Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid of life. If you want to age gracefully, stay busy, positive, and connected. -Dede Ulbrich

This week, we meet Dede Ulbrich, a beautiful 86-year-old woman whose secret to staying young is laughter, love, and connection.   The granddaughter of former New Hampshire Governor Francis P. Murphy and founder of WMUR radio and television stations, Dede was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her big, Irish family believed in the glory of hard work and having fun.  In this interview, Dede recalls that men returning from World War II and Vietnam were changed forever, and she was determined to live her life to the fullest. As a friend and former colleague of political consultant and White House special assistant Kenny O’Donnell, Dede attended the Inaugural Ball for President John F. Kennedy and later experienced the horror of losing her favorite president to an assassin’s bullet in Dallas. Years later, as the single mother of three sons, Dede rebuilt her life after divorce, taking a job selling running shoes at the Nike store in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Identified as a talented salesperson, she was recruited by company executives to join their elite marketing team.  Dede climbed the corporate ladder in a man’s world with zero hesitation, creating relationships with Olympic runners like Joan Benoit Samuelson.  A runner herself, she later met and married her second husband, Dick Ulbrich, DMD, experiencing the joy of finding love the second time around. Known affectionately as“Doc”, her husband built a lasting friendship with a gardener from Weston, Massachusetts named Nelson McNutt, who lived to be 105, leaving his entire estate in gratitude to the couple.  www.nelsonsgarden.com.  Filled with the kind of wisdom that can only come from a life well lived, Dede says,“Life is good. Always look for the beauty in life.  Keep searching for the things that make you happy.”   For 25 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #gratitude #age #kennedyassasination #nelsonsgarden

You have to take care of yourself first in order to take care of others. -Carol McKean

I’ve known Carol McKean for many years, and I’m so happy to introduce her to you.  She’s a PR superstar with her own events company, carolmckeanevents.com, and is the creator of the popular fundraising concept known as “fund-a-need.” In this interview, Carol shares her life story, including the hard parts I didn’t know about.   The story of her incredibly painful divorce is featured in the new Jan Fraser inspired life series, The Book on Love.  bookonlove.com.   Written by 40 women from the United States and around the world, the book is a fast read, filled with wisdom and the power of love.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Carol’s story reminds us that we may be born out of love, but our lives are far from perfect.  Says Carol:  “Fun times are easy, but when life deals you tragedy and hardship, it’s how you react to it and move forward that really matters.”   It took 7 grueling years for Carol and her husband to divorce, and during that time, she realized she was not safe in his presence and had lost herself in the relationship.  “When I sat down to write this story,  it just poured out of me in about 30 minutes, says Carol.  Many of my friends wondered why I was willing to share these details, but I believe we create connections when we share our stories.  What does she want readers to know?   “Whateversituation you are in, I promise there is hope…there is light.   The biggest lesson I had to learn was to love myself.”  #valentinesday #love #divorce #storytelling #bookonlove 

Mrs. Santa Says

1. Roll up your sleeves.
2. Get out there and be seen.
3. Be respectful of others’ time.
4. Always follow through. 
5. Make an impact.

I don’t do well with injustice.  -Christine Anastos

10 years ago, environmental engineer Christine Anastos knew something was wrong with her health.  When tests came back normal, her care team suggested Christine see a psychiatrist.   Her answer?  “There’s nothing wrong with my brain.  I know my body well.”    It wasn’t long before Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer.  The suspected cause?   Environmental hazards.   The company Christine was working for as an environmental engineer had been dumping toxins into the Hudson River, and she became a whistleblower, reaching a settlement and using those funds to do good.   Today, she is the founder of a public benefit corporation called www.connect-and-thrive.com.  The mission?  To bridge the gap between conventional medicine and a holistic approach to healing.   Says Christine:  “true healing is not a destination.  It is a lifelong journey. Balancing mind, body, and spirit is the key to becoming healthy again.” Her website is a marketplace where women find evidence-based healing modalities and products not usually covered by insurance. Crowdfunding campaigns called “Kitty Funds” make powerful healing possible. Says Christine:  “Success is making a positive difference in the lives of people who are suffering. Kindness matters.” #healing #breastcancer #hope #candyoterry 

Don’t expect people to be who they seem on the surface. – Dafna Krouk-Gordon

In 1980, Dafna Krouk-Gordon founded her human resources agency in one room above a drug store, with just one employee. 45 years later, Toward Independent Living and Learning (www.tillinc.org) is thriving, with 1,000 employees throughout Massachusetts and into New Hampshire, and the noble goal of improving clients’ lives, one day at a time. Dafna is also the co-author of the book: Moving Out: A Family Guide to Residential Planning for Adults with Disabilities. Recognized as a Top 100 Women-Led Business, TILL is providing innovative ways for people with disabilities to lead rich, fulfilling, independent lives. Says Dafna: “Our parents want to know that we are not just there for the moment. We will be there for the long term.” Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, by hardworking parents, Dafna and her sister were taught: “if you promise someone you are going to do something, you better do it.” Her Jewish family escaped Egypt under dire circumstances and immigrated to the United States. In this interview, Dafna recalls arriving in America: “We were told that there was money, gold in the streets, but we didn’t find any!” When reflecting on her career in human services, Dafna has always followed the guiding principles of her faith: community, social conscience, and “to fix the world, because for good or for bad, there is a lot to fix.” For 24 minutes of information and inspiration, just hit that download button! #disabilities #differences #leadership #Jewish #nonprofit #candyoterry

Our SOF warriors, or Special Operations Forces, are never really home.  They are either deployed or in training for 9 months out of the year. As a spouse, you have to figure out how to connect through the distance and build your community where you are.  -KaLea Lehman

As a military spouse, this week’s guest understands what the words “service” and “sacrifice” really mean.   Meet KaLea Lehman, Executive Director and Founder of the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative www.msofc.org, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening and supporting the families of our nation’s most elite warriors.  She is also the co-author of The Warrior’s Table, a powerful cookbook and storytelling project created by a group of special operations wives who call themselves “The Cast Iron Crew.”   Designed to share recipes and stories about their military service, The Warrior’s Table is a beautiful testimony to the strong women who wrote it.  The mother of seven, including a special needs child, KaLea wishes that Americans truly understood the toll this level of military service and training takes on these warriors.  “The dirty little secret is:  there is no stop. There is no break.  There is no taking a knee, only hard-charging, all the time.  It’s constant stress.”  Under her guidance, the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative has identified 8 SOF Pitfalls and 8 Checkpoints.  What’s one of the most powerful ways for these brave men and their families to connect and heal?  Sharing a meal and conversation around the family dinner table.   For a 25-minute story full of devotion, love, service, purpose, and pride in America, just hit that download button.  #militaryfamilies #SpecialOperations#womeninspiringwomen 

Let’s transform the classroom into a place where mistake-making is an opportunity to learn and children feel a sense of connection, value, and belonging. -Noel Foy aka Neuro Noel

Meet neuroeducator, anxiety/executive function coach, and author, Noel Foy. She travels the country, sharing her skill set with children, parents, and teachers. Today, in any given classroom, about 30% of students are neurodiverse. “There are many brains in these classrooms, says Noel, including children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and mental health issues. Teachers are overwhelmed, and that’s where I come in.” Her latest book, 15-minute focus, provides brief counseling techniques that work, accompanied by downloadable resources, with a focus on executive function. www.neuronoel.com. What is executive function? In her book, Noel explains that EF involves the highest aspects of brain function, including the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage daily life. The fact is, underdeveloped EF skills can derail a child. In this interview, Neuro Noel discusses the built-in distractions our children encounter throughout the day—phones, social media, and screens —and suggests that play is a great way to develop executive function. Creating games without an adult doing the thinking for you is the key to helping a child experience conflict resolution, resiliency, creativity, and memory. Neuro Noel’s advice for all of us? “Be mindful. Talk less and listen more. Take a moment to pause and reset so that your thinking brain, not your emotional brain, is running the show.” For 25 minutes of coaching from a neuroeducator, just hit that download button. #neurodiversity #children #executivefunction #education #womeninspiringwomen #thestorybehindhersuccess