Cancer survivor becomes wellness coach

Here is an article by Joanne Shuttleworth which appeared on the front page of the Guelph Mercury on March 9th 2010 – my 65th birthday.

I celebrated the publicity for my cancer prevention program called Start Here and Go Forward. I also celebrated the fact that I’m still alive and cancer free 23 years after having 3 types of cancer in 1987.

GUELPH -Lynn Roodbol was 41 when she learned she had breast cancer. Six months later she was also diagnosed with colon cancer and then skin cancer. All this a year after her husband had lost his job.

It was a devastating period and Roodbol said she felt helpless and hopeless as she became a pincushion for chemotherapy, at the beck and call of her doctors, and faced with the very real spectre of her death.

“I had myself in a pine box,” Roodbol said quietly. “I really thought I was going to die. But my husband coached me through it and I had a huge support system. And somewhere along the way something changed.

“The light went on for me and I stopped that downward spiral. I wanted to do anything I could to live again.”

Roodbol turns 65 next week — a number she never expected to reach in those dark days. She’s also a certified wellness coach in part from gratitude for the extra 20-plus years she’s been given. And part to help people who may be feeling as powerless as she had. Roodbol is leading a five-week workshop called Start Here and Go Forward, a program based on wellness coaching that will discuss healthy lifestyle choices, which help prevent cancer and reduce the risk of its recurrence.

It runs from Hospice Wellington’s temporary location on Woodlawn Road on Monday evenings, 7 to 8:30 p.m. from March 22 to April 19. Cost is free, but registration is required.

The methods she recommends are neither a surprise nor complicated and they can prevent other diseases besides cancer — eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and relaxation and learn to manage your stress.

“I’m not an expert, so if I can do it, anyone can,” she said. “But sometimes it’s difficult to see that on your own. A wellness coach will grab your hand and work beside you as you realize your goals.”

Roodbol said she was weighed down by negativity when she was diagnosed with all her cancers, and even when she began to recover she still didn’t feel well. She started to visit a therapist who helped her to leave negative feelings behind and focus on the positive.

“Therapy taught me to let go of anger and guilt. After all, I was an X-ray tech and I didn’t have a mammogram. I blamed myself. I was full of guilt. I had to learn to let it go,” she said.

It’s not as superficial as it may sound. Sometimes it takes a seminal event to put life in perspective. Sometimes an attitude adjustment is in order.

“Once you hear the ‘cancer’ word, you often don’t hear anything else,” said Erin McInnis, client services supervisor with Hospice Wellington. “And it’s easy to get lost in all the information. But life is about living, it’s about wellness. Lynn will challenge and inspire participants.

“At times like that, people are looking for things they can do to help themselves. Lynn will show them how.”

“If you spend your energy on wellness, it’s energy you don’t have to spend on being sick. And believe me, it’s so much more pleasant being healthy,” Roodbol said.

If you go:

WHAT: Start Here and Go Forward, a workshop based on wellness coaching that will discuss healthy lifestyle choices, which help people to prevent cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence of cancer.

WHEN: Monday evenings, 7 to 8:30 p.m. from Mar. 22 to April 19

WHERE: Hospice Wellington, 107 Woodlawn Rd. W.

COST: Free

This program is now full and I’m registering people for a new program starting on April 26 2010. Thank you for your interest!

[Via http://lynnroodbol.wordpress.com]

Curing Homosexuality

First, let’s dispense with the obvious.  Outside of being a sexual predator or a pedophile, a person’s sexuality is nobody Else’s business.  Legislating morality has proven to be counterproductive in so many ways that it would take a series of lengthy articles just to skim the surface.

Beyond the political bullshit that surrounds homosexuality lies the murky depths of something known as “reparative therapy”, which is an attempt to “cure” homosexuality. It is a religiously motivated pseudo-science based on the premise that homosexuality is an unnatural disease that needs to be eradicated.  This premise is so blatantly wrong it should be dismissed along with Hitlers “final solution”.

The facts remain that homosexuality is both common and highly essential in the lives of a number of species.  In fact, no species has been found in which homosexual behaviour has not been shown to exist, aside from those species which are asexual, in which case, homosexuality is not a factor.

For more than twenty-five years, mental health practitioners and researchers have recognized that homosexuality is not a mental illness. Moreover, they are highly critical of attempts to change sexual orientation. These professional associations include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of Social Workers.  These are not fringe groups. They represent roughly a half-million health and mental health professionals who support the fact that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus, there is no need for a cure.  Furthermore, the American Psychiatric Association rejected reparative therapy as not only ineffective, but potentially destructive.  The risks include depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior.

Reparative therapy is nothing more than religious homophobia disguised as science, much like “Intelligent Design” is a clever disguise for creationism.  At the core of these “ex-gay” ministries is the fundamental belief that god deems homosexuality to be an abomination and those who are found guilty are to be punished by death.  Period.  End of story.  The blinders that some of the religious zealots wear could cover an area the size of Texas. They completely ignore the fact that all the leading medical associations have condemned “ex-gay ministries” as harmful practices that can cause severe emotional damage, including suicide after unsuccessful attempts to change and adapt to an adverse society.

Science does not yet fully understand how a particular sexual orientation presents in any individual. There are many hypothesis being studied, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors and complex interactions of biological, psychological and social factors. What we do know is that sexual orientation is not a choice.  It emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Psychologists do not consider sexual orientation for most people to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed, which is the main reason why mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or emotional problem. In fact, research conducted for almost forty years has revealed that homosexual orientation is not associated with any emotional or social problems.  However, thanks to the relentless misinformation being disseminated by religious zealots, mental health professionals continue to fight the idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder.

The fact that homosexuals in many parts of the country are denied the right to adopt children flies in the face of the results of many comparative studies between homosexual parents and heterosexual parents. These studies have found no developmental differences between the two groups of children in their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, popularity with friends or their sexual orientation.

I won’t even bother to insult you by refuting the ridiculous and audacious belief that some of these wingnuts hold about gay men having more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children.

Reparative therapy is not based on science, but religious dogma.  The reported success rates of the conversion of  homosexuals to heterosexual orientation proves false under close scrutiny.  These reports are from an ideological perspective on sexual orientation, not from the scientific perspective of real mental health researchers. Their treatments are poorly documented and the post-treatment follow-up time is too short. Again, scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good and any attempt at sexual orientation conversion should be ethically questioned.

The fact remains that it is not possible to change someones sexual orientation, but the religious zealots make it very possible to make homosexuals miserable over it.  Reparative therapy ‘ministries’ prey on the spiritually and emotionally wounded. Many who turn to these conversion ministries end up with a life of continual guilt and despair. It is no wonder that 30% of homosexual teenagers attempt suicide over this kind of guilt ridden and self-loathing education that is the result of two-thousand years of church-inspired homophobia. Unfathomable is the number of homosexuals that have suffered rejection of their families, been driven to suicide due to depression,  have been discriminated against by anti-gay laws and even condemned to death for sodomy.

Attempts to change sexual orientation are nothing more than religiously motivated behavior modification. Reparation therapy is relabeled snake oil and is being sold to our gay community for a disorder that does not exist.  Those who profit from selling the snake oil for money, power or fame and those who support the idea that homosexuality is a disease should be ashamed of themselves.

[Via http://alstefanelli.wordpress.com]

"This too shall pass." גם זה יעבור

Out of nowhere, that line suddenly struck me. It was fascinating that it was as though someone invisible whispered it to my ear. And I was like, hmm I must have read it somewhere or heard it some time ago. Then, of course, I googled it, and found one article in Wikipedia.

I found out that this phrase originated during the time of King Solomon. When he wanted to challenge his most trusted minister to bring him a treasure ’so magical that when a sad man looks at it he becomes happy, but when a happy man looks at it he becomes sad.’ The treasure is of course non-existent. But when the trusted minister asked the merchant if he knows of a treasure like it, an old wise man engraved something on a golden ring, גם זה יעבור which means “this too shall pass.”

As Enya’s song “Only Time” says, “And who can say where the road goes, Where the day flows, only time?” Maybe time can heal depression. We just have to hold on. Because, this, too shall indeed pass.

[Via http://liveonemoreday.wordpress.com]

PRF President and Executive Director Audrey Gordon

     Audrey Gordon is the President and Executive Director of the Progeria Research Foundation.   Audrey was named one of the 2004 North of Boston Business and Professional Women of the Year.  She is the front runner of countless efforts to fulfill PRF’s mission of finding a treatment and cure for Progeria.  I sat down with Audrey to find out where she got the inspiration to start the foundation:

[Via http://ensurecure.wordpress.com]

Cure For Infertility - Divorce Tips For Women - Preparing For Divorce

When you adjudge to annulment your accomplice again you charge to be able to accord with the after-effects cure for infertility of this decision. In this commodity we accommodate some annulment admonition for women which can advice them to get themselves accessible so that they are bigger able to cope with the situation.

. Start Saving – You will charge to accept your own money back it comes to accepting divorced. Remember you still charge to Pregnancy Cures advance a acceptable akin of active for not aloof yourself but Cure For Infertility your accouchement additionally if you accept them. So it is important that you accessible your Pregnancy Remedy own coffer annual as anon as accessible in which you can abode funds. Remember you will accept your lawyer’s costs to awning whilst the affairs are Cure For Infertility demography place.

. Track Your Annulment Affairs – If you can use a agenda Pregnancy Remedy or board account which you can accumulate a clue of all the important contest apropos to your divorce. This way you will be bigger able to clue the affairs with your advocate forth with any cloister deadlines that you charge to meet. This is additionally advantageous way of tracking and befitting Pregnancy Cures agenda of any discussions that you may accept with your spouse.

Sometimes such annal can Pregnancy Remedy be acclimated as affirmation in the annulment affairs to appearance back your accomplice did not accumulate an arrangement or they abandoned a cloister adjustment or agreement. This is the ideal way of recording the times back your accomplice has the appropriate to absorb time with the children. Plus you can use it as a way of assuming how abundant you participate in your children’s lives.

. Create A To Do Account – Application such a account will advice you to be organized and set up those things which are of accent during the divorce. So what you charge to do is address bottomward aggregate that you charge to do and as you complete anniversary one of them mark them off. The best way to do this is by application a ample atramentous brand to absolutely clean them out.

. Get Yourself A Annulment Notebook – As you will anon ascertain back the annulment affairs alpha a lot of paperwork is again generated. Cure For Infertility In adjustment to accumulate clue of aggregate accustomed to you the best affair you Cure For Infertility can do is accumulate it all in a arena binder. It is best that you not alone actualize a basis apropos to all affidavit captivated aural it but abode them all in archival order. You should abode the best contempo abstracts accustomed at the advanced of anniversary area of the binder.

. Reduce Your Expenditure – If you accept any debts in your name such as loans or acclaim cards again you charge to get these bargain as abundant as accessible above-mentioned to the divorce. Remember you will accept to alive off aloof your assets rather than your ally as well.

In adjustment to added advice abate how abundant you absorb anniversary ages again anticipate about affairs the car you accept currently and accepting a cheaper model. If you can absolute what you absorb on frivolities and if your accouchement are old abundant to accept explain why cut backs accept to be made. Should you acquisition that your accomplice is afraid to abutment you and the accouchement voluntarily again Pregnancy Remedy seek a cloister adjustment for Pregnancy Cures them to cure for infertility do so.

[Via http://cureforinfertility.wordpress.com]

SPERM ART ~ CONDOMS KILLED THE COUNT! COUNT SPERMULA!

COUNT SPERMULA WANTS TO INFECT YOUR BLOOD!

MEET THE COUNT ~ COUNT SPERMULA!!!!

The Condom Killed The Count! Cover Your Head! Stop The Spread!

That’s right! Stop The Spread! Cover Your Head!

Don’t let Count Spermula Infect Your Blood!

Protect Yourself!

Wear A Condom if you have sex!

OR DON”T HAVE SEX!!!

More about Artist Bethann Shannon or Sperm Art…

Visit:

www.mypetsperm.com

www.thesillyspermshop.etsy.com

www.cafepress.com/sillyspermshop

LEGAL:

Bethann Shannons work is registered & protected under Copyright Law.

Many images, names and slogans are also registered Trademarks. uspto.gov

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ~ Licensing Available.

Please contact artist with inquiries .

[Via http://spermart.wordpress.com]

+ tofu-tacool

soy’b ‘10 

togu the tofu named after one of the event organiser, was the mascot of the soy’b (start of year ‘back) event held about a week ago at ngee ann polytechnic. it was the 3rd event this year and very successful indeed gauging from the attendance. held in an air-conditioned venue; though narrow, the spacious outdoor sure compensate for the cosplayers to gather around and to pose for photo-taking. of course, they could walk into the convention hall for some cooling air-con and at the same time check out the many art-related booths; or catch a drink at the tofu-cafe with cosplayers waiters/waitresses when the weather gets too warm. 

soy'b

cosplayed as lelouch lamperouge from code geass, newtype calendar illustration version to the event. i fell in love with his cloak the moment i laid my eyes on it. since then i kept flipping through my artbook every other days till i finally decided to work on this; though it wasnt really easy especially the spikey ends which took me quite a while to get them right. 

ルルーシュ・ヴィ・ブリタニア | photo©risuchia

it was quite a casual cosplay with no heavy props, no difficult to maintain hair style and no troublesome costumes. having cosplayed for awhile now, sometimes i do prefer to be in a more casual form then lugging heavy props around. because the lazy me wants to enjoy the event to the fullest, being able to move around freely, take random photos with friends and without worries about your complicated props and costumes while ‘patrolling’. however that being said, it’s still great to be able to show off your artisan skills to the public with your wonderfully made props and fancy dresses and of course for the love of the character you are cosplaying as.

the black king | photo©risuchia

ギアスの命令 | photo©bnn

took a couple of crack shots with my friends at the event and this below is my favourite. it was an idea by athensis: ‘the king and his 2 bodyguards’ – lelouch with okita and hijikata from gintama. there are more of these random shots we took, which you can find them at my deviantart journal if you are interested. 

王 | photo©risuchia

otacool 2 

there’s a new hype among otakus all around the world. otacool is a publication related to anime, games, figures, anything オタク. its first book showcased worldwide otaku’s rooms which felt as if you were browsing a figurine catalog just looking it. otaku’s rooms showcased in the book are indeed amazing. something i would wish for if i have that spare cash to spend, or at least a small otaku corner in my room instead?

otacool 2: worldwide cosplayers

What is Otacool 2?

Kotobukiya is pleased to announce the arrival of OTACOOL 2: WORLDWIDE COSPLAYERS in April 2010! In collaboration with Danny Choo and the Internet’s largest cosplay destination Cure, OTACOOL 2 promises even more stimulating and groundbreaking content. In keeping with the same concept of “OTAKU is COOL”, the next volume of OTACOOL will focus on cosplayers from around the world

following the success of its first publication, now it’s time for otacool 2: worldwide cosplayers! everyone around me is rushing to submit their best cosplays photos up now and photographers are also getting busy generating high resolution images for them. i have also recently submitted mine here. although the chances of getting selected seems kinda slim among all the epic veteran submissions from all over the world, it’s a still good chance to be able showcase them on danny choo’s webpage alone.

otacool 2's front cover released!

and nope, they did not forget about how all cosplays or otakus came about. there’s an artwork submission for artists too; where you get to test your character design skills for otacool mascot character! such a good chance for illustrators out there must not be missed. should you have your works recognized, you could expect more commission work especially from japanese companies, or who knows land yourself a job in japan perhaps? tempting isn’t it, should i try my luck on this too?

submissions for otacool 2 ends mid february click here to submit yours now, before time runs out!

[Via http://athalist.wordpress.com]