For nearly 20 years now, I have avoided watching the news. As I knew from my corporate communications days, “If it bleeds, it leads.” I have no desire to soak up any negativity.
However, watching highlights from the Paris Olympics can be inspirational. I was particularly touched by Celine Dion’s always amazing performance, especially after learning about her neurological disease. And then, who doesn’t want to root for Simone Biles. She’s a winner in life who can move and jump and twist like no one else. The Texan demonstrated to the world that mental health should be a priority and the undeniable link between our emotional and physical well-being.
So focus on the gold—the glass being half-full. Acknowledge your incredible resiliency and strength as well as that of your loved ones, and your community. And, tune down or tune off the negative vibes on the airwaves, social media, or spewing out of people around you.
You can do it. Just take one step at a time and do what's right for you.
For some, writing a book is as tangible as doing The Biles gymnastics moves. For others, it's a dream. But for me, it was also duty and dharma. I wanted to share key teachings from my gurus around the world so that others could find their optimal well-being.
That's why winning my two gold medals was such an honor.
I won gold medals in both the Self-Help and Fitness/Health categories. “From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram: Wisdom uncovers simple teachings from my golden mentors in the boxing ring, teepee, temples, and ashrams. Through storytelling, anecdotes, testimonials, recommendations, and the latest research findings, “From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram” shares free or inexpensive tips that can be done in as little as ten minutes a day.
Among the endorsements for my book, Dr. Vasant Lad, BAMS, MASc., founder of The Ayurvedic Institute, said, "Deborah Charnes has brought ancient timeless wisdom into the most practical and clinical application. I think this book will help every reader change his or her life."
On August 3, another debut author from my publishing house and I brought home gold medals from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA). Both of us wrote about challenges and solutions to total well-being. The esteemed juried competition honors the best examples of quality and creativity in new books.
What made the awards even better for me was that the gold medal for memoirs went to the author of a book that fascinated me. Bonnie R. Armstrong shared her compelling story of transformative body, mind, spirit healing. Armstrong’s “An Apparently Normal Person: From Medical Mystery to Dissociative Superpower” is a brave, raw, and ultimately uplifting memoir that reveals the uncharted territory of her dissociation, a survival mechanism that became a catalyst for healing.
Each year, the Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) sponsors the FAPA President’s Book Awards, which recognizes book publishing excellence and creativity among English-language publications from anywhere in the world. Publishing professionals, librarians, and educators from within and outside Florida judged the hundreds of entries.