Here is an update from a book I contributed to (p. 117, etc.), Heart of a Woman in Business.  I will have copies of the book available tomorrow at the PSAHPERD conference at the Pittsburgh Hilton.  Hope to see you there! 

Thanksgiving Tips: Save Your Sanity

Interview with Sheryl Roush

Lorri Allen, the Producer/Host of FamilyNet Television & Radio,

interviewed Sheryl Roush, author of Heart of the Holidays today,

on "Mornings with Lorri & Larry," broadcast from Atlanta, Georgia,

on www.FamilyNetRadio.com, and simulcast on Sirius Satellite 161.

Sheryl shared tips to save your sanity over Thanksgiving, and read a

couple of quotes by Erma Bombeck and Oprah Winfrey, and a short poem,

“The Last Piece of Pie” by Lillian Berman.

Cut and paste in your browser to see the blog post story and download the MP3 file interview:

http://heartbookseries.com/heart-of-the-holidays/thanksgiving-tips-save-your-sanity-with-sheryl-roush/

Lorri Allen is a contributor to the Heart of the Holidays book, with FOUR items! She is also a mother, professional speaker, co-author with Sheryl in The Princess Principle: Women Helping Women Discover Their Royal Spirit book, and colleague in the National Speakers Association.

Thank You, District 13

A Special Message from Charlie Wilson, Region VI Winner

Toastmasters International Speech Contest

Thanks once again to all of the District 13 clubs and individual Toastmasters who helped me put together and polish the speech that I delivered at the World Championship of Public Speaking in Calgary on August 16.

Although I didn't finish in the top three, I felt good about the speech and it was one of the most important days in my life ... to be one of the final ten out of the 25,000 who started at the club contests. The clear winner was a woman and TI has not had a woman champion for decades. In my evaluation, her speech was the best by far of some really outstanding speeches.

The laughter and emotional reactions to my speech from the 1,800 audience members, the comments I received afterwards and those I got after the practice sessions made it all worthwhile. If one or two people reestablished a broken relationship with a relative or friend as a result of my speech, I feel my message got through. Pauline Shirley, a former president of Toastmasters International, said she has heard so many contest speeches that she never gets emotional but that I brought a tear to her eye.

Special thanks to Sallie, Kal, Ruth, Cal, and Tammy for their encouragement during the week in Calgary. And a special, special thanks to Mike Dalton -- my coach, my critic, my conscience.

I stand ready to share my experiences and insights with any member of District 13 who wants to participate in contests and feels that a little mentoring might help.

Thanks so much!

Charlie Wilson

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I was looking through some pictures that are in holding-pattern for the photo album.  Which is basically where all my photos in the house are.  Ran across one from a trip to Colorado that was at once exhilirating (first time I'd ever seen the Rocky Mountains) and distressing (first time I was given the big send-off at a Denny's--anywhere). 

This picture hadn't been re-touched.  Meaning that I hadn't cut off the person's head and then told people about my fabulous trip I took to Colorado by myself. So the picture brought back a lot of memories:  "I have no desire to drive to your house anymore.  I'll be right over to pick up my things."  The table and chairs I'd bought at an auction and he'd refinished.  All but one; apparently it was a three-chair relationship, one in which I wasn't the first-chair violinist I later learned.  

The best thing about that trip was that I got to see Colorado Springs, the Rocky Mountains, Denver, Garden of the Gods (unfortunately they did not strike dead the person who invited me on the trip), and Cripple Creek.  

And the even-more best thing is that now I can laugh about those things that at the time ripped my heart out.  My friend Jay Speyerer says something like, "You may be interesting.  But 50 years from now you will be fascinating!"  To rephrase that, "It might hurt now, but 50 days from now, it will be hysterically funny.  To someone.  Maybe not to you, but the person laughing can show you how to laugh about it.  That is, someone will find it funny, not painful."  OK, Jay is a lot more succinct than I am.  But I am doubtless a better dancer. 

The point is, in 50 days, it will be very funny (remember the 'critical' line Eric Roberts said to me, that it took me 73 days to realize how funny it was.  And I write a blog about this kind of stuff every day and I missed the immediate humor of that one).  What if we could train ourselves to find it funny now, and not go through the pain of processing critical remarks, hurt feelings, misunderstandings? 

That's where the "Together" part of "Get Your SHINE Together!" comes in:  There are always people who can notice the humor in your painful situation.  People who are not emotionally attached to the outcome or the particular circumstances of your situation.  Let them know it's ok to make you laugh.  Let them know they can let you in on the joke.  Because the joke is you, that's how funny you (already) are! 

Now, "Get Your SHINE Together!" no matter who is travelling with you...        

Thanks to the Cleveland Comedy Kitchen's JDSidley, Bill Boronkay, and Rodney Bengston for a great show tonight at the Latonia!