Archive for the ‘Paris Walk and Gawk’ Category
2024 July
I wish for all children everywhere – gentle, kindhearted, easy-going, safety conscious, open-minded guardians/caregivers/teachers, nature’s healing, love and laughter.
I celebrate Educator, Children’s Book Author, Children’s Advocate MARIA KAWAH LEUNG and her duo-language (in English and Chinese), delightfully illustrated children’s book entitled:
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: AND HOW THEY STAY STRONG IN AN UNHAPPY HOME
MARIA KAWAH LEUNG shows how a girl named Mia and her loyal companion Happy Dog (he’s much much more than a stuffed animal) use their imagination to cope in an environment they have no control over – domestic violence.
Together, they learn that friends do not have to always like the same things, and, that love means protecting and comforting each other.
Maria Kawah Leung’s messages help everyone – “When you’re scared or sad, talk to grown-ups you trust.” and “It’s not a child’s job to make parents happy.”
Maria Kawah Leung says: “Domestic Violence Awareness is about helping the Families.”
To watch the 39-minute interview – author Maria Kawah Leung in conversation with Kim McMillon, Ph.D.
https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET is endorsed by Hannah Yeoh who is a Member of Parliament in Malaysia.
Story Time with Hannah Yeoh: LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8DLcJlvVg 20 minutes
author Maria Kawah Leung reading her delightfully illustrated children’s book
LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong In An Unhappy Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vivKrfvokkk 13 minutes
Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog post:
Maria Kawah Leung in conversation with Kim McMillon, Ph.D.
https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/educator-childrens-book-author-childrens-advocate-maria-kawah-leung-says-domestic-violence-awareness-is-about-helping-the-families-2/
Thank you for reading my blog post:
“Author Maria Kawah Leung uses her illustrated children’s book to speak out on behalf of families everywhere”
I wish for all children everywhere – gentle, kindhearted, easy-going, safety conscious, open-minded guardians/caregivers/teachers, nature’s healing, love and laughter.
To see my other blog posts that reference Maria Kawah Leung https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/?s=Maria+Kawah+Leung&search=
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Published author, blogger, lover of Paris, FRANCE, photo historian, Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung says:
“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
16:22 July 16, 2024 Tuesday California USA
mardi 16:22, 16 juillet 2024 Californie États-Unis
Hello Readers / Bonjour Lecteurs
I wish you and your family excellent health.
Je vous souhaite, à vous et à votre famille, une excellente santé.
I wish you much happiness.
Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur.
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I am at dear Sabine’s home in Oregon, USA… thinking about everyone who has sent me messages about their health challenges.
I send prayers as I meditate with photos of gardens and flower boxes at homes and other places I have been in since March 1st this year, in FRANCE and in the USA.
Je suis chez ma chère Sabine dans l’Oregon, aux États-Unis… en pensant à tous ceux qui m’ont envoyé des messages sur leurs problèmes de santé.
J’envoie des prières en méditant avec des photos de jardins et de jardinières de maisons et d’autres endroits où je suis allé depuis le 1er mars de cette année, en FRANCE et aux USA.
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Wishing You Excellent Health and happiness with photos of vibrant plants from Paris, Apt, Nice in FRANCE and from California and Oregon in USA.
Je vous souhaite une excellente santé et du bonheur avec des photos de plantes vibrantes de Paris, Apt, Nice en FRANCE et de Californie et d’Oregon aux États-Unis.
Sincerely,
Sincèrement,
Teresa Jade LeYung
http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog on Wellness, Themes, Archetypes
Published author, blogger, lover of Paris (France), Writing Coach, Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says:
“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
“Celebrating Artist, Curator, Activist, Teacher CYNTHIA TOM and Everyone Connected to Cynthia’s A Place Of Her Own™”
August 2024 News:
Thank you, Flo Oy Wong of Asian American Women Artists Association https://www.aawaa.net/, for sharing wonderful news:
Cynthia Tom https://www.aplaceofherown.org/ receives a 2024 WOMAN WARRIOR Award from Pacific Asian American Woman Bay Area Coalition.
Hearty congratulations to Cynthia Tom and all the award recipients.
Ceremony to be held on September 22, 2024 at Hotel Kabuki – JDV by Hyatt, 1625 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94115
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-woman-warrior-awards-tickets-949421303677
Pacific Asian American Woman Bay Area Coalition says:
“Join us as we honor six local Asian Pacific Islander women for their lasting contributions to the API community and notable career achievements. First bestowed in 1983, PAAWBAC is excited to carry on this tradition of recognizing accomplished API women as modern-day Woman Warriors — talented and courageous — as they distinguish themselves in their respective fields, while giving back to others.”
https://www.paawbac.org/woman-warriors-main
Artist Cynthia Tom says:
“My paintings are a form of visual meditations for me and I hope they can do the same for you.
“Each piece is created intuitively. It begins with a spark of an idea and allowed to evolve in its own time, even the title comes to me when its ready. Every work of art has a story to tell.
“Created with intentions for healing, wonder and resilience, I hope to spark for your imagination for a life filled with confidence, calm, delight, and fortitude.”
https://www.cynthiatom.com/
Cynthia Tom is:
Cultural Surrealist | Visual Artist |Speaker and Cultural Community and Women focused Curator | Founding Director of A PLACE of HER OWN and Flying Lessons: Inquire Within workshops and lectures | Board President Emeritus – Asian American Women Artists Association
A PLACE OF HER OWN™ https://www.aplaceofherown.org/
A PLACE OF HER OWN™ (PLACE) empowers community through its women. We provide trauma-informed art-based tools and thought processes, including a culturally conscious community to foster confidence, leadership, and compassion. We address generational trauma, colonization, and cultural conditioning, while promoting social justice and self-agency. Through workshops, exhibitions and presentations, we provide visibility and creative sanctuary, inviting women to define their aspirations and self-worth through intuitive art, celebrating their authentic selves.
Art with a Story https://ateliercynthiatom.com/
Art with a Story. Guides for Your Journey Home. These creative products are intended to encourage meditations that help develop and strengthen intuition, self- love and forgiveness and grow your sense of self-worth. They are intended to be treasured reminders to care for you first, to love you first.
Loving yourself first is often an act of resistance and courage. These items are your bold statement that you matter. They invite conversation about both tough and joyous subjects.
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I thank Linda A. Harris and Tom Swan for encouraging me to see Cynthia Tom’s installation in the autumn of 2016. I thank Sue R. for giving me a ride to meet:
Cynthia Tom: Stories to Tell, Discards & Variances
Tales of human trafficking from A Chinese American family’s perspective
I thank Margie Yee Webb for giving me a ride to pick up my first purchase of a Cynthia Tom painting.
I thank Sue R. for encouraging me to enroll in Cynthia’s 2018 A PLACE OF HER OWN™
Renowned artist/cultural curator Cynthia Tom says: “To imagine a place of your own, for a woman, is an act of rebellion. Whether its physical or a state of mind, this concept drives self-care and love. This exhibition, the culminating phase of a 6-month healing program, is Intended to inspire, excite and ignite. It combines visual storytelling with mixed media and found objects, and insists upon new ways to re-imagine your place in the world.”
I thank Elisa Sasa Southard for helping me craft my artist statement in April 2018 when we were in Paris, FRANCE.
I thank everyone who were/are connected and supported/support and cheered/cheer for Cynthia Tom and A PLACE OF HER OWN™
I thank Cynthia Tom who inspired me to join Asian American Women Artists Association https://www.aawaa.net/ in San Francisco, California, USA
I thank Cynthia Tom who led me to Dr. Amy Grace Lam https://www.vibrationalenergywellness.com/ and https://www.amygracelam.com/
I thank Dr. Lam who led me to Dr. Jae Reed https://azureskychiro.com/ and https://azureskychiro.com/meet-the-team/#jae-reed
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Here are links to a few of my blog posts that honor Cynthia Tom and everyone involved with A PLACE OF HER OWN™:
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Thank you for reading my blog post:
“Celebrating Artist, Curator, Activist, Teacher CYNTHIA TOM and Everyone Connected to Cynthia’s A Place Of Her Own™”
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I wish Cynthia Tom and everyone – peace, vibrant health and happiness always!!!
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog on Wellness, Themes, Archetypes
Published author, blogger, lover of Paris (France), Writing Coach, Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says:
“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
2024 June 4, 12:54pm; June 5, 10:43am; June 6, 19:46 California (Mille merci, chere Sabine!)
Dear Readers
I wish you a good day and night, always.
Thank you, Mr. Roald Dahl, for having written ESIO TROT ( esiotrot is “tortoise” spelled backward)
Thank you, screenwriters Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, for the movie ROALD DAHL’S ESIO TROT
When depression robs my creative energy to write, I look for “happy movies” to lift me which then inspires me to write about the themes in the movie which then leads me to resume working on my own projects.
Yesterday (June 3), the names (“tags”) of these two actors helped me find the movie ROALD DAHL’S ESIO TROT
Judi Dench (as Mrs. Silver) and Dustin Hoffman (as Mr. Hoppy) and James Corden (as Narrator)
Soundtrack includes Louis Armstrong’s singing “A Kiss To Build A Dream On” composed by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Oscar Hammerstein II.
https://genius.com/Louis-armstrong-a-kiss-to-build-a-dream-on-lyrics
This is a movie I want to watch again and again… it’s like re-living a joyful day.
In the movie… Narrator tells us:
“Mr. Hoppy, the hero of our story, lived in a nice flat in an apartment block in London. There are three things you should know about Mr. Hoppy. He’s kind, he’s shy, and, most importantly, he’s not that guy in the hat.”
(Mr. Hoppy is the man holding the elevator door for Mr. Mavrokoukoudopolous the old man with the hat and cane. By the way, since the setting is London. Elevator is called a “lift”)
At the fourth viewing of this movie … I see just how wonderfully the story is crafted.
At two minutes into the movie – first foreshadowing of Mr. Hoppy’s door which is crucial for the “climax” scene.
He turns on his CD player – Louis Armstrong’s singing “A Kiss To Build A Dream On”
Mr. Hoppy reaches into his satchel and places into his fruit bowl – one apple, one orange, one banana. He opens his refrigerator, we see one tomato.
Narrator tells us “It’s [This story is] going to be full of passion, surprises… as indeed is our Mr. Hoppy.”
As the volume of the musical instrumental increases, we see Mr. Hoppy affectionately tending to his balcony-garden; his irrigation system drips water onto the colorful plants.
Narrator says:
“The truth is, there were two loves in Mr. Hoppy’s life. One was his flowers. The other was his secret love that he kept all to himself. Like so many secrets, it was the most important thing of all about him. Because Mr. Hoppy was in love… with the girl downstairs.”
(“the girl” is the vibrant Mrs. Silver, a widow,, probably in her seventies. Mrs. Silver’s balcony is on the floor below Mr. Hoppy’s. We hear her at around four minutes and thirty-three seconds into the movie when she says “Good morning, Mr. Hoppy.” Then we see her. Her main love is her tortoise named Alfie.)
By the end of the first five minutes, I am pulled into the story world.
By the end of the first seven minutes, I am completely hooked with these two characters.
At 13:36 when Mr. Hoppy has the courage to say something personal to Mrs. Silver, he can’t see from his balcony that Mrs. Silver (in her wide-brimmed straw hat) has just inserted earbuds and couldn’t possibly hear him.
At 28:57 we see the second foreshadowing with Mr. Hoppy’s door.
At 54:38 we see the third foreshadowing with that door.
LAUGHING LIFTS DEPRESSION
In the scene where Mr. Hoppy is approaching the lift in the lobby with THE gadget, Mrs. Silver (wearing happy colors) is coming out of the lift. She tells him that she’s going to a dance marathon to raise money for charity and that they need sponsors. Mr. Hoppy says he would like to be a sponsor, would donate a pound. When Mrs. Silver reminds him that this is for charity, he says:
“A pound a minute”
(I laughed out loud; laughing shifts energy, lifts depression. So does smiling for one’s self. For me, laughing is a stronger elixir.)
I learned these British phrases:
“very good news” - In the lift (elevator), Mrs. Silver says: “What a quiet lift. It’s very good news.”
She calls herself “a silly sausage”
“a good old knees-up” means “to dance”
The little boy’s mother says to her son: “I’m doing dinner.”
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In the children’s book, Mrs. Silver never finds out about Mr. Hoppy’s using deception to win her affections; in the movie, her finding out that he used trickery serves as the climax of the story.
In the children’s book, there is no Mr. Pringle; in the movie, this character serves as archetypes Herald and Trickster and is the person who creates complications for protagonist Mr. Hoppy.
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3205394/
Directed by Dearbhla Walsh
Writing Credits:
Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl
Stars (in order of appearance in the movie)
- James Corden
- Salo Gardner
- Dustin Hoffman
- Richard Cordery
- Judi Dench
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Thank you for reading my blog post: “Roald Dahl’s story ESIO TROT, Judi Dench, Dustin Hoffman, Balcony Garden, Love, Kindness Themes…Lift Depression”
Wishing you all the happiness that a vibrant garden would bring.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
My short short movies of Paris 2024
https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos
Love Made Of Heart ®
2024 May 29, 17:55; May 30, 12:04 – at Chez SGC, California USA
Dear Readers,
Bonjour.
The suffering in this world … the enormities of disasters … what can I do to ease the pain?
I have faith that if I share information relating to health which I’ve been fortunate to gain, surely the energy would help someone who would help someone else, on and on.
I am staying at dear friends’ home, however, not near wonderful chiropractor Dr. Jae Reed, D.C. https://azureskychiro.com/ to get treatments – Neuro Integration System and Neuro Emotional Technique…
Luckily, I found another wonderful chiropractor – Dr. Kerry Lilley, D.C. https://chiropracticbenicia.com/
Why do I need a chiropractor?
The apartment in Paris I was in from March 1 – 26 was beautifully furnished, however, the person (who lived in the apartment above the one I was in) did not honor “Apartment-Living Rules”. She would come home at all hours… walk in clunky shoes (fast walking too), and, she probably had removed floor rugs. The vibrations rolling across parquet floor when the entire building is quiet = unhealthy energy over my head.
Around 3:00am on March 4th, my brain so tired from the disturbance… I thought taking a shower would do me good.
I forgot that the high-wall bathtub … I would need to “ride side saddle” going in and coming out.
I fell.. coming out of the tub.
The distance from the rim of the bathtub to the floor is 22 inches while the distance from my knee joint to the bottom of my foot is about 16 inches. If I were a horse in a steeplechase … my legs didn’t clear the extra 6 inches. So, I fell. BAMM.
[ Thank you, Marisa, for having taught me how to fall safely (Aikido wisdom) https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/mountain-turtle-marisa/ While falling, time went into slow motion for me to stretch out both arms to minimize injuries. ]
At the time, I thought only my right knee sustained minimal impact. Wrong.
During my last two weeks in City of Light… my wanting to join my friends, I used Le Métro (Paris subway) … oh the stairs and more stairs … I realized that the right side of my body had been injured.
Last week, I learned from Dr. Lilley what the Psoas muscles are.
Today (May 29), during treatment, I asked Dr. Lilley to examine my wrists. Why are they achy with heat?
She said:
“Your smart body knows what to do. The heat you’re feeling in your wrists is your body’s way to release the trauma. Drink water. When exhaling, release the out breath twice. Release the trauma. Increase vitamin C for the time being.”
I thank Dr. Kerry Lilley https://chiropracticbenicia.com/, Dr. Jae Reed https://azureskychiro.com/, Stephanie Wilger, NC https://stephaniewilgernc.net/,
Dr. Amy Grace Lam https://www.vibrationalenergywellness.com/, Marie-Christine Cornet https://www.mariechristinecornet.com/,
Gilles Marin https://www.chineitsang.com/, and all the healers who have taught me how to listen to my Brain-Body communicate… how to continue fostering the Smart Body.
I thank everyone who has encouraged me to seek help.
I thank everyone who plays a role in helping me find ways to Wellness.
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“The Essential Role of the Psoas Muscle”
By: Stephen Falatyn, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
https://www.spine-health.com/blog/essential-role-psoas-muscle
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2024 July 6 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/psoas-muscle
What does the psoas muscle do?
Your psoas muscles link your spine to your lower body and connect muscles deeper inside your body to ones closer to the surface of your skin. They’re like a bridge in the center of your body that connects lots of parts and helps you perform motions that use your abdomen and legs at the same time.
Your psoas muscles work with other muscles to stabilize your posture and move your hips and upper legs. Their functions include:
- Holding your lower back still when you’re sitting down.
- Pulling your abdomen up from a prone position (picture doing a sit-up).
- Helping you flex and move your hips when you’re standing and lying down.
- Lifting your upper legs (which lets you walk and climb stairs).
- Stabilizing the top of your femur (thigh bone) when you move your hips.
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This month, the writer who is supplying inspiration is Mr. George Carlin.
About humanity… he said that if there were only ten people, dropped off onto this planet… the ten people would ask each other:
“Is every body okay?” “Let’s get something to eat.” “That’s what any society says, but we don’t. Property rights over people’s rights.”
Stewart Interviews George Carlin
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nCGGWeD_EJk
Did you know he had a sitcom The George Carlin Show (1994-1995)?
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This morning, while thinking about dear NN and her soothing phone voice perfect for customer service … I believe that Mr. George Carlin inspired me
to search:
“Are there programs to train seniors to work from home?”
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Story Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “When illness takes us onto a Hero’s Journey”
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BOOKS, Our Immune System, Our Beautiful Ever-Changing Brain, Our Internal Organs, Our Body and Vitality!
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Thank you for reading my blog post: “Paris Bathtub, Aikido Safe Fall, Apartment Neighbor, Le Métro Stairs, Psoas Muscle, Chiropractors, the George Carlin Show”
May beautiful food, clean water, clean air, laughter and quiet always be yours to enjoy!
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Love Made Of Heart ®
2023 October 30, 13:38 California
Dear Readers,
I wish you total wellness.
I celebrate everyone connected to Artist / Curator / Educator Cynthia Tom and “A Place of Her Own” ™ – all alumni, teachers, supporters, friends, families, community partners. https://www.aplaceofherown.org/
I am grateful to dear Linda and Tom who led me to Cynthia Tom who gave me a safe place to use my voice in her program A Place of Her Own ™… who led me to Dr. Amy Grace Lam who taught me how to ask my Body questions … who led me to Dr. Jae Reed, DC who is guiding me to Wellness through Neuro Integration System (N.I.S.) and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) treatments
A Place of Her Own ™ alumni of all the years and all supporters,
If you would like to share your hello and announce your upcoming events, click on the headline of this blog post [ Teresa Jade LeYung celebrates everyone connected to Artist / Curator / Educator Cynthia Tom and “A Place of Her Own” ™ ] then scroll down this blog post to see the words “Leave a Reply”… after you have typed your information into the boxes, be sure to click “Submit Comment”
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In my May 7, 2018 blog post:
“Over six months of Exploring and Naming Hungry Ghosts (examine and challenge beliefs that hold me back and the exploration of my family patterns not just those of my parents’ but also of my ancestors’ traumas linked to world history of slavery, colonization, forced migration, oppression), Releasing Hungry Ghosts, Claiming MY PLACE, and Proclaiming MY PLACE … I, Teresa Jade LeYung, give a thousand thanks to creator and lead teacher of A PLACE OF HER OWN ™ Cynthia Tom, assistant teachers Maggie Yee and Natalie Sacramento, my dear classmates (Julie Andersen, Frances Cachapero, Norma Carrera, Kristi Chan, Angie Dumagsa, Elizabeth Esqueda, Ashleigh Heinichen, Tomo Hirai, Ahran Lee, Grace Hwang Lynch, Teresa Jade LeYung-Ryan, Patricia Zamora), guest artist-speakers Cris Matos, Angela Bau, Reiko Fujii, Irene Wibawa, and Brian Garvey (the gent who helps us and our work get to classroom ‘on time’ every Thursday), Asian American Women Artists Association, Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition, and all the dear hearts who encouraged me to enroll in this residency program six months ago.”
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My July 15, 2018 blog post:
Dear Readers of http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog
I wish you all wellness and joy.
This post is to acknowledge the dear folks who have encouraged and inspired me as I made my debut as a Found-Object Artist. Whether or not they were there in person, I humbly thank everyone as I go forward with a new perspective!
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My 2018 artist statement for A PLACE OF HER OWN Exhibition which ran May 12 through June 24, 2018 at J-SEI in Emeryville, California.
Teresa Jade LeYung
Four smoothened wood boxes represent my dream home ? a place where I can balance the four areas of my life. The green, blue, pink, gold (from paintings and mixed media art created by Cynthia Tom, Cris Matos, Chandra Garsson, Maria K.W. Leung) represent my affinity with Nature.
I dream of four desks so that I would not have to constantly clear off table space to make room for one project while having to put away my other projects.
All that I do and want to do are equally precious to me. Just as there are four points on a compass, my four desks will allow me to go forward with my work with clarity.
And, when I say work, I am talking about what makes me want to get up each morning with a smile on my face and a spring in my walk. I think beauty. I become beauty.
I transform “I was” to “I AM”
I was a child witness to family violence.
I was a frightened immigrant.
I was an adult receiver of violence.
I AM Teresa Jade LeYung who speaks openly through my writing and advocacy, my immigrant experience, and my knowing beauty. As an author, a story consultant, and a found-object artist and student of A PLACE OF HER OWN™, I empower women to transform their own stories. I think beauty. I AM beauty. Please visit me at http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
Thank you for reading my blog post: “Teresa Jade LeYung celebrates everyone connected to Artist / Curator / Educator Cynthia Tom and “A Place of Her Own”™”
Wishing you total wellness and happiness!
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Love Made Of Heart ®
2024 March 31, March 22, March 19, Jan. 21, Jan. 20; 2023 July 19, June 22, June 21, May 20, April 18, April 8, March 31
Bonjour Bonsoir Everyone
I wish you vibrant health. I wish you peaceful heart and happy brain.
This blog post has taken one year to complete.
My heart has been heavy – celebrating new Angels but feeling sad, missing these beautiful beings.
I am a better person because of what these Angels have taught me …
Bardi Rosman Koodrin - Storyteller / Local Hero / Literary Director at San Mateo County Fair https://bardiblog.wordpress.com/about/ taught me quirky comedy and inspired me with her “Carry The Light” stage which was built by her husband artist/muralist Boris Koodrin.
Kathryn G. McCarty aka Kathy McCarty - Playwright / Director / Teacher https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/06/05/curtain-calls-bay-area-theater-world-loses-leading-light-in-mccarty/
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES & V-Day Until the Violence Stops
Victoria Carlyle Weiland aka Vicki Weiland - Developmental Editor/Book Doctor/Novelist
Vicki’s mantra was: “I help writers focus on the vision of their projects.”
I had designed Vicki’s blog for her https://vickiweiland.wordpress.com/
In my blog post “Thank you, Eve Ensler & Kathy McCarty” Vicki Weiland had commented…
[ ... my gratitude to Eve Ensler, and to Kathy McCarty, the production team and cast members, and “Community Violence Solutions” for providing a venue for the production and a local forum to “Stop the violence. Stop the suffering.” While I was unable to be there in person, I was cheering you from the “front row” of my heart! Bravo! Love, Vicki ]
Winifred McCaffrey aka Wini - Author / Expat https://winifredmccaffrey.wordpress.com/about/ taught me freedom to let go memories that invite stress.
Lynn Scott - Author of memoirs, short stories, journals / Activist https://lynnscott.wordpress.com/ taught me how to make decisions from the place called Love.
Wen Hsu taught me humility and how not to rely on apps that translate languages word for word.
Rosemary Clendenen used to say: “If you drop something on the floor… bend down and pick it up. Good exercise.” (Ron, I am so very sad for you and for all of us who benefited from smiles and kindness from your Rosemary.)
Suzanne Dove who loved sharing the wisdom of Carl Gustav Jung.
Rita Lakin - Author and trail blazer woman writer of television shows taught me the wisdom of humor.
My father who inspired “Self Be happy.”
My brother Vitus who loved the gift of music from The Bee Gees.
My mother Rita who inspired kindness, generosity, love and beauty.
Of course Ms. Jamie Lee Curtis is NOT among the Angels I have listed above. What Ms. Curtis said in this interview brightened my spirits this year as I grieve.
“I love doing my job,” says Ms. Jamie Lee Curtis at the VARIETY interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIeXdTc3tnw
I too love doing my job; when my Brain is distracted by work that makes me happy – using words, photos and movies to give thanks to experiences IS my work.
2024 January 21
Watching the movie BREATHING LESSONS.
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Bonne journée
Bonne soirée
Wishing you a happy heart!
Love Made Of Heart ®
Dear Reader,
Three people I care about inspired me to blog about this topic. Do you get pain flare-ups? Your hands, knees, or your back?
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What I do when I experience a flare-up and my right hand hurts:
This works every time! Body and Brain need the conversation.
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After practicing neuroplasticity these past 12 months and remembering that “Pain is our most sophisticated protective device,” says Professor Lorimer Moseley, and, my knowing how to use Feldenkrais techniques… I fully understand why my brain and my body must communicate with each other for optimal benefits.
What I do when I experience out-of-the-blue pain in my knee:
This works every time! Body and Brain need the conversation.
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You might want to watch Brain/Pain scientist / physiotherapist Professor Lorimer Moseley who delivers fascinating facts about pain with humor -
“TEDxAdelaide – Lorimer Moseley – Why Things Hurt” https://youtu.be/gwd-wLdIHjs 14 minutes, 32 seconds
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Curious about Moshe Feldenkrais and the miraculous techniques?
Chapter 5 Moshe Feldenkrais: Physicist, Black Belt, and Healer
Healing Serious Brain Problems Through Mental Awareness of Movement
Chapter 6 A Blind Man Learns to See
Using Feldenkrais, Buddhist, and Other Neuroplastic Methods
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Learn about what is happening in the brain during acute pain and persistent pain – visit Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s website http://neuroplastix.com Look at the graphics.
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For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity in my blog https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog … If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.
I wish you and your Beautiful Brain safety, kindness, excellent health.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Story Consultant and Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog post #602
2021 Jan. 16, 03:06 -04:29; Jan. 26, 00:19; Feb. 2, 22:08; Feb. 15, 00:19-03:24; Feb 16, 20:02; Feb 19, 21:43; Feb 20; 21; 22; 23
The more I learn about our beautiful brains (I call them “BB”s), the more grateful I am to every person who has shown me kindness, imparted knowledge, taught me a skill, inspired me to pursue Beauty.
Unbeknownst to me at the time … my embracing words from nonjudgmental people and my reading the books listed below (near the end of this blog post) provided a vital network for my BB to collect new information from precious people in my life, and, from newer books, webinars and training (also listed near the end of this post) as I learn to connect Body with Beautiful Brain.
From all these inspiring people, my BB has deciphered a common message - so simple so powerful, yet, not easy to master (it hasn’t been easy for me) — the sweet message is that I hold the power to use my own thoughts to experience bliss during and after illness, wherever I am.
[ from page 4 of the workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION, Dr. Michael H. Moskowitz and Dr. Marla D. Golden enlighten: “Without your brain, there is no pain. Your brain doesn’t just receive information from your body, but sends directions back out to tell your body what to do. Your brain ‘reads’ everything going on in your body 30 times a second for your entire life. The adult brain changes throughout our lives based upon the information it receives from our bodies. We only experience pain when the electrical signals reach the thinking part of our brains.” ]
Dear Reader, you might have already read in the blog posts preceding this one . . . I am in training – to rid persistent (chronic) pain and other unpleasant signals that began as Shingles last year.
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**http://www.neuroplastix.com/**
Above graphics is from page 69 of Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION. The word “BLISS” is above the word “Anandamide“
Dr. Michael H. Moskowitz and Dr. Marla D. Golden show us how Anandamide is synthesized and released at synapses – blocking inflammation, shutting off long term potentiation, reverting Microglia. http://www.neuroplastix.com/
synapses = the spaces between cells where information (through release of chemicals/electrical signals) is passed. Brain has 100 billion nerve cells and 1000 trillion synapses. Every synapse is used to pass information around the brain and the body.
long term potentiation = persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity
Microglia (on page 30 of workbook) = one of the three types of glial cells – unlike the nerve cells (called Neurons), glial cells do not conduct electrical signals. Microglia are located around blood vessels in the brain (Capillaries) in an inactive form, responding to foreign invaders by activating and changing shape to attack and destroy anything not recognized as belonging in the brain. They also use pinpoint releases of inflammatory chemicals to break old synapses to prepare for the formation of new ones.
[ Global Traveler/Adventurer and Certified Tour Director Sasa Southard will smile when she reads this – Anandamide is present in highest concentrations in chocolate, especially raw chocolate, where two other enzymes slow down its metabolic deactivation.]
Dr. Danielle Rosenman says:
“The brain changes itself constantly throughout our entire lives. All of our experience changes the brain.
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Everything that we experience, think, feel, believe, and learn changes the physical structure of the brain, the chemicals in the brain, and electricity in the brain.
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This ability of the brain to change is called neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity lets us learn through our entire lives. The more often we repeat a task, the better we learn it. Repetition helps us learn things like reading, adding numbers, or playing a musical instrument. We often call this type of learning ‘practice’.“
Professor Lorimer Moseley says: “The mechanisms that cause us to change in a good way can also cause us to change in a way that makes our lives more difficult and more unpleasant…. Our brain produces pain. Pain is our most sophisticated protective device. Your systems learn how to make pain….”
Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden say: “The more sensation each part of your body has, the bigger the image of that body part in your brain (page 4 of workbook) … Shrink the pain map by flooding the brain using: …thoughts, images, senses, memories, soothing emotions, movement, beliefs. (page 13 of workbook) “
Thank you, Dr. Rosenman, for having coached me.
My job is to interrupt pain and other unpleasant signals by using any of the seven modalities or a combination of them.
Dr. Rosenman adds: “Smile for yourself and talk out loud to your Brain.”
The techniques work – I no longer have to take analgesics when I feel a headache coming on or pain (out-of-nowhere kind of pain) in my knee. I use soothing/confident touch. My BB just needs “feedback” from me – “I have not injured myself, there’s no need to ‘protect’ me by sending me unpleasant signals.” I place a hand on my forehead or a hand over my kneecap for a minute – voila! BB stops sending pain signals.
I’ve come to appreciate talking to my own brain. I need to practice and be good at it. After all, if BB has been working so hard all my life, the least I can do is communicate back.
I need to master the techniques to interrupt the new persistent unpleasant sensations in Body; since Beautiful Brain produces the sensations, I need to give BB “BLISS”.
Right now, BLISS is thinking about walking and gawking in Paris.
On January 11, 2019, in my blog post “We’ll Always Have Paris, Darling Friends,” says Teresa Jade LeYung, Part 2″ I had written “I shall publish part 3 soon, not two years from now.” Today is February 19, 2021. It has been more than two years.
The photos in the remainder of this post help me remember those times; sending my thoughts to those pleasurable experiences helps me interrupt undesirable signals. As beloved actress Dame Angela Lansbury says in an interview at Studio 10 (Australia): “We live the memories of our lives.”
Thank you to my friends (and their friends) who made my times in Paris that much more memorable. To friends who had scheduled time to be with me last year and this year…but we had to cancel… When pandemic is really over … we’ll walk and gawk! To friends and mentors who cannot travel, I shall bring back mementos.
I wish everyone and your BBs easy access to BLISS via thoughts, images, senses, memories, soothing emotions, movement, and beliefs.
À bientôt!
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Liste des plantes et des fleurs du jardin de Claude Monet / List of plants and flowers of Claude Monet’s garden http://giverny.org/gardens/fcm/planjard.htm
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**Teresa Jade LeYung in front of Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris (BHVP), 24 rue Pavée, Paris 75004 (photo by Nan or Sasa)**
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THE BOOKS:
CONSTRUCTIVE LIVING: Outgrow Shyness, Depression, Fear, Stress, Grief, Chronic Pain (by David K. Reynolds),
LOVING WHAT IS: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (by Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell),
THE FOUR AGREEMENTS: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom a Toltec Wisdom Book (by Don Miguel Ruiz),
MY DREAMS: A Simple Guide to Dream Interpretation ( by Angie Choi )
THE BOOKS:
Dr. Michael Moskowitz‘s and Dr. Marla Golden‘s workbook - TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION (also their webinars and brain graphics)
Dr. Danielle Rosenman‘s 10-page guide “Neuroplasticity: Change the Brain to Heal from Pain, Illness, Anxiety, and Depression” https://www.medicalcounseling.net/
Dr. Norman Doidge’s first book – The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (translated into 26 languages)
Dr. Norman Doidge’s second book – The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity (translated into 19 languages so far)
Dr. Victoria Sweet‘s 2 books - SLOW MEDICINE The Way to Healing and GOD’S HOTEL: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine
Thank you to the healers and the people who led me to them, then and now:
Dr. Susan Thackrey! Thanks to my sister for finding my first healer for me!
All the caring physicians who have retired.
All the kindhearted mentors!!!
Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT http://www.duskyswondersite.com/
Reiki Masters and authors Kim McMillon, Lakshmi Kerner, Martha Alderson; BrainGym teacher and memoirist Luisa Adams
Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist, for teaching me Feldenkrais techniques
Dr. Amy Grace Lam, vibrational energy healer http://amygracelam.com/
Artist and Curator Cynthia Tom’s program of transformation A PLACE OF HER OWN https://www.aplaceofherown.org/
Marie-Christine Cornet (now in France) Chi Nei Tsang and Somatic Experience practitioner http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/
Stephanie Doucette, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. OM, is a California Licensed Acupuncturist and Clinical Herbalist http://stephaniedoucette.com/
Dr. Madele Limpahan
Dr. Danielle Rosenman‘s coaching https://www.medicalcounseling.net
and all the other healers in my life who happen to be precious friends and relatives!
I wish everyone and your BBs easy access to BLISS via thoughts, images, senses, memories, soothing emotions, movement, and beliefs.
Thank you for reading “Story Continuity / Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says ‘Be kind to our beautiful brains.’”
For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity in my blog https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog … If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.
Love Made Of Heart ®
Teresa Jade LeYung, an American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a story/theme consultant, author of LOVE MADE OF HEART (daughter-mother novel archived at the San Francisco History Center and used by college professors), BUILD YOUR WRITER’S PLATFORM & FANBASE IN 22 DAYS (a workbook), and TALKING TO MY DEAD MOM Monologues (the first monologue received an award from Redwood Writers Ten-Minute Play Festival), an alumna of artist Cynthia Tom’s A PLACE OF HER OWN, an advocate for public libraries and public schools, creator of http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ , and, admirer of City of Light. Composing Haiku poems is a new love for LeYung.
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog Post Number 600; Part 3 of first trilogy on our Beautiful Brains -
2021 January 11, 22:55 — January 12, 00:10; January 12, 22:18–23:28; January 13, 14:14–15:10; 17:44–19:27; 19:56–22:36
California USA
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Look what happens when persistent (chronic) pain pathways take over the other brain functions – impacting my emotions, problem-solving, memory, creativity, and …”
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All graphics in this blog post are from Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO
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When Beautiful Brain is not producing pain -
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When Beautiful Brain is producing acute pain –
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When Beautiful Brain is producing persistent (chronic) pain -
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According to Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Danielle Rosenman -
There are 9 areas in the thinking brain (actually a few more, because some are on both sides of the brain) that control our personal experience of pain and discomfort. This is where pain signals are received. Normally, only 5% of the nerve cells in the brain process pain. In persistent pain, 15-25% of the cells of the entire brain are involved! The actual map of the brain has changed, with an increased part of the map given to pain. This is because the pain areas get bigger, stealing nerves and synapses (connections) from the rest of the brain.
The relationship between pain (or discomfort) and mood (includes anxiety and depression):
Remember that the brain has different areas for different functions? It’s actually more complicated than that! Many brain functions are located in the same areas or are very close together, and there are some shared connections. (Review: “Nerves that fire together wire together.”)
Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden say to “flood” the brain map, interrupt pain signals with pleasurable –
- THOUGHTS
- IMAGES
- SENSATIONS
- MEMORIES
- SOOTHING EMOTIONS
- MOVEMENT
- BELIEFS
Dr. Danielle Rosenman adds: “Smile for yourself and talk out loud to your Brain.”
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says:
“I refuse to let pain pathways hijack other Brain functions. Some days I win the steering wheel/control panel. Other days Pain/Depression win. The more consistent I give my Beautiful Brain pleasure, the more winning days I shall have.
“Dr. Danielle Rosenman (via ZOOM sessions) has guided and coached me (with techniques from Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden) in creating my unique ‘bag of tricks’ to interrupt pain, depression and other unpleasant signals.”
Dr. Norman Doidge and Professor Lorimer Moseley say: “MOVEMENT is critical in retraining the nervous system. Even imagining movement will retrain the system!”
https://www.neura.edu.au/staff/prof-lorimer-moseley/
How do I create Pleasure for my Brain? How do I communicate with / give feedback to my Brain?
My evolving “Bag of Tricks” (with the 7 modalities) to give my Beautiful Brain pleasure:
“Imagining” any of these modalities when I can’t access the physical form (especially during COVID-19 Stay At Home order) serves me well.
THOUGHTS -
When pain or depression signals (including unpleasant thoughts) pop up, I have to interrupt them with pleasurable thoughts.
Pleasurable Thoughts this month include: candied wintermelon pastry (thanks to MT’s selecting); sweet persimmons (thanks to EO); Nan’s signature pesto; Linda’s signature pear Clafoutis; Sasa’s signature salads; Pad Thai with fresh ingredients.
IMAGES -
Because our brains store all experiences (including what we see in movies. read about, and hear about…), I have to stay away from all unpleasant images (even some of my favorite movies, details of sensational news) while I am retraining Beautiful Brain
Pleasurable images include looking at – my photos taken in Paris; postcards of paintings by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall; photos from MT of her hikes; photos from Marie-Christine (she’s in France); photos of nature and kids (2-legged and 4-legged ones) from all my friends; art by Chandra Garsson, Cynthia Tom, Cris Matos, Sharon Leong; photos of Happy Dog (my sister Maria Kawah Leung’s hero in her book Little Heroes Of Bay Street); seeing Linda’s little Gracie; the montage (of me and “Brain-no-pain”) at the end of this blog post.
SENSATIONS -
Some sensations I liked (before persistent pain began) aren’t pleasurable right now – drinking hot tea fuels pain right now.
While I am happy for neighbors who are modifying their house for “Aging In Place”, the construction noise (hammering, drilling) also fuels pain and depression right now.
Pleasurable sensations include - cool and cold water on skin; seeing green plants, blue sky, squirrels and hummingbirds in our patio and neighbor’s; laughing at GOMER PYLE USMC episodes (especially Season 3, Episode 6); smiling for myself; listening to “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy; tasting sweet fruit on tongue; smelling roses; firm and soothing touch to the body part that is feeling pain.
MEMORIES -
Because our brains store all memories … when unpleasant memories pop up, I have to interrupt them with pleasant ones.
Pleasurable memories:
- Being with people I care about.
- Eating breads and quiches, buying postcards, and walking and gawking at buildings in Paris
- Living sans clutter
SOOTHING EMOTIONS – this is most difficult for me
When my reaction to someone’s behavior brings on pain and other unpleasant signals, I send my thoughts to what the person means to me.
Remember what the good doctors said about “the relationship between pain (or discomfort) and mood (includes anxiety and depression)?
Please see Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION page 35 through page 75. And, I hope you’ll find someone like Dr. Danielle Rosenman to coach you.
MOVEMENT -
Walking in the neighborhood (when my Brain is occupied with looking, listening, smelling… I feel no pain); dancing with Ms. Sophia Loren, Ms. Rita Hayworth, and Ms. Cyd Charisse (thanks to Youtube clips) ; imagining flying (ballet) over Paris; and running on dirt tracks and fields of wildflowers!
BELIEFS -
That I hold the power to be pain-free and depression-free; that every task can be accomplished with ease; that wellness is reality
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Thank you, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, and Professor Lorimer Moseley!
Thank you, Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist, for teaching me Feldenkrais techniques! Thank you, mentor Lynn Scott, for the referral!
Thank you, Dr. Danielle Rosenman!
https://www.medicalcounseling.net/ Danielle Rosenman, M.D. uses neuroplasticity, imagery, meditation, psychotherapy, and other techniques in her Medical Counseling practice and in her innovative “Tools for Healing” groups.
Thank you, Dr. Amy Grace Lam ! vibrational energy healer
Thank you, all dear hearts who care about me and have helped/are helping me on this journey !!!!!
My next blog post will be about what I continue to learn from: “Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley – Successful Ageing Seminar 2013″ https://youtu.be/5p6sbi_0lLc 41 minutes
For other posts in my blog, please go to: https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to our our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity.
I wish you, dear Reader and your Beautiful Brain, wellness!
Sincerely,
Love Made Of Heart ®
To read Part 1 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Scarecrow in THE WIZARD OF OZ would feel NO pain” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/story-theme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-scarecrow-in-the-wizard-of-oz-would-feel-no-pain/
To read Part 2 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Adaptable Brain, Let Quiet Enter.” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/storytheme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-adaptable-brain-let-quiet-enter/
Teresa Jade LeYung, an American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a story continuity/theme consultant, author of LOVE MADE OF HEART (daughter-mother novel archived at the San Francisco History Center and used by college professors), BUILD YOUR WRITER’S PLATFORM & FANBASE IN 22 DAYS (a workbook), and TALKING TO MY DEAD MOM Monologues (the first monologue received an award from Redwood Writers Ten-Minute Play Festival), an advocate for public libraries and public schools, creator of http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ , and, admirer of City of Light. Composing Haiku poems is a new love for LeYung.