empowerment Summit 2020 on July 10th. This promises to be an event filled with inspiring stories, educational presentations, engaging entertainment, and valuable take-away for empowering your life. Make sure you get registered as either a participant or contributor. Opportunities abound and it is truly a great time to be part of a Lemonade Movement. Sit back, enjoy and embrace the mindset shift, the grace of serving, and the positive purpose to move you forward. We are in this together; we just have different boats of transport. A tug boat offers just as much along the journey as a yacht. Let’s sail together on this sea of discovery. As always, please be sure to subscribe to Lemonade Legend Magazine using the button below. For every new subscriber we will donate $1 to A 2nd Act. This is a remarkable organization helping cancer survivors to realize their dreams and enhance their second chance at life. As always, Seek the Sweet Life

Michelle Faust Editor

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Attention Authors

We are now recruiting people to share their stories with the world in book two of Lemonade Legends. Click here for more information.

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Table of Contents Giving Page A 2nd Act, A 2nd Chance

5-7

How Does Storytelling Accelerate Your Influence? Michelle Faust

9-10

Next Generation Legends From Water Bottles to Wearable Fabric

11-12

The Power of Gratitude Tina Torres

13-14

I am a Life Breather Chelsea Collie

Community Needs An Odyssey of Love…in Pink

17-18

Water is the Best Medicine Beverly Grandison

19-20

Discovering my Truths, and Showing Up Brave, Bold, and Real Tracy St.Croi

21-22

Lemonade Legend Library Juicy Reads

Lemonade Legend Leaders – Authors from The Lemonade Stand Davina Lyons: I was Created for a Greater Purpose

25-26

Vickie Mudra: The Convergence of Self

27-28

Lemonade Zest Luscious Lemons – Classic Lemon Bars

A 2 Act

Even in this pandemic, people are trying to figure out, what is the message? Are we killing Mother Earth? Is God pissed off? When we can find treasure in the wreckage of a life challenge, and use it to help others, it also helps us to heal ourselves.

A 2nd Chance

Michelle: This is so good Judy. Very cool. How many people support A 2nd Act?

An interview with Judy Pearson by Michelle Faust

Michelle: Judy you are the founder of A 2 Act, our chosen charity for the 2nd edition of Lemonade Legend Magazine. Give us a brief history of yourself, your cancer journey and why you created A 2nd Act. nd

Judy: S ure. I am a writer by profession, I write nonfiction. I was working on a book about women’s courage before cancer. I was a public speaker on the difference between men and women’s courage. My research led me to fascinating statistics about the health benefits of volunteering. Then, two months after a clean mammogram, I got a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer. Michelle: Triple-negative, that is a really tough one! Judy: Yep. And my husband and I were newlyweds. I finally find Mr. Wonderful and then I get cancer. On the other side of treatment, I started looking at that research again for the book, but I realized I had kind of lost my interest. However, the volunteering data still intrigued me. I also started meeting women survivors who were doing amazing things in their survivorship. I thought, wow! By helping others, they are healing themselves. I put that together and created the nonprofit A 2nd Act. Our mission is to support and celebrate women survivors of ALL cancers who are using their gifts of life and experience to give back to the greater good. We raise money via live storytelling performances. Casts of eight women share their stories of going from the depths of fear with a cancer diagnosis to helping others 5

through the creation of their fabulous 2nd Acts. Their messages inspire the audiences and allow us to make micro grants to other women survivors wanting to launch or grow the 2nd Acts. It’s a beautiful pay-it-forward love fest! Michelle: What is your primary goal for serving these women on the side of cancer survivorship? Judy: W hat most people don’t understand is cancer does not end when treatment does. It’s not like you have your knee replaced and you go through some physical therapy and then you’re done. Cancer treatment causes so much collateral damage. The psychological stuff is crazy. Self-image issues, PTSD, and then, of course, fear of recurrence. Relationships take huge hits; statistics show that men leave women seven times more frequently in the face of catastrophic illness. The financial toxicity is extreme. Because not only do you have deductibles and copays, but you also typically are not working as much. It is a really, tough row to hoe. But the good news is, and this is true for any life challenge, when you find something that speaks to your heart, a passion that you can focus your attention on, your problems are no longer your focus. And there is scientific evidence for the benefits of volunteering. In a 2010 survey, 89% felt that volunteering improved their sense of wellbeing, 73% said it lowered their stress levels, and 68% said it made them feel physically better. That is magic right there. The human mind is hardwired to make sense of things. So, we try to search for meaning.

Judy: We don’t have members; we have volunteers at our events. We gather four times a year at Girls Night Out events. We get anywhere from 50 to 70 women at each event. We introduce the 8 cast members for the upcoming performance, and we have munchies, wine, even signature cupcakes. There is no program. It’s simply survivor happy hour networking. Michelle: I love that! Survivor Happy Hour Networking. That is so cool. I’m thinking we will need that when quarantine is over! Judy: Survivor veterans help survivor rookies. Purple is our signature color – it’s the color of survivorship – so everything we do is purple! We even do a purple elephant gift exchange at the holidays, which is a stitch. The rest of our calendar includes our storytelling performance in March; in June we open our grant portal; and in September we present our grant recipients for the year. Then we do workshops quarterly. The purpose is to get survivors to consider what their skills, their passions and their cancer might uniquely qualify them to do in a 2nd act. The workshop is only for women. Boys can come to the Girls Night Out and to our performances, but the workshops are sacred spaces. There’s a lot of healing that goes on. Our performances get about 500 in the audience. This is our annual fundraising event. We also produce a book of these stories as additional fundraising opportunities throughout the year. Michelle: The grant money is for different projects that these women want to pursue as their 2nd Act, right?

Judy: Yes, they must fill out a grant application. Our advisory board, separate from me or the governing board, goes through it and scores it. They have to be able to articulate what they’re going to do with the money, how they’re going to spend it, what their overall mission is, how they’re going to keep track of it. It’s not hugely difficult, but we expect people to have an idea of how they’re going to use our hard-earned money. Michelle: I love that you have incorporated the storytelling aspect. I do what I do because I know how healing it is. I’m sure that’s all part of the process, because I’ve come to an understanding that sometimes the actual cancer journey is nowhere near as difficult as the survivor journey. You know, I’m sure a lot people think, Oh, good, you’re cancer free. Whew! That’s over now! Judy: Exactly! People are innocent in that. It does not mean that our lives can’t be as good, and in most cases better, than they were. That’s hard for people who have not had cancer to understand. But when we do our auditions, I’ll bet at least a fifth of the auditionees say at some point in their story, “Cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Usually those are the women who end up on stage. The experience opens your eyes to what’s important about life. Michelle: How is A 2nd Act supported financially? Judy: We apply for grants, we gratefully accept donations, and we raise money from the performances, along with book sales and the silent art auction after each performance. We video the performances and put them on our website. They are funny, inspiring, and motivating. I frequently hear, “Oh my gosh, if those women could do that, I can get over (fill in the blank)”. That’s the whole intent. People think that the performances or the stories in the books, are sad. They are not. They are the most life-affirming gems that you’re ever going to come across. And like everybody else, we had to reschedule the 6

March performance this year for September 13th. We always do Sunday matinees, because that way people can go to church and brunch and attend, or they can come and go to happy hour afterwards. Michelle: Maybe all four. Church, brunch, performance, happy hour! Judy: This year I’m not sure we’ll get our usual 500 in the audience. But we’re going to live stream it, which will be a cool thing because then people across the country can see. Michelle: I think it would be great to live stream, because I think we all have gotten accustomed to the idea of doing things via internet. That feeds into a new comfort level that people have. Judy: With regard to this pandemic, I often hear on TV or see on Facebook “I feel so isolated! I’m so afraid! It’s a horrible illness! When is this going to end?” It dawned on me; that’s exactly what cancer survivors go through. This horrible disease, unknown and unfamiliar treatment, lots of fallout from that, isolation, depression, fear. So, I began gathering survival tips from my Purple Tribe I call them, the gals who have been in our shows. Now every day I post a survival tip on Facebook.

Michelle: I really like what you’re doing. It’s very unique. Judy: N obody focuses on survivors. It’s all about either curing the disease, improving treatment and treatment side effects or the comfort part, which is all great. But after you’ve spent a year or more of your life in cancer treatment so that you can live the rest of your life, why not learn how to live the rest of your life with quality? When you’re released from the cocoon of medical people and all the oversight, it’s terrifying! Who’s going to watch me? What if this lump is something? I have a headache! Oh my God, what is that? We urge women to look forward, to take the focus off ourselves, to find what else we can do to help the world around us. It’s hugely healing. Michelle: And on a different level, I think with Covid-19 there is some of that similarity. Are people going to say, “Okay, so I’m back to being like I was?” Because people are going carry the trauma. I think social distancing has become more the norm. Are we going to hug again? I don’t know. I keep focusing on the post period. What’s it going to be? What are we going to hang onto that we like and what are we going to go back to? With that, let me say, thanks, so much Judy, I hope we can raise a lot of money for you and the Purple Tribe.

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Building Confidence Through Leadership and Empowerment 7

How does

Storytelling Accelerate your Influence? By Michelle Faust

Are you an influencer in your business or personal space? Would you like to be or just need to ramp it up? The simplest way to increase your influence status is through storytelling. It is our heritage; it is ingrained in our community. Picture the storyteller around the campfire, commanding attention, surrounded by avid listeners keen to hear the tale. We learn from history, we grow through other people’s experiences, we believe in truth. When you are watching a movie at the beginning and you see “Based on a True Story”, does your heart pick up a little, and your interest is a little more intense? Fiction is great when we need a fantasy escape, but the truth will always have a greater effect on us. Do you ever feel lost or do you nurture an old hurt? Are you living day by day without purpose? Or believe that you are invisible, or you have been silenced by someone or some belief that you must hold every inside? Do you feel ready to play in a bigger space, but you do not know how? Have you ever sensed you had a profound story inside and if you could share it, it would change the world? That is where I was, feeling small with a big story inside. I believed if the world could read it, understand it, and practice what I have learned that indeed it could change the world. Unrealistic? Yes, but what if I could change one person’s outlook and shift them to a more positive place? One is a perfect number because we affect change one person at a time. This is why I created Lemonade Legend, to give people a voice, help them be heard, and reveal their story. In this article I share with you 3 key tactics of why storytelling can raise your influencer quotient.

1. YOUR BRAND If you are a small business or entrepreneur, your brand is you, not the product or service you provide. You represent what you offer. If you are one of the big boys like Coca Cola, your brand is your product. So, how do you optimize your brand using your story? Stories create connections and bonds. People who hear your story naturally connect, and in the most authentic and real way. No mask. No façade. No barrier. People do business • Optimize with people they Know, Your Brand Like, and Trust. There is no better way to create trust • Elevate your Credibility than to be a little raw about yourself and bare your • Stories are Potent soul in a commanding and This is how influence courageous way. Let your is created. beautiful, vulnerable self, shine through. Storytelling is the newest trend in marketing because social media is for being social. The algorithms reward people for engagement and engagement comes through sharing your story. So be on the cutting edge and ride the wave in front. Be a trailblazer in the evolving world of the internet. You will grow your business exponentially by showing the world you are imperfect. Just like they are.

2. ELEVATE YOUR CREDIBILITY Stories, in print or verbalized, give you greater credibility, confidence, and the rank of authority in your space. If you walk into an event and offer up your story in print, as a door prize or giveaway, you will be spotlighted and recognized for your contribution.

People in the room will want to talk to you. They will be grateful to have an opening in which to start a discussion with you. No awkward moment of trying to start the conversation with an old, worn-out networking pick-up line. If you desire to be on the stage, TV, radio, or a podcast, having a publication with your name as an author is an absolute must. It opens the door to many opportunities, especially in media. But here is the credibility I want you to think about. It is the credibility you gain for yourself. After you have taken what has been in your heart and your head, bouncing around looking for a safe place to land, and you have put pen to paper and given it life. After all the fears, self-doubt, and terrifying thoughts of failing, you finally see it in print. You read it like it is the first time you’ve heard it and realize it is a sacred and treasured life story that you have lived and survived, Your passionate gift to the world. This is a powerful confidence booster. And, confidence is one of the top traits for leaders to have, and leaders are influencers.

to the other side of trauma. You create community and leave your imprint on the world.

3. STORIES ARE POTENT

I can provide platforms for you to share your individual and unique story. Whether as a podcast guest, magazine contributor, joining The Lemonade Stand Series, or writing your own book. I can help you connect with and craft your story and offer you the stage that suits you best. It is my dream to build even bigger platforms and create more opportunities for women to Be a Voice and Be Heard.

Writing your story is the #1 way to journey to forgiveness. Whether for yourself or someone who has wronged you in the past. Usually it is both. Forgiveness is like a cleansing of emotional toxins. It is energizing and gives clarity. It offers lightness to your soul. It is this vitality that drives you to be a powerhouse, a dynamo in your industry. You level up to influencer. The process moves you past any shame you may carry like a weight on your shoulders. One author I worked with had been married 5 times. She was brought up in a Latin American catholic household, and she carried a mountain of shame for 20 years. In writing her story she was able to cast off the shame and unleash her self-love. That shame no longer held any power over her once it was released to the world. It was the catalyst to focus her coaching career on working with divorced women and seeing them out of their darkness. She earned the rank of authority in this area. It puts you in an influential position to help others to heal and squash their demons. You can raise up your sisters and help them

It is the podium that raises you high above crowded social media. Your stories will help you soar when others are crawling. It is how you define your superpower. This is about you and your story, and what you want to do with it. Even a story that is written and tucked away in your private spot is an empowering process. But, sharing it to the world and showing up brave, courageous, and real is an extraordinary place to reside and rejoice in who you are, and all you have to offer. You need to know who you are before you can share yourself with others and dominate your space. I have experienced this myself and I have witnessed it over and over again. Dig deep, get raw, be vulnerable, make peace, and forgive. Write it down, understand it, and know in your heart what your message is from it; it will help define your purpose. That is the foundation from where everything else spins off from.

Do you have a lifechanging story? Please share. CLICK TO CONNECT

Brilliant minds forging their own path

From Water Bottles to Wearable Fabrics

One Woman’s Quest to Clean Up Mother Earth By Daniella Platt It takes five water bottles make one Upcycle L.A. T-shirt. The brand spent two years of research and development to figure out how to convert water bottles into yarn as part of its mission to make sustainability attainable for all. “How can the cost of a T-shirt be less than the cost of coffee?” That is one of many questions that motivated Tabitha Vogelsong, vice president of branding and sales at Upcycle, to launch her brand. “We saw a problem,” Vogelsong said. “We saw how much water is used in the production of cotton and wanted to find a way to save the water, as people need the water to survive.” The brand only uses recycled resources instead of new ones, converting water bottles into polyester or cotton. Cotton takes a ton of water to grow. The world is covered in water; however, only about 2% is fresh water, and only about 1% is available on the Earth’s surface. Over 80% of available water already goes to agriculture in the United States. “The more this business grows, I’m not only helping other brands, I’m helping the environment,” Vogelsong said. “Everyone who is invested and signs up to do business with Upcycle is helping offset their footprint. You are creating recycling streams to keep water bottles out of landfills and the ocean.” Vogelsong credits her previous post at American Apparel as the best education in the apparel industry, since the company was — at least in its heyday — proving that you can have a successful “Made in the U.S.A.” brand. To join American Apparel, you had to 11

pass the test of knowing every product. Vogelsong wanted to continue the movement while adding the element of sustainability. “It’s more than apparel,” she said, “I make clothing from recycled water bottles. I go into other businesses to figure out how to create a recycling stream to make sure their waste goes into the stream that I get my textiles from.” Upcycle carries key items in stock and is always ready to ship, so partner brands don’t need to worry about fit or the availability of the yarn. At Magic Las Vegas, Upcycle offered screen printing demos and received inquiries from larger companies looking to incorporate sustainability into their mix.

And keeping things basic is important in fashion — to curate your closet.” The tour ended with a look at Upcycle’s “beanie machine,” which converts scraps into fabric to make beanies. “When you go shopping, I’d like for people to question whether they will have that in their closet in 10 years from now,” Vogelsong said. “If your answer is no, re-think about purchasing it.” Vogelsong’s drive to make the planet better comes from her two sons. She hopes to instill the values in her kids and the next generation. “Everything in my life, I try to give the best version of me,” she said. “My kids don’t want Upcycle mom that is saving the planet, even though they get what I do; they want mom. I’m conscious of everything I do, and I give it my best version of me.”

INTRODUCES

The brand keeps all production within a five-mile radius. Everything is cut, sewn and shipped at its downtown L.A. factory. Inside that office is a wallsized posted of a model dressed head-to-toe in Upcycle, which equates to 30 water bottles. “If everyone does 1% or 10% better to reduce waste, the landfills will contain less harmful waste,” Vogelsong said. “Our goal is to leave a legacy of building a better world. How we do our part is through apparel and educating the consumers.” As the brand’s manager, Vogelsong shops based on quality and timelessness. “I wish I could tell you I have an elaborate couture house designing all this,” she said. “However, I handle the sales and branding development. I try to understand what’s possible with recycled components, how it translates into fabric and drape on a garment.

SOON TO BE RELEASED! 12

The Power of

GRATITUDE By Tina Torres

I am alone in the dark, crying, desperate, and asking God to take me away from the pain. Have I been here forever? It feels like it, but the calendar reveals only 90 days. I had to do something or else my situation would never change. I had what seemed to be a perfect life that suddenly and drastically changed. My 20 years marriage, living with a toxic relationship, domestic violence, alcohol, and infidelity, was finally over. Why did I stay so long? That is a different story. Those who have been in this situation understand. Within 6 months of my divorce finalizing, I moved to North Carolina to be closer to family, my youngest of 3 boys left the nest to join the US army, I was laid off from my 6-figure corporate job, and I was reduced to living with my parents, a home I left when I was 17 years old. When I moved, I also left my church and friends to live in a small town where I knew no one. So, there I was on the floor, on my knees, praying to God to make something happen, or just take away the pain. I have never been in this emotional state and I hated it. I was to the point of suicide. I have been depressed but nothing like this, there is something different about depression when you have small kids at home to take care of and they give you a little wink to tell you they love you. But to be completely alone, and feel like this, is a vastly different, ugly place to be. So here I am with my parents, who were like typical parents, in their routine of watching the news and favorite television shows daily. I remember mom saying, “Tina you would be a great assistant to someone; you should just get a regular 9 to 5 job, instead of trying to do this business.” NO WAY!!! I will not, not that having a job is bad, however that is no longer my life. I was born an entrepreneur; I knew I had what it takes to make it happen. I knew I had this in me. I took my bible and grabbed an empty journal and started doing what I did best, practicing gratitude. I 13

wrote in my journal each day and night everything I was grateful for. No matter how small I thought it was. I prayed and read my bible every night, and I found this little church to attend. Granted I was used to mega churches and loved my big churches, but it worked. God is in every church, right? I forced myself to get up each morning and do something to make my dream happen. I looked for everything I could to create income, drove for Uber Eats, Grub Hub, Instacart and did social media marketing for very little money. All to make ends meet. I was in Virginia Beach on 4th of July weekend visiting my son during one of his breaks from AIT school. My parents texted me You need to move out. You are not paying any rent, and that was the agreement. WHAT? I am in my happy place at the beach on the boardwalk and I am crying behind my sunglasses. I think to myself; how could my parents kick me out when I am trying hard to make things happen? I did not ask them for money, I was not doing drugs, I was not drinking, and I stayed in my room most days to get away from their negative energy. Ok Tina, pull it together. I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown right there on the boardwalk. I put a prayer warrior post out on Facebook; many of my friends reached out to me, prayed with me, and helped me find a place. It was not great, in fact I cried for days after moving in, but it was shelter and it was a place of respite. The next 6 months I met some amazing people, they lifted me up, and gave me inspiration to move forward with a coaching business. I did just that. I launched my company, started a group-coaching program for women entrepreneurs who struggled with mindset, goal setting, building relationships with

– Kurt Vonnegut, If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young clients, and networking. I signed up 37 people into my group-coaching program the first week. I began attending self-development courses; workshops and events that helped me discover my true potential. In November I met Angel Tuccy who is now my media coach, friend and cohost of the Angel and Tina Morning Show. She said, “Tina, you need to write a book. You have a story to tell.” Me? Oh no I am not a writer. I am a speaker, a coach, and an entrepreneur. Her reply was, “You can help people with your story Tina, and there are women out there who are going through what you are going through. It is your responsibility to share your story to inspire others.” So, I did. Not really a book but a journal. The Gratitude Journal, I knew it helped me during the darkest days of my life and I believed it would help others as well. I knew exactly what I wanted, so I got to writing. I wanted a 365-day journal where you could write each morning and each evening your gratitude. I included daily scriptures and quotes for each day of the year. And of course, I wanted it to look pretty, feminine, and classy, after all I am a girly girl at heart. With the help of my publisher, Lisa Santiago, I made my dream come true. On March 17, 2020 my book, The Gratitude Journal, became #1 Best Seller in 3 categories including new release. I am not saying this was easy, it was not. I hustled hard, there were days when I wanted to quit, people I loved and trusted turned their backs on me, there were friends I had to let go of, people I was doing business with who took advantage of me, negative people I had to get rid of, personal development I had to do, forgiveness I had

to attain, and lifestyle changes I had to do, Eighteen months later, after lots of tears, heartache and endless nights praying to God, I am in my place of joy. My company is thriving, I am speaking on stages sharing my story, and writing my next book, “Beyond Gratitude, Creating the connection for a lifetime”. I launched a course to help entrepreneurs learn how to create clients for a lifetime, turn those clients into raving fans and increase their cash flow without adding a single new client. I call it the Connection to Client Blueprint. I still have my group coaching program and it is growing every day. I have 1 on 1 coaching for those who are serious about creating a succceful business, I cohost a morning show with Angel Tuccy every weekday morning at 10am EST where we have interviewed some of the best in the industry such as The top motivational speaker in the world, Les Brown, along with Bill Walsh, Sharon Lechter, Warren Carlyle, Forbes Riley, John Melton, and Joe Kenmore, CEO of Banner Season. I am being a bit vulnerable here by sharing my story, It’s to give encouragement, that no matter what you are going through in life, it only takes a little motivation, a little inspiration, a lot of gratitude and your bible to do anything you set your mind to. The Power of Gratitude is what got me out of that place of darkness and despair, and it will help you too. To Schedule a Call calendly.com/thegratitudespecialist Email: tina@thegratitudespecialist.com www.thegratitudespecialist.com 14

“

I am a

It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.

Life Breather By Chelsea Collie

I grew up an only child, daughter of a single mom. We were close. As a nurse, she would often have several consecutive days off, so we were able to go on trips and do fun things with the family. When I was between elementary school and middle school we moved from Kansas to Austin, Texas. We loved living in Austin, it was a fun place for me to attend middle school and high school. My mom became involved with a great group of people where she met and fell madly in love with Chris. I grew to love Chris as well. They dated for several years and became engaged. Then my world came tumbling down. In the summer of 2000, there was a car accident and both my mom and Chris died. I was 16 at the time. I was devastated. My mom was my whole world. She was my best friend. I felt like she was my whole family in one person. Just like that, she was gone, and I found myself alone. I mustered up all my strength and decided to keep moving forward to achieve all the things she and I had planned on, like going to college and getting married. I wanted to make her proud. So, I stayed on track with my education. I had this lust for life and determination not to take life for granted because it is fragile and unknown. As a result of the way the accident happened, I was given a lump sum of money. I was thankful to have the money, which eliminated some worries, but I also feel like the money was a curse. It made the highs higher and the lows lower. I spent frivolously. Having the money made me question who my real friends were and who I could trust. I had some great experiences and along with a lot of tears and feelings of loneliness. I completed college and got my degree. However, I stayed stuck in party mode. I tried new things. I moved a couple times, even going back to Kansas. I was always looking for something better, but I still felt stuck. After 5 years in Kansas things kept getting worse and worse, I eventually had enough. I moved back to Austin and started building my life back up. Piece by piece I put my life back in order. I got my 15

finances together, got a job, and met the man of my dreams who would become my husband. Sean and I have been married over 4 years. I became an insta-mom. My stepchildren Tyler & Layla are teenagers. Now, Sean and I have a baby of our own, Jaxon, who is a little over a year old. We are very blessed. We have freedom of time and we are working on creating financial freedom with a growing Real Estate Investment Portfolio and a successful Reptile Business (we sell geckos, yes, it’s a thing).

”

–Patrick Rothfuss, Author

Having had over 8 years of professional development under my belt, I have learned that my gifts are showing love and creating connections while empowering others to “step up into their best selves.” My talent is to inspire women and moms to take back their power and transform their dreams into realities. My new book will be released July 22nd. It is called Be a Life Breather: Transform your Vision into Reality. It is a combination of my story, and my philosophy on how you can use the power of love to improve your life, it is also a workbook. The workbook portion will walk you through creating your bucket list and your ideal life vision, 20+ years out. Then it helps you break that down into 10 years, 5 years, 2 years and all the way down to one month, one week and one day so that you can start moving closer to those big dreams every day.

When life gives you

“

We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling. ”

Connect with me on Facebook and like my page, “Be a Life Breather,” to stay updated on the book launch; become part of the community and see how we can all do more together. I am honored to be able to share my story. Thank you, Lemonade Legend for providing such an excellent platform for sharing, I would like you, the reader, to realize you are more powerful than you know. You have a greatness to offer. The world is waiting for you to share your gifts. My advice to you is get uncomfortable every day. Growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Do not let anything hold you back. Get out of your own way and embrace your dreams.

lemons make lemon meringue pie. We can help transform your yard into an edible landscape. Fresh, nutritious and bursting with flavor!

”

”I can’t afford to eat organic” While it may take some money to start a garden the benefits are 100 fold. One seed can provide wonderful benefits. LETTUCE help you start your growing adventure. Raise a bed and lower your cost.

– Jimmy Neil Smith, Director of the International Storytelling Center

https://www.facebook.co m/vegUPgetdirty/ http://vegupgetdirty.com/

COMMUNITY NEEDS

An Odyssey of Love… IN PINK By Alison Miller

“Every so often, right in the middle of an ordinary life, Love gives us a fairy tale.” My Odyssey of Love is a story that begins with the image of a handsome man in USAF dress blues, I almost swooned where I stood. Then again at my front door, sexy in a rugged way in his uniform camos. Fast forward to his proposal, years of raising our combined 4 kids, retirement from the military, and our decision to get out of the rat race and seek out full time adventure on the road. Our last 4 years together, we went full time on the road (in our car, not an RV-what are you, crazy?) 4 years of growing closer, making our marriage stronger, and creating more intimacy in our relationship. We were wandering the country at will, visiting family and friends, but loving, most of all, our time as two. Chuck suffered a cancer bout in our 2nd year, and we returned to our stomping grounds of NJ and Philly for radiation and surgeries. In between, we hit the road again, soaking up our time together. He was cancer free, until he wasn’t, at the end of 2012. Intuitively something felt wrong and you would think we immediately assumed cancer, but we didn’t. It was while we were in Southern CA, resting for a few months at a rental, that his health worsened, the morning came that he asked me to drive him to the ER. They admitted him right away, and by noon cancer was rearing its ugly head again.

Cancer was exploding through his body, so I placed him in hospice. It was time to call our kids, and our friends, to give them a chance to see Chuck one more time. My beloved husband, Chuck Dearing, died April 21, 2013. What I’ve written here are mere facts, and fail miserably in portraying the shredding of my heart and soul as I watched this strong and passionate man taken over by cancer. The last weeks, we spoke of our travels. We called ourselves Happily Homeless, climbing, hiking and gazing in awe at national monuments and parks. Chuck spoke of a few of our favorite places, and I promised to revisit and scatter his cremains. “Chuck I’m going to paint the car pink so you can find me out on the road.” His face broke into a slight smile as he replied, “I’ll be looking for you.” Six months later I buy a tiny trailer to tow behind my Ford Escape. I created a customized shade of pink, named Chuck’s Watchin’ Over Me. “To give you courage to return to the road alone,” said Anthony, the man who created the color and painted my car and trailer. I’d never camped, never towed anything. I felt disoriented. Discombobulated. Overwhelmed not only with grief, but with the prospect of figuring out how to live on the road alone. The only thing I believed, the only thing I knew to be certain in a world where nothing was the same, was the Love that Chuck had filled my soul with. I used that as my GPS. My only guide. Into what, I had no concept.

It’s 7 years later now. I know now that Chuck, on his deathbed, mapped out the first steps. He named the 4 places he wanted me to scatter his cremains. He told me to mourn for him in pink, not black. “Black isn’t your color,” he said. In keeping with his Air Force background, he gave me a mission, knowing that I was the kind of woman who would need one after his death. He knew he could only set me on the path. He couldn’t do it for me. I believe that he knew there would be other places to scatter his cremains and, for me to recognize those places, I’d have to keep my heart open. In keeping my heart open, he hoped I’d create a new life for myself. A few years into solo travel, I realized it wasn’t only about me and Chuck; I invited those in my widowed community to send me their person’s name and I’d write the names on my rig. Another year passed and I thought well, this is about more than widowed people. It’s about anyone grieving the death of a loved one….and more names came in to write on my rig. The next year it came to me that my Odyssey of Love wasn’t about grief at all; it was, and is, about Love. The Love between me

An Odyessy of Love Because a Love this strong must always lead the way

and Chuck. The Love of other widowed people, for their person. The Love that keeps us going, no matter the relationship. Just…Love, pure and simple. It is this Love that fuels every mile I drive. It is this Love that makes me the most invincible woman on earth. It is this Love that graces each interaction I have out on the road. It is this Love that led me to meet two creative and inspirational people who are now helping me make a documentary (I call it a Loveumentary) about my 7 years on the road. A film that includes last words to me from my beloved husband. Words from those I’ve met along the way and the many who follow my writings online. Words from our kids and the people who loved Chuck and love him still. An Odyssey of Love…in Pink…it is about grit and determination and…Love. Because a Love as strong as what Chuck and I had cannot die. It didn’t die, and it won’t die. Because Love is the most powerful force in the Universe. And I am the living proof of that.

Alison Miller is, in her own words, a Fierce Warrior Goddess on an Odyessy of Love, honoring and remembering her beloved husband, Chuck D.Her mission is sharing the Love he left behind for her with those she meets out on the open road. Her mode of transport is a custom pink Ford Escape towing a teardrop trailer covered with the names of people sent to her from around the country and around the world. She is bold and filled with grit, a woman on a mission to show what happens when you keep your heart open to possibilities,even as you carry heartache. She's all about suiting up and showing up in as much pink as she can, to let YOU know that Love is the biggest and most powerful force in the Universe.

Follow Alison at https://www.facebook.com/HappilyHomeless2/t

Donate at AnOdysseyofLove.com

Water is the Best Medicine By Beverly Grandison, PC, CHC

Seventeen years ago, after returning from my tour to Afghanistan, I battled chronic fatigue for two years. The doctors could not pinpoint the problem until January 2005, when half of my face went numb, my taste sensory disappeared and I couldn’t lift anything with my right hand. The doctors ruled out a stroke, Bell Palsy, and Lupus BUT they landed on Multiple Sclerosis. That was life altering, career ending. I had a very successful military career, I was a “lifer” or so I thought. It is still amazing to me today that God’s plans always work out better in hindsight. I’m thankful to God for loving neighbors – the Wiebe’s. They loved on my husband and I like we were their kids. Their son had fought stage IV brain cancer for almost 19 years and was 1 out of 3 in the world to tell the story. They understood the direct link between disease and nutrition, and they educated and empowered us to make informed decisions and take control of our health by using food as medicine. When my husband, Johnny, was diagnosed with Crohn’s we thought, disease, doctors, and eventually disability would be our rite of passage. They introduced us to whole food, plant-based eating (fruits, veggies, and berries in a capsule). We knew our bodies needed more nutrition to fight whatever was going on. We made major lifestyle changes, lots of prayer, de-stressing life, adding holistic care, and making one simple change at a time. Today, we are both medicine free, in control of our health and love sharing about the power of lifestyle changes that are lasting, economical, and fun!! Think about this – It doesn’t matter how much money you make or have, how much make up you wear, how much you work out, or how often you attend church – without your health, what good is any of that? There is hope for you!! 19

So where did we start? With this one simple change first. We added more water to our daily routine. 10 of 46 Reasons Why Your Body Needs Water Do you have frequent headaches, tired all the time, constipated, achy joints and muscles? Want to feel and look younger? Have you given thought to how much water you consume daily? Water is my magical, mystical drug. It’s God’s first beverage choice. I am fascinated by the power of water in all aspects of life but especially intrigued with how water or the lack of it affects our bodies. If our bodies are made up of 60-70% water, then being the “common sense chick” that I am (and it’s backed by science) – it makes sense to me that we would benefit from drinking more water daily. What is the formula you ask? How about working on getting your urine almost clear in the morning when you first wake up. If you have blue stuff in your toilet and you turn blue to green – you are in trouble. For those who really need a formula – work on getting half your body weight in ounces of water daily. Ex. A 200 lb. person needs 100 oz of water daily. That breaks down to about three 33 oz bottles or six 16 oz bottles. You do the math and find what will work for you through the day. There are apps that can remind you to drink water. Whatever makes your boat float – Drink more water!! The following was taken from the excellent book, Water for health, for healing, for life: You’re not sick, You’re thirsty, by F. Batmanghelidj, MD. 1. Without water, nothing lives. 2. Comparative shortage of water first suppresses and eventually kills some aspects of the body. 3. Water is the main source of energy – it is the “cash flow” of the body.

4 Water generates electrical and magnetic energy inside each and every cell of the body – it provides the power to live. 5. Water is the bonding adhesive in the architectural design of the cell structure. 6. Water prevents DNA damage and makes its repair mechanisms more efficient – less abnormal DNA is made. 7. Water increases greatly the efficiency of the immune system in the bone marrow, where the immune system is formed (all its mechanisms) – including its efficiency against cancer. 8. Water is the main solvent for all foods, vitamins, and minerals. It is used in the breakdown of food into smaller particles and their eventual metabolism and assimilation. 9. Water energizes food, and food particles are then able to supply the body with this energy during digestion. This is why food without water has absolutely no energy value for the body. 10. Water is the best lubricating laxative and prevents constipation.

“Because Everyone Deserves To Make An Informed De

If you want the other 36 reasons why water is so important – call, emailwas or send me a message on any The following taken from the excellent of the social media handles with your email address You're thirsty, F. Batmanghelidj, MD. and ask for more water.by This information can save your life. www.premierhealthwellness.com 1. Without water, nothing lives. Call 757-966-6125 2. Comparative shortage of water Email info@premierhealthwellness.com

book, Water for health, for healing, for

first suppresses and eventually kills some aspe 3. Water is the main source of energy – it is the “cash flow” of the body. 4. Water generates electrical and magnetic energy inside each and every cell of t power to live. 20 5. Water is the bonding adhesive in the architectural design of the cell structure.

Discovering My Truths And Showing Up Brave, Bold, and Real

An intuitive’s journey to authenticity By Tracy St. Croi

From the start, my gifts were present, and I had no issue saying what I saw and felt as a child. I was 5 when my great grandmother passed. My father struggle to find the words to tell us gently. I interrupted him saying “grandma is in Heaven, she just told me”. My father was stunned and did not know how to respond. Especially because my father was in law enforcement and it made no logical sense to him how I could know that.

I was living in a city I loved but I still sensed something major was missing. What I see clearly now is, I was missing a purpose in life and that led me down a very dark and lonely existence for a long time. During this time, I refused to acknowledge I had a serious alcohol addiction brewing and it was taking over my life. I was drinking to numb the pain and not wanting to face what needed to be healed in my heart.

Little did my parents know on that fateful day they brought their second daughter home from the hospital they were toting an extremely intuitive and mediumistic baby. As parents, they did their best with the life skills they had, but it was no match for the cultivating & nurturing I was going to require.

It seems Spirit had other plans for me, and one fateful day came when my house of cards came crashing down upon me. I could no longer pretend that my life was “ok” and somehow things would improve tomorrow by some miracle. I was physically weak, battered by the effects of alcohol and my mind was swirling with thoughts of ending it all. I could not imagine a life where I was happy and free to be me. Through all the darkness, a voice deep within spoke to me and I clearly heard the message to seek help. I wisely chose to get assistance and start my journey of self-healing and discovery.

Many times, in my early childhood I would announce information that I could not know logically or as a child be able to comprehend. As I grew up, I quickly realized it was not safe to speak what I felt and knew. My family was not supportive of this gift and preferred to sweep it under the rug. I felt judged for speaking the truth which led to issues of self-worth and personal value as I grew older. My intuition was always present, but I was too afraid to open that door fearing negative opinions and lack of support to pursue this skill set. Looking back, I felt immense emotional pain not being able to embrace who I am, and the gifts I have. Growing up I attempted to “fit in” the best I could with social norms and how “life” was supposed to appear. I tried to be happy, but I always felt something was missing, and I did not know what it was exactly. A date with destiny changed my life when I got an opportunity to move to Austin, Texas and get the heck out of dodge. I jumped at the chance and for a short time I had hope that I could experience a life of freedom to explore the world and who I was. 21

It’s amazing what synchronicity we invoke by choosing to follow our soul guidance. Almost instantly my intuitive gifts sprang up like a pressurized well waiting for the crack in the shield. I took a deep dive into healing myself and nurturing my gifts that I am blessed with.

Having built a successful business, myself I realized I could help other entrepreneurs build theirs by utilizing an intuitive strategist in their company. I am honored now to work with companies that are consistently named on Ink 500 fastest growing companies in America. It’s a program where CEO’s with their “business gut” bounce off my intuition on the company and the people around it. It’s a beautiful combination that decreases stress for the CEO and allows them more time to create a more inspired, desired, and successful business.

My life is blessed beyond anything I could have imagined in the past, I savor all the joy and abundance that is here for me daily. My wish for you, is may you always make sweet lemonade out lemons.

My crowning achievement thus far is when I published my first book 7 Tips & Tricks to Enhance your Intuition. A practical guide to knowing, loving, and trusting your intuition. Which went to #10 on Amazon Bestselling list.

Buy her book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/ B084JN6D2T/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=7+tips+and+tricks +to+enhance&qid=1581038454&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Tracy is an After-life Connection Specialist & Intuitive Tracy is an After-life Connection Specialist & Intuitive. Providing Life Changing Experiences By Connecting Deceased Loved Ones With Friends and Families To Achieve Peace And Closure. She can be reached at Tracystcroi360.com

“ Let me live, love,

and say it well in good sentences

”

– Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

The gift of entrepreneurship came bubbling up, which was a huge surprise for me. In the past I had never considered it or given myself enough credit that I could run a successful business. I prayed and asked Spirit to guide me to the best teachers and schools to learn and do this work well in the world. My prayers were answered, I immersed myself in a life studying books like “Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill” a nd attending my dream school for mediumship; The Arthur Findlay College of Psychic Science. 22

Telling stories is at the heart of our community, the world needs stories, almost as much as nourishment, shelter, and companionship.

The Lemonade Stand Series

Podcast

with host Michelle

Faust

Engagement Leads Conversations Podcasts Promotional Books 23

Check Out the The Lemonade Stand!

Michelle@lemonadelegend.com LemonadeLegend.com CLICK HERE TO VISIT

Lemonade Legend Podcast 24

I always had the belief that

I was created for a greater purpose and that my life mattered By Davina Lyons

If turning lemons into lemonade was part one of my story, part two is refining and sharing the recipe. As a woman, an entrepreneur, author, speaker, educator, and personal coach who has overcome a lot of hardships: childhood trauma, multiple miscarriages, abusive relationships, and unfulfilling careers, there is something I know for certain; those terrible things DO NOT define my life. Despite what I have been through, I always had the belief that I was created for a greater purpose and that my life mattered. I am Davina Lyons, owner of Davina Lyons Enterprises and founder of TRIBE Authentic Woman (TAW) – a safe community for women to do the work of self-discovery, redefining themselves, and elevating their personal life standards. As a part of TAW, I facilitate a two-hour monthly workshop in addition to managing a private Facebook community intended to provide a safe space for women to collectively do the work of transforming into their best selves. If you read my story in The Lemonade Stand from Sour to Sweet Inspiring Women’s Stories of Strength and Success, by Michelle Faust, you would know that I turned a lot of lemons into lemonade. What I shared in my contribution to the anthology of successful women is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more I have persevered to overcome, which has taken me to the point of being able to extend a hand to women on the same path. Much of my transformation has occurred since I was first invited to share my story in The Lemonade Stand. Prior to that I had never really shared my story. I didn’t think anyone would care or be interested in it. I was so focused on my own empowerment that I was reluctant to share a version of my weaker self. To be asked to contribute to this beautiful book was a breakthrough moment. By reliving my story in order to put it on paper, I discovered my strength and the gifts I have to offer. I realized that by hiding from myself, I was wearing my own protective mask. Becoming an author was liberating, knowing my story is tied to a legacy is a bonus. It will always be out 25

workshop to be a community that supports women through the toughest part of self-discovery, redefining themselves, and elevating their life’s standards. It’s impossible to do it alone - the accountability of a caring community means everything. I am pleased to now be open to women worldwide if they choose to be a part of this community. Here are a few of the outcomes (lemonade recipe) for the women who complete the 8 Steps to Mastering Authenticity workshop series: • Appreciate your uniqueness and how it distinguishes you from everyone else. • Understanding of your primary core personality traits • Better able to understand and proactively monitor and manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. • Ability to purposefully and positively shape your decisions and actions with your core values in mind.

there, even when I am not. This journey of storytelling validated me and my ability to make a difference for others. For me, it was not enough to just be resilient and courageous, I desired to coach other women to do the same. In fact, I believe that it is my life’s purpose to serve women in that capacity. I also believe the problem today is women are not in touch with their authentic selves because they have been conditioned to get along by people pleasing and other self-compromising behaviors, which results in wearing a metaphorical mask just to survive. I believe women eventually burn out from compromising who they authentically are. This causes emotional breakdowns, health problems, failed careers, poor relationships, and for some even more dire circumstances. Now more than ever, due to COVID19, it is imperative that people get in touch with their authentic selves, draw strength from how they were created to really live their lives. I believe that in a woman’s best and optimal state she can endure and courageously conquer all that she faces. I recommend that women find and align themselves with a tribe to get the support needed to strengthen your position and identify your core personal values. As a result of the pandemic, there are a lot more women at-risk due to being quarantined. Women who typically go under the radar, because they have daily outlets to escape whatever troubles them, are now held captive by the quarantine and unsure how to handle their feelings about it. These women exist within the shadow of others; sometimes to their detriment. Taking the TAW workshop online is making it more accessible for those women. It is my mission to encourage women to broaden their perspectives by coming out of the shadows to show up more courageous and confident in all areas of their lives. I created the

• Determine and eliminate harmful or false beliefs that shape your state of being. • Clearly assess, measure, and explain your human needs.

• Gain the skills to motivate yourself forward and execute goals with greater purpose. (Finish what you start) • Reveal your authentic self, inspire action, and create positive outcomes. What I learned to do on my journey, and what I inspire and motivate you to do, is embrace your authentic self. That requires turning the lens inward, doing the work of selfdiscovery and taking the necessary steps to positively transform. Deciding to transform your life is not equal to actually doing the work. You must follow-through. The TAW Community exists to serve that purpose. It takes time and a whole lot of intentional mindfulness to create real change inside and out. Doing this in a community of women is much more beneficial. For more information about the Tribe Authentic Woman Community and Workshop, go to www.tribeauthenticwoman.com or https://www.facebook.com/TRIBEAuthenticWoman/, or email: davina@tribeauthenticwoman.com To register for the workshop series: www.Bit.ly/TAWW_Enroll

Outcomes (lemonade recipe) for women who complete the 8 Steps to Mastering Authenticity workshop series: • Appreciate your uniqueness and how it distinguishes you from everyone else. • Understanding of your primary core personality traits • Better able to understand and proactively monitor and manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. • Ability to purposefully and positively shape your decisions and actions with your core values in mind. • Determine and eliminate harmful or fa lse beliefs that shape your state of being. • Clearly assess, measure, and explain your human needs. • Gain the skills to motivate yourself forward and execute goals with greater purpose. • Reveal your authentic self, inspire action, and create positive outcomes.

What I learned to do on my journey, and what I inspire and motivate you to do, is embrace your authentic self. That requires turning the lens inward, doing the work of self-discovery and taking the necessary steps to positively transform. Deciding to transform your life is not equal to actually

doing the work. You must follow through. The TAW Community exists to serve that purpose. It takes time and a whole lot of intentional mindfulness to create real change inside and out. Doing this in a community of women is much more beneficial.

For more information about the Tribe Authentic Woman Community and Workshop, go to www.tribeauthenticwoman.com or https://www.facebook.com/TRIBEAuthenticWoman, or email: davina@tribeauthenticwoman.com 26

The Convergence of Self: Finding Your Purpose in Writing Your Story

By Vickie R. Mudra, MPH, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP Public Health Professional, Educator, Certified Energy Leadership and Happiness Coach and Author

I wanted to be an author since I was a child. I loved to write and had a great imagination, however I believed that there was some mysterious and unattainable level of talent that one needed to become a published author. I also did not believe that what I had to say was interesting enough for others to want to read.

By December of 2019, I could finally say I was a bestselling, published author, complete with my own Amazon author’s page and boxes of printed books in my possession. But I discovered that it wasn’t the lovely printed book that ended up being the greatest outcome for me.

Throughout my professional career, I wrote more and more and eventually became a published author and international speaker, primarily sharing healthcarerelated research and educational outcomes. Even though I was technically an author, it didn’t feel like what I had imagined as a child who wanted to write a book. Over the years, I started outlines for books about topics that I was passionate about, attempting to give voice to things that mattered to me, but I always came up short, immobilized by fear and selfdoubt. I will never forget how liberating it was to see an op-ed piece I had sent to the local newspaper get printed the following week.

Instead, I found it was the action of stepping into and through the convergence of my various past and present self – child and adult, mother and daughter, wife, sister, friend, victim, survivor, nurturer, professional, leader, learner, teacher, and caregiver. The actual process of writing the story became the greatest gift I could ever have imagined.

In early 2019, I was presented with an opportunity to participate in the “The Lemonade Stand: From Sour to Sweet,” an anthology book that would ultimately consist of stories about 19 brave and amazing women – myself included. This project included a facilitator and a full support team in the group of other writers who were also penning stories about what mattered most to us – our lives. I saw this as an overdue invitation to explore the intersection of all my lives over the past fifty years. I found my courage and said yes. 27

provided encouragement and comfort to get me through the years. As I noticed patterns, I started to see my purpose and passions begin to unfold.

both in my life and of my life; who reads my stories has become far less important to me than what it means to write them.

It was as if writing my story allowed me to gaze into the face of each age and each version of myself. I was able to ask who needed to be forgiven, who needed to be loved, who had something to teach me. During the writing process, I was able to connect with others who were on the same journey; eighteen other women who had full, rich lives that weren’t perfect, but were beautiful examples of bravery, life choice, resilience, and fortitude.

Have you ever thought about the story within you? How writing it could reveal a great convergence of your various selves throughout your lifetime? What might happen if you shared your story with the world? Consider saying yes if someone asks you to. Reach out to me if you want to chat about living in your purpose, on purpose. Let me know if you want to talk about anything. I am here to love and serve you and welcome you to my tribe. Visit my website at InstituteforDeliberatePractice.com or check out my Facebook page.

I realize that I am here to provide love and care to others. I am here to teach those who also provide protection and care to others the importance of loving and caring for themselves. Mark Twain is credited for saying “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why” however the folks at the Center for Mark Twain Studies claim this is an apocryphal aphorism not originated by Twain. Who actually said this famous quote doesn’t matter much to me, as I still believe it to be completely true. It took me fifty years to realize that I am an author

Other than some college assignments, I had never really delved into who I was and why I was here. As I reflected on passing the half-century point of my life, I had a lot of data points on my timeline. Childhood memories and events, births and deaths, fears and failures, accomplishments, and successes. At times I was overwhelmed at all the “stuff” that I had “been through” and had to step back and take a breath. I started to refocus and reframe my childhood and my career and search for meaning in the events. I was able to appreciate the numerous personal and professional relationships made. Some of these relationships caused a few scars I wear bravely today as a reminder of life’s battles. Other relationships remind me of mentors and memories of those who

Lemon Zest A little

Luscious Lemons - Classic Lemon Bars FOR THE CRUST: Vegetable oil for greasing 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, diced 2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup confectioner’s sugar, plus more for garnish ¼ teaspoon salt

FOR THE FILLING: 4 large eggs, plus 2 yolks 2 cups granulated sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp grated lemon zest 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons)

Directions: Made the crust: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13 inch pan with vegetable oil and line with foil, leaving a 2 inch overhang on all sides; grease the foil with oil. Pulse the butter, flour, both sugars and the salt in a food processor until the dough comes together, about 1 minute. Press evenly into the bottom and about ½ inch up the sides of the prepared pan, making sure there are no cracks. Bake until the crust is golden, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make the filling: Whisk the whole eggs and yolks, sugar, and flour in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in the lemon zest and juice. Remove the crust from the oven and reduce the temperature to 300 degrees F. Pour the filling over the warm crust and return to the oven. Bake until filling is just set, 30-35 minutes. Let the bars cool in the pan on a rack, then refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Lift out of the pan using the foil and slice. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving.

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