Good News To Go: Health & Wellness

At twenty-one years old, Hope O Baker made one of the hardest decisions a person can make: she placed her son for adoption. She lived with her son’s adoptive mother while she was pregnant and pursued an open adoption. After her son was born, Hope tried to resume her life.

But the difficulty of letting her child go gnawed at Hope. Even though she had it together on the outside—graduating college and excelling in her career—on the inside she was battling a destructive cycle of depression and addiction. When life was at its darkest, Hope managed to find her way back to the light. It’s a journey she continues to this day.

Now, in this love letter to her son, Hope shows how messy and chaotically beautiful adoption can be, by sharing the authentic details of her remarkable story. From her struggles, you’ll see how the community can help you rebuild and be reminded of how important it is to find your voice and speak up for what you need when life hands you unexpected difficulties.

Hope will grip your audience's attention no matter what stage or type of parenting experience they've had. There are many relatable moments that can dispense needed wisdom to new parents, and get knowing nods from those who have had kids and been through the journey of parenthood and now have an empty nest. The amount of value here and the nuggets one can take away are numerous, and each time she speaks, you can find new "ah-ha" moments to grab onto. Hope has been through some very rough emotional turmoil, made some agonizing decisions, and has come through the fire to let us know that she has found her namesake as she emerged from places where she almost lost it.

About the Author:
After placing her newborn son for adoption in 2013, Hope O Baker struggled with depression, addiction, and overcoming the stigma that surrounds birthmothers. In her first book, Finding Hope: A Birthmother’s Journey Into the Light, she shares her story of a successful, open adoption—and all the heartache and light that came along the way. Hope is a passionate advocate for those on all sides of adoption. You can find her online at HopeOBaker.com or follow her on Instagram at @HopeOBaker. Hope visits her son regularly and is a passionate advocate for those on all sides of adoption. You can find Hope online @ hopeobaker.com or follow her on IG, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin

for video and more info, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/finding-hope-a-birthmothers-journey-into-the-light-by-hope-o-baker/

#hope #baker #finding #birthmothers #journey #light #lioncrest #adoption #relationships #decision #child #voice #deserve #emotional #emotion #trauma #struggles #addiction #depression #alone #empowering #women #right #choice #situations #support #afterward #birth #parenting #passionate #hopeobaker

Tell you how to wear the mask correctly.
Why wearing a face mask is so important to prevent covid-19

COVID POV
By Abbey LeVine
Swirl Studios
Please Take 5 minutes to watch the Proof-Of-Concept Video for the film:
COVID POV Film Proof of Concept
Author: Swirl Studios
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf2WKnuMeB4
Meet some of our stories:
Jabari Morgan:
Jabari has been laid off from his job and is waiting for unemployment. He has low to zero income and is
experiencing food insecurity. He rations cans of tuna for his meals because he can’t afford anything else. He has
lost weight from starving in between meals (he is trying to stretch food supply) and is suffering from extreme
depression and isolation. His story is raw, authentic, and beautiful. Jabari’s story exhibits the true insecurity,
struggle, and isolation of what a percentage of our world is going through during this pandemic.
Chris Reece
Chris is a nurse in West Virginia and when this pandemic hit, he instantly volunteered to risk his own life on the
front lines in NYC as a traveling nurse. He packed his bags, left his wife behind, and arrived in NYC right before
the peak happened in March. He worked a total of 40, twelve-hour days with just three days off. He describes
the current state of this pandemic like a war zone, nothing he has ever seen before. He recently returned back to
his family in West Virginia and is adjusting to a “normal” life again.
The Vinci Family
Dorian and Paul Vinci have 2 kids and live in Staten Island, NY. Paul is an MTA bus driver in NYC and is considered
an essential worker during this pandemic. Dorian has become a teacher to her two kids due to the stay-at-home
policy all while she balances working from home, being a wife, mom, and cook. Dorian is mentally, physically, and
emotionally struggling on every level and is extremely scared about Paul catching the virus.
Susan Soltes
Susan and her husband own and operate Bow Hill Blueberries, a farm in idyllic rural Washington that has been
deemed an essential business in the food/ag category. The blueberry farm storefront is closed, but they have a
walkup window and continue making deliveries and sales throughout the statewide shutdown. This pandemic has
totally altered her daily life; her business is struggling and she is fighting emotionally and mentally through this
pandemic as well.
Keesha Clark
37 weeks pregnant at the beginning of this pandemic, Keesha, a first-time mom, was faced with a whole new
look at what it means to be pregnant during a pandemic. Her life changed overnight. She had to spend her last
few weeks going to doctor's appointments by herself without her partner, her mom couldn’t fly to share this
intimate time with her as and she had to adjust her birth plan just in case she had to deliver by herself. Fast
forward to her birthday, she ended up having an emergency c-section and is traumatized for life by the way
she was treated due to COVID-19.
Shivkumar Bhadola
Shiv Bhadola is a first-year resident physician based in Boston, MA. After years of medical school, he didn't
expect one of his first assignments to be working on the COVID unit team. Excited to be part of a historical
moment, Shiv jumped at the opportunity. After serving on 3 different COVID response teams, he contracted
COVID-19 himself and went into isolation for 12 days. Completely traumatized, this entire experience as a
doctor working on the front lines and as a COVID positive patient has given him nightmares, potentially PTSD,
and made him question whether he still wants to be a doctor.
Yvette Paz
Yvette, a single mom and army vet who lives in Southern California was the FIRST to test positive for COVID - 19
in March in Long Beach. She was hospitalized, given the trial medication, Hydroxychloroquine, and was
extremely sick. Her story went viral across social media and since has received a ton of attention, good and bad.
She is still mentally, physically, emotionally recovering.
Gary Jourdain, Jr.
Gary Jourdain, Jr. is part of the Red Lake band of the Chippewa and his family have lived on the Red Lake Indian
Reservation for generations. The reservation is on lockdown and Gary is protective of the land he grew up on,
his family, and the 6,000 residents in his community. The tribe depends on casino revenue to stay afloat, but
after seeing other tribes struggle to fight the virus, the recent loss of a close friend to COVID-19, and the very
first case of COVID-19 arriving on the reservation recently, Gary is scared that reopening too soon will cost more
lives.
Laura Sebastian
Laura lives in Madrid with her husband and two daughters. She has been unemployed for the last year and a
half, and she was looking forward to starting a new job in April. But the pandemic put everything on hold. She
is trying to make the best of the quarantine with her daughters... but is struggling on all fronts.
The Premise:
Around March 13th....
The world paused and an unprecedented global reset started. Since then, humanity has come together to survive an
historic pandemic, which some are calling "the great equalizer." Isolation ruptured communities and severed connections.
Our points of view became myopic.
COVID POV explores the day-to-day experiences of families and individuals struggling and succeeding through the
pressures of the COVID - 19 pandemic. Told through raw, self-shot experiences over 60 days, contributors from all over
the world offer their insights, emotions, and opinions through these altered times. We face what happens when people
are forced to be stripped down to the most basic needs, like food and safety, and how race, gender, and class impact our
allegedly shared experience.
When the dust settles, have we gained a new sense of connection, or has isolation actually made us more divided than ever?
The Purpose:
COVID POV is shot on individual’s phones and told with their voice. We are digging deep into thousands of minutes of raw, unique footage sent to us by our worldwide contributors over 60 days in quarantine. We have chosen 20 main stories that tell the REAL STRUGGLES and the HOPE of this pandemic.
COVID POV captures what it’s like to live this historical pandemic through the eyes of all races, genders, the rich, the poor, business owners, farmers, moms, dads, front line workers. Each POINT OF VIEW has an emotionally raw, authentic, sense that really makes you value the human race and how unpredictable life can be. It is our responsibility to leave stories of the pandemic behind for all future generations. We started filming on March 15, 2020.
It is possible that this film could have sequels from post-quarantine and if we should get re-quarantined.
The Stats:
24 Female Filmmakers participated in this riveting film. 12 of them are mothers, 4 are solo mommas and 6 are immune-compromised.
71 film contributors REPRESENTING:
•9 US States
•10 Countries
Outreach and donations:
The project is being produced entirely virtually with no physical meetings of teams taking place during this time and all film contributors submit a daily video diary via their smartphones.
The project has very lofty production goals! The crew has set up a GoFundMe page @ https://www.gofundme.com/f/covidpov-film to meet these goals!
Connect with the film on Instagram / Facebook:
for video and more info. go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/covid-pov-by-abbey-levine-swirl-studios/

Hear from Azure Antoinette, the “Maya Angelou of the Millennial Generation,” …
On Living Well with MS for Black Americans.

Azure Antoinette is a commissioned poet, entrepreneur and arts education advocate. She has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for over a decade. Azure will be joined by Board-Certified Neurologist and world-renowned MS Specialist Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams, who is an advocate for living well with MS, especially for Black Americans, who may be more at risk for MS than previously thought.

Azure was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at age 28. In her early twenties, she began having spasms, tingling in her hands and feet, and had trouble walking. She felt so tired that it was difficult to stay awake, to watch a movie or drive a car, even after sleeping for 16 hours some nights.

The fatigue experienced by MS patients is much different from an everyday tired feeling, and it can come on with no warning. Managing MS fatigue is an ongoing challenge because it isn’t a one-size-fits-all symptom.1

Just ask Dr. Williams, who partners with patients to create personalized treatment plans for their distinctive MS experiences, including:
 Feeling excessively tired or weary
 Having trouble with memory or mental focus
 Experiencing muscle weakness or trouble with coordination

In a public service announcement (PSA) launching in February, Azure encourages Black Americans living with MS to pay attention to their symptoms and advocate for their health. She also shares her first-hand experience as a Black woman living well with MS in a documentary alongside Dr. Williams, who explains what symptoms to watch out for and advice on staying active while managing often overwhelming MS symptoms.

MS is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself, making it difficult for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.2 Approximately one million adults live with MS in the U.S., a majority of whom are diagnosed with RRMS. Women are three times more likely than men to develop RRMS, and Black Americans have an increased risk of developing progressive symptoms.2

Azure and Dr. Williams discuss the upcoming PSA and documentary launch – in time for Black History Month in February and MS Awareness Month in March – and More to MS, an educational resource to help patients and their caregivers learn more about and better manage MS symptoms like fatigue.

Interview courtesy: Janssen

#multiple #sclerosis #mitzi #joi #azure #antoinette #williams #maya #angelou #millennial #generation #ms #living #well #americans #moretoms #poet #entrepreneur #arts #education #fatigue #spasms #tingling #awake #feet #hands #tired #mental #focus #weak #coordination #muscle

for video and more info, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/an-often-invisible-but-debilitating-symptom-of-multiple-sclerosis/

Looking for a guest to discuss and bring hope to those who live with crippling anxiety that is being hugely exacerbated during the COVID19 Pandemic, racial unrest, and natural disasters wreaking havoc across the country? Let us present to you, Elke Scholz, registered psychotherapist and author of "Anxiety Warrior." This book (from The Artist's Reply ISBN: 978-0973602371 ebook: $7.49 / paperback: $18.99) offers hope and help to those who feel that anxiety is an unmanageable part of their lives. Your audience will learn to manage and lower their anxiety with this book. The pages are full of strategies and exercises, and along with Elke Scholz, there are five contributors, who are published authors, keynote speakers, and leaders who are passionate about empowering people. As a registered psychotherapist who focuses on Anxiety and depression, Dr. Scholz expertly guides and empowers your audience to go from feeling like a victim of their anxiety to an empowered warrior over it. Through hands-on steps and practical application, . Scholz will be right there with your audience to help them with:

• Gaining mastery over their minds. • Starting a checklist of the things that trigger their anxiety.
• Learning to recognize body sensations that are clues to actions you can take.
• Revealing routines you can do to take care of your physical health that also assist with your mental health.
• Making decisions that can bring forward confidence.
• Learning ways to protect themselves.
• Breaking through mental freezes and blocks. Whether in business, or in life, Anxiety can be a debilitating obstacle that saps audience members' energy, causes undue worry and stress, and can lead to all manner of physical ailments as the body attempts to process all of the emotional triggers and reactions that are happening at lightspeed within. Sometimes people don't recognize it's presence, shrugging it off as the mid-afternoon crash, and sometimes they know exactly why they feel the way they do and become so distraught that it's difficult to function.

"I believe in the work of Elke Scholz, and her deep rooted efforts which benefits the growth of the human spirit. I support her efforts to assist in our awareness of self and our environment."
—Lane McGonigal, Surface Maintenance Planner and avid photographer, Moosomin, Saskatchewan
"If you have had the honour of attending one of Elke's workshops, then you are already aware of the value of this book."
—Dr. Nick Bianchi, F.I.S., B.SC. (KIN), D.C., chiropractor, published author, speaker, Bracebridge, Ontario
Anxiety Warrior
By Elke Scholz
• Paperback : 188 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0973602376
• ISBN-13 : 978-0973602371
• Product Dimensions : 6 x 0.43 x 9 inches
• Publisher : The Artist's Reply
Elke Scholz, MA, RP, REACE, is a registered Psychotherapist, an internationally registered Expressive Art Consultant/Educator, and an internationally certified EMDR Therapist. She is the well-known author of 3rd edition, Loving Your Life, containing over 40 creative exercises as an e-book and paperback, Foreword by Kate Donohue. She is also an affiliate author for ProjectHappiness. Her work includes creative anti-anxiety/wellness kits for employees, youth-at-risk, and seniors in managing anxiety and depression. For over 35 years Elke has helped people and runs her private therapy practice in Bracebridge, Muskoka. She has spoken and facilitated at conferences, on radio and TV. She is a co-chair on the board for IEATA, International Expressive Art Therapy Association. Connect with her on her websites @ www.elkescholz.com and www.anxietywarrior.ca and also on social media @ IG, FaceBook & Twitter

#anxiety #warrior #elke #scholz #reace #covid #covid19 #pandemic #natural #disasters #book #ebook #hope #help #manage #speakers #passionate #passion #power, empower #minds #energy #deep #spirit #aware #happiness
for video and more info, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/anxiety-warrior-by-elke-scholz-ma-rp-reace/

For Stuart Shanker, the possibility of a truly just and free society begins with how we see and nurture our children. http://www.self-reg.ca

Stuart Shanker is renowned for using cutting-edge neuroscience to help children feel happy and think clearly by better regulating themselves. In his new book, Reframed, Shanker explores self-regulation in wider, social terms. Whereas his two previous books, Calm, Alert, and Learning and Self-Reg, were written for educators and parents, Reframed, the final book in the trilogy, unpacks the unique science and conceptual practices that are the very lifeblood of Self-Reg, making it an accessible read for new Self-Reggers.

What is self-regging and how can it get you through COVID19 behaviors including:

Panic Buying, Hope, Comfort Foods, Care Mongerin, and much more

Only a society that embraces these principles and strives to practice them, argues Shanker, can become a truly just society. The paradigm revolution presented in Reframed not only helps us understand the harrowing time we are living through, but inspires a profound sense of hope for the future. Shanker shows us how to build a compassionate society, one mind at a time.

"What if there existed a book with a masterful integration of contemporary neuroscience, research on human development, educational theory, and philosophical thought? What if this knowledge was reinterpreted from the perspective of stories about children and what fosters or holds back their developmental potential? And what if the journey led to the conclusion that it is possible to create a genuinely just society? That book is in our hands now, and it is up to us as a society to make the choice to follow its wisdom."

―Alan Fogel, Professor of Psychology Emeritus University of Utah and author of Body Sense: The Science and Practice of Embodied Self-Awareness (W. W. Norton, 2013))

"This is a beautiful book, brimming with hope. Through Self-Reg principles and vivid real-life examples, Shanker explains what a Blue Brain/Red Brain balance is and how parents, educators, and coaches can help young children and teens achieve it."

―Barbara J. King, Department of Anthropology, College of William & Mary, Author of How Animals Grieve

"In Reframed: Self-Reg for a Just Society we join Stuart Shanker on his personal journey to redefine age-old questions related to the capacity of humans to regulate their behaviour."

―Stephen W. Porges, PhD, Distinguished University Scientist, Indiana University, Professor of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, and originator of the Polyvagal Theory

#way #through #covid #covid19 #stuart #shanker #society #nurture #children #self-reg.ca #neuroscience #feel #happy #book #reframed #regulation #calm #alert #educators #parents #science #panic #hope #comfort #foods #care #mongerin #education #self #regulation #reg

for video and more info, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/way-through-covid19-by-stuart-shanker/

GETTING FIT AND BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS IS ON THE TOP OF MANY OF OUR TO-DO LISTS, AND THE ARMY RESERVE IS NO EXCEPTION. OPTIMAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL READINESS IS CRUCIAL TO BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A FORCE THAT STRIKES A BALANCE BETWEEN ACHIEVING CAREER GOALS WITH THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TOUGHNESS REQUIRED TO FIGHT AND WIN ON THE BATTLEFIELD FROM DAY ONE.

THE ARMY’S NEW “H-2-F”, OR HOLISTIC HEALTH AND FITNESS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DO JUST THAT – IMPROVE NOT JUST PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVELS, BUT ALSO OVERALL MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.

HERE TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE H-2-F SYSTEM, FOR ARMY RESERVE SOLDIERS AND HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED FOR ALL AMERICANS, IS MASTER SERGEANT STACEY MUNOZ, A MASTER RESILIENCY TRAINER IN THE ARMY RESERVE WHOSE CIVILIAN EDUCATION INCLUDES AN ASSOCIATES IN EXERCISE SCIENCE FOCUSING ON NUTRITION AND PERSONAL TRAINING …

Bio Master Sergeant Stacey Munoz enlisted in the United States Army in 1998. She attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, SC. She served six years in the Regular Army and then transferred to the Army Reserve. After six months in the Army Reserve, MSG Munoz was picked up as an Active Guard Reserve.
During her service, she has held multiple positions throughout human resources, operations, training, and leadership. Her stateside assignments include 2-6 Air Defense Artillery and 1-56 Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss, TX; Military Entrance Processing Station in Seattle, WA; 70th Regional Readiness Command in Fort Lawton, WA; 84th Training Command and Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, KY and United Started Army Reserve Command at Fort Bragg, NC. She deployed with 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for 15 months.

Her military education includes Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, Primary Leadership Development Course (Honor Graduate), Basic NCO Course, Senior Leader Development Course, Airborne School, Modern Army Combative Program Level 1, Master Fitness Course, Master Resiliency Trainer Course level 1-3, Protocol Course Level 1-4. Her civilian education includes an Associates Exercise Science focusing on Nutrition and personal training from International Sports Science Association, CA.
Her awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (7th Award), Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development (4th Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Driver’s Badge, Airborne Badge, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award.

MSG Munoz is originally from California and when not working, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling and spending time with her husband, Tom and their 8 children in Southern Pines, NC.

Interview courtesy: U.S. Army Reserve
for video and more info, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/focusing-on-holistic-health-fitness-for-the-u-s-army-reserve-with-master-sergeant-stacey-munoz/

learn more about why Poorly managed high cholesterol is a significant public health threat

Nearly 62 million adult Americans have high cholesterol[i], and that number is growing. Of these, up to 34 million people are on standard treatment, which typically includes statins, on top of diet and exercise. However, 1 in 4 still aren’t able to control their cholesterol and continue to have elevated LDL-C levels[ii], putting them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease – the #1 cause of death in the U.S.[iii] In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects deaths from cardiovascular disease to increase by approximately 25% by 2030.[iv]

Additionally, up to 2 million people have genetically high cholesterol, also known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which is harder to manage and puts them at up to 20-times higher risk for developing early heart disease in their 30s, 40s and 50s.[v],[vi]

People who require additional LDL-C lowering on top of statin therapy represent a high-risk population, who may need to consider other options when their cholesterol remains high despite standard treatment. Fortunately, there are non-statin treatment options that may help people reach their LDL-C goals.

As we approach February, American Heart Month, it’s important for people to think about their long-term health and how they can take care of their heart. Working with a healthcare provider to keep your cholesterol in check and finding a treatment option that helps you reach and maintain your goals are important ways people can take care of their health.

Katherine Wilemon from the FH Foundation, who had a heart attack at age 39 due to undiagnosed and unmanaged FH, and Dr. Pamela Taub, an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of California San Diego, will be available to discuss the risks associated with poorly managed cholesterol, risk factors for FH and treatment approaches that can make a difference for people who struggle to reach their cholesterol goals.

Interview is courtesy: Esperion Therapeutics

[i] Wong ND, Young D, Zhao Y, et al. Prevalence of the American College of
Cardiology/American Heart Association statin eligibility groups, statin use, and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol control in US adults using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012. J Clin Lipidology. 2016;10:1109-1118.

for video and more info, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/february-is-american-heart-month/

for more info go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/larry-king-shares-how-honesty-started-career-when-he-speaks-at-a-commencement/

For more info go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/watch-your-balls/