Re: The power of optimism and music

[Guest guest]

Leah, Someone sent me this wonderful video the other day. What an amazing

woman, an

inspiration for all people. I have sent it on to many friends - I hope lots of

people get to see it.

>

> There have been several discussions of late in which some people have gotten

upset at being advised to learn to try to accept optimistically the side affects

they live with.

>

> There was some discussion about this being the place to air complaints and

gripes, and there is some legitamacy to that point. However, often these posts

come across as asking for advice. Beyond the very practical (headache remedies,

exercise regimes et al), it is very difficult to give any other advice in the

face of complaints that have no solution at present. I think we would all love

to be drug (and side-effect) free, and not have to worry about CML, but this is

the hand we have been dealt.

>

> In the light of this topic, I would like to share a video that I recently

received, about the oldest living Holocaust survivor (she will be 107 this

month). There was a recent news article about the power of an optimistic

attitude in increasing longevity and preventing health issues (which is not to

say that being negative makes you sick, just that being optimistic helps you not

get worse). Her story is certainly a testament to that outlook.

>

> Best to all,

> Leah

>

> http://www.youtube.com/user/AliceTheFilm

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Leah,

Make sure you also watch

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF4M6apS1tc & feature=related>

& feature=related

which was done when she was 103.

Zavie

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

leahpeer

Sent: October-29-10 2:40 PM

Subject: [ ] The power of optimism and music

There have been several discussions of late in which some people have gotten

upset at being advised to learn to try to accept optimistically the side

affects they live with.

There was some discussion about this being the place to air complaints and

gripes, and there is some legitamacy to that point. However, often these

posts come across as asking for advice. Beyond the very practical (headache

remedies, exercise regimes et al), it is very difficult to give any other

advice in the face of complaints that have no solution at present. I think

we would all love to be drug (and side-effect) free, and not have to worry

about CML, but this is the hand we have been dealt.

In the light of this topic, I would like to share a video that I recently

received, about the oldest living Holocaust survivor (she will be 107 this

month). There was a recent news article about the power of an optimistic

attitude in increasing longevity and preventing health issues (which is not

to say that being negative makes you sick, just that being optimistic helps

you not get worse). Her story is certainly a testament to that outlook.

Best to all,

Leah

http://www.youtube.com/user/AliceTheFilm

[Guest guest]

Leah thank you for sharing. It is so beautiful and inspiring to all of us.

Music is always a good source of relaxation and hope for me.

T

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[ ] The power of optimism and music

There have been several discussions of late in which some people have gotten

upset at being advised to learn to try to accept optimistically the side affects

they live with.

There was some discussion about this being the place to air complaints and

gripes, and there is some legitamacy to that point. However, often these posts

come across as asking for advice. Beyond the very practical (headache remedies,

exercise regimes et al), it is very difficult to give any other advice in the

face of complaints that have no solution at present. I think we would all love

to be drug (and side-effect) free, and not have to worry about CML, but this is

the hand we have been dealt.

In the light of this topic, I would like to share a video that I recently

received, about the oldest living Holocaust survivor (she will be 107 this

month). There was a recent news article about the power of an optimistic

attitude in increasing longevity and preventing health issues (which is not to

say that being negative makes you sick, just that being optimistic helps you not

get worse). Her story is certainly a testament to that outlook.

Best to all,

Leah

http://www.youtube.com/user/AliceTheFilm

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing that Leah. I really needed something like that, as I have

not been feeling good with other issues other than my CML, and just as I was

thinking this morning about being optimistic about all I am going through I saw

your message.

Thank You

A.

>

> There have been several discussions of late in which some people have gotten

upset at being advised to learn to try to accept optimistically the side affects

they live with.

>

> There was some discussion about this being the place to air complaints and

gripes, and there is some legitamacy to that point. However, often these posts

come across as asking for advice. Beyond the very practical (headache remedies,

exercise regimes et al), it is very difficult to give any other advice in the

face of complaints that have no solution at present. I think we would all love

to be drug (and side-effect) free, and not have to worry about CML, but this is

the hand we have been dealt.

>

> In the light of this topic, I would like to share a video that I recently

received, about the oldest living Holocaust survivor (she will be 107 this

month). There was a recent news article about the power of an optimistic

attitude in increasing longevity and preventing health issues (which is not to

say that being negative makes you sick, just that being optimistic helps you not

get worse). Her story is certainly a testament to that outlook.

>

> Best to all,

> Leah

>

> http://www.youtube.com/user/AliceTheFilm

>

[Guest guest]

>

> There have been several discussions of late in which some people have gotten

upset at being advised to learn to try to accept optimistically the side affects

they live with.

_________________________

Hi Leah,

Just a slight correction here to what I actually said. I never said to just be

optimistic about your cml side effects (like you might be able to wish them

away). My point was to be optimisitic about your life DESPITE your side effects.

Your side effects are what they are, and are a part of what you accept to stay

alive....but you can choose to see your life's glass as half empty or half

full...that is the choice that you have (or are making).

Why do I think that I know this. I have seen it repeatedly in 'real life'. I

worked in the largest rehabilitation center in the US with patients with

catastrophic illnesses or diseases.....brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, MS

which is a devastating crippler of young adults, among other things. Those that

always seemed to do the best in rehab and successfully create a new (but

different) life for themselves, generally thought that things could be worse, so

what they were dealing with was acceptable and cope-able.

The young man who become a paraplegic from the bull riding event saw that he was

better off than the qualdriplegic who was injured surfing. That person was

probably glad that his brain was intact and he did not have a head injury.

Everyone can look around and find someone who is dealing with more than they

have to deal with....and it is a successful coping mechanism (not a lame idea).

Those who had the hardest time in rehab were those who just wanted their life to

be as it was (because that was not going to happen). I think that you understand

this concept because you have (?had) a brother in law who was a quadriplegic on

a ventilator.....who could he see that was worse off than him? I think that

probably he eventually said that 'this is better than being dead'.

I don't apologize for being an optimist and viewing cml and side effects in that

light......I am happier seeing my glass as half full, any day of the week.

I will have to go to the library to view the video about the 107 year old

survivor....looking forward to seeing that, so thanks for bringing it to the

list.

C.

[Guest guest]

Hi All.

That was a wonderful video. For those of you who are interested in imagery and

relaxation tapes, Dr. Bernie S Segal the one to search for in books and tapes.

(They are probably in CD's now) He had a series called " Rx Prescriptions for

Living Series " One of them is entitled " Meditations for Finding the Key to Good

Health " The tapes are very inspirational.

Dr. Segal worked with cancer patients. He shaved his head so that his patients

who lost their hair from chemo would not feel different than he did. He made

several tapes years ago that are devoted to bring optimism, hope, and

relaxation. In addition, he has written books.

Sandi

> >

> > There have been several discussions of late in which some people have gotten

upset at being advised to learn to try to accept optimistically the side affects

they live with.

> >

> > There was some discussion about this being the place to air complaints and

gripes, and there is some legitamacy to that point. However, often these posts

come across as asking for advice. Beyond the very practical (headache remedies,

exercise regimes et al), it is very difficult to give any other advice in the

face of complaints that have no solution at present. I think we would all love

to be drug (and side-effect) free, and not have to worry about CML, but this is

the hand we have been dealt.

> >

> > In the light of this topic, I would like to share a video that I recently

received, about the oldest living Holocaust survivor (she will be 107 this

month). There was a recent news article about the power of an optimistic

attitude in increasing longevity and preventing health issues (which is not to

say that being negative makes you sick, just that being optimistic helps you not

get worse). Her story is certainly a testament to that outlook.

> >

> > Best to all,

> > Leah

> >

> > http://www.youtube.com/user/AliceTheFilm

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You and I have dialogued about this a number of times, and you know

that I am on the same page as you. I was not " aiming " this post at

you (or anyone in particular) and I did not intend this to be a post

about belittling the power of seeing the world optimistically. Quite

the contrary.

However, I do understand that each of us has a different journey en

route to reaching a perspective that " the glass is half full " . I am

saddened by those posters who feel diminished by being told to look

at things positively, even though, in the long term, this is really

the only solution.

Yes, you remember correctly, my brother in law is a respirator

dependent quadriplegic. After his accident my husband (his brother)

offered to help him end it all. The thought had never crossed my

brother in laws mind - he chose life. However - he was angry at the

world for a long time (close to 10 years, as I recall). It took him

that long to truly accept that " this is what my life is; might as

well make the most of it " .

He has been in a chair for close to 30 years.

For the woman in the video - Alice - being optimistic is her natural

state of being. It has helped her survive not only life in

Thereisenstadt, but the loss of family, including her twin sister,

and her son -who survived the camps and predeceased her several years

ago.

Though we can't all be that lucky, to have it come naturally, it

certainly an inspiration.

Best

Leah

[Guest guest]

Thanks Zavie :-)

This story is tremendous. I am surprised that no one is writing a

script yet

Leah

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi ,

> You and I have dialogued about this a number of times, and you know

> that I am on the same page as you. I was not " aiming " this post at

> you (or anyone in particular) and I did not intend this to be a post

> about belittling the power of seeing the world optimistically. Quite

> the contrary.

______________________

Hi Leah,

I was just going to drop a note to you privately....the post I wrote was more

for the list than you personally. I wanted people to understand where my

perspective came from.....4 years of working with patients with far more

devastating limitations than any of us have and seeing clearly how they best

coped with their situation. I am naturally optimistic.....you have to hit me

over the head 3 or 4 times before I get that maybe you aren't such a nice

person.

And I did not feel that you were belittling the power of optimism at all. Bobby

had mentioned the stages of grief, which is what dealing with a chronic illness

involves.....going from denial to anger (why me) to acceptance and still

creating 'your best life' (if you are an Oprah fan at all). You are right that

everyone's journey is different....I think I went from denial to acceptance in

less than 2 months and I am glad for myself that I did not stay stuck in an

earlier phase.

You always add something to the list when you post.

C.