THE HUMAN CONNECTION

Greetings! вітання!

I’ll admit, there are days when a brief glance at the news can be completely overwhelming. But it’s moments like this dinner with Anastasia and her family from Ukraine, that I remain humble with joy and love for humanity around the world.

Anastasia is a member of the Ukrainian Toastmasters Club I belong to in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her family recently immigrated to the United States and are living in New Jersey! David and I extended an invitation to our home for dinner, knowing very little about them! David hung the Ukrainian flag on the front of the house, and when they arrived at our front door, we hugged like a long lost friends! Such a rush of emotions, filled with amazement and gratitude to be in the company of each other and our families.

We spent the afternoon talking before jumping on the trampoline.:) We learned about their lives, the immigration process, the state of the war, the home and family they left behind – all in the name of creating a better life for their two daughters, ages three and 10.

While our friendship began on Zoom nearly two years ago, the true human connection is much more powerful than the technology! When the three year old took my hand, I thought my heart would burst with love! The laughter the hugs, the newly found friendships created a boost for us all!

  • Hugs are calming, reduce blood pressure.
  • Hugs ease psychological stress.
  • Hugs boost heart health.
  • Laughter increases endorphins and blood flow.
  • Laughter improves circulation.
  • Laughter boosts your mood as well!

I know each of you are doing your own part in taking care of your families, loved ones and communities. Live deeply into the positive effects of spending time with people.

And may you continue to help heal our world in your unique, personal way of human connection.

with love and gratitude,
з любов'ю і вдячністю

MOVE YOUR BODY…Hold On!

This week’s technique for quieting the mind and keeping the nervous system regulated is Hold On.

Hold On: Place your right palm across your forehead and your left palm at the base of your skull. Breathe in and out slowly for five breaths. The touch helps manage emotional reactions by slowing down the thousands of thoughts that could be racing through your mind.

…MOVE YOUR MINDduolingo logo

I’ve been studying French for 342 days! Join me on DuoLingo to move your mind through language learning. Find me as RochelleRice12 and let’s be friends and cheer each other on!

SHE ROCKED AND SHE ROLLED!

Connie DeNave came from humble beginnings and became rock and roll’s first female press agent.  Her story is one of resilience, hard work, and love. Love of the business, love of the music, and love of her clients which included The Rolling Stones, Lesley Gore, Herman’s Hermits and many more. I have known Connie for 20+ years and in her eighth decade, she is still able to bend over and touch the floor! Her joy for life and belief in being kind to ALL people has endeared her as a mentor and role model for me. Her story “The Image Maker – Shattering Rock and Roll’s Glass Ceiling” is a super fun read! Connie is also the owner of Jewel Diva and can be found doing jewelry auctions on Facebook. Congratulations to Connie and her co-writer, Stephen Miller, pictured below at the Dutch Treat Club, April 30th.

I’m thrilled to share with you this information about the upcoming Renewal Summit 2024. The summit features a number of my colleagues including Joan Pagano, Heidi Skolnik, Sonia Satra and Janet M. Neal! This full day event includes panel discussions, a musical performance, an interview with Mercedes Ellington and a wine reception! The Scandinavia House is a beautiful venue conveniently located at 58 Park Avenue in Murray Hill. If you attend, please be sure to introduce yourself to my amazing colleagues!

 

Three Tomatoes

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