LIFESTYLE

Embracing change is never easy. We as a people, are not by nature, adaptive to change. Why? Change means ‘new.’ Change involves the unknown. Change means breaking comfortable patterns. Change involves going outside our comfort zone. We can fight change, we can try to avoid it, but change happens. And while change can come as a huge relief if we’ve just moved past a bad chapter in our lives, change can also be very scary. It involves tremendous risk, and puts us outside our comfort zone. But here’s what’s true– you make the choice about how you’re going to respond to change. You hold the power.

Good morning and Happy Monday!

It’s been a while since we chit-chatted, so I figured we’d simply just catch up today. The week started back on the saddle early this morning at spin. It’s been a little chaotic around here the past week. My washing machine decided to die on us this weekend, so RIP my favorite Mellie The Maytag. Shout out to my neighbor and mother-in-law who graciously took our dirty baseball and hockey clothes along with the school uniform and acted as Mary Poppins! I always say it takes a village, and it does. With no choice after Mellie’s repairman opened her up and then closed her right up like a surgeon saying, “sorry, there’s nothing we can do for you,” we bought a Samsung top loader washing machine yesterday. I am old school, and decided I wouldn’t be suckered into a front loader with lots of buttons. I like my little turny knobby thing, and I like my big top-loading washing machine. So, I’m still living in the 90s but at least I know what I’m doing. I ain’t the best laundress around.

But I digress…

Yesterday morning on my weekly Global TV segment, I shared the latest research out of Cornell University. The studies are in on money and happiness: People Who Spend Money On Experiences Instead Of Things Are Much Happier.

When it’s payday and that paycheck gets deposited into you account, do you run out to buy a great pair of shoes, or a nice handbag? Or do you save up for an experience? If given $400 – would you spend it on an iPhone or a plane ticket to somewhere you’ve never been before to experience a new city? Does your money go toward THINGS or EXPERIENCES? Because the latest research is telling us, we’ll be much happier if we collect LIFE EXPERIENCES over THINGS.

It is said experiences sustain your happiness for much longer than purchases on your wish list – experiences such as art exhibits, doing outdoor activities, learning a new skill, or traveling. (Cornell University).

Sorry I’ve dropped off the face of the blog for a week.

Hello, I’m back!

I rested my fingertips and my brain the past few days and returned home late last night after celebrating my cousin’s destination wedding and my 40th birthday in Turks and Caicos. It was a Caribbean sun, fun, and family time vacation, and it was divine.

I surrendered to daily pina coladas, a few beers, and yes CONCH, which I have never tried before (it’s surprisingly good). I was grateful to be surrounded by family (and no kids) as I rang in 40 and watched my cousin recite her wedding vows on the beach at sunset.

Cheers to this lady and her courage and braveness on sharing so openly and candidly with the world in hopes of both spreading awareness and saving her own life.

… Then two weeks ago I got a call from my doctor with blood-test results. “Your CA-125 is normal,” he said. I breathed a sigh of relief. That test measures the amount of the protein CA-125 in the blood, and is used to monitor ovarian cancer. I have it every year because of my family history.

But that wasn’t all. He went on. “There are a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer.” I took a pause. “CA-125 has a 50 to 75 percent chance of missing ovarian cancer at early stages,” he said. He wanted me to see the surgeon immediately to check my ovaries.

By Guest Blogger Dana Kobernick

As I slide into my fiftieth birthday with all the grace and composure of a train half off the rails, I can’t help but go through the typical machinations of a woman approaching – or past – middle age. Until now, I have led a fulfilled life. I recognize my fortune that manifests primarily through my rich relationships with family members and friends. I have had a productive career, indulged my passion for travel and been active in community initiatives.

Still, there are regrets.

I was thrilled to be able to showcase five exceptional women on Global TV last #IWD, who are paving the way for others. These five trailblazing and inspiring women make me want to up my game, and truly make a difference in this world. This Sunday, March 8th, marks the 104th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day that honors the fight for our rights as women– to end hunger, end poverty, end domestic violence, fight for gender equality and rally around each other as women.

In cased you missed it last year, here are five remarkable women paving the way in their communities and around the world. I urge you to watch these shining stars.

Happy #MotivationMonday, ladies!

My fifth episode of the #OWNSHOW on OWN TV aired live at 7am this morning. The topic was on some less well-known happiness boosters.

Here is this week’s episode on Oprah Winfrey Network TV.

For other happiness boosters to incorporate into your life immediately, visit this article.

Once we’re on the topic on happiness, I also wanted to share an info-graphic on success. I thought this was quite interesting, and I would love to hear your thoughts. I think if we look closely here, we can all own traits of both success and unsuccess.

Here is the research out of Stanford. As if we didn’t already know how incredible it feels to be with our girlfriends, a study out of Stanford explained just how “healthy” these female friendships are:

In an evening class at Stanford, the last lecture was on the mind-body connection – the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences.