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!
by Lynn Sanders | May 30, 2018 | DMM Blog
Meet A.G. Bell Montessori School: A Place Of Miracles
I believe there’s a higher reason for certain events that happen in our lives
You never know why at the time. But in hindsight, despite the challenges, you can step back and realize the gifts from each situation. When you give, you get back so much more. That’s what happened to me many years ago when I discovered A.G. Bell Montessori School. (http://www.agbms.org)
A.G. Bell is a unique private school, the only Montessori School in our nation mainstreaming deaf and hearing children through a little-known method called Cued Speech. At A.G. Bell, everyone excels, often surpassing everyone’s expectations. That’s why their slogan is, “Every day a miracle.” Miracles DO happen at A.G. Bell!
My encounter with this school began about twenty years ago. I was donating my poetry writing services for my temple’s fundraiser. A lovely woman named Mary Ann Lachman chose my services, and asked me to write a poem for her son, Ben’s Bar-Mitzvah.
“Tell me about your son,” I said casually. “So I’ll know more about him.”
Without hesitating, Mary Ann said, “I’m very proud of him. He is speaking in both English and Hebrew at his Bar-Mitzvah, and he’s totally deaf!” She paused, letting the shock value of her words sink into my mind.
“What?” I asked incredulously. I never knew this feat could be possible.
I don’t remember how long we talked, but the conversation was fascinating. At the conclusion, I asked her if I could visit the school in the near future, and she enthusiastically said, “Of course!”
While everyone loved the poem I wrote for Ben’s Bar-Mitzvah, the real gift to me was being able to learn about A.G. Bell Montessori and the impact of Cued Speech.
THE BENEFITS OF CUED SPEECH
Cued Speech was invented in 1966 by Dr. R. Orin Cornett to address the poor literacy that he found among his deaf students. Students functioned at an average of a 3rd or 4th grade literacy.
Why? Because while Sign Language is a perfect mode of communication for deaf to deaf conversation, it does not convey the same grammar, sentence structure or vocabulary as spoken language.
Determined to improve literacy among his deaf students, Dr. Cornett created a system where all the phonemes of speech could be communicated visually. He wanted to clarify lip-reading, so sounds that look the same on the lips could be represented on the hand. Eight simple handshapes represented all consonants and four positions around the mouth represented all vowels.
Cued Speech allowed students to speak or mouth the English words (or words from any language) and simultaneously use the hand shapes and positions to express themselves.
Likewise, a hearing person could speak in their own native language, and use Cued Speech to mirror their exact words. Cued Speech was easy to learn. People could learn the basics in a few days or a week, compared to the years needed to master Sign Language.
Helping Deaf Children Excel In Literacy & Learning
Mary Ann and her husband Ron quickly discovered how easy it was to learn Cued Speech, and found a teacher who was able to teach their son, Ben. Soon, Ben was learning to read, write and understand everything through Cued Speech…. just like his hearing peers. It was like a miracle! Even being able to freely communicate within the family was a great blessing. How could they best share this gift with others? It felt obvious they needed to start a school.
Knowing about the excellent approach through the Montessori method, Mary Ann and Ron decided to use the Montessori framework. This approach encourages children to be independent thinkers. They also wanted to integrate both hearing and deaf children, so all children could learn to be friends together. Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School was named after the famous inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, who pioneered the idea of capturing sound and recording it.
Soon, other families heard about A.G. Bell Montessori and their Cued Speech program. When they saw the great leaps in learning for their children, they got excited. Some people even moved to Illinois from other states just to bring their children to this school!
THE CHALLENGES IN DEAF EDUCATION
As time went on, I learned that some people in the deaf culture resented Cued Speech. It seemed Cued Speech was caught between two ways of thinking. That is slowly changing now, due to extensive proven research.
Those who only advocate for Sign Language may feel that Cued Speech pushes them towards being oral. Besides that, these people feel that using Cued Speech requires them to abandon deaf culture.
On the other hand, some cochlear implant surgeons feel that Cued Speech looks too much like Sign Language. They don’t take the time to understand its benefits.
A.G. Bell, one little school, knew that Cued Speech could be valuable to both the Sign Language and cochlear implant groups.
As their Board President, Sandy Mosetick later told me, “If your deaf child is going swimming or a room is very loud, you can’t rely on hearing aids or a cochlear implant.” She also wanted to use the same words to her daughter Rachel that she was speaking.
Just like Ben, Rachel achieved high literacy and academic skills through Cued Speech. She later mastered Sign Language and had cochlear implant surgery. No matter how Rachel chose to communicate, she could always use Cued Speech whenever she needed to be understood or heard.
This amazing school is like the train from “The Little Engine That Could.” They keep chugging away, overcoming challenges: the lack of awareness about Cued Speech, the biases still lingering in the deaf community, the inadequate funding support.
Yet their unswerving commitment to help families with children, both deaf and hearing, continues making a difference to so many families. What’s their next goal? Making Cued Speech accessible to everyone across the world!
INTRODUCING: CUE COLLEGE
The school just started an online site to train everyone, young and old, how to learn Cued Speech. It’s called, “Cue College.” (See: www.cuecollege.org.)
Funding is needed to complete the Cue College website. The site will bring so many benefits to children, families and adults. Families with deaf children will have immediate access to learning how to easily communicate with their own child. Children with implants will benefit from Cued Speech too. It’s not always easy to hear someone in a crowded, noisy room, or when swimming, bathing or in a large space. Using Cued Speech makes all the difference.
My hope is that ultimately, somewhere, someone will read this and think… “I know a child who can benefit from that school.” Special needs children also do amazingly well through Cued Speech.
Someone else may consider, “I want to help donate to this worthy cause.”
Or at the very least, someone might read this blog, and share its news to others who will experience a miracle by bringing their child to this school.
Spreading Hope, Inspiration and Transformation
My joy is telling positive stories like this to spread seeds of hope, inspiration and transformation. If you know someone who can benefit from knowing about this special school, please share this news with them. It could make all the difference in the world to that child and family.
Even though sweet Mary Ann passed away too soon, her legacy lives on. I know she would thank you for keeping her school in your heart.
We all make a difference in someone’s life. It’s just up to us to decide what kind of difference we want to make.
