My Dad left this world November 2, 2009. I saved a few emails that he always wrote in CAPS. I told him “Dad, when you send emails in CAPS it means you are SHOUTING.” He responded, “I am deaf in one ear. That’s why I shout, even in emails.” But I wish I could still hear his voice. When people leave you sometimes it’s their voice you find you miss deeply. I miss Dad’s soothing voice when I was having a panic attack, his encouraging voice when I was pitching new business, and his commanding voice when it was time to “march
Read more →Recently at a restaurant, the dinner conversation drifted to the topic of friendship. One of the women at the table said that she noticed a few of her friends had “unfriended” her on Facebook. These were not virtual friends; they were people she had known and socialized with over the years with real “face time” rather than just Facebook. We discussed how some friends stay constant and others drift in and out of your life. Some are seasonal friends; you connect for ski trips or at the beach. Some are friends by location; you hang out with them at them
Read more →I am thrilled to report that “Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless & Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer” is recipient of the 2014 International Book Award for Cancer-Health topics. The award was announced May 21 by American Book Fest. My goal writing this book was to help women stay focused and confident at a time when it feels like cancer is taking over their lives. Winning this award is bittersweet: It took having breast cancer myself and losing a dear friend to the disease to give me the experience and inspiration to write Getting Things
Read more →This month around the nation, dignitaries and celebrities are sharing words of wisdom to eager graduates at high school, college, and university commencements. I am still waiting for my invitation to speak. But, if I were asked, here is an abbreviated version of what I would say. I call it “Six Degrees of Education.” 1. Your Education never ends. It evolves. What you have learned until today is just that and no more. Realize you may need to go back to school, take more courses and be open to new ideas to remain relevant and on top of change. Degrees
Read more →“Why didn’t you have children?” I am always amazed when someone asks me this abrupt question. But people do ask. “You wouldn’t understand. Your are not a mother.” I take a deep breath and hold my thoughts when another woman says this to me. My decision not to have children is personal. But, since you asked… When I was younger it was a practical choice. I was single, running a business, traveling non-stop and in debt. I was not comfortable raising a child alone and unable to provide the time and resources I felt a child deserves. I married late,
Read more →I recently applied for a grant from a prestigious professional women’s organization dedicated to empowering women. My mission is to empower women and I am studying to train as a certified coach. The grant would have provided beneficial support to help me in my goal to help make a difference for others. I was rejected. But not dejected. Annoyed, yes. Giving up, no. Everyone experiences rejection. My first sort of rejection was the day I was born, the second baby of the new year. The first baby born received all the prizes. I received no prizes, and my parents lost out on
Read more →Mother’s Day Ebook sale! The “Getting Things Off My Chest” eBook is just $.99 on May 5th (list: $6.99). Price goes up $1 daily til May 10th. Amazon exclusive. Give, Share, Care. Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F5KPT42 What people are saying about Getting Things Off My Chest: Literary R&R: If you know anyone that is facing breast cancer, run, do not walk, and purchase this for them! Written by a survivor, using other survivors’ experience, and a healthy dose of humor, Ms. Young has written THE go-to book for breast cancer awareness. Anything, and everything, a patient needs to know is inside, and written
Read more →For years I had a small green table with four chairs sitting out on my New York City second floor apartment patio overlooking lower Fifth Avenue. It weathered icy winters, gathered dust in the spring, collected soot from the traffic below in summer and stood neglected most of the time. It was a table for dumping boxes and supplies but never for sitting around to enjoy a meal or conversation. It was always “too dirty!” and “why bother?” whenever anyone asked us if we enjoyed sitting outside. We moved the table to the country where it sits on our large
Read more →As many of you know I recently exchanged my Manhattan apartment of twenty-six years for a home in the country ninety miles north of the city. The move was a lesson in learning to let go. It was also a test of perseverance. Some time ago I lost a small diamond stud. It was never found, and I am convinced it lay somewhere in my apartment. As we packed, I repeated to my husband, David, “Be careful what you move or throw out. Maybe we’ll find the diamond.” It was a needle in the haystack thought given the amount of
Read more →My husband and I are packing up my one bedroom Manhattan rent stabilized apartment that I’ve lived in for twenty-six years. (Stop! If you live in New York City you may feel you’ve hit apartment pay dirt. My announcing I am giving up a rent stabilized Manhattan apartment is better than trolling the obituaries to see who has died.) We are only moving to our home in the country just 90 minutes away, and I fully expect to be in and out of the city on a regular basis. But, I can’t believe how many people are telling me “We
Read more →I recently watched a moving video where Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o discusses how as a young girl she prayed to God to lighten her skin. She said she was teased and taunted for her dark complexion and felt that by lightening her skin she would be perceived as beautiful Tears welled up in her eyes as she shared her story of believing she was ugly: “As a teenager my self hate grew worse….My complexion had always been an obstacle to overcome….I had begun to enjoy the seduction of inadequacy.” Video LInk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPCkfARH2eE Meanwhile, I keep receiving promotional ads
Read more →Americans aged 18 -64 are spending an average of 3.2 hours a day using social networks according to a recent study http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/online/social-networking-eats-up-3-hours-per-day-for-the-average-american-user-26049/ I find it unsettling that people are spending more time connected with each other online than in person. While I enjoy interacting with my friends on Facebook and have been reconnected with old acquaintances, I am starting to feel disconnected in other ways and have found myself exhibiting some unhealthy habits. Here are 10 signs you need may need an internet intervention: 1. Your iPad gets more attention in bed than your spouse. 2. Your meals become constant
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