13:36 May 21, 2024 California USA

08:24 May 23, 2024; published 17:08 May 23, 2024

Bonjour Everyone,

I wish you peace and joy.

So much sadness on this planet … a smile brings light to my heart … perhaps if we all smile with our hearts, this planet would smile back.

These books written In English (by the way … Maria Kawah Leung’s illustrated children’s book is in English and Chinese) and these French films inspired courage while I was in France and departing France.

AUTHORS

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Christopher K. Eng -  FINDING ALOHA IN GRIEF: Memoir of an American Pastor, Chaplain, and T’ai-Chi Sifu

https://www.amazon.com/FINDING-ALOHA-GRIEF-American-Chaplain/dp/B0CMMXK36Y

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Edward C. Hartshorn - Ghosts of the Big Sandy River

https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Sandy-River-Edward-Hartshorn/dp/1953198007/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WFQH3L0C519G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P4yaS8mqImgUnEM3bhFDc4KmFh_24mc3b99kwPk2kg_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.WAcgNxL8okHAq-KjZUFPf_6iIhzLxmDNY6a7bXj1lb4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Edward+C.+Hartshorn&qid=1716330340&s=books&sprefix=edward+c.+hartshorn%2Cstripbooks%2C136&sr=1-1

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Geneva Dinwiddie -  Sister Hold My Hand: Together We Stand

https://www.amazon.com/Sister-Hold-My-Hand-Together/dp/0990491536/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FW8AFNI2ZS0R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9SswpnbgX1AYqHSKWpwYCw.mwlYaHwtXfoheCmuo3F891X-fZyOd952kLfYNE0KF0M&dib_tag=se&keywords=Geneva+Dinwiddie&qid=1716330446&s=books&sprefix=geneva+dinwiddie+%2Cstripbooks%2C151&sr=1-1

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Maria Kawah Leung – Little Heroes of Bay Street: And How They Stay Strong in an Unhappy Home (English and Chinese Edition – Simplified Characters)

https://mariakawah.com/

LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET available in 3 formats – hardcover; paperback; e-book

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Heroes-Bay-Street-Simplified-ebook/dp/B08L6224B1/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zDIlOfdDzUkroUm4hqmM3g.sTq-RTuzsN25umBsRZM2-K4PlR7PocBmfDj_pJpGaK0&dib_tag=se&qid=1716329589&refinements=p_27%3AMaria+Kawah+Leung&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Maria+Kawah+Leung

Interview with Dr. Kim McMillon https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q

Maria Kawah Leung’s singing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB0s2phx3Xg

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Scott James’s latest book -  Trial by Fire: A Devastating Tragedy, 100 Lives Lost, and a 15-year Search for Truth

https://www.scottjameswriter.com/

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 French movies

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Clémentine Chérie (1964) Pierre Doris, Adrienne Servantie, France Anglade | French Comedy; directed by Pierre Chevalier

– a story about how female youth and perceived physical beauty is a convenience in this particular society, and, the invention of a stretchy fabric for bathing suits which turns out to be invisible on photographs and live television. I wonder how many bathing suits will be in the garbage when women realize that while the fabric “shapes and contains” their body, photographs of their body fat and skin compressed and redistributed might be perceived as the opposite of beauty.  A fun and clever script.

Merci beaucoup, Youtube.com channel CultCinemaClassics, pour https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=x8z18_yP_yw

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056938/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1

Writing Credits

Adaptation et dialogues de

Michel Fermaud

Jean-José Richer

Jean Bellus

Pierre Chevalier

The first scene is inside the ornate department store Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann. Even though the movie is a black-and-white film, one can see the grandeur of this place.

https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/culture-and-heritage/ states:

 Here’s my photo (of a section of the stained glass dome of Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann) taken on August 30, 2017

image taken by photo historian Teresa Jade LeYung August 30, 2017 - Margie and Anna are in original image; Sasa led Part II of our Paris pilgrimage

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LAST DANCE – widower Germain (François Berléand) finds a way to fulfill an agreement with his beloved wife.

Merci beaucoup, Youtube.com channel ScreenInternational, pour

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 Nouveau Départ (2023) / New Beginnings (2023)

A husband takes action in an attempt to reignite his wife’s passion for him.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22397870/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_wr_sm

Directed by

Writing Credits

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SECOND TOUR

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Île-de-France

My pal Sabine and I wondered what”Île-de-France” includes.  https://www.britannica.com/place/Ile-de-France-region-France explains …

Île-de-France, région of France encompassing the north-central départements of Val-d’Oise, Seine-et-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, Ville-de-Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, Essonne, and Yvelines. Île-de-France is bounded by the régions of Hauts-de-France to the north, Grand Est to the east, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to the southeast, Centre to the south, and Normandy to the northwest. The capital is Paris. Area 4,637 square miles (12,011 square km). Pop. (1999) 10,952,011; (2014 est.) 12,027,565.

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Thank you for reading my blog post “Books Written In English and French Films that Inspired Courage while I was In France and Departing France”.

I wish you peace in every way.

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

Love Made Of Heart ®

2022 July 31 California                  

Dear Readers,

I wish you and everyone around you – wellness, kindness, happiness.

I celebrate these two women -

Ms. Maria Kawah Leung and Ms. Goldie Hawn

Maria Kawah Leung is the author of a delightfully illustrated children’s book about a serious subject matter – domestic violence.   https://mariakawah.com/

LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET:  And How They Stay Strong In An Unhappy Home

(illustrators:  Maria Kawah Leung, Sandra Elyse Chavez, Maren Sleire Aasgaard)

This book is endorsed by Hannah Yeoh who is a Member of Parliament in Malaysia.

The main characters in LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET are Mia (a little girl) and her Happy Dog (who is much much more than a stuffed animal). Happy Dog is Mia’s best friend and confidant.

Maria Kawah Leung - photo by TL

Maria Kawah Leung says:

“I was born in Hong Kong but my family moved to San Francisco when I was almost two years old. I have happily been a teacher of young children for over 25 years and have taught in the USA (California and Massachusetts), China and Malaysia.

“My most rewarding experiences in life were working with children in pediatric wards, studying Chinese in Beijing, China and studying Spanish in Bogota, Colombia.

“I have also traveled to about 30 countries and all the continents except Antarctica. I have always enjoyed writing. Creating this book to help children feel they are not alone has been a life-long goal.

“Empowering children to overcome obstacles is my passion. This is why I wrote the children’s book Little Heroes of Bay Street and How They Stay Strong in an Unhappy Home.”

Ms. Leung adds: “I’m hoping that through my book… that every teacher would get a copy… and school counselors… nurses… so that they can be aware, and, look out for signs, and reach out to these children.”

Maria’s book is available in English, Chinese, Spanish and Bahasa Malaysia

To watch Maria Kawah Leung interviewed by Kim McMillon, PhD    https://youtu.be/p-YMEPfwp2Q   39 minutes

https://mariakawah.com/

Teresa Jade LeYung here …

As I watch Ms. Goldie Hawn’s keynote speech at Teachers College, Columbia University …  I think about Ms. Maria Kawah Leung as teacher, author,  children’s advocate.

Teachers College – Columbia University – Academic Festival Opening Ceremony Keynote Address: Goldie Hawn on Why Mindfulness in School Matters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh5-Pwj9T8E  39 minutes

Ms. Hawn’s foundation is MindUP  https://mindup.org/

Sincerely,

Teresa_Jade_LeYung_wishes_everyone_peace_and_wellness__photo_by_Nan_and_MEK

Teresa Jade LeYung

Proud sister of Maria Kawah Leung and proud auntie of Happy Dog

Story Theme Consultant / Photo Historian / Author / Public Library and Public School Advocate

http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa’s Blog

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 ®

Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog Post #604

Last week, I was at a place not far from where I live -  to escape from construction noise (neighbors modifying their house to “age in place”).  While I am happy for anyone who can do that … the persistent noise produced by power tools and hammers reactivated my persistent pain pathways in such a way that I don’t have words to describe the sensations. For sure they are “unpleasant” and “undesirable”.

On March 10, at this place of tranquility, I woke up to the sound of power pruning.  NO!  I thought Am I being tested?

On March 11, another unpleasant incident occupied my thoughts.

On March 12, I read the email from kindhearted mentor author Margaret R. Davis.  Margaret asked: “Teresa, can’t you apply the very same principles you use to reduce pain to block out the irritation of the construction noise?”

Margaret is referring to what I have learned and what I continue to learn from Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, Dr. Danielle Rosenman, Professor Lorimer Moseley about retraining my brain / practicing neuroplasticity.

Thank you, Margaret! Thank you to ALL the dear hearts in my life who care about my well-being.  I am most grateful!

Soothing thoughts. I thought about LaH who delivered me to this lovely place and how MT, SS, NN individually visited me and brought delicious foods, and, everyone who sent cards, emails, text-messages, voicemail, thoughts, prayers.

On the evening of  March 13,  2021, I wanted to watch the movie PRIVATE BENJAMIN (starring Goldie Hawn) again.

Well, not only did I find clips on YouTube, but also, I was rewarded with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZsGZZA3LNM  Ms. Goldie Hawn’s inspiring presentation  “Importance of Mindfulness” 

I was overjoyed listening to Ms. Goldie Hawn’s sharing stories of children learning about how their brains work, and talking about their amygdala, prefrontal cortex … what is neuroplasticity, practicing “Brain Breaks” (meditation) with their teachers three times a day in school, using soothing thoughts to quiet their hardworking brains, and, the children going home to share their knowledge with their parents and other family members.

At 19 minutes Ms. Hawn shows the audience a film on MindUP – the signature program for children of the Goldie Hawn Foundation.

At 39 minutes  Ms. Hawn talks about intentions; to witness thoughts, and not get attached to them.

[ Teresa Jade LeYung here…

“Wow, witness my thoughts but not get attached to them. I thought about my lineage….  If as children my grandparents on both sides were given the opportunities to practice this skill, then, as adults they would have passed it onto their children (my parents), and my parents would have passed it onto me and my siblings.

“My parents were young people during World War II; my mother was orphaned; my father had to leave home to find work and send money to support his mother and siblings; then, they experienced colonization . . . such chaotic lives . . . and no one to teach them how to create peace for their beautiful brains.

“Last week, while I was at that lovely place that turned out to be not so tranquil, I said to my pals ‘I am what I think.’  If I am to truly heal from persistent pain and unpleasant sensations (all produced by Beautiful Brain), I must practice detaching myself from worrisome thoughts, and, use soothing thoughts to create pleasant sensations.” ]

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Above graphics of the brain is from TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION workbook

by Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO

http://www.neuroplastix.com 

https://shop.neuroplastix.com/Neuroplastic-Transformation-Workbook-92-W8PZ-LIIY.htm

 [ Teresa Jade LeYung here…

“I wonder if Dr. Moskowitz, Dr. Golden or Dr. Danielle Rosenman know about Ms. Hawn’s foundation and that the children in the MindUP program know what their Amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex and other parts of their brains do and how they (the children) learn to develop mental fitness.

“In our family, no one taught us anything resembling mental fitness.

“The adults were inept. In the 1970s, my escape was watching movies from the 1940′s, but, many of the characters in those films were lost souls. Our brother turned to music. Our little sister relied on her imagination; her stuffed animal companion Happy Dog was her loyal and gentle confidant.

“As an adult, my sister always chose careers that involved helping children.  She is Maria Kawah Leung – author of LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong in an Unhappy Home.  The protagonists in her illustrated book are Mia and Happy Dog.   To hear a reading of Maria Kawah Leung’s book by Hannah Yeoh, a member of Parliament in Malaysia, and to hear Happy Dog’s message to children, and Maria’s comforting words to children and adults … watch on Youtube  https://youtu.be/9k8DLcJlvVg

“If MindUP had existed during our childhood . . . I can just see my little sister coming home to show our parents how to “quiet their hardworking brains” ]

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 https://mindup.org/

The heroes at MindUP announce:  “We are happy to announce MindUP will now be rebranded to MindUP For Life.  Evolving the visual identity to embody its new holistic direction.

We are thrilled to unveil our new brand identity and share with you that MindUP is evolving to become MindUP for Life. After many years as a school-based program for educators, MindUP for Life will now also be available to parents, families, and adults. This rebranding marks an exciting time in MindUP’s history, as we are launching the 2nd edition of our curriculum as well as an interactive online platform projected to launch this spring to support our growing audience. Over the last few months, we have worked with the amazing team at Le Parc Design to create a new image that would accurately depict our growth and helps us impact as many individuals as possible.

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading this blog post:  Author and Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Everywhere I go, I learn about our beautiful brains. This week, MindUP, Ms. Goldie Hawn’s foundation”

I wish you and your beautiful brains – safety, kindness, excellent health, clear water, blue sky, delicious eats, smiles, sweet laughter, soothing thoughts and more soothing thoughts!

Sincerely,

photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Sasa Southard, world adventurer

Teresa Jade LeYung

Theme Consultant / Platform-Building Coach

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.”
www.TeresaJadeLeYung.com

Coach Teresa’s workbook -
Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW  — print edition and ebook

author Teresa Jade LeYung (mask and photo by Emily)

http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com   takes you to Story Continuity / Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung’s blog - resources regarding our beautiful  brains  / persistent pain / depression  / wellness

Love Made Of Heart ®

Teresa Jade LeYung says “Be kind to our beautiful brains.”