We have all heard the phrase, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” In fact, it is so common that there are a plethora of websites, blogs, and various forum threads devoted to mocking this ideology. I get that, sometimes we just want to have a big, pity party! Right? Of course, once you are done pointing a finger and you are all cried out, then what? Make lemonade!
I have three young children at home that range in age from five to 10. Everyday is another lesson in attitude. How they are responsible for their own feelings, the impact their actions have on others, how best to communicate their emotions, and the list goes on and on. A positive attitude is so important to your reality. That being said, there are times when we need others to make the lemonade for us or at the very least offer a helping hand!
This issue is about Body Therapy and Boundaries. These two fantastic topics are so diverse and yet so complimentary. They also offer a host of angles to cover. I especially like the boundaries theme, which we have covered on both sides of the spectrum – the boundaries you should absolutely adhere to in Rules: They Weren’t Made to be Broken and those which you should challenge at every opportunity, in Shattering Expectations.
As you saw on the cover we are also honoring a new Legend in this issue. When you read Jan Marini’s story, you will quickly come to realize that she wholly embodies the spirit of shattering expectations. In fact, she did more than just make ‘lemonade’; she built the manufacturing plant and mass produced. The most beautiful and admirable part is that she did more than build her own fortune and fame; she garnered the respect and dedication of the masses along her journey by bringing them up with her.
By helping others as Jan and many more have, you in turn help yourself and there is certainly no shortage of people to help. According to statistics released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 2, 2010, the national unemployment rate dropped to 9.5 percent for June, 2010. Men and women return home from the Middle East, and other parts of the world, having defended the very freedoms we take for granted every day. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters sit bedside savoring each precious moment they have with their loved one with no regard to their own well-being, and again the list goes on and on. These and so many others are the people that need the lemonade made for them and sometimes even a nudge of encouragement to drink the lemonade.
In this instance body therapy is the ‘lemonade’ and you are the hands and hearts that can provide it with abundance. I received an e-mail from a colleague that writes for us often, just as I was sitting down to write my note and it immediately shifted my thoughts away from my original message to the one you are now reading. The e-mail was from Robert Sachs, and it was about a beautiful program that he and his wife Melanie have put together in conjunction with the Welcoming Warriors Home Project, which was conceived by Brig. General James Cook of the U.S. Army Reserves. You can read his open letter in this issue on page 14. I hope that you will give this project or one like it your deepest consideration. If you are unable to find a project you feel compelled by, make your own.
Call this idea what you wish; Reaching In, Reaching Out, or Pay It Forward. The simple truth is that we have a social responsibility to take care of one another. If nothing else invest in your own future, because you never know when life is going to hand you lemons.
Wishing you a life of lemonade!
Saundra
