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”

2018 A PLACE OF HER OWN ™ opening reception group photo by artist and teacher Cris Matos; Cynthia Tom standing in the center wearing pink

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, 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.”

https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/story-theme-consultant-teresa-leyung-ryan-aka-found-object-artist-teresa-jade-leyung/

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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!

https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/story-theme-consultant-teresa-leyung-ryan-living-beauty-full-life-as-teresa-jade-leyung/

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Nov 18, 2017, San Rafael, CA - artist Cynthia Tom, a panel of Cynthia's "Accepting the I Am" triptych, Teresa Jade LeYung, Margie Yee Webb

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Teresa Jade LeYung with her art "“Four Desks For the Four Femmes In Me”" photo by artist Irene Wibawa

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/

photo_by_Nan_and_MEK

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 ®

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.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)

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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

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.

Featuring 20 San Francisco Bay Area Women Artists answering the question:

at J-SEI in Emeryville
1285 66th Street, Emeryville   (510) 654-4000

Exhibition runs May 12 through June 24, 2018

 The public is invited to participate in self-guided art-making workstations during gallery hours.

Admission Free. Donations $10-$20 are appreciated. No one turned away for lack of funds.

 * Denotes artists in the 2018 residency program

 Artists:  Nancy Arvold, *Julie Andersen, Angela Bau, *Frances Cachapero, *Norma Carrera, *Kristi Chan, Catherine Ceniza Choy, *Angie Dumagsa, *Elizabeth Esqueda, Reiko Fujii, *Ashleigh, *Tomo Hirai, *Ahran Lee, *Grace Hwang Lynch, Lisa Rodondi, *Teresa Jade LeYung-Ryan, Natalie Sacramento, Cynthia Tom, Sue Tom, Dechen Tsering, Manon Bogerd Wada, Irene Wibawa, Maggie Yee, *Patricia Zamora

Story / Theme Consultant Teresa LeYung-Ryan AKA Found-Object Artist Teresa Jade LeYung

here is a sneak peek at one of the four sections of Teresa Jade LeYung's piece entitled "Four Desks For the Four Femmes In Me"

Photo above is a sneak peek at one of the four sections of my piece entitled “Four Desks For the Four Femmes In Me”.
  You will have to go see the whole piece and the magnificent creations by classmates and artist-teachers at the exhibit
I will post photos of Opening Reception of May 12, 2018 for folks who cannot be there in person.

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, 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.

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

For Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan, please visit

http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/blog