By car, the time it would take to say “Bonjour” to … Paris, Aix-les-Bains, Avignon, Apt and the Villages in the Luberon, and, Nice (in FRANCE)…  would be more than 13 hours without stopping.

On foot, it would take me more than 10 days… and that is if I do not stop to take photographs, use les toilettes, sleep, bathe or eat.

“]”]”]

My friend Sharon taking photos in Avignon / Mon amie Sharon prend des photos à Avignon

21 juin 2025 Avignon FRANCE

I used to drive, a lot.  [ Je conduisais beaucoup.]

I drove all over the state of California in USA for my mother-daughter novel Love Made of Heart - to bookstores, schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, writers’ organizations, book festivals, trade shows, community events.   I will always be grateful to literary agent Stacey Glick, Vice President, and everyone at  Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC; acquisition editor/director John Scognamiglio, president Steven Zacharius, publisher Laurie Perkin, art director Louis Malcangi, and everyone at Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York; sales representatives, teachers, librarians, my then spouse, my sister, friends, mentors, colleagues, the folks at the day job – the East Bay Regional Park District, the folks in the communities, members of California Writers Club, members of Women’s National Book Association, members of Women’s Brain Exchange, every reader …  everyone who cheered for me and my work, everyone who invited me and my book to show up.

I used to see the world from behind the steering wheel. Now I see not only with my eyes, but also, with each foot step I take.

In France, I walk and gawk … at the architecture, the window displays at shops, the heavy doors, the balconies, the gardens, the churches, business signs, the trees, les boulangeries, les pâtisseries, the names of streets, the sky, the food, the food, the food. Aahh… the visuals.

As for the audios .. I adore hearing the French language. My favorite phrase right now is “Je vous en prie.” I feel like I’m eight years old again… learning a new language. It’s slow going for me; the verb conjugations; the article-noun pairing; the silent letters, the silent syllables; the “liaison” (connecting sounds). At first, I thought… why do so many French words begin with the letter “L”?  That’s what I hear.  When I see the spelling … no more mystery; when a noun begins with a vowel, the pronunciation of the article preceding the noun is rolled onto the noun.

le + appartement becomes  l’appartement — sounds like  “la-par-te-mont”

le + aéroport becomes l’aéroport — sounds like “lair-o-port”

le + orchestre becomes l’orchestre — sounds like “lor-kestr”

“]”

Me Teresa Jade, with Sasa and Sharon / Moi Teresa Jade, avec Sasa et Sharon

Festival du livre de Nice 2025

le chien Claude et Guillaume, le mari de Sasa.

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20 juin 2025

Last night June 19, 2025, after a cool shower (it was 36 Celsius / 96.8 Fahrenheit in Avignon), new energy flowed through me.  I worked until 8:00am June 20, then, I went to bed.

I haven’t been this happy in many many months.  I am grateful. I celebrate everyone who has been kind to me.

“

Caroline's magnificent plant / La magnifique plante de Caroline

Being in FRANCE this time has revived me. It’s because for the first time, I am in a real home for many weeks, not a vacation rental. Through the kindness of MCC who had asked her dear friend CK to rent me the studio apartment in her house in Avignon… I am experiencing tranquility.

CK is kind and creative, and, she has finished rewrites of her novel. Also, she has written a series of stories for children. I celebrate CK’s perseverance!

Happiness spreads.  Just the day before, I opened an email from author Ann Tashi Slater https://www.anntashislater.com/

who shared her happy news -

Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World (Hachette Book Group) is arriving September 9, 2025!

I celebrate Ann’s perseverance!  I met Ann at San Francisco Writers Conference when Sasa Southard, Mary E. Knippel and I were presenters, and, our pal Margie Yee Webb was in Linda Lee’s super team.

I pre-ordered Ann’s remarkable book.

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ann-tashi-slater/traveling-in-bardo/9780306835216/

And… I so hope to see Ann on September 27, 2025 at Book Passage Corte Madera in California.

https://www.bookpassage.com/event/ann-tashi-slater-sylvia-boorstein-traveling-bardo-corte-madera-store

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Sharon et Marie-Christine au Le jardin Singulier /Esprit des lieux / Maison forestière 84390 Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux - photo by TL

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A bookstore in a forest?  Oui.

https://www.provenceguide.com/patrimoines-culturels/mont-ventoux/le-jardin-singulier-esprit-des-lieux/provence-5294194-1.html

The quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry -

“Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m’enrichis.”

[  "If you differ from me, far from hurting me, you enrich me." ]

 https://francearchives.gouv.fr/fr/commemo/recueil-2000/38930

 http://evene.lefigaro.fr/citation/differes-frere-loin-leser-enrichis-1406.php

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22 juin 2025

In this blog post, I shall include references to movies that have hooked my attention this month.

Why do I study movies? To honor the writers of the scripts. While the names of the authors for books and stage plays are almost always associated with the title of the book or the play … the names of the writers for screenplays aren’t always the foremost association with the movie titles.  Generally, in the public’s eyes.. the names of the actors and directors get the most attention.  When a movie compels me to watch it again, I always rewind to the opening credits to say “Thank you” to the writer(s).

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15 juin 2025 in Avignon, FRANCE

Today I realized that I know more people who are dead than those who are alive. I’m not being funny… it’s  just that on June 11, 2025, I said to Marie-Christine that I would like to show Sharon one of my favorite places in the town of Apt  – Maison du Parc du Luberon https://www.parcduluberon.fr/ 60, place Jean-Jaures, 84400 Apt. While I was mesmerized by the display showing a scale of geological times in the Luberon region (10 million years ago, 35 million years ago, 150 million years ago), the phrase “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” came to mind.

Standing there, in front of the display

… the voice inside me said  … when I die, I shall be part of the geology of the planet.

[ … la voix en moi m’a dit … quand je mourrai … je ferai partie de la géologie de la planète.]

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https://www.theluberon.com/villages/

https://en.luberon-apt.fr/

https://www.luberon-apt.fr/apt-et-les-villages

Those words ”ashes to ashes, dust to dust” – spoken by the character Delbert in this movie – made me chuckle.

Undertaking Betty – original title: Plots with a View (comedy movie) – To start a new life, she had to fake her own death!

• Writer:  Fred Ponzlov
• Director:  Nick Hurran
• Stars:  Brenda Blethyn, Alfred Molina, Christopher Walken
• Thank you, Youtube Channel: Cinéfilm, for posting

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21h45 le 16 juin 2025

The mighty wind in this part of FRANCE… Le vent puissant…

Avignon, FRANCE https://www.avignon.fr/

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https://www.britannica.com/place/Avignon

Avignon, city, capital of Vaucluse département, Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur région, southeastern FRANCE. It lies at a point on the east bank of the Rhône River where the narrow valley opens into a broad delta plain, northwest of Nîmes. It was the capital of the papacy from 1309 to 1377. Recognized for its architectural beauty and historic importance, the centre of Avignon was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, and the city served as the European cultural capital for 2000.

.

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I wish everyone excellent health, peace and happiness always.

Je souhaite à tous une excellente santé, la paix et le bonheur toujours.

 

me, Teresa Jade, at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue https://www.islesurlasorgue.fr/

 

a grateful Teresa Jade LeYung

Une Teresa Jade LeYung reconnaissante

 

Author / Blogger / Story-Theme Consultant / Photo Historian

 

Auteur / Blogueur / Consultant en matière d’histoires / Historien de la photo

 

https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos for short short movies of Aix-les-Bains and Paris, FRANCE 2024 and 2025; Portland, Oregon USA 2024; Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 2024

 

https://www.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/shorts for “shorts” 

 

https://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog/  goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog on Wellness, Story Themes, Archetypes

 

Love Made Of Heart ®

Dear Reader,

I wish you and everyone around you … vibrant health, peace and laughter always.

For me, illness comes and goes, comes again and goes again … I smile to help my Brain boost production of dopamine and serotonin…to benefit my immune system.

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/smiling-can-trick-your-brain-happiness-boost-your-health-ncna822591

The kindness from my sister, elders, mentors, friends, neighbors, Angels… around the world led me to this moment.

Recently… when friends from San Francisco and San Bruno heard about my attempts and determination to see them …  they changed their plans and carpooled to Benicia to see me. They gave me an afternoon that my Brain will associate the moments with happiness and gratitude.

Friends who let me house-sit for them. Friends who ask their siblings and friends to rent me their places at my modest budget. Friends who come visit me. Friends who drive me to see other friends. Friends who help me organize my worldly possessions in storage. Friends who wish me wellness via email, message, voicemail and postal mail. Everyone who sends me happy thoughts.  I thank everyone with all my heart.

Right now, April 15, I am watching (again) NOEL, the movie that stars Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz, Robin Williams, Paul Walker, Alan Arkin, John Doman, et al.

Ms. Sarandon’s character Rose Collins is visiting her despondent mother in the hospital. She shows her mom an angel (one that would fit on top of a Christmas tree) but her mom is not responding. Rose notices the patient across the hall, under blanket, not moving, alone. She enters the room, hangs the angel on the window blind. When she turns around to leave,  she is startled by a man sitting in a chair near the door. She had not seen him when she entered ….

at 51 minutes into the movie Dr. Baron (portrayed by John Doman) tells Rose that even though her mom has lost her memory and the ability to recognize people .. one thing she’ll never lose is her emotions… that she can sense and she can feel … that’s why we tell family members to touch… to talk….

According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noel

“English speakers borrowed the word noel from French. It can be traced further back to the Latin word natalis, which can mean “birthday” as a noun or “of or relating to birth” as an adjective.

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Thank you, writers, continuity editors, actors, directors, producers, casts, crews, casting directors, et al!

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I love laughing with kooky and kindhearted characters in sitcoms.

Thank you, Youtube channel users, for posting episodes and clips from MIKE & MOLLY.

Here’s a 3-minute and 13 second compilation from CBS

Mike & Molly – Exclusive Preview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0VCpbkZQk&list=PL1RaM8eddoioVffitiSzPCrwOC2A5bDTT&index=1

Thank you, Youtube channel user Andrei Toth, for posting

Melissa McCarthy wins an Emmy Award for Mike and Molly 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfoxRXvNTGA&list=PL1RaM8eddoioVffitiSzPCrwOC2A5bDTT&index=12

6 fabulous women / actresses!

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This year, I was fortunate to have seen these remarkable healers

Marie-Christine Cornet https://www.mariechristinecornet.com/,

Dr. Amy Grace Lam https://www.vibrationalenergywellness.com/,

Dr. Faiza  Dossa https://www.lunettesdumondeoptometry.com/

Dr. Jae Reed, DC  https://azureskychiro.com/,

Stephanie Wilger, NC https://stephaniewilgernc.net/,

Dr. Cynthia Cox https://www.oaklandpacificdental.com/

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Thank you for reading my blog post: “Kindness from Sister, Elders, Mentors, Friends and Neighbors Turns Every Day Into Noel for me everywhere I go”

I wish everyone vibrant health, peace and laughter always!

Sasa's roses

 

a grateful Teresa Jade LeYung

Author / Blogger / Story-Theme Consultant / Photo Historian

Auteur / Blogueur / Consultant en matière d’histoires / Historien de la photo

https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos for short short movies of Aix-les-Bains and Paris, FRANCE 2024 and 2025; Portland, Oregon USA 2024; Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 2024

https://www.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/shorts for “shorts” I have created.

https://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog/  goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog on Wellness, Story Themes, Archetypes

Love Made Of Heart ®

– 01:49 mardi (Tuesday) le 4 février (February) 2025 Paris

13:02-15:50 lundi (Monday) le 3 février (February) 2025 Paris

01:10 mercredi (Wednesday) le 8 janvier 2025, 01:10 Aix-les-Bains, FRANCE

22:10 mardi (Tuesday) le 7 janvier (January) 2025  Aix-les-Bains

Bonne année!

Je vous souhaite, ainsi qu’à tous ceux qui vous sont chers, une année 2025 de paix, d’excellente santé, de prospérité et de bonheur.

Happy New Year!
I wish you and everyone you care about a 2025 of peace, excellent health, prosperity and happiness.

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Aix-les-Bains est une station thermale située au bord du lac du Bourget, en Savoie, dans l’est de la FRANCE.

Aix-les-Bains is a spa town located on the shore of Lake Bourget (the largest natural lake in France), in Savoie, in eastern FRANCE.

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https://www.aixlesbains.fr/La-Mairie/

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https://www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/

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Plus grand lac naturel de France avec ses dix-huit kilomètres de long, le lac du Bourget est entouré par le massif de l’Epine, le Mont du Chat, la Chambotte, le Mont Revard et les Bauges.? Ce lac, chanté par les plus grands poètes offre des plaisirs nautiques et balnéaires dans une eau pouvant atteindre les 26°C l’été.

The largest natural lake in France with its eighteen kilometres long, the Lake of Bourget is surrounded by the Epine massif, the Mont du Chat, the Chambotte, the Mont Revard and the Bauges. This lake, sung by the greatest poets, offers nautical and seaside pleasures in water that can reach 26 degrees Celsius in summer.

https://www.aixlesbains.fr/

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https://www.savoie-mont-blanc.com/grands-lacs/lac-du-bourget/

My one minute and 23-second movie:

Auspicious church bells ringing, Christmas Day 2024 L’église Notre-Dame d’Aix-les-Bains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSVVlrGr5zY

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My 54-second movie:

Christmas lights, north section Square du Temple de Diane, Aix-les-Bains, FRANCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrrBCmXPu4E

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My one minute 8-second movie:

l’Hôtel de Ville, Place Maurice Mollard, Square du Temple de Diane, Aix-les-Bains, FRANCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afmOO81FFA0

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View from the balcony of an apartment in a hillside section of Aix-les-Bains (a place of serenity).

Can you see Lake Bourget in the right half of the photo?

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Paris (City of Light) is the capitol city of FRANCE

https://parisjetaime.com/

Paris par quartier / Paris by Neighborhood

https://parisjetaime.com/decouvrir-paris/paris-par-quartier-i153

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En français

https://www.france.fr/fr/destination/paris/

Paris ? C’est un monde ! Chacun de ses quartiers s’explore comme un pays, de Montmartre la villageoise au quartier latin en passant par le berceau de l’île de la Cité. Et chaque pierre nous parle d’art, du séculaire musée du Louvre à la futuriste fondation Louis Vuitton. Car Paris est une fête permanente pour la culture, y compris pour la gastronomie. Ce n’est pas Alain Ducasse ou Pierre Hermé qui nous contrediront !

In English

https://www.france.fr/en/destination/paris/

says:
Welcome to the mesmerizing realm of Paris, city where every cobblestone holds whispers of history and every avenue unfurls a tapestry of experiences. Each neighborhood is a world of its own, a unique chapter in this epic novel of art, culture, and life. From the bohemian spirit of Montmartre to the timeless elegance of the Latin Quarter and the ancient heartbeat of the Ile de la Cité, Paris city is a kaleidoscope of emotions waiting to be explored. It’s not just a city; it’s a realm where even the stones are storytellers, where every corner is a masterpiece, and where every bite is an ode to gastronomic delight, guided by the ingenious pastry maestro, Nina Metayer, awarded as the world’s best pastry chef in 2023 !

View from an apartment in the 11th arrondissement 75011 in Paris.

My 30-second movie “Notre Dame d’Espérance church bells ringing, Sunday January 26, 2025, 11th arrondissement Paris”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ybsWLmglk4

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La Tour Eiffel (aka “The Iron Lady”) 75007 Paris

Notre-Dame d’Espérance 75011 Paris

https://www.notredameesperance.com/

My 43-second movie:  “La Tour Eiffel, Notre-Dame d’Espérance foreground, la Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in far distance, Paris”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoCM-Iy5RsI

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Looking at Place de la Bastille, 75004 Paris

https://parisjetaime.com/transport/place-de-la-bastille-p1985

Au centre de la place de la Bastille se dresse la colonne de Juillet, surmontée du fameux Génie de la Liberté, commémorant la révolution de 1830. Mais c’est pour une autre révolution que la place est bien connue : celle de 1789. À cette époque, elle était occupée par la prison de la Bastille, symbole du pouvoir absolu de l’Ancien Régime. De cette geôle, détruite peu après la Révolution française, il ne reste rien.

In the centre of the Place de la Bastille stands the July Column, surmounted by the famous Genie de la Liberté, commemorating the revolution of 1830. But it is for another revolution that the place is well known: that of 1789. At that time, it was occupied by the Bastille prison, a symbol of the absolute power of the Ancien Régime. Of this jail, destroyed shortly after the French Revolution, nothing remains.

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Mon cœur danse quand je suis à Paris.

My heart dances when I am in Paris.

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Sign points to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine 75011 Paris

https://parisjetaime.com/transport/faubourg-saint-antoine-p1876

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 Looking toward La Seine from Avenue Ledru-Rollin 75011 Paris

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Bonne Année! 

Je vous envoie de joyeuses pensées d’Aix-les-Bains et de Paris, FRANCE !

Happy New Year!

I send you happy thoughts from Aix-les-Bains and Paris (City of Light), FRANCE!

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Sincerely / Cordialement

Teresa Jade LeYung

Author / Blogger / Story-Theme Consultant / Photo Historian

Auteur / Blogueur / Consultant en matière d’histoires / Historien de la photo

https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos for short short movies of Aix-les-Bains and Paris, FRANCE 2024 and 2025; Portland, Oregon USA 2024; Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 2024

https://www.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/shorts for “shorts” I have created.

https://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog/  goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog on Wellness, Story Themes, Archetypes

Love Made Of Heart ®

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.

La_Tour_Eiffel_seen_from_Le_Trocadéro,_Paris__photo_by_Teresa_Jade_LeYung_img_5425

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.

sky_over_Place_de_l'Eglise-d'Auteuil_75016_Paris_photo_by_Teresa_Jade_LeYung_img_5186

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.

La_Bastille__photo_by_Teresa_Jade_LeYung_img_8281

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La_Bastille__photo_by_Teresa_Jade_LeYung_img_8312

Bonne journée

Bonne soirée

Wishing you a happy heart!

Addendum:  The techniques in Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s workbook helps me “outgrow” persistent unpleasant sensations  including  pain. 

2021 December 9,  15:18 – 16:18;  December 10, 18:00 – 19:58 California

Dear Reader,

I have been watching episodes of The Jack Benny Program (TV series 1950-1965) and laughing out loud; thank you to the folks who post them on YouTube.

Laughing out loud is good medicine – a mighty elixir – for me.

The world continues to be impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. How can I think about laughing?

I am still dealing with a neurological disorder. How can I think about laughing?

Smiling for one’s self; laughing for one’s self; walking; imagining walking; moving to soothing thoughts – are some of the activities which help our beautiful brains produce beneficial chemicals. What I have learned as an advocate for my papa since 2015 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease … and what I’ve learned and continue to learn – as a patient of persistent unpleasant sensations including pain -  is that there are things I can do for myself to feel better.  Even if the sensation of wellness seems ephemeral… I’ll take wellness moments. Thank you very much!

I remember sitting with Vicki Weiland https://vickiweiland.wordpress.com …knowing that it took our dear friend many days (oftentimes many weeks, even months) to prepare herself for visitors. Awful persistent pain was the symptoms.

On two occasions, I witnessed how laughter was a mighty elixir for Vicki.  Someone in the room said something funny; or Vicki herself said something funny and we all laughed … at that moment Vicki’s entire body expressed wellness.

How we all wished that our pal would have millions of wellness moments.

Angel Vicki,

I’ve been watching my favorite episodes of The Jack Benny Program again and again.  Interestingly, several of them feature James Stewart and his wife Gloria. More about that … at the end of my blog post.

This afternoon – Thursday, December 9, 2021 – while organizing my inventory of greeting cards, I found a note I had written to myself. You had called me on October 8, 2012 at 19:00 from your new home. You said “The trees and mountain are glorious. But my pain is not going away….”

Even though you were ill, you gave your time to call and to ask about Sasa Southard  https://sasasouthard.com and other friends at Women’s National Book Association and San Francisco Writers Conference. How I wish a physician with Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s insight about persistent pain was your physician. The workbook that Dr. Michael Moskowitz co-wrote with Dr. Marla Golden was published only three months after your phone call (in January 2013), however, I didn’t know about it until last year (2020) when I was battling persistent pain myself.

I wish you Bliss, mon amie, and humbly ask you to help more people find Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION

With deep gratitude,

Teresa Jade

TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION 

written by Michael H. Moskowitz, MD  and  Marla D. Golden, DO 

http://neuroplastix.com

Your Brain On Pain

Why doesn’t the pain stop?

Listen to your body talk.

Use your brain to stop your pain.

Below are chapter / section titles of the workbook:

Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s Instructions for Using this Workbook

“This worbook has been designed to be helpful for practitioners and people experiencing persistent pain. It is a practical, visual guide to neuroplastic treatment approaches for treating persistent pain.”

“Neuroplastic Transformation provides a model that approaches persistent pain where it transforms from a symptom to disease. It also gives the person experiencing  pain’s relentless persistence, a chance to treat it with the same neuroplastic phenomena that created it, restoring balance to pain processing.”

At the end of each section is “Reining in the Runaway Brain” (patients share techniques they use)

http://neuroplastix.com

Sections in the workbook:

pages 4 – 16  Section 1 – Introduction

Brain Facts (page 4);  Brain Change (page 5);

Neuroplasticity Definition

• New Learning Changes the Brain

• The Brain Changes the Body

• The Body Changes the Brain

Neuroplasticity Rules
Workbook page 5

• What Gets Fired Gets Wired

• Use It or Lose It

• When You Break ‘Em You Make ‘Em; When You Make ‘Em You Break ‘Em

• Fight Fire With Fire

• Reverse the Forces That Have Caused Pain to Persist

• Restore Normal Pain Responses

R.A.F.T. (page 9)

–  Rescue

–  Adjustment

–  Functional

–  Transformation

Persistent vs Acute Pain
Workbook pages 10, 11

Counter-Stimulating Pain
Worbook page 11, 12, 13

• Pain Reassigns Brain Cells

• Take Back Brain Cells

• Use Graphics to Counter-Stimulate Pain

• Become Active in Your Own Care

• Counter-Stimulate Your Brain

Shrink the Pain Map by Flooding the Brain (page 13)

• Push Back Against Pain Spikes and Intrusions

• Get Inside Your Own Head

• Always Counter-Stimulate Your Pain

Active vs. Passive Treatment

Practice Makes Perfect

M.I.R.R.O.R. (page 14) MIRROR is:

– Motivation

– Intention

– Relentlessness

– Reliability

– Opportunity

– Restoration

N.O.R.M.A.L  (page 14) NORMAL is:

Neuroplastic Optimization and Reduction of Medication for Adaptive Living

• Rebalance Pain Processing Circuits

• Body and Brain Act Together

• Persistent Pain is a Learned Activity

 People Taking Back Control of Their Pain (page 16)

pages 18 – 24  Section 2 – Touch

Mom the Neuroscientist – It Takes a Mother’s Touch (page 18)

Hands That See (page 21)

Healing Touch (page 22)

pages 26 – 33  Section 3 -  Neuroplastic Brain and Body

NO BRAIN, NO PAIN.   Nociception.  (page 26)

The Brain Learns Pain; Too Smart for It’s Own Good (page 27)

Brain and Body (page 28)

Fire and Wire … Or Not

Cause and Cure for Pain Persistence (page 29)

pages 35 – 41   Section 4 – Pain Gone Wild

Limbic Activation (page 35)

Pain Makes Pain; Making a Bad Thing Worse (page 36)

Unpleasantness – As if the Pain Wasn’t Enough (page 37)

BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE – Over the Edge – Amygdala and Hippocampus (page 38)

IN THE AMYGDALA – Where the Wild Things Are (page 39)

Pages 43 – 52  Section 5 -  Soothing

Oh That Smell; The Nose Knows  (pages 47, 48)

BELIEF IS RELIEF (page 49)

Pages 54 – 64  Section 6 -  Mood and Pain

Pain and Mood Circuit (page 54)

Relax, Calm, Soothe – GABA to the Rescue (page 55)

Limbic Deactivation – Emotional Calm (page 57)

Access the Brain with  THOUGHTS  IMAGES   SENSATIONS  MEMORIES  SOOTHING EMOTIONS  MOVEMENT  BELIEFS  (page 58)

[ This wonderful workbook helps me understand just how awesome the beautiful brain is, however, my initial success was due to the coaching I received from Dr. Danielle Rosenman who was trained by Dr. Michael Moskowitz. The techniques helped me "outgrow" persistent pain. ]

Pages  66 – 74  Section 7  -  Pleasure – the Antidote for Pain

BLISS – Anandamide (page 69)

WELL BEING – Endorphins (page 71)

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE – Oxytocin (page 72)

Page  75  Section 8 – Conclusion – A New Beginning

Below are names of the writers who were credited for these particular episodes of

The Jack Benny Program which brought healing laughter

Written by Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Al Gordon, Hal Goldman -

James and Gloria Stewart are celebrating their wedding anniversary at a restaurant; Jack has invited himself and has brought girlfriend Mildred who sings (loudly) to Mr. Stewart when the band plays the French song “La Vie En Rose” (according to https://frenchmoments.eu/je-vois-la-vie-en-rose-the-story-of-the-song/ the music was composed by Marguerite Monnot and Louis Guglielmi aka Louiguy,  lyrics and also sung by Édith Piaf)

 ”Jack In Paris” (guests: Mary Livingstone, Maurice Chevalier) – according to https://www.imdb.com this show is Season 7, Episode 14  – Oh to see Arc de Triomphe  et la Tour Eiffel!

Written by  Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Hal Goldman, Al Gordon -

“The Income Tax Show” is hilarious! -  Season 15, Episode 4; October 16, 1964

“Jack Directs Film”  Season 14, Episode 6; Oct. 29, 1963  Jack finds out that Gloria Stewart is in James Stewart’s new movie and wants to congratulate her on the set.

Written by Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Milt Josefsberg, John Tackaberry

Jack Benny Program “The Jackie Gleason Show” is hilarious!  Wanting to impress Jackie Gleason, Jack and Rochester are staying in the penthouse suite in the Saint Regis Hotel. Yes, Jack is staying there (at no cost)

Again, thank you to the folks who post them on YouTube.

Thank you for reading Teresa Jade LeYung’s  blog post: “Wellness, Laughter, Writers, Jack Benny Program, Dr. Michael H. Moskowitz, Dr. Marla D. Golden, TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN Workbook”

For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains, Pain, and Neuroplasticity  in my blog  https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog …  If you scroll to top of page, 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 new vitality, total wellness!

Sincerely,

Teresa_Jade_LeYung__photo_by_Nan_Nooanan_and_Mary E. Knippel

Teresa Jade LeYung

(formerly Teresa LeYung-Ryan)

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

http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog https://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/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 ®

“MIT new study – Time spent indoors increases risk of COVID at 6 feet or 60 feet…”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/23/mit-researchers-say-youre-no-safer-from-covid-indoors-at-6-feet-or-60-feet-in-new-study.html

To read Chi Nei Tsang Master Healer and Master Teacher Gilles Marin’s tried and true methods to attack viruses and neutralize them
https://www.chineitsang.com/post/prevent-getting-the-flu-and-help-eradicate-covid-19-contagion?mc_cid=186e80f0ec&mc_eid=ad8adb3075

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?

* * * * * * * * *

What I do when I experience a flare-up and my right hand hurts:

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.

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,

 

photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Mary E. Knippel

 

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 ®

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.

***

**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.

• 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.

• 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!

Thank you, kind strangers, who helped us captured moments. Boulevard Saint-Michel led us to Rue de la Huchette - aromas from hundreds of eateries! My BB remembers. Walking on cobble stones - author/photographer Margie Yee Webb, global adventurer Sasa Southard, and story-theme consultant Teresa Jade LeYung. Merci beaucoup, Sasa, for giving us a dream tour of City of Light in 2016.

Mere thought of smelling, seeing, savoring fresh bread in Paris brings BLISS

author/photographer Margie Yee Webb, her sister Anna, global traveler Sasa Southard, and story-theme consultant Teresa Jade LeYung -- admirers of The Iron Lady "la Tour Eiffel" (Paris 2017)

*  *  * **

**

author/journalist Scott James (aka Kemble Scott), author/photographer Margie Yee Webb, story-theme consultant/author Teresa Jade LeYung, global adventurer/author Sasa Southard, and, Margie's sister Anna! Avenue de la Republique, 75011 Paris

The Water Lily (les Nymphéas) Pond at Giverny, home village of beloved painter Claude Monet, in the town of Vernon, France

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

Joy is gawking at the architecture in Paris. That's Sasa at the balcony! I was on the street photographing and filming.

*  *  *  **

Sasa Southard https://sasasouthard.com/ is a descendant of the Dumas of France. The Dumas Metro station is near Père Lachaise cemetery

Happiness is finding fabric and ribbons in Paris - photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Sasa Southard

**  **  **

To ride buses in Paris is to give my eyes pleasure

big windows and views of greenery is bliss

****** ***

**  **

Postcards sold in shops and at newsstands / kiosks (Presse) in Paris mesmerize me

Global Adventurer Sasa Southard https://sasasouthard.com/ is most fond of the 5th arrondissement and visiting the Panthéon - photo by Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung

** **

*****

Developmental Editor / Book Doctor Vicki Weiland - Wish you were there!

Kathy et Nan let me filmed them walking on avenue Gabriel, Paris

Teresa Jade LeYung, Nan, Kathy at Opéra Garnier aka Palais Garnier, Paris. I learned "why" ballet performances start at 8pm.

**

Global Adventurer Sasa Southard brimming with joy, having been to Institut de Français, Villefranche-sur-Mer

****

**Teresa Jade LeYung in front of Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris (BHVP), 24 rue Pavée, Paris 75004 (photo by Nan or Sasa)**

Olga Malyj treated us (her niece Nicole and Nicole’s husband, artist Cynthia Tom, and me) to evening tour on la Seine! Merci beaucoup, chère Olga!

**  *****

Seeing pink roses in Madame H's lovely flat is bliss. Merci beaucoup, Madame H! They remind me of my Number One Angel!

Thanks to LaH for wanting to visit le musée du Louvre, I got to see the remarkable painting by Eugène Delacroix, Le 28 Juillet: "La Liberté guidant le peuple". I treasure the memento in the form of a folder. Homelife in Madam H's lovely flat was bliss.

https://www.louvre.fr/en/mediaimages/eugene-delacroix-le-28-juillet-la-liberte-guidant-le-peuple-musee-du-louvre

Merci beaucoup, Sasa! for treating us (Sasa's brother and nephew and friends and Olga and me) to hear jazz singer Isabelle Seleskovitch! So many other experiences... Merci, Sasa!

Merci beaucoup, Madame Hamou, for letting us meet you! I wish you and everyone around you excellent health and bliss!

** **  ** **

Merci beaucoup, LaH et Sasa, for posing for me.

Merci beaucoup, LaH et Sharon, for posing in front of Ladurée, avenue des Champs Elysées

author and writing coach Mary E. Knippel http://yourwritingmentor.com/ near Pont Alexandre III - photo by theme consultant Teresa Jade LeYung, September 2019

Nan et Mary E. Knippel immensely enjoyed Berthe Marisot exhibition at le Musée d'Orsay. Merci, Sasa, for introducing me to this beloved artist!

Nan loves to visit le Musée d'Orsay - photo by theme consultant Teresa Jade LeYung

Paris !

**   **   ** **  * *    *

Margie Yee Webb, Sasa Southard, Teresa Jade LeYung at Nuit Blanche so happy to see Daniel Buren's installation with their own eyes (2019 Paris) - magical photo of magical moment by MYW!

Sasa et Margie at Pierre Hermé, 86 Av. des Champs-Élysées

Paris !

**  **

artist MT and artist Chandra Garsson https://www.facebook.com/butterflybonesandhummingbirdsongs, I just know you would have loved experiencing Vincent van Gogh's paintings projected onto walls and floors at l'Atelier des Lumières Paris https://www.atelier-lumieres.com/en (unique art center presenting classic pieces in immersive music)

La Tour Eiffel, I dream of you!

Paris!

*  * **  **

Teresa Jade LeYung says: "Eating a sandwich in Paris is bliss." - photo by Mary E. Knippel

Mere thought of smelling, seeing, eating quiche in Paris brings BLISS

Cakes at Angelina

**  **  **  **

Thank you, Chi Nei Tsang practitioner Marie-Christine Cornet, for showing me Espace des femmes Antoinette Fouque https://www.espace-des-femmes.fr/

Paroisse Saint-Ambroise in 11th arrondissement, photo_by_Teresa_Jade_LeYung 2019_Paris

Looking out Madame Puech's kitchen window is bliss.

* * *

Postcards sold at newsstands / kiosks (Presse) or in shops mesmerize me

Parc Monceau, I dream of you!

Choosing postcards to send to friends is a joyful ritual when I am in Paris

*  **  **  **

Mere thought of smelling, seeing, savoring croissant, pain au chocolat, brioche in Paris brings BLISS

 **  **

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.

Thank you, MT et MYW, for masks; Starry Night mask by Dahlynn of WoodstockAndYarn

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.

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 …”

 **

All graphics in this blog post are from Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO

**

When Beautiful Brain is not producing pain -

 **

When Beautiful Brain is producing acute pain –

 **

When Beautiful Brain is producing persistent (chronic) pain -

 **

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.normandoidge.com/

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

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung at Place des Vosges, Paris.(photo by Margie Yee Webb et Sasa Southard 2016)

**

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

http://amygracelam.com/

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,

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung, photo by Emily O. on Nov 8, 2020

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.

Thank you, Marie-Christine Cornet, for sending this lovely image from France!

Meilleurs voeux 2021!

 Story/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Adaptable Brain, Let Quiet Enter.”

IS part 2 of my trilogy to honor our Beautiful Brains.

Finding URLs (of videos posted on Youtube) for mentors has given me an opportunity to learn (again) what I can do to help myself transform persistent pain signals (when there isn’t new damage to body tissue) and depression signals… into a refreshed Brain so that I can do what I love doing during my waking hours.  I am most grateful to the precious people in my life who care about my well-being.

 May these sites help you, dear Reader, and your loved ones too . . .

 Norman Doidge, M.D.

https://www.normandoidge.com/

“Dr. Norman Doidge | The Power of Thought” on YouTube  https://youtu.be/2c5aTlq3nYI

Dr. Doidge’s first book – The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (translated into 26 languages)

Dr. 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)

Professor Lorimer Moseley

Dr. Danielle Rosenman

Teresa Jade LeYung’s Haiku poem 2020 December 28 Monday 03:55

Sweet raindrop music

May we all be safe and warm

Today and always

(Although the 5-7-5 structure was added on December 28, 2020 to honor the Haiku form,  the composition has been my fervent prayer for decades, long before the word “pandemic” was in my daily vocabulary.  Because Haiku poems aren’t titled, please accept the publishing date as identifier for this piece.)

Teresa Jade LeYung’s Haiku poem  2021 January 3 Sunday 20:40

Quiet please enter

Let Brain imagine Paris

Depression Pain leave

To read Part 1 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:

Story/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/

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.

Sincerely,

author Teresa Jade LeYung, mask by Emily O

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 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.

2020 October 29 California USA

2020 November 4,5,6

In American author L. Frank Baum’s children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,  Dorothy and her dog Toto meet the Scarecrow who wants a brain, the Tin Woodman who wants a heart, and the Lion who wants courage.

I shall focus on what the Scarecrow doesn’t have and wants.

The Scarecrow who doesn’t have a brain would feel no pain.  He can’t.

He might sustain injuries and illnesses, but, until he gets a full brain (the thinking conscious brain in addition to the automatic survival brain), he would not feel any pain. Without the thinking conscious brain, he wouldn’t feel any sensation – pleasant ones or unpleasant ones.

Unpleasant sensations?   Pain.  Depression. Anxiety.

If I were the Wizard, before granting Mr. Scarecrow what he wants, I would tell him this:

Dear Mr. Scarecrow,

When you get what you want – a beautiful brain – you will be getting an adaptable nervous system – adaptability which scientists call neuroplasticity.  The brain changes whenever we learn to do something new or when we stop doing something. The brain produces sensations, including pain.  According to Dr. Norman Doidge,  Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, Dr. Danielle Rosenman, Professor Lorimer Moseley and other neuroscientists and physicians … pain is our most sophisticated protective device.

In Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s most engaging workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION, they inform: “Acute pain is an alarm going off in the brain that signifies danger and/or damage to the body….  The experience of pain may be the single most important perception we have to help us survive…. This is quite different than persistent pain experience, in which the signal sets up an endless loop between body and brain, inflammatory processes become chronic, anti-inflammatory processes are overwhelmed, and the nerve cells dedicated to pain increase up to five-fold.  Acute pain helps with survival while persistent pain transforms danger into misery.”

In his presentations, Professor Lorimer Moseley says: “We feel pain in our body, in a particular location, but, it is impossible to feel pain without the brain, and, it is definitely possible to feel pain without the body part.”

Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden also say: “This is why general anesthetics work – by separating the thinking conscious brain from the automatic survival brain. During anesthesia, the survival part of the brain stays active, but, the perceptive part of the brain is turned off.”

By the way, Dr. Moskowitz is Chapter 1 in Dr. Norman Doidge’s second book The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity

Chapter 1 Physician Hurt, Then Heal Thyself -  Michael Moskowitz Discovers That Chronic Pain Can Be Unlearned

I am giving you this information because you say you want a brain.  Understanding how your brain and pain pathways work can help dissipate fear.  Your loyal friends will stick by you, as mine have (I am forever grateful to them), but, you will be the one experiencing the sensations. Even the most courageous heroes can feel defeated when persistent pain takes over their lives.

“What is the antidote for pain, depression, anxiety, and other unpleasant symptoms?  PLEASURE.

“How to accomplish this?

“By studying the brain and practicing … by using thoughts, images, sensations, soothing memories, soothing emotions, movement, and beliefs … to harness the power of our brains,” Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden instruct.  On the last page of their workbook, they leave us with plenty of hope: “Neuroplastic Transformation opens a new approach to treating people living with persistent pain ….   The overarching message is that persistent pain can be challenged and defeated  by using the same principles that have created it.”

The simple act of smiling for yourself will help your beautiful brain’s natural production of chemicals that include GABA, Anandamide, Endorphins, Oxytocin.

Dr. Danielle Rosenman reminded me:  “When you learn to talk to your brain, you are opening up a new life.” Thank you, Dr. Rosenman

Mr. Scarecrow, I wish you a new beautiful life. Also, I wish you, and Dorothy, Toto, Mr. Tin Woodman, Mr. Lion, and everyone you folks care about — safety, excellent health, and plenty of pleasure for all your beautiful brains.

Here are the names of a few “Wonderful Wizards” who have enriched my life through their books about our brains and wellness, their talks, or their treatments

https://youtu.be/5p6sbi_0lLc  to see the 41 minute talk  “Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley – Successful Ageing Seminar 2013″ on Youtube

http://www.neuroplastix.com/  for Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden - TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION workbook and webinars and brain graphics

http://www.normandoidge.com/ for Dr. Norman Doidge (look for his talks posted on Youtube)

Dr. Doidge’s first book – The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (translated into 26 languages)

Dr. 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)

To my compassionate primary care physician (present and past) and the entire team at SEBMF, I thank you!

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.

http://amygracelam.com/ Dr. Amy Grace Lam, vibrational energy healer,  says: “I do this work by connecting with your body’s vibrational energy field to learn what unconscious beliefs and emotions are hindering you the most and supporting you in accessing your body’s wisdom for transformation.”

http://www.duskyswondersite.com/ Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT says: “Mind/body approaches such as EMDR and Emotional Freedom Technique are scientifically proven methods that we might use to address trauma or deep emotional wounds.”

http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/ Marie-Christine Cornet (now in France), Chi Nei Tsang and Somatic Experience practitioner, says: “Connecting to your body and its wealth of intelligence and wisdom is the portal to living Life deeply and authentically.”

http://stephaniedoucette.com/  Stephanie Doucette, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. OM, is a California Licensed Acupuncturist and Clinical Herbalist. She is nationally certified as a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine and practices integrative orthopedic therapy, bringing together acupuncture, deep tissue massage and manual orthopedic techniques to treat neuromuscular injury and chronic pain.

https://www.victoriasweet.com/ for Dr. Victoria Sweet

Dr. Sweet’s first book – God’s Hotel: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine

Dr. Sweet’s second book - Slow Medicine: The Way to Healing

Remember to smile for your beautiful brain, not just on the Yellow Brick Road but wherever you are.  During the pandemic when we’re all wearing masks to protect others and ourselves… all the more reason to smile for your brain’s pleasure pathways.

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

Love Made Of Heart ®

Story Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Scarecrow in THE WIZARD OF OZ would feel NO pain”

I recommend this spellbinding workbook -

Transforming the Brain In Pain

Neuroplastic Transformation

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

Why doesn’t the pain stop?

Listen to your body talk

Use your brain to stop your pain

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

http://www.neuroplastix.com/ for Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s webinars

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.

author Teresa Jade LeYung, mask by Emily O, July 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

To help prevent spread of COVID-19 virus, I wear face-covering AND keep at least 6-foot-distance with people who don’t live with me. No blaming No shaming; I protect myself and everyone else.

Teresa Jade LeYung speaks out and offers resources through her Blog: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

Teresa talks about her work of art entitled ”Four Desks for the Four Femmes In Me” at A PLACE OF HER OWN (Founder/Director/Curator: Cynthia Tom) 2018 Exhibition https://youtu.be/JtvIsTjcbOk  2 minutes, 44 seconds

Teresa Jade LeYung, September 2019 photo by Mary E. Knippel

Teresa Jade LeYung, an American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a manuscript-theme consultant, author of Love Made Of Heart (daughter-mother novel archived at the San Francisco History Center), Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days (a workbook), and Talking To My Dead Mom (monologues), advocate for public libraries and public schools, and, admirer of City of Light.