The Gratitude Room

Grateful Beyond Words!

2011-10-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am overflowing with Gratitude! Wild and I reached a business milestone yesterday. The milestone we reached feels wonderful but it is the growing appreciation and love of our USANA family that feels the most significant. The patriarch of our family is Dr. Myron Wentz who has a huge vision of ridding the world of pain and suffering. He sees the USANA family as the healthiest family on earth and indeed it is, in so many ways!

Today marks nine years since Wild and I signed our applications to begin enjoying the life changing products of USANA and to begin our journey towards health from a whole new, holistic, perspective. Along the way I have discovered there are many types of health and to be really healthy I must be healthy is all aspects of my life. Physically, financially, relationships, spiritually, mentally and emotionally, not necessarily in that particular order. Did I leave something out? Then that too!

An important part of our USANA family is Tom and Lorie Mulhern. They have been the best cheerleaders any team could have. The amazing part is that, as business teams go, they're not on our business team. Nor are we on theirs. That is what sets Tom and Lorie apart and why they represent USANA so beautifully. They are an example of the USANA Difference.

We recently planned a pumpkin carving party with Tom and Lorie to create a fun event for members of the Northwest USANA family and friends. It happened to take place the night we reached our newest milestone, as Silver Directors, with USANA. Here is a photo Tom took of us with the flowers he and Lorie gave us in honor of our rank advancement. The pumpkin party took on a whole new meaning as we also celebrated going Silver. This represents to me what being in a healthy family is all about. Helping others in the family succeed simply by being supportive of their efforts and accomplishments. That's healthy. That's Lorie and Tom. That's USANA.

There is another special couple that was cheering us on, our dear friends Rosie Bank and Mark Waldman from Foster City, CA. They're part of our USANA family too. Our friendship is a direct result of the four of us meeting on a USANA cruise, nearly four years ago, on the very same day the two of them met. They were married last week in a heartfelt love fest where Wild officiated at their wedding. Rosie is like a sister to me and Mark and Wild are brothers by choice. We would never have met these two amazing people if not for USANA.

These two couples and our friendships with each of them is an example of what makes USANA a family and like no other company or business I have ever experienced. We have no business relationships with either Mark and Rosie or Tom and Lorie, yet all four of them reached out to support us in our business as if we did. That is incredibly precious!

Being a healthy family is not just about our physical health and the USANA family is certainly healthy physically. But the USANA family is also healthy in spirit. Tom and Lorie's spirit's and Mark and Rosie's spirit's are all shining brightly as are so many others. In addition to our own team cheering us on, thank you to Jamie and Randy Deering for the beautiful flowers, to Cheryl Sheehan for the heartfelt notes and to Nadine Kelly for your support, there are friends in our USANA family that have been cheering us on as well. Thank you to Robin Thomas from Chapel Hill, NC for cheering us on since we first met several years ago. Thank you to Susanne and John Cunningham from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who have inspired us and cheered us on as well. Thank you Kathleen Rockney from Southern California for your inspiration and support. Thank you to so many others for your comments and support throughout the years. I wish I could name and celebrate each and every one of you!

As I am writing this my heart is filled with love for the amazing friends we have made across North America, because we signed those applications nine years ago. We never know what lies ahead of us but I know that Wild and I signing those applications was one of the best decisions we ever made together.

Another dear and special person that I am extremely grateful to is Collette Larson. Without knowing it at the time, our Silver run started in Vancouver, BC when Collette was giving a presentation and mentioned that she would be going to Sanoviv three times in the months ahead and was willing to have training with up to ten people at each five day stay. Wild and I knew we wanted to join her and in late April we were part of the first of three groups. That is a story in itself, however, the time spent with Collette and her son Zak Ross was the beginning of a new chapter of our journey. Thank you Collette for being Mama USANA to so many, including us. Wild and I continue to send our love to you and Sharlie and your entire family!

Family. What is a family? I have a wonderful family I grew up with, yet the USANA family has given me so much. The opportunity to grow beyond my comfort zone in a safe and loving family of supporters cheering me on. The opportunity to be healthier than I have ever known. The opportunity to create deep and lasting relationships with people that are the cream of the crop. USANA attracts people from across the world who want to be the best they can be while helping others achieve more and making the world a healthier and better place in the process.

Thank you to all my USANA family, near and far. Thank you Mark and Keri McKee for introducing us to USANA. Thank you Pete and Dora Zdanis for your Zdanis list. Thank you to all who keep the Sense Help Site up and running. Thank you to everyone who gives such generous training and outstanding webcasts for the entire USANA family to learn from. I am proud and forever grateful to be a part of this amazing and generous family, making a positive difference for others, one person at a time.

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Grateful for Gifts of Love in all Shapes and Sizes!

2011-09-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

My heart is still overflowing with gratitude for the gifts of love I experienced on Tuesday, two days ago.

It all started last month when Wild's business card was drawn, at a Lakewood Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, for him to be in the Business Spotlight this month with a 5-7 minute speech. We were excited because it is quite an honor to have that opportunity to speak about our business in front of 60-75 other business people. As this week approached I keep mentioning that we needed to organize a speech. Several times I asked him if he wanted to speak by himself since it was his business card that was drawn. He liked the idea of us speaking together. When Monday night rolled around we had no idea what we were going to say the next morning. He was clearly frustrated with the process I was using, which is perfect for me...but not for him. I gave Wild another chance to do it by himself, his way. He agreed he'd do it on his own and just speak from his heart. I knew he would be great, just being himself.

What happened the next morning was a total surprise. A magical gift we could never have expected in a million years. After he was introduced he spoke from his heart about what he is passionate about, and has been since he was a little kid, helping other people. He shared his love and humor with everyone in the room, as he mentioned with a twinkle in his eye, that at times he had even been accused of being a rescuer. People laughed. He went on to tell about why our life and our business fulfills his desire to help people in ways that matter and he wrapped it all up after only a few minutes.

As he was handing the microphone back to Mary Ann an amazing thing happened. Dr. David stood up and reached for the microphone. He asked if there was anyone in the room that had a testimonial they might wish to share. I could feel my heart swelling with love and it completely spilled over when hands went up around the room. Oh my, I couldn't believe what was happening. First our friend Shawn took the mic and shared, what she called, her skeptical nature and how she had been helped. Then the mic was passed to Patty and she shared a story of her own. Finally Ken took the mic and shared his story of meeting Wild and what that led to. As Mary Ann wrapped it up our friend Mary was sitting next to me wanting to share her story and knowing the time was up. There we were, surrounded by dear friends coming to Wild's aid to help him fill his time with gifts of love. I knew that Wild was as moved by the events, of the minutes before, as much as I was. Love filled the room and spilled out the doors of the Great American Casino.

We always have drawings at these events and Mary Ann was showing us all the gifts of love brought by members. Here's how it works: members bring in items to share and business cards are drawn. The first person whose card is drawn chooses which gift they want. The next person who's card is drawn is 2nd to choose from the gifts and so on. When I saw that Dotty, owner of Northwest Optical, had donated a beautiful pair of black sunglasses I knew I would love to have them. Mary Ann asked someone to draw a card and mine was drawn first. The sunglasses were mine! Thank you Dotty!

A few hours later, that same day, I was a table host at a monthly Networking Unplugged luncheon. I chose September to be a table host because our convention is in August and I thought I might pick up some special things I could share with some of my friends that I would invite to sit at my table. I had room for seven women to join me. I invited a lot of friends hoping some were available that day for lunch. I spent the weekend before the event sorting and choosing the perfect items that I would pack into each gift bag. I had such fun putting them all together not knowing yet who would actually be able to join me. I also made a gift basket to be won from a drawing during the luncheon. As we all settled in for lunch my name was called. Kia was announcing that I brought the most guests and I was handed a $100 bill as my reward. WOW! I was just treating some friends to sit with me, and enjoy a gift bag of special things I love, and I received an unexpected gift of my own! Then my name was called again, as my card was drawn, to receive yet another gift of love that was donated by a luncheon vendor...a necklace and matching earrings. Such abundance!

The magnitude of my day wasn't totally clear at the moment because I was fully present at the luncheon and not thinking about the breakfast I was at only hours earlier. It wasn't until later, when I had an opportunity to reflect on the day, that I realized how many gifts were materializing before my very eyes in such a short period of time. The greatest gifts, of course, being the loving gift of friendship. Sunglasses, jewelry and money are wonderful but the gift of friendship is priceless! I am incredibly grateful for all our dear friends. Some show up in the most amazing ways and at the most unexpected times.

My heart is overflowing with love and gratitude,
Dyann

Gratitude and the Abundant Life!

2011-09-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

WOW...What a wonderful evening! I am feeling so filled with gratitude that my heart is vibrating with joy! Wild and I just finished our first of eight weekly evenings with our newest Healthy Edge group. These people seem to all be perfectly matched. There was open, authentic and vulnerable sharing this evening, from the very start. I am so excited about what lies ahead of us as we take this journey together with these delightful people. I sensed a tremendous amount of support among this group and I see wonderful relationships forming and continuing to blossom.

Wild and I love facilitating Dyann and Wild's Healthy Edge and we do this for several selfish reasons. 1. We love to entertain and by having this be centered around dinner, and pot-lucks where participants all learn to prepare Healthy Edge dishes, we are able to create a community of Dyann and Wild's Healthy Edge Graduates while we entertain. 2. I love to educate and Wild loves to take care of people. We get to satisfy both those desires while creating our own version of The Healthy Edge. 3. Wild and I have a huge commitment to stay healthy and be the best that we can be for each other. Having these classes allows us to keep ourselves continually in the conversation of health and wellness as we share it with others.

This is our third Dyann and Wild's Healthy Edge group, this year, and I can see a wonderful pattern forming. We like doing this for the New Year, in the Spring and in the Fall. As we become more relaxed and confident, with each series of classes we do, I believe it is easier for the participants to relax and enjoy the process even more. That makes my heart smile!

You can learn more about us and The Healthy Edge at: http://dlyon.getthehealthyedge.com/ where you can also enjoy taking a free 14 day test drive.

We would be honored for you to take a look at Dyann and Wild's Healthy Edge at our Facebook page and we would love it if you 'like' us: http://www.facebook.com/DyannandWildsHealthyEdge

With heartfelt gratitude,
Dyann

Gratitude is Spilling Over on the Eve of Our Eighth Wedding Anniversary!

2011-09-06T23:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight I received an email from a dear friend announcing she is creating a Gratitude Club. I love the idea and sent her a note to thank her for the idea and her invitation to join. Then I thought of all the ways I have let my acknowledgment of gratitude go by the wayside. I think of it, speak of it and believe in being grateful daily. However the piece I missed the most was being here in The Gratitude Room and sharing what's on my mind. I have been in the process of trying to create a new blog with my husband, Wild, and that has kept me from being here. I am happy and grateful to be back!

When I start to write I never quite know where I am headed. Tonight is no different. As I write this I am reminded that tonight is the eve of our eighth wedding anniversary and there is no one I am more grateful for having in my life than my dear husband, partner and best friend, Wild.

This is a photo taken almost exactly one year ago. It was taken by a passer-by on the beach two days before our seventh wedding anniversary. This particular beach is easily identified by anyone who has ever been there as this is the famous Haystack Rock behind us at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Wishing Wild a happy anniversary, on the eve of that special day eight years ago, seems perfect here in The Gratitude Room. With loving gratitude to you my dear and delightful husband for the most wonderful, exciting, adventurous, loving, happy, creative, joyful, supportive, close, meaningful, fun, surprising, humorous, delicious and yummy marriage I could ever possibly imagine!

With deeply loving gratitude for the past eight years and for the many amazing years ahead! We still have much to experience and create together!

With love,
Dyann

Project Purpose is Back!

2011-03-04T00:37:00.000-08:00

Patti Roney, and her annual event called Project Purpose, is back! This is the third year I have had the opportunity to join Patti and I am looking forward to the next 90 days!

Our first assignment was to identify 5 ways I have let myself down and disappoint myself. I can't believe I am going to share them here but I am committed to positive change and getting out of my comfort zone.

Here are the five things I wrote last night in a journal.
1. Not following up with people who have shown an interest in a product or service I offer.
2. Not sharing what I do with enough people.
3. Not exercising 3-5 days a week.
4. Not treating my husband with gentle kindness at all times.
5. Not keeping in touch with friends and family.

Here is what I have committed to do from the list above.
1. Be gentle and kind with my husband by stopping what I am doing and listen to what he has to say.
2. Call 1-2 people every day just to say Hi and check in.
3. Make at least one follow-up call per day.

I look forward to these phone calls and building stronger relationships with friends, family, clients and business associates. I have already seen the difference in my conversations with Wild since yesterday. Instead of continuing with whatever I am doing at the computer I have stopped to sit and focus on him and what he has to say. Prior to this I was finding that we would have to go into the living room to talk without interference from work, since we work at home in an office. Now I believe we can still stay in the office and I can focus on a conversation without having to detach myself from my computer. It is another example of seeing what the problem may be and finding a solution to make it better. I love that we can make changes immediately whenever we recognize a situation that is not serving us.

Here's to the next 90 days of Project Purpose!

With joy and purpose,
Dyann

Grateful the Healthy Home Book Tour is Coming to Seattle!

2011-02-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

I was so happy to recently learn that on March 28, 2011 Dr. Myron Wentz and his son, Dave Wentz, will be in Seattle for the second stop of their North American book tour for The Healthy Home. Learn more at: http://www.myhealthyhome.com

Seattle, Washington! That's only 30 miles from my home in Tacoma, where I live with my husband, Wild Bill Jones, overlooking lovely Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. When I saw the line up of tour stops I was blown away that Seattle was on the tour. Vancouver BC is only three hours away and I would have been happy with that...but Seattle! Whoohoo!

The Healthy Home book will be released on March 22, 2011. I can hardly wait to read it because I know these two will be sharing great information in an entertaining way. I have had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Wentz speak on many occasions and I have heard Dave too. I always come away with a sense of wonder and new found knowledge after I hear Dr. Wentz speak. He is the 2007 recipient of the Albert Einstein Award for his work in the Life Sciences and has written other books too. What makes this one so special is that it is written with his son, Dave. I hope you will get the opportunity to see them at one of their many stops. Perhaps one will be near you too! Below is information for the upcoming book tour. Look for a stop near you or someone you love!

Invite your friends and family (and their friends too) to see Dr. Wentz and Dave Wentz live on The Healthy Home Book Tour. The tour will be an event to remember, with audience participation and engaging presentations to demonstrate the science behind the solutions in the book. More importantly, you will walk away armed with information to start protecting your family from the toxic burdens society has created, packaged, and sold to you as “necessities” for everyday life.

To top it off, ADMISSION IS FREE to this life-changing event.

Take this chance to discover what you can do to improve your family’s most important resource—your health. You don’t want to miss it. Book Tour Downloadable Flyer (English) • (Spanish) • (French) • (Chinese)

March
	25	Vancouver
	28	Seattle
	29	San Francisco Bay Area
	30	Los Angeles
	31	San Diego

April
	2	Tijuana
	5	San Antonio
	7	Orlando
	9	Boston
	11	New York
	13	Montreal
	14	Toronto
	15	Naperville/Chicago Area
	18	Winnipeg
	20	Denver
	21	Salt Lake City

Grateful for a Healthy Heart on Heart Month and All Year Long!

2011-02-13T14:43:00.000-08:00

After my late husband died of a heart attack, at 50 years old, and after meeting the man I love, and am now happily married to, to find out that he was on heart medication for high blood pressure, I knew I needed to learn some things that would enable me to help him stay alive for a long time to come.

Have you ever heard of the phrase that goes; "When the student is ready the teacher shall appear"? Well, in this case the teacher showed up in the form of an old friend who introduced me to USANA Health Sciences back in 2002. I am so grateful for all I have learned since then and continue to learn. Below is a sample of some of the important work that USANA is doing in the area of heart health.

I share this in the middle of National Heart Month, and as Valentine's Day approaches, in the hopes of helping people become more aware of taking control of their health. Heart disease is the number one killer across the world. Every day 2,500 people die, in the US alone, of some form of heart disease. 38% of all women who die, die of heart disease, it is 25% for men.

There is good news! 80% - 90% of all heart disease can be prevented. It is a lifestyle disease, not something you catch. Making some simple changes in your lifestyle can give you huge rewards of excellent health.

Why would you want to avoid heart disease? Is it to spend more time with your loved ones? Your grandkids? Your loving spouse? To be around to finish a project you are passionate about? To watch your great grandkids grow up? What is it about life that is so worth living for? For me it is to spend as much valuable time as I can with my dear husband, make a difference in the world, be with family and friends and travel the world.

Here's the article that was published by USANA Health Sciences last week:

"A Smart Approach to Heart Health

Image from Human Anatomy & Physiology, fifth edition.

A collaborative study between USANA and Boston University shows that supplementing with grape-seed extract and vitamin C can help improve cardiovascular disease. For full details, visit USANA’s Science Posters page.

Recently, some studies have suggested prescribing statin drugs to patients, all in the name of “preventing” cardiovascular disease (CVD). Does anyone else think this preventive treatment is a little heart dumb?

To further support USANA’s philosophy of using nutritional supplements as part of a heart smart lifestyle, the amazing USANA scientists recently conducted a study in conjunction with a research team at the Boston University School of Medicine. The study showed that some key nutrients in dietary supplements can actually be beneficial for patients who already have a form of CVD.

Study Background
Oxidative stress appears to impact the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood through arteries and blood vessels. We all know cutting down blood flow is NOT a good thing. Over time, this impaired function has been shown to be a critical factor in the progression of CVD.

Grape-seed extract and vitamin C have both been widely shown to provide significant protection against oxidative stress, as well as to have positive effects on blood pressure. The USANA/BU team suspected that the powerful antioxidants could support healthy blood flow through supplementation of these two key nutrients together.

What They Did
Researchers gave study participants, who were already diagnosed with CVD, either a placebo or 450 mg of grape-seed extract and 1500 mg of vitamin C, divided into two daily doses of two tablets. Blood samples were taken four hours after receiving the first dose, then again four weeks after taking the same dosage every day.

The researchers measured plasma levels of vitamin C, epicatechin (bioflavonoids), and plasma antioxidant reserve (PAR)—a measure of the blood’s resistance to oxidative stress. They also measured blood flow using fingertip peripheral tonometry (PAT). PAT is especially useful in measuring changes in blood flow because it focuses on the peripheral arteries in the fingertip. Making up the majority of the blood vessels in our bodies, peripheral arteries are those that are farthest from the heart. They are miniscule when compared to the arteries coming directly from the heart, so any noticeable changes are significant. Those with CVD generally do not show a healthy blood flow response when measured using PAT.

What They Found
In the treatment group, vitamin C, epicatechin, and PAR increased to varying degrees at all three time points measured, meaning all the antioxidant levels were improved. PAT blood flow response also showed significant improvement following the 28-day treatment relative to the placebo group.

These results suggest that grape-seed extract and vitamin C, working together, improve vascular function in patients with CVD, even in those tiny peripheral arteries. The results of this study were so impressive that they were presented to American Heart Association.

Now, you can share these exciting results with your friends and family, as well.
For more information, including graphs that illustrate the results of the study, please visit theScience Posters section of USANAtoday. Go to “Prospecting” and select “Tools” from the drop-down menu. There you can find either large-format posters or a new 8.5X11, multiple-page format of “Grape Seed Extract Plus Vitamin C Improves Markers of Vascular Health” available for download.

Now, don’t you feel heart smart?"

The two antioxidants referred to, grape seed-extract and vitamin C, are in USANA's exclusive new Profavanol C100. It is part of USANA Health Sciences new HYBRID technology that was introduced in the Summer of 2010. This is really exciting news to share because as a Go Red for Women Ambassador, with the American Heart Association, I am meeting so many people that tell me they feel they are on a path to heart disease. It is difficult sometimes to show them how they can prevent it by making positive lifestyle changes. Every bit of information helps.

With gratitude to USANA Health Sciences,

Dyann

2010-05-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

Grateful for the Unexpected Honor!

The 8th Annual Go Red Luncheon in Tacoma, Washington was earlier this week. Prior to the luncheon there were two hours of VIP pampering for 100 of the 250 luncheon guests. The pampering included hand massages, parafin wraps, a light buffet, blood pressure tests and the first chance at the silent auction.

Our Go Red Ambassador program, which I am extremely grateful for as it gives me a place to serve in honor of my late husband, Lee Oberbeck, started late last year and this is the first year the Ambassadors were at the luncheon. I was moved and delighted by a very inspiring fashion show made up of our Go Red Ambassador survivors, ranging in age from about seven to seventy-six years of age. They each did a wonderful job of sharing their personal story of survival and walking across the stage in an adorable outfit from Macy's, one of the sponsors of the luncheon.

During the program I was surprised by an unexpected presentation. I was honored as the first, Go Red Ambassador of the Year. The words, Founding Go Red Ambassador, are inscribed on the beautiful Tiffany bowl I was given. It was an amazing and humbling honor to receive this award for doing something that I am so passionate about. I am grateful for the honor, the acknowledgment and for the pleasure I receive from being with and working with the many amazing women I am so honored to serve with.

Here is a video I made as a tribute to all the Go Red Ambassadors I have the pleasure of serving with. It explains "Why We Go Red". My husband, Wild Bill Jones, who is our Go Red Mascot and Guy Friday to all the ambassadors took the videos during the luncheon. Some of our ambassadors were not there, this is in honor of them too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1-fTsl7Kyo

What do we do as Go Red Ambassadors? We give presentations to different organizations and businesses in the South Sound region. Our presentation consists of a short power point where we share the warning signs of heart disease, show what a heart attack is, share the risk factors and show what you can do to take actions to prevent heart disease. After that we share our personal stories. Each one of us has a very different story to share. I became a widow in an instant when Lee died suddently of a heart attack, Victoria is a heart transplant recipient, Tina is a heart attack survivor, Carol is a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, Lori is a stroke survivor and we have many more brave and courageous women who share their stories in the hopes of saving lives.

Most of us, including me, are not professional speakers. Here is a video of one of my Go Red presentations. Several of us spoke at the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency in Olympia, Washingtom on April 13, 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZEx6-31zUI

Do you know that heart disese is largely preventable? Since January 2010 our Go Red Ambassadors have talked to over 1000 people in the greater Tacoma area. We have the intention of saving lives and we believe we have an impact of increasing awareness to the warning signs of heart disease and how to prevent one in the first place by choosing to live a heart healthy life. Please support any Go Red movement in your own community or start a Go Red program of your own. The life you help to save may be that of a loved one or someone you never meet. We never know who we will impact by sharing these stories of survival.

With Love and Gratitude,
Dyann

2010-04-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

I am feeling a Go Red Gratitude tonight!

Tonight fifteen Go Red for Women Ambassadors met with Trina Jones in her photography studio in the Old City Hall building on the edge of downtown Tacoma. With us was our friend from the American Heart Association, Connie Hara, who is the guiding light that arranged this photo session for us. Trina was masterful as she arranged all 15 of us for a group photo with the intention of having the perfect photo for billboards around town. I was delighted and thrilled to see so many dear friends, all in red, when I arrived at Trina's studio at about 5:00 pm. As more Ambassadors arrived, hugged our hellos and got comfortable, Trina's studio became a beautiful sea of red filled with bright happy faces.

Each of the Go Red Ambassadors, who range in age from their early 20's to their early 70's, has had a personal experience with heart disease or stroke. Many have suffered one or both of these themselves and have lived to tell about it. It is in the sharing of these stories that we hope lives can be saved.

When we go to an organization for a Go Red Ambassador Presentation we have a short power point to highlight the situation: That heart disease is the number one killer of women, that a woman dies every minute of heart disease, that one out of three women will die of this disease and that it is largely preventable. Then we tell our stories. It is the stories that make the audiance want to listen a bit harder and know a bit more. They become still and serious looking until one of our ambassadors says something funny and the tension is broken with laughter. Each group we speak to is different and often they have a lot of questions for us afterwards. We stay as long as they want to talk with us and we always leave feeling like we have done a good thing.

I have grown to love these women and as our group of Go Red Ambassadors grows there are more women to get to know and fall in love with. For that I am very grateful indeed!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Grateful for the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce

2010-04-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

This morning I went to a Lakewood Chamber of Commerce meeting that was for their Ambassadors. The Chamber Ambassadors are volunteers that welcome new members into the Chamber community, greet people at Chamber events and spread the goodwill of the Chamber everywhere they go. I was surprised to see several Ambassadors I already know and was intriqued by their wanting to help in this way.

This is the third Chamber meeting/event I have attended since joining a couple of weeks ago. I am so grateful for having joined the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce because everyone I have met so far has been absolutely delightful! The Chamber has a commited staff and they really know how to create events that are not only wonderful networking opportunities but they're fun too!

Thank you Mary Ann Miller for introducing Wild and me to the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce! You and your sidekick Linda Smith really rock!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

How Do I Decide What I Am Grateful For?

2010-04-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

When time is limited and I want to acknowledge gratitude...where do I start? It is easy to write the first thing that comes to my mind so today I will do just that.

Today what comes to mind is: I am grateful to USANA Health Sciences.

Why am I grateful to USANA today and every day? I feel and look great. My husband feels and looks great. My friends that use these products feel and look great. I have made so many wonderful friends through USANA. I love the lifestyle I am living and creating. I am so appreciative of the opportunities, inspiration, education, celebrations, associations, health, wellness and wealth that are all available to me and others.

Thank you USANA Health Sciences and its Founder, Dr. Myron Wentz.

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

2010-04-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

Grateful For Saturday Night!

It is Saturday night and I have my honey, Wild Bill, all to myself. The music is on, the candles are lit and did you know that the Sense Shower Gel makes the most delightful bubble bath ever? It has a tangerine scent that fills the room with the scent of orange blossoms.

I hope that your Saturday night is turning out as well as mine!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Grateful for Dr. Myron Wentz

2010-04-22T23:46:00.000-07:00

A special letter of gratitude to the founder of USANA Health Sciences.

Dear Dr. Myron Wentz,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the many gifts we have been blessed with since first learning about you and joining USANA Health Sciences in October 2002.

Dyann has been pain free for seven years and has been able to keep her weight down from where it once was. Wild Bill is off all his heart medication and his other health issues are a thing of the past since May of 2003.

Every day we thank you for the gift of health and the opportunity for wealth. What an awesome combination!

We wish you and Prudence a long healthy life as you continue to share your many gifts and love with the world. You have created so many wonderful possibilities that would not exist except for your generous spirit and commitment to making the world a better place to be.

With our love and admiration,
Dyann Lyon and Wild Bill

Grateful to Be.

2010-04-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

I love acknowledging my gratitude in writing. As a daily practice it has many benefits. The main benefit I experience is that I feel gratitude more fully and I am more connected to my spirit. I also notice so many wonderful miracles happening all around me and for that I am even more grateful. Gratitude brings in more things to feel grateful for!

Lately I have become so much busier than I have been in recent years and it becomes more challenging to write in this blog on a daily basis. None-the-less I will do the best I can and write as often as I can. Which is very much like my exercise. I have an intention of going to the gym at least three times a week. Some weeks I get really busy and it is harder to keep that schedule. The key is to allow things to happen and keep the bigger picture of my intentions in perspective.

Life has a way of happening even while we have made other plans. John Lennon said something like that didn't he? I am grateful to be able to go with the flow and do the best I can without being hard on myself. Everyday is a new adventure and things come up that need attention. Whether it is a friend that needs a hand, a new customer that needs an order placed or a new business partner that needs some training and help, I am happy to re-prioritize and adjust my schedule.

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

So grateful for Monday!

2010-04-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

I love Monday's. Monday represents new beginnings. On Monday I get to start all over again. Today, I had a wonderful workout at the gym and it allowed me to feel like I am back in charge and on track again for my well being. I am grateful that there is a gym close to home and that I enjoy going there. I saw an old friend there this morning and I hardly recognized her because she looked so fit and trim. That was inspiration to me, to work out as often as possible and stay commited to being physically fit!

The past weekend I worked right through the weekend at a Health Fair and catching up with several projects I am working on. I found myself unprepared for eating healthy. When poor choices were offered, instead of saying no and having my own solution handy, I ate what was available. I paid for it by feeling unhealthy and bloated. Yuk!

Mondays are also the perfect time to get back on a healthy eating program. I love being in control of what I eat and that means losing those carb cravings that come in no time if I make certain poor choices. Today, I feel back in charge and ready for a week of healthy choices.

Monday, Monday...So good to me!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Two steps back...

2010-04-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for the headway I have made in the past few years. Getting out of being in judgement and being compassionate is a skill that I work on daily. I have made major headway and for that I am grateful. Yesterday was another matter. As my husband was trying to return a camera that we bought over 90 days ago, I could see the people behind the counter were not going to budge on the 90 day policy. My body language, if not my total conversation, was clearly showing my doubt of my husband's ability to move them off their stand. If I had been compassionate, rather than being judgemental, I wouldn't have felt so crappy and immoveable and my husband would have been able to work his magic without interference.

After we returned home, with the original camera, he made a few phone calls and, as is usual for him, worked that magic wand and was able to return it for a different model. What I am grateful for is his patience with me, his dedication to our relationship, and my ability to see where I went wrong and get back on track to where I want to be...loving and compassionate.

Today is another day and all is wonderful in my world!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Wild about Wild Bill!

2010-04-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

May I share my gratitude for the same person two days in a row? Absolutely! I could write about the gratitude I have for my wonderful husband every single day of the year! Yes, it's true. Every day of the year!

I have been told that we, Wild and I as a couple and Wild and I as individuals, are just too positive to be believable. I presume their question would be: How can you two be so happy all the time? Perhaps they wonder what we're really like behind closed doors. Well, the truth is we're pretty much like we are in public, except sometimes we don't look as good. That's because we are so comfortable being comfortable with each other. I am filled with gratitude to be living with a man that loves me exactly as I am, no matter what that might look like at the moment.

We are fortunate that both if us are willing, and able, to dig deep and explore whatever is going on with each of us and as a couple. We have long conversations, always starting the day with one, and often sit in our living room like two friends that are catching up after an absence. I am so thankful that each of us is willing to give the other our best, that is, the best we can do at any particular moment. In my wildest dreams I never thought I would actually experience a relationship, let alone a marriage, like this one.

Yes, we sometimes get a bit cranky and we know when to give each other space. We are always willing to talk it out and stay current with each other. I am often amazed at how kind my husband is, not just with me but with everyone he meets, especially kids and people needing any type of help. I love who I am with this beautiful, kind, funny man I am so grateful to share my life with!

With love and gratitude to my dear Wild Bill,
Dyann

Love is in the air!

2010-04-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Oh yes! Spring is in the air and it is so beautiful everywhere I look. The blossoms and bulbs came up early this year because of just the right amount of rain and blue skies. As I drive through town I am amazed at all the daffodils and tulips in full bloom and trees filling out with new growth and fresh green leaves everywhere. Spring is in full bloom right now! I am so grateful for Spring, my favorite season of the year. There is a feeling about Spring that is filled with the promise of fresh and new. A quality to the air that is irresistable, like love.

Do you feel the pull towards love this time of year? There is something about the fresh, sweet air of Spring that makes me feel alive and wanting to fall in love! I am so fortunate to be married to the man I love and I am happy to fall in love with him over and over. He is easy to love and as the fresh Spring air makes my fantasies unfurl, he is right there, ready.

I am so incredibly grateful to be married to my best friend. I am pinching myself!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

2010-04-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

So Many Amazing People To Thank!

As I reflect on my post from yesterday I am present to how far I have come in the past year. Yesterday I was feeling a bit nervous, with a low grade anxiety and hot cheeks, as I thought about speaking to a crowd of approximately 180 people last night. Yet when I was on the stage I was present to the audience, what I wanted to share with them and not at all nervous. How could that be? I have heard that the number one fear of most people is speaking in front of an audience. You know what...I just realized today that I bought that story. And, that it is...just a story.

Last year I completed the Curriculum for Living with Landmark Education. The benefits continue to show up for me like a time released capsule and I am further enjoying new levels of confidence, communication skills and a better quality of life in all areas. This is amazing to me because I was happy before I ever took Landmark, yet it has made all the difference for me in every area of my life. The Curriculum for Living consists of three courses and I would like to personally thank each of the instructors I had the pleasure of working with. My first course was the world famous Landmark Forum. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/556pwf

I'd like to start by thanking my Forum Leader, Will Steel, from the United Kingdon. Will was the perfect Forum Leader for me as he is both powerful and kind as well as funny. I am very grateful to have had the pleasure of doing the Forum under Will's direction. His skill in listening to what people are saying, between the lines, and how he masterfully handled people that were completely stuck, was a sight to behold. Thank you Will for showing me what possibility looks like.

Included with the Forum is a ten week series of weekly seminars called the Landmark Forum in Action. I am grateful for my Seminar Leader, Christopher McCormick for showing me, by his actions, what commitment looks like and what it takes to lead a group of individuals, over a period of time, to the destination. Thank you Christopher for showing me what leadership looks like.

Then came the Landmark Advanced course with the Master Coach herself, Charlene Afremow. Charlene is love personified and after two days you can't help see the love that she is. Prior to that she wields her skills to cause each participant to dig deep and break the shakles that bind. Thank you Charlene for showing me what strength, courage and love looks like when you are really up to something big in your life.

Last but definately not least is the Self Expression and Leadership Program, referred to as the SELP. The SELP was led over a four month period by the Possibility of Love and Inspiration herself, Lisa Collins. The SELP was so incredibly rewarding as we were able to put all we had learned in the prior courses into action in our own communities. Thank you Lisa for showing me what love, inspiration, grace and ease looks like when we are up to making a difference in other peoples lives.

And I would be remiss if I didn't thank my dear friend, Cheryl Sheehan, as Cheryl introduced me to Landmark five years before I ever took the first serious look at it. I will be forever grateful for the difference Cheryl has made in my life by her willingness to take a stand for the possibilities she sees in others.

The community project I created in the SELP, the Go Red for Women Ambassador Program in Tacoma/Pierce County, started as a result of a dear friend standing in possibility so many years ago. I never imagined that possibilities would unfold as they have. And, we have only just begun.

I am the possibility of Compassion, Leadership and Joy!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

2010-04-11T00:31:00.000-07:00

Gratefully, I Go Red to Save Lives!

The first week of Project Purpose 2010, a 90 day program I am participating in, is coming to an end and I just opened an email referring to it as Hearts of Purpose. That name really resonates with me this evening as I just returned home from having the honor of speaking to the 96 beautiful sorority sisters of Alpha Phi, and their families and friends, at the Go Red Gala that this sorority puts on each year. It was a beautiful evening at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA.

The photo above shows the four Go Red for Women Ambassadors that spoke this evening and our friend from the American Heart Association, in the center, that introduced us. They are from the left: Kara Moore, Nadine Kelley, Connie Hara, Tina Blackett and Dyann Lyon. Each of us has a powerful and compelling Go Red story of survival to share and we are all passionate about sharing our story with people, groups and businesses that invite us to speak.

The Go Red program is a program of the American Heart Association. I learned about it when I approached Connie Hara in the summer of 2009 to see if I could get some material from the Heart Association to use as handouts at offices I wished to speak in. I had the idea of sharing my story along with the warning signs of heart disease and how to prevent this largely preventable disease. Connie said that was a perfect Go Red for Women project and that there was no one leading Go Red in Tacoma. Would I be interested in leading it? I must admit that I balked at the idea in the beginning as I didn't want to limit these talks to women and my story is definitely a story for men too. Well, after talking more with Connie I really got the impact of heart disease being the number one killer of women, more than the next five diseases all added together! After several meetings with other women in the community, that have their own stories of survival to share, the Go Red for Women Ambassador program in Tacoma and Pierce County was off and running.

The photo to the left is of the six Go Red for Women Ambassadors and our friend, Connie, of the American Heart Association who all gave up their Saturday night to be able to speak to the ladies of Alpha Phi and their family and friends. They are from the left: .Victoria Doyle, Mary Harrison, Kara Moore, Connie Hara, Nadine Kelley, Dyann Lyon and Tina Blackett. We have other Go Red for Women Ambassadors and we are always looking for more. Whenever we have an opportunity to speak we accept the engagement. We then notify the group to see who is available to speak for that event. Each one of us has a different story to share and we always leave an impact on our audiences.

There is so much I am grateful for in this story. First of all I am grateful for the nearly twenty wonderful years I had with my husband, Lee Oberbeck, who died suddenly of a heart attack at 50 years young. I am grateful to have met Connie Hara and for her passion and commitment to help get a Go Red program off the ground in Tacoma. I am grateful for the passionate women who have stepped forward to share their Go Red message, on their own time, to help save lives. These women have become special friends and I am grateful to each of them for the wonderful passionate hearts they share with others. I am especially grateful for my amazing and dear husband, Wild Bill Jones, and his passion and compassion in joining me on my quest to serve. He was the one that took pictures all night and helped each of us on and off the stage. Wild is our Go Red Mascot. Here he is with two beautiful women, Lindsay Ingaldson and Laura McQuay, Red Dress Gala Chairwomen, Gamma Zeta of Alpha Phi. These two did a wonderful job of putting on the Red Dress Gala 2010. Great job ladies!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

Filled to the brim!

2010-04-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

What I love about being in gratitude is the feeling I get, and the wonderful energy that comes, from being in gratitude on a daily basis. At the moment I am filled to the brim with gratitude, energy, excitement, purpose, anticipation, commitment and love! WOW! That is a lot of great stuff to be filled with! Would you agree?

I am so thankful for Patti Roney, for the inspiration I receive from her and for her leading Project Purpose (PP) again this year. As I mentioned on Monday of this week, the first day of the 90 day program she created, I am happy to have created The Gratitude Room blog last year during the early days of PP 2009. I realize that even though I have loved writing this blog I tended to take on some pretty heavy, and often emotional, subjects. Being the creative person I am I also wanted to post pretty pictures, mostly beautiful flowers, as inspiration. I found that all of that seemed to bog me down and I was writing less and less. I thought I really needed something special to write about and it often became daunting to even get started. As of this week I have an entirely different approach to this blog. I am taking on a daily habit of writing what I am grateful for and keeping it short and sweet. At least that is my intention. If I have something on my mind that deserves more attention, I will gladly have at it!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

2010-04-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

Surprise!!
That was the first line of an email I received today with the word surprise in red.

In the subject line it read: "SURPRISE! YOU ARE A WINNER WITH USANA!!" WOW! I already knew that, because being in USANA makes me a winner. Yet this seemed to mean something different.

The next sentence of the email had another word in red, it read: "You are a winner of the FREE airfair drawing for the 2010 Celebration at Sea!"

Yippee! I won! I won free airfare for the USANA cruise that Wild and I are going on in December 2010!

When I happened to see the email, notifying me of the free airfare, Wild and I were on the tail end of a coaching call. I didn't want to disturb him but I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear and he couldn't help noticing. Just now, I asked Wild what he thought when he saw me grinning so big earlier today. He answered, with a huge grin of his own: "I didn't know what was going on but it was gratifying to see you looking so happy." Since I am a pretty happy person, being happy is not unusual. Big grins, like the huge one I had today out of the blue, are unusual! What fun that was! Thank you USANA!

What a joy it is to be feeling gratitude, for simply doing what I love with the company I have so much admiration for, and winning a prize while doing it. Good things seem to come in threes. Just yesterday we had a call from a friend that requested we speak to her sister, who lives in another state, because her sister has absolutely no energy. Her sister wants us to arrange for her to get what our friend has, because our friend "has the energy of an energizer bunny!". What a pleasure and a gift it is to be able to help people feel better! The third good thing happening is that tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of Wild becoming an American citizen. If you want to know more about that story please read my blog entry dated April 13, 2009, with a post scipt I wrote earlier today.

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Grateful for Blogger

2010-04-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am feeling a flood of gratitude for Blogger today. Last year I created this, The Gratitude Room, blog, believeing it would be the perfect place for me to express gratitude. I have many gratitude books around my home, I'll fill one and start another. Even though it is wonderful to express gratitude with pen and paper, inside of a beautifully bound journal, this blog gives me an endess supply of space in which to share my thoughts of gratitude. I am grateful for that.

I have wanted to create another blog for many months. I have actually started two different blogs in wordpress and I have never created any traction to get either of them off the ground. Within the past week I started a second blog on Blogger at: http://dyannsexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/ and I look forward to expressing my thoughts and ideas there, on topics other than gratitude. What I am grateful for today is the ease in which I am able to access both my blogs via the Dashboard. Until this week, after creating my second Blogger blog, I never fully understood or appreciated the concept of the Dashboard on my Blogger account. Thank you Blogger for making my blogging experience so easy! I believe that now I will find it much more comfortable to maintain two different blogs and have two places to express myself.

With gratitude and ease,
Dyann

Gratitude as a place to Be.

2010-04-06T06:24:00.000-07:00

As I get ready for my day it occures to me that Gratitude is not just a list of the many things I am grateful for. Gratitude is a place to be. I feel Gratitude all around me as though I am in a room full of it. I am sitting in it as I type these words, like sitting on an invisible cloud of goodness. I am immersed in it as I become conscious of the birds singing outside my office window. Gratitude opens up a world into the many blessings that are all around me and allows them in. I am Grateful for those singing birds today. They remind me of the beauty of life that surrounds me and how precious it is. I am Grateful for the reminder that it is up to me to do whatever it takes to focus on the goodness around me.

Have an unlimited day!
With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Day #1 of Project Purpose 2010

2010-04-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

Today is Day #1 of Project Purpose 2010, created and led by Patti Roney. Our first assignment is to start a Gratitude journal. I have one by my bed, already, that I love writing in and I have The Gratitude Room blog which I created last year. So, starting today I will be sharing my gratitude, for the next 90 days of Project Purpose, right here.

Today I am grateful to be alive, enjoying all the blessings of a healthy body, having a husband I love dearly and a life I cherish. Thank you for the gift of health that I enjoy in every part of my body, inside and out. Thank you for helping me to find USANA, the gift that keeps each cell of my body healthy. After seven plus years on the USANA supplements, meal replacements and advanced skincare I have a USANA body from cell to cell!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Grateful to Bob Burg and John David Mann

2010-02-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

Recently I finished reading "The Go-Giver", by Bob Burg and John David Mann, after finally getting to it in my pile of books I intend to read. Rather than go on to the next book waiting for me I immediately ordered their newest book, "Go-Givers Sell More" and began reading it the day it arrived by mail. I have read a lot of wonderful books and do not normally comment on or review them. I haven't finished the second book, yet I want to share some thoughts as these books immediately came to mind when I sat down to write today.

Like most people I have been in sales all my life, whether I knew it or not. It wasn't until I was in my early 30's, which was quite some time ago, that I got into selling as a profession. That was when I started selling real estate, which I did happily and successfully for many years. In all that time I always wanted the best for my customers, clients and business partners. I learned early on that by focusing on the other person and their needs I was actually taking pressure off myself and I would be a lot less nervous on presentations and in negotiations.

After reading "The Go-Giver" I was thrilled to see The Five Laws Of Stratospheric Success so beautifully told through a wonderful story that is easy to read. The lessons of each law are experienced through Joe, who starts out as a go-getter and becomes a Go-Giver by the end of this wonderful little story.

As I am in the early years of a new selling profession, in network marketing, it is with great pleasure that I read these two little books. I am reminded of the purity of selling which I have always thought of as helping people get enough information in order to make a good buying decision. I am learning there are so many more ways I can help people get what they want and that I can do even better than I have in the past. By giving to others, in ways I had not actually thought of, I can help even more people in many more ways. I am inspired by the following quote from "Go-Givers Sell More": "Selling is giving: giving time, attention, counsel, education, emapthy, and value. In fact, the word sell comes from the Old English word sellan, which means - you guessed it - "to give."

Helping others has always given me a joyful high. Helping them get what they want even from a competitor, will now also be a joyful experience. Just this week I was talking to a friend about a product I sell. She said it sounded great but she hadn't shopped it yet for pricing. To make it easier for her I narrowed down the field, and her potential effort, by giving her the name of the only other company I could think of that could possibly give her the same quality. I had never done that before. It felt great!

Thank you Bob Burg and John David Mann. I am grateful to be able to read your two Go-Giver books and add value to others as a result. Thank you for the wonderful work that you two are doing together to make the world a better place to be. You make a difference!

With gratitude and admiration,
Dyann

I am grateful to be loving Tacoma!

2010-01-27T23:21:00.000-08:00

I am grateful for Bougainvillea and so happy to have a photo album filled with pictures of them to remind me of the one place I have loved the most in the world, since my first visit there in 1967, Maui, Hawaii.

In January 2009 my husband, Wild, and I moved from Maui back to my hometown, Tacoma, Washington. After finally living in the land of my dreams, and even having a Hawaiian drivers license to prove it, I found myself back in Tacoma. Like a boomer-rang, only this time it is different. I am here by choice after carefully and consciously choosing Tacoma!

I love Tacoma! I really do! It delights me to be able to say I love Tacoma, and mean it! I love the beauty of the Olympic Mountains to the West, Mt. Rainier to the East, the waters of Puget Sound, Commencement Bay, Pt. Defiance Park and Zoo, The Glass Museum, the evergreen trees that are everywhere, the deer on our front lawn in the morning as we gaze out over the Narrows towards Gig Harbor and the Olympics. It is absolutely beautiful here! There is a unique quality to the Northwest that I never fully appreciated before. I think that the vast amount of travel I have done in the past six to seven years has given me a new perspective of the beauty of the Northwest. We are blessed with mild tempertures in the Winter and it rarely gets too hot in the Summer. It is beautiful here in the Fall, as the air begins to cool to that fresh crispness I love, and the deciduous trees turn to yellow, orange and red against the always present evergreens. Spring is exquisite, my favorite season, as every week it seems there are different plants, schrubs and trees that begin to blossom in the gloriously soft and gentle hues that feel like the promise of new love! Ahhh...

I am so grateful to be in love with Tacoma! This is the first time in my life I can say this with such honesty, clarity and joy! I have always wanted to be somewhere else. Anywhere else. As my life unfolded, no matter where I went, I always found myself back here. Resigned to being here. Not wanting to admit to living in Tacoma. There was a time when people didn't even know where Tacoma was. I always explained it was 32 miles South of Seattle. When I was elsewhere I learned to say I was from Seattle. People knew Seattle and it was seemingly cool to be from there, where it often felt not so cool to be from Tacoma. I have seen a lot of changes in Tacoma. I have come to realize that it is not the changes that have taken place in Tacoma that make me love Tacoma. It is the changes that have taken place in me.

I have spent the past eight years in a constant state of self improvement, travel, self development, travel, education, travel and transformational courses. All the time telling others that I was re-designing my life. Recently I had a profound realization. It occured to me the day after I completed the Curriculum for Living with Landmark Education, that I was no longer re-designing my life. I was now living my life with conscious choice and intention.

I finally realized, and came to know, that from the moment Lee died, on December 18, 2001 at 6:15 am, while we were on Maui, (I wrote about my late husband, Lee Oberbeck, dieing in my 3-25-2009 entry) until November 22, 2009 at 10:00 pm when I completed the Curriculum in Seattle, I had been in a long process of transformation. I know the exact moment it started and the exact moment it ended. I am so grateful to have the awareness of it all. And I am profoundly grateful to now be right in the middle of my life, consciously living it full out!

My life is filled with love, gratitude and possibility. The reason that I have come to love Tacoma is because I have come to love me. I am overflowing with love and gratitude. As I write this I am reminded of something my Dad said to me when I was in my teens. He said in the form of a question, "If you don't love yourself how is anyone else ever going to love you?" Good question, Dad. Now I know the answer.

Happy New Year! May it be a year filled with wonderful possibilities realized!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

I am grateful for my healthy heart!

2009-10-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Today I walked with hundreds of others in support of the American Heart Association in the annual Heart Walk. What an honor that was to walk on behalf of my late husband, Lee Oberbeck, who died of a heart attack back in 2001.

My heart, and the gratitude I feel for my healthy heart, is becoming a new focus lately. This past Summer I was approached by Connie Hara, from the American Heart Association (AHA), to help with a luncheon this coming year. She was referred to me by a mutual friend who thought I would have an interest. When we met I was too busy to commit but I knew I wanted to work with Connie at some point.

Weeks later I was conceiving of an idea for a project I wanted to create as a result of a Landmark Education course I am taking called the Self Expression and Leadership Program. My idea was to educate people, particularly REALTORS since I used to be one, of the warning signs of heart disease and stroke. My Mother had died of the result of a dibilitating stroke and as I mentioned I lost my husband to a heart attack. I thought of Connie, called her and we discussed my idea. She said my idea sounds like it would work beautifully with the AMA Go Red for Women Ambassador's program She said all that was needed was a leader and a structure.

WOW! I found my project and a way to work with Connie Hara all in one neat package!

More to come as I share the Go Red for Women Ambassador's Program, and what they are up to, in my next update.

Be kind to yourself and your heart!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

Grateful for Landmark Education

2009-08-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

After many years of being a student of personal growth I finally went to a Landmark Forum introduction in March of 2009 with some dear friends who are Landmark graduates. Little did I know that my life was about to change in many unexpected and wonderful ways!

In the Landmark Forum, which is a three and 1/2 day stand alone course, I saw people transform in ways that can take a lifetime. The most surprising part for me was my own transformation. Nothing as huge as I saw in others but none-the-less miraculous!

I had already taken eleven (yes 11!) Peak Potentials courses with T. Harv Eker and several other courses including a weekend wth Chris Howard. Somewhere in one of Harv's courses I had made the decision that "I would rather be happy than right" and I took that stand from that moment on. I thought I was finally out from under the grips of the need and compulsion to be right, which had not served me well in my life.

By the end of the first night of the Landmark Forum I came to the realization that I was still 'being' right and I hadn't even known it! I was stunned to find the hidden secrets I was keeping from myself. Without even being conscious of it I was being judgmental and rightous, which allowed me to be right while making others wrong. The amazing part is that I was not even aware of it, as it was hidden from my view. Can you imagine my surprise after several years of saying to others, "I would rather be happy than right"? I had actually believed my own words! I am guessing that others could see the truth, even if I couldn't.

What I had lost, by my unconscious need to be right, was close, authentic, loving relationships with all the people in my life! That was the stark reality of my being human and unaware of that which was hidden from my view. I don't want to settle for that.

In the next 2 and 1/2 days of the Landmark Forum I uncovered other parts of my past that were keeping me from full self expression, confidence and clarity, which unknowingly was affecting my life. By the end of the Forum my past was no longer affecting my present or my future. The past was complete and it was in my past...right where it belonged!

I have continued on with the Forum in Action seminar series, the Advanced course and the Self Expression and Leadership Program (SELP), which I am currently doing.

Thank you Landmark, and all the amazing people who volunteer their precious time at Landmark, for helping me and others find the secrets to living life powerfully and living a life you love!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

So Much Gratitude and So Little Time!

2009-08-09T14:04:00.001-07:00

I am grateful for so many people, places and things in my life and so embarrassed to have not been here to show my gratitude since Mother's Day.

Every day I wake up and go to bed with gratitude in my heart and on my lips. This is really a beautifully busy time for me and I have been wanting to get back here to acknowledge my gratitude for all the many blessings that occur daily in my life.

I am so incredibly grateful for finding my vision, focus and passion after so many years of searching. I am filled with gratitude for all the amazing mentors I have had these past seven years as I have redesigned my life after the sudden death of my husband, Lee Oberbeck, and the end of a very long career in real estate.

A few of the many, many people, places and things that have contributed to my life in countless ways are; Victor and Elise Lyon, Wild Bill Jones, Dr. Myron Wentz, T. Harv Eker, Simon U. Ford, Dr. Denis Waitley, Dr. Ray Strand, Tim Sales, Bob Burg, Eckhart Tolle, John C. Maxwell, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Napoleon Hill, Esther and Jerry Hicks, Cheryl Sheehan, Rosie Banks, Barb Schwarz, Landmark Education, traveling and so many more!

My life is gratitude and love in action and I am so grateful to be able to write these words, breathe and contribute. Wishing you love, passion and clarity in your life!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

Grateful to be a Mother!

2009-05-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Since Wild Bill and I were married in 2003 whenever asked about kids I always reply that "We have eight grown children between us as well as eight grandchildren". Prior to August 1997 when anyone asked me if I had children I would always reply, "No".

The thing that happened in August of 1997 was the most unexpected thing I could ever possibly have imagined. It reversed a deep pain of loss that I had been carrying with me for over 32 years, the pain of giving up my beautiful daughter for adoption after seeing her for only a few moments after her birth.

It's a long story, too long for a blog, and it includes my handsome son who was also given up for adoption at birth. These two precious babies were given to families that would love and raise them at a time when I was still a kid myself. Yet in the summer of 1997 my grown daughter and my adult son, raised by two different families on opposite sides of the country and unknown to each other, both tried to track me down. What are the odds of that? My daughter was successful in finding me. My son, who got as far as standing in front of a judge in the state he as born in, was not able to locate me. After my daughter and I met, through a search consultant that she hired, I found my son with the same help. They both said the exact same thing to me within minutes of our very first conversation by phone. It went something like this: "Thank you so much for giving me to such a great family". I cried when my daughter told me that and I may have when I spoke to my son, I don't recall.

It is now almost 12 years since I met my two beautiful grown children who now have four children of their own between them. I consider their parents, who did such a great job of raising them, dear friends and I will be forever grateful to them for being the families that chose my children to love and cherish as their own.

I have heard stories of birth parents and adopted children and their parents not getting along. We are all so fortunate, and I am extremely grateful, that we have had many opportunities to meet, eat and spend time together. My children's parents are all amazing and wonderful people! If I had hand picked parents for my two children I could not have chosen any better parents for them!

As I mentioned I have six other great kids. Each one is a treasure and a joy. I love all eight kids, their spouses and heir wonderful children as thought they were mine all along! Prior to 1997 I never expected to have any children, let alone grandchildren, in my life! I am truly Blessed!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

I am Grateful for Simon U Ford and Social Traffic

2009-04-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Silversword plant is only found on Haleakala on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, which makes it very rare.

I am feeling deep gratitude for my friend Simon U Ford and Social Traffic a very rare find too!

I call Simon a friend because I know that I can count on him. I can count on him being honest and transparent. I can count on him to honor his word, even if there is an unfortunate glitch in the system he will make sure that you get what you bargained for! I can count on his integrity, he has proved that he will do what he says he will do. I can count on his honesty, he says it like it is and makes no apologies for being honest. You always know where he stands, what he wants and what he expects. There is no guessing with Simon. That is why Simon has a powerful network of committed and passionate followers. Because people will gladly follow a Leader that they can count on and trust that has a vision worth following!

For the past three months I have taken an online social networking course through Simon's Social Traffic Inc. I was in, what will always be known as, Wave #1...the very first class and the guinea pigs for the course. Wave #2 and Wave #3 soon joined in as the weeks went on. I was keenly aware that we were breaking new ground, with Simon as the leader, and I happily followed whenever he gave us an assignment. As time went on the group got smaller, more efficient and much more committed.

In addition to many other accomplishments, we managed to beat Google at their own game on Youtube! As we each did our part in helping Simon's "Google Friend Connect" video rise to Number One replacing Google's very own videos on the subject, we all cheered and continued to do whatever Simon asked of us. It was an exciting time as we, all former strangers from all across the globe, came together as a single minded force to follow where ever Simon led us. I trusted him by instinct. Most of us found him and became interested after following him for many months prior to the start of the course on his Blog, http://www.socialtraffic.biz/ where we got to read how this man thinks and what he values. As time has gone on the Blog has grown and yet the story of Simon U Ford and Social Traffic is all in there for the interested to peruse.

My course is now completed and I am ready to move on. (Except for two sessions that Simon is still creating. He will let me know about them when they are ready. That is the type of person he is...a man of honesty and integrity.) I learned so much from Simon and all of the many friends I have made that became a part of Social Traffic...not just about the Internet and social marketing but also about our Mother Earth and the importance of Earth Day...Everyday! I do not want to lose these wonderful heartfelt connections. So Simon, count me in for Earth Day 2010 and I will be bringing along my ten friends who will agree to find ten friends who will also agree to find ten friends...

Who would like to step up and be named as one of my ten friends that I can count on for next year's 40th Earth Day Celebration? You can then start looking for your ten also and we will be ready to rock and roll next year!

With gratitude, respect and admiration,
Dyann

I'm proud to be an American!

2009-04-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to be an American!

Hey, that's a great title for a song!

I'm proud to be married to an American! Actually, until my dear husband, Wild Bill Jones, became an American citizen April 9, 2009, I was proud to be married to a Canadian!

Now, after 5 1/2 years, I went from being married to a Canadian and having an International marriage to being married to an American. For me it all happened in a matter of hours while I sat in the back portion of the auditorium at the Homeland Security office in Tukwilla, Washington South of Seattle. It was a touching finale to all the time, money and effort my husband had exchanged for the privileges associated with becoming a naturalized American citizen. I cried while watching the two short videos, one on the many faces that have crossed our shores and borders to live the American Dream and the other with Lee Greenwood singing "I'm proud to be an American!" with wonderful heartfelt images. I sat expectantly through the speeches about the many freedoms we Americans all enjoy and I cried some more when my husband and 122 other people, from 41 different countries, all stood with their right hand raised to take the oath to finally be first class citizens in the United States.

For Wild Bill it was a much longer process, 5 1/2 years to be exact. First he needed an Immigration attorney to help him traverse the tricky and challenging changes in immigration laws since September 11, 2001. The first thing we were told is that Wild Bill could not leave the US, and be assured of being able to return, because he didn't have the proper travel documents. Then the real fun began...He needed to take the time to be fingerprinted and I needed to accompany him on an interview with Homeland Security to prove we were married. If you have ever seen the movie "Green Card" it will give you an idea what that was like. At one point he was told to write four separate checks to the FBI, CIA, INS and Homeland Security for background security checks, which took forever, because his name was William Arthur Jones and there are a lot of William A. Jones world wide, with records not suitable for immigrating to the US, that had to be checked against my husband's records.

The first success came when he received his work permit months after the process began. In the meantime we had been invited to his youngest son, Aaron's, wedding in Toronto a few months out. While he was waiting for his temporary green card to arrive we were making plans to attend the wedding. Unfortunately the green card didn't arrive in time, but a letter saying it was on the way soon did arrive and we went to the wedding with letter in hand. At the Toronto airport, the morning of our return to the US, my husband was detained because US Immigration did not like the way the letter looked. Rather than recount the story, just know that the US Government is serious about detaining people if they have any doubts whatsoever. We learned that lesson on several other occasions at US borders and I came to think of my husband as being like a dolphin getting caught in the tuna nets.

After having a temporary green card for two years he was able to apply for his permanent resident card which, by the way, is good for only ten years. He could not leave the US during that time as he had to give up his temporary green card when he processed the paperwork for his permanent green card. This created a new dilemma for us as we received word that his middle son, Lloyd, was going to be married in London in the fall. We waited again to have the necessary documents so we could travel to the wedding. This time he did get his permanent green card in time to travel to the wedding and from that point on we never had any trouble traveling again!

Somewhere along the way my husband decided he wanted to participate in his adoptd homeland in a much bigger way and also be able to vote. So he very quietly went about the business of doing all the paperwork required to become an American citizen; months of gathering papers together, reading books and studying for the test he would have to pass. Finally the day came and he went by himself to Homeland Security to take the test and be interviewed so that he could be a Naturalized citizen of the United Sates of America.

After passing the test my husband decided to do something he had wanted to do for a long time...he changed his name offcially and legally to Wild Bill Jones. After he was sworn in last week, with the other 122 people from 41 different countries, he patiently waited for his name to be called. I think at least 100 different names were called before I heard "Wild Bill Jones" from the podium. When I heard his name I rose from my seat so that I could photograph him walking, with a lilt in his step, to receive his certificate of naturalization!

I am so honored and grateful to have been a witness to the naturalization process that Wild Bill experienced over the past 5 1/2 years. When we were first married neither one of us expected that he would become an American citizen. However, after living here I could see that he was feeling like he couldn't fully contribute in his new homeland. Now he can!

I am honored to be married to the American I proudly call my husband, Wild Bill Jones!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Post Scrip: It is now a year later and I just re-read this for the first time since I posted it and must admit it made me cry. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of Wild becoming a naturalized American citizen. Everything has become so much easier, especially travel, since Wild now has an American passport. Once he received all his paperwork it became clear that his first name is Wild and his middle is Bill I have taken to calling my husband Wild. I like it...short and sweet, just like him! Many of our friends and family call him Wild and a lot of people seem to get a real kick out of calling him Wild Bill. When he introduces himself to people, very often they do not believe his real name is Wild Bill. I have seen him pull out his drivers license many times to gales of laughter! When we travel through airports the security often comment on his name when they see his passport. They have actually shown a sense of humor when he passes through their interview process. He lives up to his name and I love him more each day. I am honored to have Wild as my husband, business partner and best friend!

Happy First Anniversary of your American citizenship dear husband!

With love and admiration,
Dyann

Project Purpose and Landmark Education

2009-04-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Day 29 of Project Purpose

I am incredibly grateful for Project Purpose which is almost one third of the way into the 90 day program.

Our coach and leader for this project, Patti Roney, has gently and powerfully allowed each of the 750 of us that have commited to the project to grow and stretch. I have experienced new ways to express gratitude, joy, forgiveness, giving and purpose which all seem to expand throughout my body mind and spirit! Thank you Patti for your loving leadership!

Each morning before we get out of bed my husband and I spend about 15 minutes recounting to ourselves the many things we are grateful for. With a champaign flute of REV3, to toast the gratitude ceremony with, we have the perfect start to our day! I have found that by being consciously in gratitude, at least once in every 24 hour period, it is almost impossible to be angry, down, negative, depressed, hostile or any othe emotion or way of being that is at all negative. By being in a state of gratitude so frequently it is so much easier to appreciate every little blessing and also be in a state of abundance, harmony, love and freedom. WOW! There really is something to this! Even after the 90 day project is complete I will continue to take the time each and every day to be grateful for all that I have.

In addition I am taking the Landmark Education series and tonight is week #2 of ten of the Landmark Forum in Action Seminar series. The Landmark Forum, a few weeks back, was a wonderful transformational time of insight into "rackets", mine in particular! I had no idea what a racket was and certinally didn't imagine that I actually had one...what could possibly be my racket? Well, I now know of at least one and suspect there are more! In the interest of perhaps helping someone else I am going to put myself out there and risk sharing it with you.

First of all I would like to say that many years ago I had decided that I would rather be "happy than right"... so I have practiced that ever since. Well imagine my shock when I realized that underneath my conscious level I was still needing to be right. Yep, that's my racket! I have been doing it without even realizing it by my frequent thoughts and attitude that people didn't;
-RSVP to parties
-Do what they agreed to do
-Keep appointments
-Show up a agreed

Or they complained about something and didn't do anything to fix it like;
-Have poor health and still eat poorly, never exercise and smoke
-Are overweight and still keep eating processed and fast food on a daily basis
-They're always broke and they spend money they don't have on things they don't need

I think you get the idea! Well, now that I know what my racket is I can see it clearly whenever it shows up. I also have realized that it creates a lens in which we see the world around us. What my racket gives me is the opportunity to be right while others are wrong. That is not what I want in my life. In fact it also keeps me distanced from people and makes it hard to create loving connections with all the people I care about. Whew! That is huge and I am doing whatever I can to offset that by being as open, authentic and compassionate as I can be.

So, what is your racket? Get yourself to a Landmark Education meeting and you will discover it! Landmark has been around for a long time and these people know how to help you live a better, more joyful, loving, authentic, happy life!

I am so blessed and grateful to be able to attend Landmark in order to peel a few more layers off the onion so that I can be the best light I can in the world. With Patti's Project Purpose happening along with the Landmark series I am getting so fine-tuned that I am bursting at the seams with purpose, joy, gratitude and love!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude!

2009-03-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Changes and Transitions

I am so grateful for being able to accept and embrace change and remain positive in the midst of the stress associated with change. Change is not easy, but like death and taxes it is inevitable!

Some changes are huge and others seem quite small. No matter what the size, any change has the potential to cause us to feel disconnected, stressed out, fearful, scared and even miserable.

The worst change I experienced in the last ten years was from the loss of my husband, Lee Oberbeck, to a heart attack in late 2001, soon after 9/11. While still reeling from the tragedy in New York, I woke up early one morning, while on vacation, to Lee's dieing breaths. It was traumatic to say the least but I kept a cool head, while I was scared out of my mind! I gave him CPR while I was on the phone with 911 and waiting for the ambulance to arrive so that the Paramedics could make him better. Lee was dead by the time the ambulance arrived at the hospital. Even writing this brings back the fear and grief associated with that horrible morning on Maui. My life changed in that instant and a transition was about to begin.

Fast forward to yesterday when I read a message from Chris Lang, yes, that Chris Lang...the Social Marketing whiz kid (my words). He was directing anyone reading his blog to change their email address. I want to thank Chris for being the one that finally said what I needed to hear to do what it takes to go through all the effort needed to have a new email address! He said; Get a real one with your name or business, not one of those silly ones that doesn't identify who you are or what you are about! I paraphrased Chris very badly there but I think you get the idea.

Well, I can't say strongly enough that losing a loved one and changing your email address are two totally different experiences. However, as I have been going from one email provider to another, sending out emails to everyone I have in my address book and reading responses from two different sets of emails along with all the other things I am doing right now...Well, I find it to be stressful and challenging! So, as I said at the beginning, I am grateful to be able to handle stress in a positive way. Yet, stress is stress and there is a feeling to it that is unmistakable and unpleasant. I am being reminded of that now.

If you are feeling challenged by anything in your life, whether it is as bad as the loss of a loved one or as simple as changing an email address...I want you to know that I feel sympathy and empathy for you.

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

Landmark Forum...Grateful Graduate!

2009-03-18T21:23:00.001-07:00

Landmark Education

The possibility that I am inventing for myself and my life is the possibility of being powerful and compassionate.

I am so grateful to my dear friend Cheryl. We met at a Peak Potentials Training, "Enlightened Warrior Training Camp", in Pemberton BC about five years ago. She has talked about Landmark ever since and I have finally gone. WOW! What a beautiful transformational experience. Now that I know what a "racket" is... Well, it is now impossible to do anything but own mine!

Today, I am grateful for having completed the Landmark Forum and I am looking forward to the ten part Seminar series and the advanced program. There were approximately 120 people in the course and I look forward to getting to know as many as possible as we continue together!
Want to know more? Check out: http://www.landmarkeducation.com/

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

Project Purpose and Social Traffic

2009-03-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

I have not been this busy in seven years!

What happened to retirement?

Oh yes, I remember...I am re-inspired!

Project Purpose continues. One of the instructions is to mail a letter or card to someone each day, for 90 days, to let them know how much they mean to me. I had no idea how this would unfold as I send cards all the time to people. However, most of the cards I have sent were to commemorate a birthday, an anniversary or heaven forbid, the death of a friend or family member of someone I care about.

This is different. I have written seven beautiful, heartfelt cards so far to seven different people. Today was number three but I wrote four more this evening as I will be out of town for four days and was afraid I would get distracted and forget to write them. As I consider who will get the next one it just comes to me like a gift, the recipient appears in my mind and heart as the perfect person for the next one. And because they are so perfect the letter becomes easy to write without too much thought...I just let the pen go and start writing whatever comes to mind!

In some cases I have been worried that when it is read the recipient will be concerned I am going to die or something. These are the kinds of things I think of people saying when they are on their death beds. I am hopeful that each one will be taken in the spirit in which it was written...with lots of love and gratitude!

Now on to the subject that has consumed my attention for the past few months...
Social Traffic!

A bit about Social Traffic, which you can learn more about at: http://www.socialtraffic.biz/

I have been connecting to friends on Facebook since last Fall that seemed to have some things in common but I could not put my finger on it. Around the holidays I noticed a lot of elf hats in profile photos and Christmas themed photos but I didn't see the connections. Because I was traveling so much during that time, San Francisco in October, Palm Desert in November, Maui in December and Oahu in January...I had other things on my mind...but I noticed these holiday profile photos none-the-less and I was connecting with some really cool people!

In mid January, after I returned from our last trip, I was catching up with friends on Facebook when I finally found the connection to all the things I had noticed over the previous months... Simon U Ford from Australia! A cute looking guy in sunglasses and a funny hat!

So, who is Simon and what was all the fuss about? Well, I soon became obsessed with all things Social Traffic!!!! I was reading day and night...anything and everything having to do with Simon U Ford and Social Traffic! I actually had the opportunity to take a break from my obsession when I went on a business trip to San Diego in early February, I am talking just last month! The four day break served me well because I had a chance to regroup and reconsider... before jumping into the deep Social Traffic waters with both feet!

Well, rather than me try to describe Simon and Social Traffic and what the attraction is, just see for yourself at http://www.socialtraffic.biz/

What I will say here is that Simon is the genius and visionary that created Social Traffic Inc. Social Traffic is the entry door into my learning all about Social Marketing in exchange for some of my valuable time. Simon has created the most amazing in depth training course worth thousands of dollars that he is currently giving away to anyone committed enough to be in the game in a big enough way to warrant the benefits. I am fortunate enough to be in wave #1, the front line, so to speak! There are still some openings for wave #3 so if you have any interest whatsoever...go to http://www.socialtraffic.biz/category/our-story/join-us/ If you have any interest...GO NOW! In exchange for the course and mentoring I am promoting Earth Day while learning how to use the social media to do so. All doors lead to http://www.eventslisted.com/ Simon is a genius as I said.

This blog, a couple of videos on Youtube so far, a lot of Twittering including learning about hashtags and retweeting, Google Friends Connect, RSS feeds, and tons of sharing of Social Traffic articles written by other people just like me...are all some of the things I have learned in the past few weeks. There's more but I am still figuring out how to get them started...like Squidoo!

Well, that's my first entry about Social Traffic, STI. More to come, as I have a lot to say about some of the things I have learned in the process of marketing Earth Day 2009! Stay tuned!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann ~ dml.edbd

Project Purpose

2009-03-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of my blog called:

"The Gratitude Room" Welcome!

It is also the second day of my participation in Project Purpose. Project Purpose is a 90 day adventure created by Patti Roney who has just shy of 700 of us participating with her! What a great job in leadership for her to attract that many followers for a project that no one knows the details of yet! She has been unfolding them over the past couple of days.

Here are the three details I know of so far...

1. To quote Patti: "With “Hearts of Purpose”, we begin each and every day with gratitude. If possible, we should begin our day with amazing thoughts, a smile on our face, and anticipation for the day to begin."

Since yesterday my husband 'Wild' Bill, and I have started our mornings with each of us saying to the other what we are grateful for. We each try to come up with a minimum of five different things we are grateful for and in only two days I feel lighter and more positive...like Spring has sprung!

Since we always begin our morning with 'W'B bringing us each a REV3 Energy drink in beautiful champagne flutes (with a freshly frozen raspberry no less!) it was just a matter of adding the gratitude part to our morning ritual. Our routine begins about 6:00 am because I go to yoga three days a week for a 6:30 am session.

2. We are to send a letter or email of gratitude to someone each day for 90 days. Since I love to send cards I will make an effort to send a beautiful snail mail card to someone different each day. Yesterday I sent my first card...I knew immediately who to send it to and it was filled with love and gratitude for the individual who will receive it. I look forward to sending the other 89! 'Wild' Bill is also sending them so between us we will be sending a total of 180 cards and/or emails over the next three months. That is very exciting to think about!

3. We are to post all our comments on a blog that Patti has created for this project. While at the blog today I realized it was time to start a blog of my own. Here it is world!

Since I am new at this I am not at all sure what to expect. However, I would like to extend an invitation to anyone that happens this way that would like to participate...please feel free! Any comments on gratitude, or whatever else is on your mind, are welcome!

I have been keeping a gratitude journal by my bed for several years. Writing what I have been grateful for each night has been a powerful experience. The best way I can describe it is this; by writing down my thoughts of gratitude each day I was never more than 24 hours away from focusing on gratitude. And since what you focus on expands, I found myself in a constant state of gratitude for all these years. It is very hard to get depressed, negative or down when you are in a constant state of gratitude! The only difference is now I am doing it in the morning, out loud with my husband...I am loving this project!

If you would like to join me and leave comments I would love to hear from you...whoever "you" might be! I will be posting my thoughts on Project Purpose and other things related to gratitude, here in the Gratitude Room! Come on in and join me!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann ~ dml.edbd