Subscribe
 |
New Release!!A History of Horses Told by Horses |
Random Acts of Kindness?
I am very lucky to have lived in Denmark, Spain, Norway, Japan, Australia, and Greece, and have visited more than thirty other counties. For me international travel has been a great education.
It started in my sophomore year in college. While playing goalie for the Oneonta State Red Dragons soccer team I sustained a compound fracture in my right hand. After surgery I was informed that I had to skip the next season. I was one of only two Americans on the close-knit team. There were players from England, France, Poland, Cameroon, Haiti, Israel, Portugal and other countries. They encouraged me to attend the next semester at a university overseas. After all they came to the United States more for the experience than to play soccer. Known as football throughout the rest of the world, the sport of soccer is much bigger abroad than here in the USA. Football is the national sport of many countries.
Finding New Friends and Creating Relationships on the Web
In promoting my third book, A History of Horses Told by Horses, I am learning to embrace social media marketing, including Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. I’ve been using Twitter for six weeks now and have met many terrific, interesting and savvy people.
On Twitter, you’re allowed 140 characters when sending a tweet. It may seem short, but you can get in quite a mouthful. No one ever said networking had to be a long drawn out novel, sometimes shorter is better. Don’t underestimate the power of short and quick replies because with the right words they can be very effective.
These 7 tips will show exactly how you can get the most out of your networking efforts on Twitter.
1. Start by using your real name on your profile, upload a real photo of yourself and fill out your bio. Your bio is about you and not your business. People want to know they are talking to a person. Your website link will take care of your business.
Giving Thanks for Health, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
The original intention of this particular blog was to share in the celebration of America’s birthday, the 4th of July. Waving the red, white, and blue punctuated with a barbecue, followed by fireworks. Revelry meant to be shared with friends. Yet my fingers on the keyboard seem to be taking me in a different direction. I will try to follow their course.
I am very lucky in experiencing good health, in spite of a bout with cancer, and pursuing a life that centers on helping others. Yet at times, I am haunted with melancholy. Why? I am not sure but one way I combat it, without fully revealing its presence, is with the help and support of family and friends. I do not thank them enough. Do you experience this? Does most everyone? I’m not sure but the rollercoaster of life still puzzles me and makes it one thrilling and sometimes frightening ride.
Spiritual Healing a True Story
I was at a car dealership in Denver when Cindy (name changed for her privacy) approached and asked me, “Are you a spiritual healer?”
Incredulous about her question, I inquired why she asked. Cindy related her dream about me, with horses. I was amazed. I told her that indeed I was a certified spiritual healer and gave her my business card. Cindy asked if I could do a healing for her.
I inquired, “Why do you need spiritual healing?” Cindy told me that she recently noticed a lump in her armpit.
Being a professional I said that I would perform a healing session with her if she promised to have the swelling biopsied. She agreed and I performed the healing procedure. Afterward she said she felt relaxed and relieved.
Cindy called me a few days later and told me the diagnosis of her biopsy was pervasive cancer. She needed surgery and chemotherapy and asked if I would continue performing healing for her. I agreed to support her with distant healing from my home everyday.
Video: Hal Levin, Rick Frishman and David Hancock
How My Mom’s Quote-Collecting Led to a Day with Muhammad Ali
I owe a special thanks to my mom for inspiring me to create my first book, Quotations for Successful Living (QFSL), even though she did not think it was a good idea at that time. Two years later, after QFSL was in its second edition, mom and dad saw a first edition copy on a professor’s desk at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. With dog-eared pages and special quotes highlighted in yellow, mom was impressed. That night she called me to say the book was great. Thanks mom.
Sometimes your biggest supporter can also be your biggest doubter. This reminds of a quote from Muhammad Ali, “I sought advice and cooperation from all those around me – but not permission.” When I was introduced to Mr. Ali, he said, “Please call me, Muhammad,” and signed my personal hard back copy of my book by his quote. I had a huge smile the whole night.
Not Allowing Dyslexia to Get in My Way
Friends have said I’m a great storyteller and I love seeing my literary endeavors turned into books. But, it doesn’t make me a great writer, yet. Many people thought I would never be an author. Who could blame them? I didn’t have great grades in school and was even banished to remedial class in the fourth grade for, ‘not paying attention.’ I was paying attention, I just processed information differently. Years later, after graduating from college, my eye doctor informed me that I was dyslexic. It was somehow a relief because it helped explain many things, including why I was a slow reader.
As it turns out Albert Einstein didn’t have good grades in school and neither did Henry Winkler, who is also dyslexic, and played Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli in the hit television show, Happy Days. I thought ‘The Fonz’ was the coolest guy on television. Learning that Mr. Winkler and I had the same hurdle to leap made me feel better about myself. It was a bigger surprise to find out that my dad has dyslexia, too. He didn’t find out till he was thirty-two and is one of the brightest people I know. So parents please have your child’s vision and hearing checked as early as possible, for their sake.
How Helping Others Led to My Own Healing
I’ve been very lucky in choosing work that I love. My careers include; managing health clubs, professional ski patroller, river guide, fundraiser and public relations executive, being on the board of directors and volunteering for nonprofit organizations, conducting spiritual healing, and authoring three inspirational, self-help books. I’ve had other employment but the above mentioned posts are jobs that I love. That love has been returned to me repeatedly, sometimes in unexpected ways.
The common thread in these seemingly diverse occupations has been the reward of helping others. It includes assisting people; to get in shape, helping them when they are hurt, sharing the joy of nature and the outdoors, funding research and publicizing the nonprofits, and just plain helping people. This inspires me to look for ways to help people even more. Writing and creating books has given me the greatest fulfillment of these desires. One reason is that the vast majority of people I may have helped through my writing I will never meet.
My Experience at the Book Expo America
“A true friend doesn’t sympathize with your weakness; instead they help summon your strength.”
- Anonymous, excerpt from Quotations for Successful Living
In the past two weeks I attended the Book Expo America (BEA) and appeared at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Kentucky. Both events were filled with surprises.
The annual BEA is the biggest book show in North America. In 2008 the traveling event took place with much fanfare in Los Angeles. In an attempt to save the industry’s largest players some money, the BEA is growing roots at the Javits Center in New York City for the next four years. For publishers NYC is the literary publishing capital of America.
Due to the recession this year’s BEA was smaller and toned down. There were fewer exhibitors’ and aisles didn’t seem to be as crowded. The first day, Friday, was the busiest. While it is always fun to peruse the aisles looking for new and interesting titles there seemed to be less actual selling going on. Although within five minutes of my new book, A History of Horses Told by Horses, being displayed on my publisher’s shelf (Morgan James Publishing) I had direct requests from interested parties.
Book Signing: History of Horses Told by Horses
Title: Book Signing: History of Horses Told by Horses
Location: Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Description: Joseph-Beth Booksellers
859-273-2911
161 Lexington Green Circle
Lexington, KY
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2009-06-06
End Time: 16:00
