To Be or Not To Be THE LAW OF ATTRACTION 03/28 by ONWARD AND UPWARD | Blog Talk Radio#.T2pUB4BJYgk.facebook#.T2pUB4BJYgk.facebook

Hello All!

My blog today is a Radio Blog, topic being:  To Be or not to Be: The Law of Attraction

BLOG RADIO: To Be or Not To Be: THE LAW OF ATTRACTION!

I hope enjoy this Radio show!

All the Best,
Erin!

The Will To Hold Your Pot Of Gold!

If I hear, “These are trying times!” one more time, I think I’ll have to shake that person’s hand! Yes, actually take the time to thank the person for acknowledging life is not something handed to us in a beautifully decorated basket filled with every want and whim specific to each of our proverbial “Pot Of Gold.” A fulfilling, introspective, tuned-in, hands-on, wide awake way of life takes work…hard work coupled with faith. Living a life of entitlement and hand-outs, I believe, is the equivalent to living a numb life—superficial, self-absorbed, and image-driven with lots of “things”—lacking the virtue of gratitude. I prefer the deeper, more reflective, thankful route.

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches and we speak of “trying times”, it reminds me not only of the deep-rooted heritage and love my family and I share in this day as all four of my grandparents came to America from their homeland, Ireland, in the early 1900’s, I’m also reminded of their strong desire, dedication, and resolve to make America their (new) extraordinary home for our family. All four lived a long life, one into his late 70’s and the other three into their 90’s, thankful for having made the move.

Gratitude is one of my most favorite character traits; so, existing in such a state this morning I posted a status on Facebook quoting Melody Beattie. Having no idea who she was until I drew from a list of inspirational quotes, I decided to GOOGLE her. Ms. Beattie is the author of Codependent No More which sold over eight million copies in the 80’s and introduced the word “codependent” to the general public. In addition she has authored many other books including, The Language of Letting Go, and Make Miracles in Forty Days, Turning What You Have Into What You Want.

The quote I posted from Melody Beattie this morning reads as follows: "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Now THAT is my version of a Pot Of Gold! Each of us has it within us. All we have to do is reach inside and attain it. Embrace it. Experience it. Live it! Gratitude is priceless and provides abundance in all areas of life.

There’s a non-profit cancer organization affiliated with St. Patrick’s Day called, St. Baldricks. As a cancer survivor and cancer coach/consultant, I LOVE this organization and encourage you to check it out as well. Here’s some information I received from Wickipedia and the site itself: St. Baldrick's Foundation is a childhood cancer charity funding the most promising research to help find cures for kids with cancer.

The Foundation raises money for childhood cancer research primarily through head-shaving events. Volunteers sponsored by family, friends and employers, shave their heads in solidarity with kids who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment. Events have taken place in all 50 US states and 28 countries.

The concept of St. Baldrick's was devised in 1999 by three Irish-American reinsurance executives from New York City, and grew from a single event to a nationwide effort in a relatively short period of time, now known as the world's first and largest volunteer fundraiser for childhood cancer research. The founders decided to turn their St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for pediatric oncology research by shaving their heads, thereby showing solidarity with children undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Therefore, the name of the Foundation is a play on the words Bald and Patrick - going bald on St. Patrick’s Day, led to St. Baldrick’s. (www.StBaldricks.org)

Here’s to wishing all of you a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day filled with love, health, happiness, gratitude, and your own Pot O’ Gold!

Click here are some more St. Baldrick's pictures: St. Baldricks Pictures

Here’s to wishing all of you a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day filled with love, health, happiness, gratitude, and your own Pot O’ Gold!

Onward Production - Announcements:

• I’m thrilled to announce my guest for this month’s Onward And Upward radio program, author of the phenomenal children’s book Molly Kite’s Big Dream, and inspirational speaker, Tam Veilleux will be joining us Wednesday, March 28, 2012, from 1:00pm-2:00pm ET at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ErinLey. Please take a moment and check out Tam’s website, www.Tam-I-Am.com, to see the amazing work she does illustrating how each of us manifests our own *Law of Attraction* (LOA).

• In addition, I’m looking forward to visiting the students, faculty and families, along with my wonderful colleagues from the Long Island Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s group, for the Author/Illustrator Nights at: 1) Jericho Elementary School in Centereach, NY on March 20th; and 2) Andrew Muller Primary School in Miller Place, NY on April 4th. Many thanks to Stacey Cooper and Cristin Mansfield-Soldano for organizing the events and the invitation.

• As we move ONWARD throughout the rest of this school year and plan for 2012-2013: For any Long Island (NY) based elementary school, public and/or private; library; Boy and/or Girl Scout Troop; events of any kind can contact me any time at www.ErinLey.com or www.MaggieTheMagnificent.com when looking to provide a character-building presentation. I’ve incorporated food allergy awareness into my presentations not only because two of my three young children have life threatening peanut and pitted fruit allergies; the number of food allergies in both adults and children have grown exponentially. Funding for these visits are provided by a number of sources including, but not limited to, the PTA/PTO; and, both Nassau & Suffolk BOCES—I am registered with both.

• For schools, hospitals, non-profits, businesses—large or small looking for a motivational/keynote speaker who survived cancer, and so much more, and recognizes *where there’s a WILL there’s a way* to help improve the quality of your environment, or to instruct you on how to help others improve the quality of their environment—school, work, hospital, or home, feel free to contact me anytime. I provide individual cancer coaching sessions over the phone for cancer patients across the country as well. www.ErinLey.com

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers—

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours—

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through!

Visit http://www.erinley.com  for more information and inspiration!

The Will to Tebow!

 Tebow has become a phenomenon in more ways than one. The Denver Broncos quarterback is now one of the highest publicized, most scrutinized athletes out there today and for one reason… being a devout Christian.

As opposed to beating his chest or doing a silly mock type of dance when things go well for him, Tebow gets down on his knee or points up to the sky [referencing Heaven]. He speaks openly and unapologetic about his faith in God and Jesus, faces the criticism and chooses to turn the other cheek.

As both a New Yorker and fan of the Giants excited for the Super Bowl next Sunday, in my opinion Tim Tebow walks away with the prize. Maybe not the ring of all rings—something better. Tebow has become the shining example and light of encouragement for so many. I’m thrilled to have this 25 year-old man as someone my children can look up to. Tebow holds qualities I believe to be real: integrity, loyalty, honesty, honor, dedication, perseverance, enthusiasm, commitment, joy, love and peace. No matter what race, gender, ethnicity or religion, those are great and admirable qualities to have. Here’s a man who’s not out to hurt anyone. He’s never been incarcerated. He’s not forcing his faith or anything else on anyone… he’s simply expressing his faith—Tebow style. He’s proud of who he is and praises someone higher than himself for his gifts. Good for him!

As stated in Tim Tebow’s website, www.TimTebow.com, “I’ve lived my life by this quote since I was 6 years old: ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’”

Athletes have prayed then played on the court, field, rink, etc. for centuries. Quite often, entertainers get up and thank God above anyone when receiving some type of award whether it’s an Emmy, Oscar, Grammy, MTV, People’s Choice… any film or music award. And then there are people like me who’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoblastic lymphoma, or any other type of cancer/life threatening disease or circumstance, praying for a healthier tomorrow. I’m sure our families and friends prayed for us, as we pray for others whenever and wherever possible. Faith is powerful.

As an American watching her country steer away from America’s Judeo-Christian values, clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence, heading down the secular route, I hope and pray the pressure doesn’t become too great for Tebow. He too is human; yet a great man who’s arrived, I believe, at the right time.

A great article to read:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/01/tim_tebows_public_expressions.html

Onward Production - Announcements:

• I’m pleased to announce my guest for this month’sOnward And Upward radio program, “The Marketing Doctor!” Dr. John Tantillo will be joining us Monday, January 30, 2012, from 12pm-1pm ET atwww.BlogTalkRadio.com/ErinLey. Take a moment and go that site to check out Dr. Tantillo’s bio, book, People Buy Brands Not Companies, and much more. He’s notorious for educating many individuals in various venues with regard to branding and all things marketing, and making the recommendation, “Go brand yourself!”
• Also, I had a fantastic night at the Old Mills Road Elementary School in Merrick last Tuesday night, January 24, 2012, with a gathering of wonderful colleagues from the Long Island Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s group! As we personally inscribe each of our books for those purchasing, the students, families, faculty and administrators were extremely gracious. They came to each of our tables asking questions about the writing process, how we come up with the names of our characters, and more. Many thanks to Maria Small for organizing the event and the invite.
• Next, I’m looking forward to this Thursday, February 2, 2012. As the guest author at Oquenock Elementary School in West Islip (NY) I will provide both a character-building and food allergy awareness presentation for the students. Their theme for the night, “Reading Under The Stars,” works beautifully with my futurist, out-of space children’s books, and twelve-year-old main character, Maggie The Magnificent. Many thanks to Carmela Caminito for organizing this event and contacting me through my website.

• As we move ONWARD throughout the rest of this school year and plan for 2012-2013, any Long Island (NY) based elementary school, public and/or private, can contact me any time at www.ErinLey.com when looking to provide a character-building assembly. I’ve incorporated food allergy awareness into my presentations not only because two of my three young children have life threatening peanut and pitted fruit allergies; the number of food allergies in both adults and children have grown exponentially. What better place to discuss this with our youth, along with the significance of great character, than in elementary schools where there are tremendous amount of projects completed and classroom parties that include food.

Now that the first month of this New Year has come to an end, I’m wishing all of you the very best this year, and life in general, has to offer! Life’s too short for any of us to continuously conform… live inside “the box.” Break out of that box! Live outside the box! Outside the box is who you truly are; and it’s my pleasure and privilege to be connected with you in one way or another.

shareshare

The Will to Live Stress-free and Fearless Through the Holidays

I love the quote by Maureen Killoran, “Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response TO what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose.”

For some reason stress seems to be the norm these days. During this holiday season, marketing of violent games for children is not quite the marketing that went on with GI Joe or Cops and Robbers. Our kids’ imaginations have been hijacked; and, society has implemented a full court press sensual pitch competing for our children’s visceral response – specifically the visual and auditory – desensitizing them to all things negative. An overwhelming number of high school students on high blood pressure meds is deemed acceptable. And if you’d like a dose of pessimistic overload, just turn on the news—that’ll keep ya hoppin’ as you shop for sure.

Is it all everybody else’s fault? Are parents just as much the victims of this craziness as the kids? Should grown men and woman of high standards keep pointing at those establishments while shaking our heads back and forth…tsk…tsk…tsk? Hell NO!!!

Life’s too short to be manipulated like some kind of automaton. Capitulating who we are little by little is stress inducing and a sign of weakness. We CAN mindfully choose what we’d like to purchase and monitor when it comes to what our children watch and play at home. We CAN do our best to create an environment of open communication with our kids to help reduce their stress and fear. And we CAN turn the television off when we feel as if we’ve heard enough.

Here are 3 websites worth checking out:

1. Dr. Bernie Siegel – “Defeat Stress - Our Most Treatable Health Hazard”:
   http://berniesiegelmd.com/2011/08/defeat-stress-our-most-treatable-health-hazard/
2. Dr. Heather Manley – “StressFreeKids.com”:
   http://www.stressfreekids.com/9142/reduce-stress-boost-immune-systems
3. My most recent guest, Dan Guarino, figured out that living life “fearless”, without giving so much power to the “what ifs” in life, is a wonderful thing:
   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/erinley/2011/11/29/fearless-the-why-not-factor

When I was diagnosed with cancer twenty years ago at age 25, I went from stressed-out and unassertive to stress-free and fearless. At the time I was unaware of my stress and apprehensive nature. That was my norm. However, after facing the Grim Reaper and giving it a stiletto kick to the hood, my senses were awakened. My way of thinking changed. That’s not to say I never experience stress or fear. Of course I do. The difference post diagnosis and surviving cancer is now as I experience stress and/or fear I work through whatever is making me anxious – as opposed to just existing in that state, trying to manage it.

Here is an excerpt from my book, The Will to Live: The Perks of Cancer Through the Eyes of a Survivor:

Another aspect of this ‘new beginning’ perk is that it allowed me to do things at my own pace—a pace that suited my needs. That in itself was a stress reducer. How often do we get the chance to set our own pace? We live in a world of time frames and deadlines, and are bombarded by expectations and demands. Now, I got to take that deep breath and that big step back. I took a good, long, hard look at the big picture—the panoramic view—to see what was rushing me through life. True health requires both a healthy body and a positive mind. As time passed, I realized it was all up to me. As I took charge of my life, it became increasingly a time of joy, rest, and renewal—ideal circumstances for a new beginning.

So, as this year comes to an end and we embrace 2012, I’d like to wish all of you much love, health, fun, laughter, positive energy, great character, prosperity and happiness. Let’s focus on what’s right with our lives as we deal with the challenges. Let’s have a clear sense of moderation, a deep bond with our mind, body and spirit, a healthy connection with each other—and, let’s do our best to respond appropriately to whatever comes our way.

Love,
~Erinhttp://berniesiegelmd.com/2011/08/defeat-stress-our-most-treatable-health-hazar