December 1st was World AIDS Day. Please read below for a letter I received from my dear friend, Philippe van den Bossche the
Executive Director of Raising Malawi – an amazing organization so close to my heart

12/1/2009

Today is World AIDS Day — a time for us all to pause and to reflect. We could spend the day giving you shocking statistics, but today we wish to share with you stories of courageous people, not so different from you and me.

In Malawi, HIV/AIDS impacts everyone — mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and even sons and daughters. Loving people of flesh and blood, who are just trying to make the best of their situation.

Edith and her son Sinode were one such family. Watch their story here.

In some areas of Malawi it can cost $2 to travel to proper medical care. For many Malawians like Edith, this is an expense well beyond their means.

It takes the kind of strength and determination Edith exhibited just to make it to a hospital. Her courage not only inspires me, but will no doubt be an incredible life lesson for her son.

Many of us can relate to the experience of having to care for family members or raise children while being sick ourselves. But few of us have had to overcome the financial and logistic hurdles that Edith faced to receive basic medical care.

Learn more about Edith’s story here.

Sinode and many other children in Malawi need our help. They have witnessed the courage of their parents and family members, but too many are now left alone, orphans raising orphans.

Today, on World AIDS Day, I encourage you to think of the faces of this epidemic — beautiful, courageous people confronting a life-threatening disease with incredible bravery.

The people of Malawi have shown great depth of character, but now it’s up to us to ensure the future of their next generation. It is the children of Malawi that will raise their great nation.

With great respect,

Philippe van den Bossche
Executive Director, Raising Malawi

Donate Now – Madonna Will Match Your Donation!

Post from: Lobella

December 1 – World AIDS Day

I wanted to tell you about Raising Malawi, the organization founded by Madonna and Michael Berg. Malawi, a small country in Africa, is the fourth poorest country in the world. Malawians face an unfortunate combination of disease, drought, poverty and a lack of critical resources.

I joined the movement, Raising Malawi, because of the tremendous impact we can make.

Madonna has agreed to match all contributions made to Raising Malawi. Will you join me in contributing?

Click this link to watch a video message from Madonna and find out more.

Raising Malawi is doing incredible work to bring an end to the poverty and hardship endured in Malawi. Malawians today are facing the most difficult conditions. And few bear the brunt more than the country’s women and children — particularly the numerous orphans.

The challenges are immense, but Raising Malawi is working with local community organizations to foster real and lasting change. There are many ways to get involved. Learn more about what we can do from Madonna’s video message:

http://www.raisingmalawi.org/MadonnaBlog

Thanks for taking the time to check this out.

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Join Madonna and Me!

We all have our commitments, family, friends, work. But where does our health fall on our commitment roster? Most of us don’t think about our health until it fails us or slows us down, preventing us from giving our all to our most important commitments.

I strongly believe “your health is your wealth”. Without good health you can feel useless to those you love most and to those things you care about most in the world. As such, I’d like to offer some advice and guidance so that we can all be committed to our health – starting today!

To start, ask yourself a few questions to assess where you are today:

1) Do you ever wake up feeling listless, as if there is something missing that keeps you from feeling energized and ready to embrace your day?

2) Do you head to your closet, thinking, “What can I wear that I can squeeze into because I put on those extra pounds?

3) Does it sometimes feel like no matter what you do, you can’t seem to shed that extra weight?

4) Do you ever feel you could accomplish more if you had more energy during the day?

5) Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the questions above, then you need a Tuneup! I love the metaphor of the automobile needing a tune up. Like an auto, your body starts out new and wears out as time goes by. When a car is new, it won’t run well if it gets bad gas. Older cars that get good gas may not run well unless they get a “tune-up.” So we invite you to embrace our mini-series and take action today starting with a decision to change your lifestyle by integrating health, nutrition, exercise and emotions.

So, what IS the image you wish to present of yourself? In order to get there, you have to start by making a decision that now is the time to make changes in your lifestyle – whether it be nutrition, health, fitness, or emotional areas of your life. And to make a commitment by scheduling time daily and reframing your entire mindset about exercise, food (nutrition vs. short term satisfaction) and yourself. Just envision a shift in your identity from exercising for maintenance vs. an athlete in peak physical condition, or the embodiment of health. As you see yourself, so will others see you… only if you are willing to go the distance!

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Make a Commitment to Your Health

I’ve got a question for you: Who defines you?

Is it your family? Your friends? Your co-workers?

I think you know the answer here: You, and only you, define who you really are. And there are a thousand different ways to define who you are.

Our focus for the August Tunuep meetings was relationships, including one area that we sometimes don’t take enough time for: the relationship with ourselves.

Our goal, with one simple exercise: To show women across the country that our identities are NOT limited to our roles.

In my book, Life Tuneups, I tell the story of a woman I met at a seminar named Michelle, who only described herself in terms of her roles (as businesswoman, mom, etc.). When I asked her what her favorite song was, she said Nickelback’s “Rockstar,” which we then started playing. With this song playing in the background, all of a sudden Michelle started rattling off new words to describe herself: loving, passionate, silly, intense, playful, sexy…the song allowed her to open up and realize her different facets.

So though your first instinct might be to talk about how others perceive you, I want you to think about who you feel you really are. Are you a lover? A warrior? A rebel? A siren? A life saver? A healer? An entrepreneur? Think of all the facets that make you you…also think about who you aspire to be…and what you may have to re-ignite within you to re-gain these qualities…

Until next time…stay true to the woman you are, and all of the different facets that make you you!

Interested in attending our next Tuneup meeting or becoming a Lobella member? Please visit: http://lobella.com/community.htm

Post from: Lobella

Be Who You Are

Hi! I’m Stephanie, the Lobella facilitator from Bainbridge Island, Washington. My first Life Tuneup on Bainbridge Island was a huge success! I had 14 beautiful women who came together for a night to work on creating some VISIONS & PASSIONS for themselves and their lives! The room was filled with women on all different journeys; from an 18-year-old going off to college, mothers who have kids leaving the nest, women in transition with their jobs, marriages & friendships. We came together to meet new people, support other women in their journeys and to be inspired to live the lives we dream of!!

The night started out with mingling with new faces, having some healthy goodies and a glass of wine. We got to know one another a little with a fun icebreaker of going though one another’s purses and describing who each women was by the contents of their purse. There was a little anxiety in the air at first but soon we were laughing and connecting and just having FUN!! As one of our newest members said the next day: “I feel lighter and more energized after last night!” (Boy, couldn’t we all use that feeling more often!!)

As the evening continued we heard from our founder, Loren Slocum, and her husband Shore via video. Loren and Shore spoke with us regarding how to ask ourselves quality questions to see what gets us excited, or “our tails wagging,” about what we enjoy in life. From there we all started to create our Vision Boards of what we want out of life and ourselves. All in all it was a great start to this beautiful journey we are creating in each of our communities!!

“CHANGING THE WORLD ONE WOMEN AT A TIME!”

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Stephanie Jackson – Launch Party Success!

I was deeply saddened by the recent loss of a great woman and role model, Farrah Fawcett. I grew up watching Farrah on Charlie’s Angels and was inspired by her version of “girl power”, way back before the idea even existed. Charlie’s Angels was a show about successful women who were more than just beautiful, they were smart, cunning and could be counted on to get the job done.

At a time when most women on TV played the role of sidekick or girlfriend, Farrah and her fellow angels were forces to be reckoned with, stopping crime, catching the bad guy, and most importantly of all, working together and supporting one another.

I think we can all learn a lesson from Farrah and Charlie’s Angels about the amazing things women can accomplish when they work together and support one another. Through this show, Farrah taught a generation of women that we can be unstoppable forces if we work together. Let’s take that lesson as women and continue to work together to accomplish great things.

RIP Farrah, you will be missed.

Post from: Lobella

A True Angel, Farrah Fawcett

Loren says in her book Life Tuneups “believe that all things are attainable, and that you can be the real you again, not just on a good day, but every day.”

That statement would had been pretty foreign to me a few years ago. I lived a life that I thought I had to hide the real me from the me that faced the world outside. At the time, I seemingly had so much our society tends to define as success. An investment banker in Asia with all my material needs met and vacationed in the best spots: scuba diving in Maldives, hiking in Nepal, golfing in New Zealand, biking in India, etc.

The truth was I wasn’t happy. I was living by the assumed rules of my family, culture and society. Something was missing. When my father passed from cancer, I finally walked out of the industry in 2002 . It took me a few years of self-exploration, letting go of old beliefs and assumptions and discovering what is the life I truly want. It wasn’t the easiest journey at times especially because I lost my mother and sister to cancer during this period. But it was nonetheless an exhilarating journey with teachers, mentors, and friends like Loren showing me, not just telling me, showing me what is possible when we dare to allow ourselves to dream. I’m grateful everyday to have people like Loren, and her husband, Shore in my life who are true inspiration to me.

I now live in Los Angeles being the real me and doing what I truly enjoy every day. I have a commodity futures trading business. But my true joy and meaning is in the philanthropic work I do with a number of non-profit organizations, as well as my own non-profit, Beyond Wisdom which brings awareness to the public that true health and healing goes beyond just curing symptoms of our dis-ease.

And of course my work as a LoBella facilitator! Nothing makes me happier than to provide other women opportunities to connect, especially with themselves and to know how truly beautiful and powerful they are! And most importantly, give ourselves the chance to dream, dream big. Dreams just might come true!

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Guest Post – Louisa Wu, LoBella Facilitator

The Gift of Conribution

Growing up as the oldest of 4, in a single parent household, I learned very early in life to value education, hard work, leadership and independence. With 3 other children in the home, there wasn’t much room for luxuries. If there was anything I desired, I worked for it. This mentality of hard work and independence led me to developing a strong sense of contribution. I would lavish my mom and siblings with gifts and all the things I did not have growing up. I would give, give, give and in turn HATED to receive. The older I got, the worse it became. I could not even accept compliments, let alone gifts or financial assistance. I didn’t need anything from anyone. I could handle all of my needs myself. It was the rest of the world who needed me! Does this sound familiar? Maybe like someone you know?

Living my life in a constant state of contribution and not filling myself up first caused me to eventually hit a brick wall. Eighteen months ago, I finally reached a breaking point. I was at a job I completely detested and maintained for the sake of pleasing everyone around me. I hated it so much that I cried every single day in front of my computer. My body soon rebelled and began to impose physical pain upon me and forced me into disability. After giving fourteen hour days and every ounce of me, this job which everyone else valued so highly terminated me two days later. So much for being a valuable employee, right?! I thought my life was over. I had to move back home, was out of work, in debilitating physical pain and completely depressed. I didn’t know where to turn. A friend presented me with a business opportunity a few months earlier and I decided now was as good a time as ever to test the waters. I decided to jump in. I figured there was no way things could get any worse. Little did I know that in that decisive moment my life would change forever.

About a month into the business, one of my business partners heard that I was a Tony Robbins participant. He then decided to introduce me to my guardian angel Katie. Katie was going to volunteer at a Tony Robbins event in Los Angeles and felt that I should do the same. I went on to explain, that while I would love to, my financial situation would not allow me to do so. Katie said, IF YOU CAN’T THEN YOU MUST. Once again, I tried to explain the situation and she just smiled and said, Angelica, you’re coming with me to LA. Katie took it upon herself to pay for my airfare, hotel and additional expenses. This was something my mind could not even begin to fathom. I was absolutely mortified at the mere thought of allowing someone to pay for this kind of trip for me, let alone a complete stranger! I fought her every step of the way, but she would not hear it. It was time for me to put my old belief systems aside and learn to receive.

It was during this magical event that I had the pleasure of meeting the incredible Loren Slocum. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, but the day I met her, I decided that I would one day work with her! Her energy, her passion, her integrity and the values she stood for were all things I wanted to be surrounded with. When I learned of her mission to help women change their lives, I was determined to join her in her mission. Fast forward 18 months, Loren is not only my mentor and business partner, but she has become one of my greatest friends. As if those perks weren’t enough! I now have the pleasure of being one of her Lobella facilitators. J
I could go on for days talking about how my life has changed from that single moment when I decided to change my attitude. I will say that the greatest impact this “small” decision has had on me, is time freedom. The decision I made 18 months ago, to remain true to myself has allowed me the opportunity to work from home, allowing me to be there during one of the most difficult times of my mom’s life. I have been able to be there for her every single day during her illness and recovery because one woman decided to be selfless and I DECIDED I would allow her to be. Words can’t even begin to describe the amount of gratitude I have for Katie and how I will forever be indebted to her. (I don’t believe Katie realizes how deeply and profoundly she has affected my destiny and that of my family for generations to come.)

Oprah once said, “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude. “ My entire future has been shaped by that single moment when I decided to change my attitude; the day my attitude changed from “I am only allowed to be a blessing”, to “I am open and I allow your blessings to be bestowed upon me”. The blessings have continued to flow ever since.

What is your story? What attitudes are preventing you from achieving the life you’ve always dreamed? Do you find yourself always giving and never allowing yourself to receive? When will you begin to allow life to bestow upon you all of the blessings you were meant to have? All change happens in the moment of decision. Decide NOW that you will live the life you were always meant to lead. Decide NOW to open yourself up to the possibilities. Decide NOW to step into YOUR GREATNESS.

It is time that I PAY IT FORWARD. Will you allow me to SUPPORT YOU?

LoBella – Changing the World, One Woman At A Time.

Post from: Lobella

Guest Post – Angelica Mercado, LoBella Facilitator

Hi! I’m Carly, and I’m from Grants Pass, OR – a community full of fabulous people! I am planning to grow LoBella in our community so that women of all kinds can come together and help one another.

We all have different challenges and such beauty within each of us! I love to share stories and skills that can bring out the best and equip us as women in the fast pace world today. Loren, the founder of LoBella, has done an incredible job of writing a book and providing info globally through Life Tuneups and Lobella.com! Although my first meeting with Loren was brief, she left me being inspired with what she wanted to do and impressed at how down to earth she was.

Who doesn’t want help? How do women do all the things they do? What sisterhood? I know sometimes we try to limit our love or balance everything how we think it should be, but just because we think it should be doesn’t mean it has to be! We can be ultimate lovers of life and we can have it all to the fullest! I am excited to have a sisterhood of phenomenal women that can spread love, joy, and magic to their lives and others! To build a community where we welcome all, serve all, and leave judgment at the door!

Four years ago my brother was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). I have watched how difficult and painful it is on each family member as it has progressed. Each year has been a blessing also, because of the love, forgiveness and compassion we all have for ourselves and each other! I believe God has a plan and using Life Tuneups has been great! Focus on the things that are great, the things that we are thankful for and love like you have never loved! With all of this the blessings and rewards are abundant!

I am thankful to so many women in my life that have given me magical moments and love in my heart! My mother has outdone herself raising four of us kids and had such genuine love to give out freely! I want to be a woman who radiates love and brings magic to everyone I meet. I hope every woman can reach out and enjoy all that Lobella has to offer!

Lots of Love,
Carly Maxwell

Post from: Lobella

Guest Post – Carly Maxwell, Grants Pass, OR

Hi! I’m Jane Ashley, and I am a LoBella facilitator based in Guilford, CT. I became interested in LoBella after meeting Loren Slocum when I was working as the Art Director for her publisher, where I worked on the strategy and design for her book, “Life Tuneups”. I was instantly moved by Loren’s ability to tap into issues for women that were meaningful for me as well. I have worked with women in the past as a therapist specializing in post-partum depression, divorce, and life transitions. Currently, I run my own life coaching and art therapy practice. I am also a marketing specialist for books geared to women. I am constantly searching for creative ways to move beyond just myself and my immediate need to take care of my three beautiful girls, but to also spread out to the larger world through contribution. Loren and her vision for our LoBella community is so inspiring, she walks her talk, and her book is spot on for so many women off all ages. We had an amazing night at the CT book launch party on May 18—over 50 women attended! It was held at the Timothy Pamment Salon in Madison, CT, and fun was had by all! We had wine, food, great giveaways, lots of local sponsorship and fabulous goody bags.

Here is one response I received from a woman who attended the event:

Hi Jane… I just wanted to tell you that your launch was an amazingly wonderful experience! It was nice getting out of the house alone and in the company of many “new” faces! I really am happy my friend Suzanne invited me to your event. Looking forward to many more!

Regards:
C.F.

As a woman and as a LoBella facilitator, I believe that women need each other; we need to communicate, connect, have fun, and share! This is what LoBella is for me—a way to bring women together to share inspiration, resources, stories, and create lifelong meaningful connections. The amazing women of Connecticut are incredibly excited for our monthly gatherings and activities. Every woman deserves to thrive, create a meaningful life, and leave a fantastic legacy in her wake. I look forward to sharing our monthly “Life Tuneups” and fabulous LoBella events with you!

With love,
Jane

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Guest Post – Jane Ashley, Guilford, CT