by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
“We do not choose the work we are brought into this lifetime to do. That work is your soul signature – your unique expression. Your Spiritual DNA.” Panache Desai, “Discovering Your Soul Signature”
In my last article, I spoke with you about soulmates. If you missed it, I’d suggest reading it over to understand how soulmates help us learn life lessons. Soulmates are anyone with whom we have a strong emotional connection: positively or negatively, and support us in learning life lessons.
After doing much contemplating, I’d like to share a very personal, emotional story with you. I need to say this is a tough story to tell. If you are reluctant to share it, I totally understand. The reason I’m willing to be vulnerable is because the ultimate lessons I learned (and continue learning) may be of value to you. These lessons – in claiming one’s own independence and power… and recognizing that love is eternal… came to me through one of the most beloved people in my life: my mother.
No matter who you are, or in what situation you face, I want to assure you: you are never alone. You have loved ones, spirit guides and even angels to help you out. Perhaps my story will give you hope. A fresh perspective on life and death. A chance to see the gift from the challenges you face. In any event, there is so much to say that I’ll be writing more in my next article.
This story began on December 16th, 2004, at 11:20 pm, when the phone rang. An odd time for a phone call. I had just finished practicing a song on the piano that I planned to play at a funeral the next morning. When I picked up the phone, my brother Mark was on the line. His voice was tense.
“Lynn…I’ve got bad news. Mom had a heart attack, and it doesn’t look good.”
My breath stopped. I couldn’t move. My heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.
“WHAT?” My voice almost shrieked. “What did you say?” My mind refused to believe what I was hearing. My body started shaking.
What was my mother doing in Las Vegas with my brother’s family? No one had even told me she was there. I had tried reaching her in Florida over the past three days, but hadn’t heard back. If seemed odd, because we usually spoke over the phone almost every day. I figured she was busy. Due to unfortunate family dynamics, no one told me where she was.
My brother repeated himself. I felt numb. Mark had to go. The ambulance was waiting. He would call me back as soon as he knew more. I hung up and wailed. A long, high-pitched scream. A wail of pain and anguish. My mother, my lifeline, my dearest friend, my buddy. I did not want to imagine living in this world without her. I’m sure I sounded as though I were dying too.
My husband, Joel rushed over. With tears streaming down my face, I blurted out my deepest fear. Joel uttered the only comfort he could think of, “You never know, she might pull through.” I clung onto his words, but inside myself, I didn’t feel hopeful.
I called my father in Florida. It was about 12:45 am (ET), and now, thirteen years later, I barely remember what was said. I think he said, “It doesn’t look good…” His voice sounded hollow. Mom was the lifelife of our family. How could this happen? Dad had to get off the phone to wait for any update from my brother Mark.
Just twenty minutes later, the phone rang again. I’ll never forget his words.
“Lynn, I’m sorry to tell you… She didn’t make it.”
“NO! NO…” I shouted, shivering violently. Even now, tears come to my eyes when I remember that horrible night. Mark had to hang up and tell the rest of the family. He needed me to call the Chicago area relatives and let them know there would be a funeral on Sunday… a few days away.
I closed my eyes, as I felt my heart being pulled apart. I was falling, falling, falling into a deep dark pit. An endless abyss. No way out. I made myself call my dear senior friend, Bobette Zacharias, to tell that I couldn’t sing or perform for her friend’s funeral on the next morning. My voice sounded so raspy that she didn’t even recognize it was me.
Somehow, I made it through the next day, breaking down and crying during each call. I’d beg every person to please notify someone else on my list. It was a heart-wrenching task, telling unsuspecting friends and family members this shocking, painful news.
My mother was the most cheerful, loving, radiant soul you could ever meet. You can get an idea from her photo. She made strangers smile with her genuine loving presence. As a former Sunday School and Hebrew School teacher, she had a natural knack of relating with young and old alike. Six years younger than my father, she had worried how she’d manage when my father died. No one could have imagined she’d pass away at age 73. I had only one source of refuge: her emails.
I had purposely saved those emails during that last year. Maybe my soul suspected something might happen. Consciously, I just wanted to re-read them because they felt so reassuring. Over the past few days, she had written about overcoming grief. Just six weeks earlier, one of my best friends, Nancy, had died of a heart attack. I was so bereft that mom’s messages gave me comfort. Now, ironically, I had those same emails to help me cope with this tragedy. I read her words aloud at her funeral during that frigid December funeral. I’d like to share her treasured words with you.
MOM’S FINAL EMAILS…
September 27th, 2004
We look back on our problems and say “I can’t believe I worried about that!” Life is full of problems–it’s how you deal with them that’s important. So just relax and laugh and count your blessings.
October 1st, 2004
How did I ever get so lucky to have you for a daughter. God really blessed me. What a beautiful story you wrote. Thank you for all the kind words. My best blessing for you would be that your children when they become adults should look upon you and give you the same joy that you give me.
November 30th, 2004
You are the joy of my life. What did I ever do to deserve such a wonderful daughter. You have made my day… Good luck on all your paying jobs. Actually good luck on everything. Anyway just enjoy the day. It will never come back so make the most of it (how’s that for philosophy first thing in the morning)…
November 5th, 2004
“You and I have to celebrate LIFE and go on. We have people and things dependent on us and therefore for the remaining time granted us on this earth we must function to the best of our abilities. Remember we will all of us die one day and therefore death cannot be the end. We must give our loved ones precious memories of us to treasure. So wipe your eyes, look your best, hold up your head and GO FACE THE WORLD.
Sending hugs and kisses and
LOVE, MOM
December 2nd, 2004
Beating yourself up over something you said or should have said helps no one especially yourself.
Mom was right. Death is not the end. The power of love never stops.
As I discovered, mom’s soulmate connection with me continued. (And still does.) While I miss her terribly, I know her spirit is still here… helping me when I need her. I’m sure she’d be glad to reassure you too. She was a compassionate woman who others naturally turned to.
So, if you have to deal with a difficult situation in life, ask your heart for an answer. At the end of our darkest tunnel, if we’re willing to take one small step after another, we can be led to those who can guide us forward.
In my next blog, I’ll share what happened later. Till then – may you know that you are always loved.
Love is a part of you. And you are a part of love. Ultimately, we are all connected.
by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
If you’re open to the idea of life beyond this life, you never know when you might get a sign. A message. A realization that your loved ones watch over you…
After my mom’s sudden passing in 2004, I encountered greetings from her spirit. She’d send me “pennies from heaven” (or nickels, dimes or quarters!) on the sidewalk. We’d meet in dreams. And sometimes, I’d feel goosebumps in thinking about her. You could say that’s coincidental.
But in June of 2008, something incredible happens…
I’m rescued from a probable death, and my mom checks up on me at the hospital. This is a true story.
My experience begins at 3:00 am, the last night of our family’s vacation in Colorado. After enduring severe abdominal pain, I’m misdiagnosed in the emergency room at the hospital in Glenwood Springs. (How ironic!) I return to our hotel with tiny white pills, believing I have gastroenteritis.
The next morning, grimacing in pain, I advise my husband Joel that I’ll need a wheelchair at the airport. I know I can’t walk far. I hobble over to our rental car, clutching my stomach in the passenger seat. I endure the ride to the Denver airport.
At the gate, the ticket agent glances at my pale, contorted face as I squirm in the waiting area.
“Are you sure she can travel?” she asks with concern to my husband, Joel.
“Oh, she’s fine,” Joel assures her, believing in my prior diagnosis. “She was in the hospital last night, but the doctors say she is okay.” (Note: Doctors make mistakes.)
Luckily, the flight cancels THREE times at the gate! I can’t stand or sit anymore. I wave at my husband, calling out in a faint voice, “I can’t make it!” I lower myself to the carpeted floor by the seating area and pass out.
In and out of consciousness, I remember hearing a paramedic say, “Looks like appendicitis, but she doesn’t fit the profile.” (Appendicitis typically doesn’t strike people beyond their 30’s. I’m in my 50’s.)
The ambulance whisks me to the Aurora Hospital. The doctor on call quickly determines I need emergency surgery. My appendix may have ruptured, and indeed, it did. If that Denver flight took off, it’s unlikely we’d be having this conversation.
In order to heal, I need medications for a week. My husband and sons can’t stay. On most days, I lie alone. While desiring to be an easy patient, I wince with every poke of the intravenous needle. My thin veins resist confrontation. I cry over seemingly endless punctures. I miss my mom!!!
One night, she arrives in a most glorious dream. While I can’t see her face, her voice sings to me. It’s beautiful. SOOO BEAUTIFUL! When she finishes, my heart is pounding, and I wake up. It’s 5:30 am. Wiping away tears, I grab a pen and paper from my bedside stand, and start scribbling. I write down her song.
“This is the day.. that God hath made… A day to spend with you…
This is the day… a beautiful day… A day for me and you.
Yesterday – my troubles lay heavy on my heart.
But now it’s clear to me, whe’ere we be, We’re never far apart.
This is the day… that God hath made… A day to spend with you.
This is the day… a beautiful day…
To celebrate… Celebrate… CELEBRATE with you!”
I can barely wait to go to sleep the next night. Sure enough, mom returns in a second dream. She and my husband’s grandmother, Henrietta are sipping coffee at a small table. I know they’re chatting about me. I creep closer to eavesdrop, but they shoo me away, motioning me to stay in bed.
My soul tells me to wake up! As my eyelids flutter open, the most startling thing happens. The nurse enters the room, and her gentle presence reminds me of my mom.
“Rise and Shine!” chirps the nurse, raising the window blinds.
Shivers run up my spine. As a child, my mom used to raise our curtain blinds every morning, cheerily proclaiming, “Rise and shine… it’s a beautiful morning in Chicago!” What an amazing, welcoming greeting from her spirit!
Back home, I call mom’s friend, Roz Ebstein, eager to share my dream.
“Any idea where she got those words?”
She knew. “This is the day that God hath made is from the Bible,” Roz said without hesitation. “It’s from a psalm.”
I’m awed to receive this verification. Since my mom studied the Bible and wrote regularly, it made sense that she adapted the psalm to fit her thoughts. While troubles “lay heavy on her heart” after her passing, her spirit now wants to celebrate my life.
No matter what you believe, I hope this story touches your heart. Please share it with those who need a spiritual boost.
Remember — wherever we go, love always connects us. It’s up to us to share our inspirational stories, uplift the world, and make the most of what we have.
“THIS IS THE DAY!”
by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
Life throws us many curve balls. It’s up to us to decide what we’ll do with them all.
The many twists and turns after my mother’s passing could fill a book. In the aftermath of my mom’s sudden exit, my family’s world turned upside down. Each of my three siblings and my father did our best to cope. Unfortunately, dad’s overwhelming sense of guilt, remorse and grief affected his judgement. Needing a scapegoat, my husband and I became targets for a barrage of long-distance anger. My father was not the man I knew.
There was nothing I could do or say. My desperate attempts to communicate backfired. Suddenly, I had lost both parents. My spirit plummeted. My back gave out, and three lower slipped discs slipped out of alignment. A surgeon told me I’d be a great candidate for back surgery, but I didn’t want that. My body was clearly saying, “I can’t stand it anymore!” Before long, I could barely walk. I was given pain pills and steroids to cope. Overcome with misery, nothing worked.
Still, I felt a spiritual presence watching over me. As I dragged myself through the day, I’d remember mom’s wisdom. I was slowly directed to books and people who helped me feel better. I began to realize that healing starts from the inside out. When you’re struggling to heal from any loss, here’s what I learned…
1. Seize The Day. Mom loved the Latin saying, “Carpe Diem,” (“Seize The Day”), and would often kid me by saying, “I’m carp-ing as much as I can.” Was I willing to do that? I’d recall memories of us walking around her Florida complex, arm in arm. She’d breathe deeply, noticing the beauty around us, and everything felt so peaceful. I wanted to feel that calmness again. So, I decided to journal and meditate for a few minutes each morning.
2. Contemplate your “dash.” Mom loved a poem called, “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, which refers to the line between our birth and death dates. How do we choose to live our “dash?” I realized that even in the midst of tragedy, we have choices about how we want to live. I decided to see professional help to feel better. See: http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html
3. Thoughts follow energy. If our emotional, mental and spiritual energy is low, it’s inevitable that our physical health will be affected. Since I desperately needed relief from severe back pain, I tried almost every type of physical healing – doctors, chiropractors, massage, rolfing, Chinese herbal medicine. Nothing worked. Finally, I found a highly regarded chiropractor who did energy healing. While skeptical, I was determind to try anything to avoid surgery. During my first session, I recognized a moment that became a turning point…
“Do you want to live?” he asked curiously.
“I guess so….” I hesitantly replied.
“It’s either yes or no,” he said firmly, staring intently at me.
“Alright,” I grudgingly conceded, like I was doing him a favor.
The doctor gazed thoughtfully at me. “There is a difference between just existing and living. Would your mother want you to exist like this? Or would she want you to live?”
I knew the answer. “Live…” I slowly started to shift my thoughts towards healing.
4. People only know what they know. Consider alternative healthcare practitioners. No matter who you speak to, people can only offer advice based on their knowledge and mindset. There is no reason we have to believe only one source. It’s ALWAYS important to get more than one opinion. Alternative healing practitioners may provide solutions that traditional doctors know nothing about. Your decision to get other opinions can even save a life.
My alternative healer based his work on the teachings of Dr. Masuro Emoto, an internationally renowned Japanese researcher who recognized that our thoughts, words and feelings physically affect the molecular structure of water. Since our bodies are 70% water, it makes sense that our emotions impact our physical health. Here are microscopic images from Emoto’s water crystals. The comparisons are quite fascinating! Check out the different appearances of these microscopic images…
After several months of energy work, and directing “love and gratitude” thoughts towards my body, my slipped discs went back into alignment! I was out of pain without surgery. If you’re open to new beliefs, a whole world of new opportunities can happen.
5. Learn to forgive. Inner emotions affect our physical body. Seeking help, I found an excellent grief counselor and was led to a transformative book. Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping was a lifesaver. It turned my life around. Tipping teaches how to dissolve emotional, toxic pain, and how to gain a deep level of self-acceptance. If you’d like, you can get free tools for yourself through his website.
Tipping says, “As long as you hold resentment and anger about things that happened in the past or that continue to upset you now, you won’t find peace… Try to understand what is locking your hurtful feelings in place, and then begin to transform them to find the love that waits for you underneath.”
Through Radical Forgiveness, I ultimately realized that my challenges were intended for a Higher reason. I struggled to find the gift in my situation, and began to see a new perspective. Using Tipping’s exercises, I was able to spiritually forgive my dad. That act changed the energy between us on a physical level. Within the year, my father and I reconciled, and we now have a good relationship. I’ll always be grateful for what I learned.
(My dad and me….)
Imagine how life could be if we could see our lives from a different perspective. As Shakespeare says, “All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players.”
I invite you to consider, ‘What kind of player do you want to be? How do you want to live your life? What is the play you want to create?’
In my final blog from this series, I’ll share my mother’s dramatic gift to me from the Other side. It proved once again that soulmate connections live on. You just need to be willing to listen…
by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
Dear friends,
Have you ever thought of writing and publishing a book?
Would you like some help in moving that idea forward?
Would you like to use that book as a marketing tool for your business?
How do you get started on the journey of creating, publishing and producing that first book?
Let’s get down to the most practical aspect of getting your book out into the world.
As I’ve been learning from the experience of creating and publishing my children’s story,
Dancing With Tex, there are three phases in bringing your stories to life in a book format.
These are:
- Creating your story,
- Publishing your story,
- Marketing & Promoting your story.
While my business experience spans 30 years, writing, publishing and now marketing a children’s book has been a totally different experience. Like diving into unexplored waters… not knowing what to expect.
Fortunately, you can count on certain principles that remain the same.
Here are my top seven tips as you market ANY type of book
- Follow in the footsteps of those who have successfully gone before you. Study what they’re doing.
- Create a website page especially dedicated to your book. Mine is: www.DancingWithTex.com
- Hire a great graphic designer and/or publisher to upload your book into both an ebook and printed copy.
- Get a custom link from Amazon to your book. You can promote your book from your link to get more credit.
- Use a link shortener — like bit.ly – to customize your long link and shorten it. My book is at: bit.ly/DancingTex
- Build relationships with your audience by giving away an information product on your website. I’m giving away an audio copy of my book.
- Get reviews for your story on Amazon. It’s an effective way to gain more attention for your book.
BONUS TIP: After all that is done, you’ll want to publicize your book to the media.
Here’s a news article that was just published about my story.
http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_927aecf1-6a0a-5dc1-bbb5-1a4e1fefa669.html
For those who’ve gotten my book, I’d be most grateful for your positive feedback on Amazon.
And — if you haven’t gotten a copy yet, I’m doing a free ebook promotion this August 6-8th, 2016.
You can go directly to Amazon.com on those dates, type in “Dancing With Tex,” and receive a free ebook.
Want to learn more about profiting from your own book? What would YOU most like t know?
Please get back to me, and share your thoughts. I’ll be offering more tips soon.
To Your Success,
Lynn
by Lynn Sanders | May 31, 2018 | DMM Blog
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Live for the journey, not the destination.”
~Neale Donald Walsch
You’re the heartbeat of our world.
You’re the dreamers, the movers, the shakers, the ones whose vision carries us all into a greater vision of our potential.
If you’re reading these words, I believe it’s no accident. I feel we’re all connected, and in a spiritual way, we attract similar energy into our lives.
As a fellow “Difference Maker,” you and I share the same passion to make a positive impact. Now, it’s take to get connected. Because together, we can do so much more.
I feel like I know you. It’s because like energy attract like. You and I recognize the desire for something more. Life has meaning where we are inspiring, motivating, and empowering others. But the journey hasn’t always been easy.
Our lives can get tossed and turned by the whirlwind of demands around us. If you’re like me, you’ve got ideas bubbling in your mind. You’re ready to forge ahead. But sometimes, you may feel uneasy. How will you achieve what you’ve been seeking? How do you have faith to believe in yourself? What steps do you need to take to make your vision come alive?
As I’ve learned, the key to making progress quickly is finding mentors. People who have traveled the road you’re on and made it across to the other side. Those who take you by the hand, connect you with other thought leaders, and build your influence. Those who believe you can make a difference in the world.
Through my life’s journey, I’ve been fortunate to touch the lives of many people. Most importantly, I’ve had cheerleaders on the sidelines. Wonderful coaches and colleagues who helped me move through the darkness and into the light.
Now I’m here to share what I’ve learned and serve you. To support you. Our team of Difference Makers are committed to your success. We make it happen by creating, telling and sharing your story. There is nothing greater than the power of your story to build your influence. It makes you unique. Let’s connect!
