A Long Lost Relative
This past weekend I spoke at the Italian Center in Sacramento California. I was very excited as I was going to present my story to people that most likely shared a similar story with me. It was a great weekend; I got to see old friends, and make new ones, but also was surprised to find a lost relative. As I promoted through Face-book, I was introduced to another cousin from the Sacramento area. So during the event, she came and we got to meet! She is actually married to my grandfather’s brother’s grandson. It can get confusing but it was so much fun meeting a relative of my fathers as I presented his story!
What humbled me at the event was not just discovering a relative from my father’s bloodline, but discovering many other relatives from the heart. I had never realized how many people around me could relate to my own journey as I tried to learn more about my parents’ stories. How many of them didn’t realize, just as I didn’t before, how important it is to record our family stories and our own…
I was truly inspired more than ever to keep my quest alive as I venture deeper in helping others tell their story through I Have Something To Say Press, and keep sharing my journey with my own family stories by publishing book two: Emerging From Rubble (coming out at the end of the year or beginning of 2013), as well as speaking aloud about my journey.
I am grateful to have met each one of the people that came to the event at the Italian Center in Sacramento, and am honored to have learned a little of their stories as they spoke with me, because as matter of fact we are all long lost relatives.
Susan Violante with her found cousin and her friend. Susan Violante the Italian Center Executive Director. We all have something to say, so why not say it aloud; say it live, or in written word. It doesn’t matter how, just say it! For more information on how I can help you to write you story visit www.ihavesomethingtosaypress.com
Businesses Gone Rogue!
For many years I lived a double life. On one hand I was working fulltime in Accounting and Business Analysis and on the other I was a freelance writer and illustrator. I did this from 1994 to 2009. I did this convinced that I was supposed to earn a living working on a big corporation and then satisfy my cravings and talents by doing what I loved as a hobby.
I am not sure how this conviction came to be, maybe a combination of upbringing and opportunity? Who knows, but the truth of the matter is that I knew I was not happy limiting myself to take the opportunities that came my way instead of creating my own opportunities. So I took a leap right after I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Arthritis, and retired from my profession of 20 years with the publication of Innocent War in 2009.
Now, just because I leaped, doesn’t mean that I was reckless. I did my homework to determine whether or not it was something possible to do. I admit that being diagnosed with a chronic illness gave a sense of urgency to leap, but I have also been analyzing businesses for 20 years so I knew how dangerous it is to put romance on top of reality when making a decision.
In the end, I did have to compromise if I wanted to go rouge. I let go of my beautiful huge dream house (which wasn’t that difficult to do as I knew that the stairs would be a problem eventually), budgeted a little and reduced expenses and found a part-time position within the publishing industry, so that I could learn the business while making some income. I never looked back.
My life has changed in more ways than I expected. But more importantly, I changed. I had to take a hard look within and make some adjustments as my lifestyle was changing. Some changes were difficult and some were easier. In the end I was determined to get my goal to dare to go rouge, and so I pressed on.
A few weeks ago I attended what I thought to be a small business workshop happy to escape from computer, hoping to get some business wisdom out of it, and afraid of finding a bunch of aggressive business people that would not relate with me.
Meeting Bob Olmstead in his Small Business Strategist workshop came at the right time for me as he not only was none of the above on my list of what I did not want but expected, he actually was exactly what I needed to get myself to the next level. I was reassured that I was on the right track, but it also made me see things within myself that needed to be let go in order to move forward.
In the days that followed his workshop, I accomplished more than what I had accomplished in the weeks preceding the workshop. I invited Bob to I Have Something To Say Life to share some of his wisdom. If you are thinking to go rogue or you did but feel stuck I invite you to listen to what he has to say. For live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live.
For more information about what Bob can do for you visit him at: www.rogue-sage.com
Our Legacy, what do our successors really need?
Most of us don’t start thinking about our legacy we become parents. Yet, we were children first! What is our parent’s legacy to us? Will we pass it down or did we lose it. There are many things we think of when speaking about family legacy. Most of them though are material, tangible things like money, a house, jewelry, an education, a business. As a child, those things never interested me. I always wanted, I needed their stories.
And so, when I became a parent I set out to create the type of legacy I craved and collected my parents’ lives on tape so that I could write their stories for our successors to read. Like everyone else, I was thinking that by doing so I could leave memories for when they are gone. I was wrong.
Harvesting my parents’ stories actually gave me a present and future with them, while creating a present and future with my own kids. It was not just about reading their memoirs and remembering them after they would be gone. It was about understanding who they were by learning what challenges they had to face. This understanding healed any past wounds I had as a child, and made me a better parent that what I thought I could ever be, because it taught me to show who I am to my own kids as they grow up. This is why it has been my goal to help people say what they have to say, to share their stories and life lessons as my legacy. I know that if we do, a new understanding of ourselves will make a difference in this world. However, I thought that I was alone on this quest. Then I met Lindsay Patterson.
Lindsay is the founder of Reflect & Record through which she helps people to record and preserve their stories in an innovative way. I decided to share what she has to say by inviting her to the show. I encourage everyone to listen to her Live interview at I Have Something To Sat Live.
Below is a peak to Lindsay’s world. For more information you can visit her at www.reflectandrecord.com
Life Scripts
I believe it is possible so I started this year cleaning house to eliminate the clutter…inside-out. I organized my closet, my home office, and my schedule. I created time for everything, work, family, dogs, knitting or reading, and even meditation. Getting rid of the clutter as helped me to take inventory of myself and my life in general. Meditating has allowed me to take the time to self-exploration to identify areas about myself that I am not happy with, as well as habits that I have that might contribute to it.
It is a long process and I am new to this, but I am already seeing small results. To learn more about Rewriting Life Scripts I invited Psychologist and author Irene Watson to I Have Something to Say Live to explain what Life Scripts are and how can we re-write them.
Check out the book!
To listen to Live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live!
Relatives Who Are Chosen Friends.
It is true that friends are chosen family, but sometimes we find relatives who are chosen friends. This is what the Camillo’s have been to me and my family. Since I grew up in Venezuela while they were in the US the contact between them and us was limited to once every few years, and yet a beautiful friendship developed and not only survived the test of time and distance to this day, but it extended to our spouses and children. This is why I was humbled again by life when I got introduced to Nick Camillo’s music and discovered that I not only connected with it but totally love it.
This week, I decided to interview him at I Have Something To Say Live. Now, I’ve always known Nick as the sweet son of my cousins ‘till now. During the interview I discovered that in spite of remaining sweetness he has become a grounded, smart, inspiring young adult…oh and for you young girls out there, did I mention handsome?
No, really this past couple of years I have been very fortunate to come across insanely inspiring people. Today I am insanely thankful to discover one of the most inspiring young musicians today within my own family. Check out his website at www.nickcamillo.com, and be one of the thousands who have gotten a free CD download!
Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!
And so another year ended, and as I try to get used to changing the year each time I write down the date, I look back to re-visit what went on in my life during 2011, and say goodbye. It was a busy year, filled with ups and downs. With many firsts and some lasts, few laughs, and cries but for sure a year of accomplishments and change.
A change of lifestyle, as I was forced to let go of things I once thought important. A change of attitude, as I focused my life on my own happiness. A change of vision as new points of view made their appearance. I say goodbye to 2011 leaving the old me behind, embracing whoever I will discover within. All this change came to be to preparing me for what 2012 has to offer, for anticipating a new era, a new me.
Many new things starting this year for my I Have Something to Say brand. I look forward to uncovering one by one and see them grow. I look back to 2011 with gratitude and thank all of you who visited me throughout. Whose comments and emails motivated me to continue forward, whose willingness and courage to share their lives and lessons humbled me, because thanks to all of them I evolved and stand ready for a new year, a new adventure. Thank You ALL!!!
To listen to I Have Something To Say Live 2011 best moments and 2012 preview click Here
An Austin tragedy...a world's inspiration and loss
"Mom watch this," she said with watery eyes,"This is Ben Breedlove, the boy I told you about."
I watched, and as the first few seconds of footage went by my tears were flowing uncontrollably. I felt shame...here I was 48 years of an amazing life and feeling sorry for myself because my arthritis was acting up. How dare I complain...
Thank you Ben for sharing your life with us through this you tube post...thanks go to your family for having such an Angel, my thoughts and prayers go out to you...thank you God for once again sending us Angels to show our way...
A Home That Builds Lives - Saint Louis House
As I found out when I learned about Saint Louis Homes on a Holiday party hosted by PR By The Book, per statistics from ECHO (Austin/Travis County Ending Community Homelessness Coalition), there are 520 homeless families at any given night in Austin alone. What I found alarming is that 90 % of these are headed by single women. I needed to get involved.
The biggest gift I received from learning about my parents' childhood during WWII in Italy is discovering the incredible courage and strength both of my grandmothers had to find within, as they struggle to keep their children safe, and fed. But also the hope they must have had to keep trying to raise their children honest, good hearted, and capable to be resourceful as well as ambitious so that they would be able to rebuild their lives.
As I learned about the work they do at Saint Louis House, I quickly realized that building lives was their true mission. Giving relief helps to support someone during a time of need, but providing a homeless mother and her children with a home, tools, and guidance to build their lives is a solution to homelessness because it breaks a vicious cycle.
Some of these children before SLH have never been able to feel safe. At SLH they can once again be children while their mother gets back on her feet. With guidance on finding a job, managing finance and a safe home to re-group, these once homeless families are becoming success stories.
Saint Louis House is building lives out of rubble just as my parents did on their own...I encourage everyone to visit their website www.saintlouisehouse.org and learn how to help as well as read some of their incredible success stories.
To listen to Live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live!
Adopt a Charity for Holidays
But, if you are like me, not doing something for someone is not an option. Well, most of us can't dedicate our lives to service, nor set time for service on our regular schedule. But being busy doesn't mean that we can't make a difference at least once a year! We don't have to save the world, and we don't have to be apathetic to all of the social issues surrounding us. All we have to do is what we can.
So, if you are one of the people dedicating your life to others, take a break during the Holidays! You've earned it. Rest and take care of you for a change. And if you never have time to help anyone else, why not do something for someone during the Holidays, and enjoy the incredible feeling of giving back! Just remember that to make a difference we do not have to commit to stop living to give...we just have to commit to give, no matter how, no matter to who.
So if you did not find time throughout the year to help someone in need, give a break to those who spent the year helping out and adopt a charity for this Holiday Season. Then next year adopt a different one, make it fun, make it a tradition, create memories with your loved ones by giving together time, goods, or both. You can have memorable holidays by making a difference on someone's life even if once a year!
Fighting Government Corruption through Knowledge
I mean other than voting blindly (since we really don’t understand what the candidates are talking about), and happy go lucky protesting (since protests have no direction and never result in change), I could not find anything that we are truly doing, as the people, to safeguard our rights. I am actually ashamed of myself as I did obtain a BA in Political Sciences…
So I decided to pay more attention to the news and to research what I don’t understand. Then I came across to Dave Kluge’ book The People’s Guide to the United States Constitution. Now, during college in Venezuela, I had to study our Constitution (which by the way is a copy of the US constitution, or at least was before Chavez). But, as much as I hate to admit it, I have never read the US Constitution yet have been part of the body of voters! Yes I became citizen years ago, and no, I was not required to read the constitution…
I went to Dave Kluge’s blog and decided to interview him on I Have Something to Say Live! It was a very insightful conversation which has changed my attitude forever. How can we defend our rights, if we don’t even understand what our rights are! Watch out D.C… I am educating myself and will be paying attention!
To listen to Live interview visit I Have Something To Sat Live!
