Life As We Know It

Some people compare their lives to a book or to characters on television of in a movie. I like to compare the stages of my life to different songs. I even write my own words.  Maybe it’s my Tennessee roots, growing up near Music City and the “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” but I am convinced some of my songs would make a great country-western hit. When I was single, and wanderlust was the only lust in my life, I wrote a song called “Love Don’t Stick To My Teflon Heart.” I still have the lyrics typed on a piece of paper

Sunday, September 11, will mark the tenth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States that brought down four airplanes, the World Trade Towers and close to 3000 lives, but brought together a community of Americans and its allies in solidarity against terrorism.  I was in New York that day, and my apartment’s patio had a direct view of the collapse of the towers and shocked crowds on the streets. Close enough to see the fireball blaze and the slow disintegration of skyscraper but far enough to avoid the crush of debris and smoke. Every year since that day I have quietly listened to the roll

I have a favorite quote: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain.” In our lifetimes, all of us will have to face stormy days, stormy experiences, stormy relationships.  This past weekend Hurricane Irene bore down on the East Coast, a category 3 storm at first, downgraded to category 1 when it hit New York and eventually becoming a tropical storm. Preparedness was key to avoiding disaster. Coastal towns and low lying areas including lower Manhattan were evacuated. Mass transit was stopped. Medical and police personnel were on alert. The storm tore through the East Coast in the course of three

“Reinvention”- It is a word I use alot. After my cancer treatment was over, I reinvented my look, shorter blonder hair and leaner body. I reinvented my diet: more fruits and vegetables; less sugar and fat; no red meat; no fried foods. I reinvented my business, now called The Connected Table, with new, streamlined and more alternative forms of marketing and promotion. And I have been working on reinventing other areas of my life, as a consultant, advocate, mentor and writer. We all have the potential to reinvent ourselves if we choose to do so.  You just have to want to do it, aim at the goal and focus. It may take time,

I am overwhelmed by people who want to connect with me. This blog was just spammed by strangers who want to “connect” with GTOMC. Every day my inbox is flooded with people who want me to Link In, Tweet Up, Branch Out, join the (fill-in-the-blank Community), join a discount group and so forth. Connecting with people should be a good thing. I started a new business this year called The Connected Table to define what I do best: connecting people to products, causes, events and experiences. A lot of what I do is online and very productive and beneficial, but

August 6 is an important date in my life. First, it is the date I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, so today is my “cancer-versary.” Second, it is the date 13 years ago when I adopted my precious Maltese pooch Chance, my best friend in fur, so I am also celebrating  my “chance-aversary.” To celebrate my cancer-versary, I am writing all my doctors to thank them, and I am thanking all of my friends and support network who stuck bymy. And I am giving Chance an extra special treat for dinner tonight! With all the talk now about debt and the seriousness of our country’s

I was recently interviewed by Kim Thilbodeaux, President and CEO of the Cancer Support Community. The interview will air Tuesday, August 2, 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST on VoiceAmerica’s show “Frankly Speaking About Cancer.”  The topic is Healing Nutrition: What Patients & Caregivers Should Know About Eating Well Through Cancer. The guests, in addition to me are: Susan Bratton, Founder and CEO, Meals to Heal LLC, a provider of nutritional information, counseling and fresh meals for cancer patients and their caregivers, and Dr. Katherine Chauncey, PhD, R.D., Director of the West Texas Cancer Survivors Network and Professor of Clinical Family Practice at Texas

Cancer changed the way I eat and drink. It does this to many people but not to everyone. I was recent on a radio show talking about Healing Nutrition. We discussed the fact that 15 to 20 percent of cancer patients undergoing treatment experience changes in their sense of smell and taste.  Certain foods can taste metallic. Mouth sores can make it difficult to chew or swallow acidic foods. Steroids can constipate you, so bulk foods are unappealing.  You can become lactose intolerant (I did). Sometimes it’s just the smell or the sight of certain foods or beverages that can turn your stomach. Certain foods do not

If you died tomorrow, what would be your epitaph? What will people say about how you lived your life? This week I attended the memorial service of the legendary New York restaurateur, George Lang. His autobiography, “Nobody Knows the Truffles I’ve Seen,” is an inspiring story of courage, survival, reinvention, dedication, success, music,  passion, love and humor.  The service was attended by a large crowd of friends and industry colleagues, and the speeches were short and uplifting, from journalist, Adam Gopnik, to former ambassador, Ronald Lauder. Elie Wiesel sent a letter. Musician Peter Yarrow sang.   George touched many lives. It made me wonder: “When I die, what will

What makes you happy? And is it within reach? Who is the happier person:  The ambitious person who reaches higher and higher but remains restless, so happiness is never quite in full grasp. Or the placid person who reaches out and not up, and embraces what is around him and seeks nothing more? Which one are you? Or are you a combination? My Dad always told me to aim high and then higher. I was programmed to be a success from an early age, to move out of my small town and show everyone who I could be. And I did it in

I am celebrating my “independence” this Independence Day Weekend, and you should do the same.  Independence Day is one of my all time favorite holidays, even more than  Thanksgiving. Why? Because, while I love giving thanks for the good things and the good people in my life at the end of the year, I love celebrating my brand of independence at the most beautiful time of the year- Summer. “Independence” defined by Webster’s Dictionary translates to the state of being self-sufficient or self reliant.  The opposite is being “dependent.” Now, one year after completing cancer treatment, depending on doctors’ opinions and decisions for my well-being, and