Celebrate Life: Nancy Somers

Welcome to another show of Celebrate Life. My name is Gary D. Carlos and I'm your host. The focus of this program is to introduce you to the many lives of that Vermoners live with the idea that everyone has a story to tell and every story is worth celebrating. If you would like to be a guest on this show or you know someone who might like to be a guest, please write me at celebrate life0747gmail.com. Now, I'd like to introduce you to today's guest, Nancy Summers. Welcome, Nancy. >> Thank you, Gary. >> Good to have you on the show. >> It's good to be here. >> So, where would you like to start? >> At the beginning. >> Okay, that's good. >> Uh I I want to say that I feel very fortunate that I discovered my passion in life when I was 13 years old. Um, >> and what's that passion? >> High level health and well-being. >> Okay. >> Taking uh living an intentional life and taking good care of this gift. >> How did that how did that express itself at 13? What did you do at 13 then? I had a cousin who was nine years older than me and she was into natural beauty remedies and egg facials and things like that and she gave me a book called Mirror Mirror on the Wall written by Gaylord Howser and it was all about natural healing and natural health and then he wrote you are what you eat was the second book I read by him and in that book he said that you can be healthy and vital and stay that way as long as you eat the right things and get enough exercise. And >> that was very exciting for me. >> So, it really started me >> on an intentional life. >> That's wonderful. At 13. >> At 13. >> That's amazing. >> I know. I feel lucky. >> Did you make choices at that age that that helped you know further that along? >> Yes and no. Okay, that's fair. >> Yeah, because I did have that knowledge and when I was 15, my then brother-in-law gave me a book called Psychocybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. And in that book, he talked about the power of the mind. >> That you can be, do, or have whatever you wanted to be, do, or have if you knew how to program uh your mind to facilitate you doing what you wanted to do and being and having what you wanted to be and have. >> Okay. >> That was really exciting for me. >> Wow. >> I'm like, "Wow, I can make it up and I can manifest it and make it happen in my life." And did did that happen? >> Yes. >> You want to give us an example of that? >> Yes, I will. I would like to. >> Okay. >> I had a career in high level health and well-being. I went to at university. I studied uh community mental health. Mhm. >> And when I was working in the community mental health centers, I didn't really like working with people that were on medication to keep them functional in the community. They were giving out thorazine and things like that. And and I was reading my textbooks and I decided that really what I wanted to do was to help healthy people get healthier. Mhm. >> So I was in my late teens at that point >> and my whole career and >> life evolved around that. >> Okay. So >> building blocks. >> All right. And so >> which camera are we on? >> I'm sorry. >> Which camera am I on? >> Right there is the camera. >> Right there. Hi everybody. >> Okay. So um you wanted to help healthy people get healthier. And so how did that where did you take that? What did you do? >> Again, I was very lucky to find things that I was passionate about at such a young age because when I was 15 or 16 years old, I remember being in the library in the back of the library reading a book on yoga. >> And back then, so many years ago, yoga, nobody talked about yoga. And I thought, well, I can't tell anybody I'm into yoga because they'll think I'm like a witch or something. That's that's how weird it was. >> Now, I mean, I've seen yoga just explode everywhere. All kinds of yoga, hammock yoga, baby yoga. >> So, you're right. >> Yoga, yoga, yoga. And I was into yoga when I was 16 years old. >> And by 19, I had my first yoga teacher certification. So, I became a certified yoga teacher and started teaching right away >> after I became certified. But I couldn't call it yoga because nobody was doing yoga and they thought yoga is weird. So, I called it stretching, breathing, and relaxation, >> right? And I started teaching classes in that. And then I developed my own business going to different condos and teaching these classes and organized classes for churches and >> and loved it. >> That's wonderful. >> Loved helping healthy people get healthier. >> Where did you do all this? Where did you haven't told us where you lived or anything like that? Is there >> I grew up in suburban Philadelphia. Okay. out on the main line near Binmar and Rosemont. And so I was living there >> when I had this career. And I was also very lucky to have a father who was very supportive in my doing what I wanted to do and what I loved. Uh at one point I was working for uh holiday spas. Okay. It was before I had started my own business and I was teaching weight training programs and selling memberships to the spa and then the spa went out of business. >> So I didn't have a business. I didn't have a job. Mhm. >> And I was looking where I was going to work and make money. And my father, who was an entrepreneur, a businessman, he said to me, >> "If you if you take the eight hours a day that you're going to work for someone else and you put that into having your own business, >> you'll have something and I will back you financially until you get started." >> Wow. within a month I was making money organizing these classes as I said teaching in churches and >> so that's how I got started. >> That's what a what a wonderful father >> I know lucky me. >> Yeah. Is there anything we started your life at the age of 13. Is there anything early in your life you want to share that was particularly significant or brought joy to you? >> Oh, it's a good question. Sugar. I had a sugar addiction. >> Okay. >> As a as a young child. >> Okay. um remember eating bubble gum cigars just like stuffing my whole mouth and later in life when my teeth weren't so good I thought like well where was my mother when I was eating all this sugar but I did have a sugar addiction >> and which isn't that unusual >> but fortunately I overcame that addiction >> good for you >> and stronger as a result of it >> which might have led to that whole healthy thing that you at 13. Yeah. >> Part of it. >> Yeah. >> Because >> I made a decision at one point, but I I started a meditation practice that was very important in my life in facilitating me fully stepping into who I wanted to be in my life. >> But meditation didn't come easily to me. I started when in my teens with um transcendental meditation >> and you paid them $235 at the time. Now the same program cost $1,000 >> and they gave you a little mantra that was a secret and they said now you go and you practice your mantra twice a day, 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon. And I did that for a month but it wasn't sustainable. It was too much. >> It was too much for me. So there went my meditation practice. Later in my life I became a Kpalo yoga teacher. I wanted to get their certification as well. So I stayed at Kpalo and they well I I did a four-week training. That's what it was then. Now it's probably a two-year training. And they do a lot of meditation there. >> Yeah. >> And one of my yoga teachers that did my training said that yoga is the bridge from where you are to where you want to be in your life. >> And I love that idea. And now I feel that meditation is that >> bridge for a lot of people. People that don't have the physical capacity to have a yoga practice. Although everyone can >> because yoga can be breathing, >> intentional breathing all kind books and books now on breathing exercises. >> There's chair yoga. >> Chair yoga. Absolutely. So, >> but meditation helped early on just kind of give you the focus about what you needed to do with your life. And that sugar addiction, it helped uh get that out of the way. >> Totally. >> Because it's a discipline. >> And with the discipline that it it like spilled over from my meditation practice into me being very strong >> mentally and emotionally. And I would tell myself that I'm a woman who can do hard things and I know how to get things done and that living an intentional life, which I'm very proud to say that I've been doing for many years now, I had a choice if I wanted to continue with the sugar addiction. And it wasn't easy to give it up. >> But being healthy is more important to me than the flavor in my mouth. >> Yes. And now I design and teach programs for a senior population, the baby boomers. >> And the problem with sugar, I study with a lot of brilliant neuro neurosur neurologists >> and they all say the same thing that sugar is a neurotoxin, >> right? That's one problem with sugar. And the other problem with sugar is that it's highly addictive. Mhm. >> So, >> I was able to get off sugar and >> and now >> I I believe something that I came up with called the 8020 rule. It's not really my rule. I just learned it along the way that you what you do 80% of the time is really important and then 20% as far as diet and what how you eat. Uh >> 80% healthy uh 20% martinis I used to say. Okay. So you Right. Yeah. So you allow a little fudging in there at the Right. But still your focus is on the 80%. >> Right. >> Have you been able to help um seniors with the sugar addiction that they might have >> given your experience? >> Nobody's really reported back to me about the sugar. >> Okay. Uh-huh. But but uh I was teaching a workshop about a month ago and I brought little peppermints and I said, "This is a neurotoxin >> and it's addictive. Now, do you want to what do you want to do with this? You want to put eat this or do you want to throw it in here?" And I had a trash can and I threw one in there. Well, one of the ladies in the workshop jokingly said, "Can I have that for later? So I gave her the peppermint. >> That that was part of her 20%. Right. >> Right. Right. Right. >> So I've just been so blessed to have had wonderful teachers in my life and and guides uh on my path and I came across them young, you know, like Maxwell Maltz and and then Florence Scoville Sheen and Katherine Ponder. They were inspirational teachers in the 30s and 40s. >> And I was fortunate enough to go to India when I was younger for four months. >> Wow. >> And I was in a train station in India and I picked up this little book called The Game of Life. It was the game of life and how to play it. >> And how old were you at this point? >> My early 20s. >> Okay. And you're in India. >> I'm in India. And the teacher, the the author of that book said that we're all entitled by our birthright to certain things, among them being health, wealth, love, and perfect self-expression. And I'm like, yes, >> bring it on. Bring it on. >> Now, she says goes on to say that there's three simple rules >> to have all that. >> Yeah. The rules are fearless faith, non-resistance, and love. >> Non-resistance >> and love. Fearless faith. >> What's the non-resistance? >> You have to get out of your own way. >> Oh, okay. According to I think how we were raised and >> how strong we feel in our lives mentally, physically, emotionally, >> some people are better able to go two steps forward and one step back and two steps forward. Some people go so many steps back that they they just it's a hard climb out. So, how did things like uh racism and classism and uh disabilities, how do they factor into that getting out of those are pretty pretty profound setbacks in this society culture? What would you how would you help someone through that? And sexism is another one. >> Everybody has an individual journey. >> Yeah. And for myself, if I ever am feeling like if I eat too much sugar, I know it because three days later I'm depressed. >> Not morbidly depressed or but I I >> I have a big gratitude practice, Gary. I wake up grateful. I go to bed grateful. The last thing I ask myself before I at night when I'm before I go to bed is what went well today? >> You know, people use that time in bed to ruminate over bad stuff. But it's a great time to program and if we get to talk about sleep, you know, the fundamentals of high level health and well-being, sleep is one of them. But attitude is very important also. >> And and getting back to your question, so if I'm feeling like a little depressed, >> I I talk to myself and I say I can I have a choice. How long do I want to be upset about this? there's something bad happens or I have an argument with someone, how long am I do I want to be obsessed, upset and there's a a stress management skill and technique called the RTOR scale. >> So you you give it a rating. 10 is the worst. >> It was originally for uh >> earthquakes. >> Earthquakes. Exactly. Right. >> So when you're analyzing your stressful situation, where is it on the recctor scale? Usually it's a three or a four and we react like it's a seven or an eight. So if I'm upset and getting back to what if somebody has a disability? Well, if it's a disability that's not going to change, they could spend their life being upset about it, right? >> Or they can accept what they have in life and choose to enjoy their life. >> Absolutely >> right. And that's where the mindset comes in. And I frequently say to myself, >> snap out of it. Mhm. >> Uh I choose to enjoy my life. >> And also another stress management I teach stress management classes. So if I'm not up to and so I am up to managing my stress and I I do. Yes. >> Tools I use every day. Another tool is how long are you willing to be upset >> and then set a timer. >> Right. Uh when I was married, I was at a beach in Maine out on these beautiful jetties and my husband and I had a horrible argument over who knows what right at this point. >> But he was upset, I was upset, and I said to myself, "How long are you willing to be upset about this?" And I said, "10 minutes." >> Okay, I gave myself 10 minutes and then it was over because I wasn't going to engage in it anymore, right? because I I have the capacity to change my state of mind and I do. >> That's impressive. Yeah. >> So, okay. So, you said I'm done with it. Let's move on. >> Right. >> Now, your partner, you have you're very disciplined. I got that sense. And you can and that's bravo for you to be able to do that. How about the other half? Was he at all able to turn the the angry or whatever he was off and move on with Oh, good. >> Yeah. >> Oh, good. >> Because I I might have said something like, "I'm sorry you were right." >> Or because it doesn't m I don't have to be right. You know, it's not about right or wrong. >> It's just about trans transitioning from where you were to where you want to be. at night. That's wonderful. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> So, uh, back to teachers that I've had. >> Yes. And I was curious about Yeah. Tell me a little bit more, tell the audience a little bit more about some of these lanterns in your life, people who've really helped guide you through your path. Well, if if we fast forward to right now, >> right now I'm fascinated with the work of several neuro neurologists. >> Okay, >> Andrew Huberman is one of them. And I need to think about the health and well-being and what's what's important there. Certainly you are what you eat from that book when I was 13 and mind dynamics that we can be do or have what we want. >> Quantum physics gets involved in this but I'm not going to go into that but the the power of the mind if you get a clear enough vision >> and nothing can keep you from that vision if you can envision it clearly enough >> and know that it's yours. >> You just step into that vision. It >> could take a few years or it could take a few minutes. And I'm a big believer in the power of the mind to manifest what you want to manifest. But you need to get out of your own way. >> And I want to meant I want to say to you the teacher that introduced me to high level health and well-being and the five pillars of health. So, I've had so many teachers, but I'll tell you what the five pillars are. Uh, food, >> rest, and good quality sleep, >> hydration, >> exercise, >> and community or spirituality. >> Okay. >> So, I pay attention to all those things every day. And it's so exciting because I love learning and I'm learning every day. Every day. That's wonderful. >> I uh have a great morning practice that includes a seated meditation, breathing exercises. I do this because analom alternate nostril breathing. I do that every day. Every morning I do the humming breath. Humming breath looks like this. It's kind of funny, but it balances out the body and and the whole endocrine system, and it's magical. >> Wow. pranayam breathing exercises >> and then I love affirmations so I use them yes >> every day every day and again I mentioned it like if I'm upset about something >> y >> I choose to enjoy my life >> y >> so I'm I'm not going to stay upset >> y >> but if I do something I don't like I I acknowledge that if I have offended or upset somebody I will always say I'm Sorry. >> Mhm. You know, there's an old saying too that so one is we are what we eat. That's what you're saying. And another one and I'm curious is uh we are who our friends are. You know, our friends are a reflection of oursel. Is that true for you as well? >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Absolutely. Mhm. >> I hang out with a great crowd and I'll say to myself like I believe that you are a reflection who I am and I just want to kiss myself all over because if I'm if I'm who you are and you're so fabulous, what does that make me? >> Gratitude is so important in my life. Yeah. >> So important. How did you come to to be so in tune like this? I mean, I would It's amazing. >> Oh, >> yeah. And it that started at that 13-year-old who was inquisitive enough and took that on to be healthy. And you, it sounds like you just ratcheted it up over the years to include a lot of tools and things that reinforce that, support that. And every day and you've taught other PE do you still teach today? Yeah, >> I still teach. >> What do you do that with >> where? Well, um some senior residents. >> Uh I have done keynote speeches in the in the past. Right now I'm looking to expand who I'm teaching because I'm a volunteer at Shelurn Farms and the other day I was at their farm cart getting lunch and there were I don't know if they were high school >> girls or early college I think late high school and we started talking about positive affirmations and positive selft talk and one of them starts writing down affirmations which I love affirmations >> um >> what's an example of an affirmation I'm a woman who achieves her goals. >> Okay. >> I am healthy, intelligent, and capable of change. >> I am a spiritual being having a spiritual experience in the physical body. It's a little >> Okay. >> Right. Uh I know how to get what I want. I'm a powerful material manifesttor. >> I'm a powerful material manifesttor. >> What does that mean? That means that if I want a new outfit, I can get a I can make that happen for myself. If I want a home, I can got a I got a home. If I want new friends, I can get new friends. >> If I want to improve some aspect of my sleep, I'm working on that. >> Okay. >> And great teachers, Andrew Huberman, and I pay attention. >> Yeah. And what did what did Andrew bring to your life? What what's he known for? >> Andrew is a very smart neurologist. >> Okay. >> And the brain is his jam just like high level health and well-being is mine. >> And I'm always learning and I believe that adversity and opportunity. >> That adversity the opposite side of the coin is opportunity, right? And that's from a Chinese. >> Yes. >> They say that in Chinese calligraphy, same symbol. >> Yeah. >> Adversity and opportunity. >> Here's an example. I I have a fun family in in Salem, Massachusetts, and I drive to see them all the time, and I download books to listen to on my trip. Well, my download wasn't working from Libby and I couldn't get my book to listen to. >> So, I pull over and what I got instead was an Andrew Huberman podcast >> and he's talking about sleep, which is so important. >> Yeah. >> And a lot of people don't sleep well. >> Yeah. >> Hydration is another pillar. Mhm. >> Because sometimes people will say to me and we'll get back to the sleep but uh what's the most important pillar of health when I would say exercise or hydrate hydrate hydrate >> or you know sleep better you make you and we can do that because there's so many things that we can learn about how to improve our level of sleep. >> Here's an example what I learned from Andrew just four days ago. Uh my niece and I both my niece is a yoga teacher and she we have great pictures of when she was like seven years old and she I was doing yoga with her. She loved she loved it then and she loves it now and she has her own business now teaching yoga classes. So >> with her own niche she has a little baby three years old. So she's teaching mother and baby >> yoga. >> That's wonderful. >> It's wonderful. So, Andrew Huberman says, "My niece and I, we do these exercises together. Uh, my part of my morning routine is that I sit quietly and meditate 10 minutes, 10, 12 minutes. And then the other one is I do the humming breath like that, that weird one. I do alternate nostril breathing. And I I do it with my niece when we're together. and she has an eye exercise that she learned from her yoga teacher where you uh make a big circle in well you make a circle and you follow your finger around. But before that, I studied years ago with someone who was teaching the Bates method of eye improvement where you look up, you look down, you look up, you look down, you and we're getting to Huberman, up, down, up, down, over, over, over, and you can add hand movements with it. And that's the bait movement, eye improvement. So, uh, >> I have great eyesight. I don't wear glasses, which is a miracle. >> It's amazing. And I do that every morning. I haven't always done it every morning. My morning routine evolves, but it's great right now. I just love it. Gratitude's part of it. So, this eye technique, Andrew Huberman said on this podcast that if you can't fall asleep, if you go to sleep and you wake up in the middle of the night, you can't fall back to sleep with your eyes closed. Look up. Look down. Look up. Look down. Look, look to look to 12. Look to six. Look to 12. Look to six. Look to nine. Look >> three. >> Eyes closed. And then you uh he wants you to close your eyes just a little bit. Not not make yourself crosseyed, but just bring your eyes in here >> and then take a slow breath in with a long exhale. >> So that's what I learned. And I've been And then he said, "And then you wake up in the morning." And I've been using that for a week now. It's working. >> It's a miracle. It is just a miracle. >> Wow. >> Right. I know. I know. Because good sleep is so important. So, I I work these pillars of health. >> Mhm. >> And good exercise will help good sleep. I would think if you're working out, you >> absolutely it all goes together. >> Yeah. what you eat, what you think, >> how you sleep, how much you exercise, and this physical body is a sacred space for me. It really is. I don't want to get too woo woo woo, but uh so and it's my job to take care of it. >> Yep, that's right. >> I I I frequently said to Gary that it's such a big job that if I could give it to someone else, I would. Right. It goes a lot to keep this running in top. >> No one's going to do as good a job as you. >> That's right. >> Right. >> That's right. >> I know what it takes. >> Right. >> And it changes. >> And it changes. Yes. >> Different when you're 20, different when you're 30, different when you're 60, different when you're 70. >> This is true. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do you have any siblings? >> Two. >> Okay. Anything you want to share about them? And do you have any children? >> One. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I have a wonderful daughter who lives in Montana and she has a great life and she wrote me a thank you note that thanking me for who she is >> and how, you know, although she's her own person, I helped shape her and she loves her life and >> that's wonderful. >> So grateful. >> That's wonderful. >> Yeah. >> Has she followed in your footsteps in some of this health work? She's very athletic >> and she does community service work and she has a very happily marriage. Very happy marriage >> and she's well adjusted. >> Excellent. >> So she's not >> Yes, I would say she has in her own way. >> In her own way, right? Okay. >> Terrific. >> Yeah. >> So, have we missed anything that you want to share? any um awards, accomplishments that you feel very proud about? >> I was Jack's champion of my sixth grade. >> Does that count? >> I'm I'm impressed. >> That counts. >> Uh living an intentional life >> Yeah. >> is a reward in and of itself. >> Yep. What brought you to Vermont? clean air and I was tired of living in Philadelphia, >> the smog and the pollution and and I also had a fantasy in my brain and it turned out to be very true that a lot of really interesting people live in Vermont, >> right? progressive thinkers, people that think outside the box, >> and I prove myself right all the time. I meet really fascinating people in Vermont. >> One thing I didn't mention about my life that is really important to me and it it's a hard piece to get together has been in my experience is community, >> right? And I have a community now and intentional community. people meditate and all souls >> in Shelurn >> interfaith gathering there. Yep. Okay. >> Yes. >> And it's that was a hard piece to come by because I drew grew up Jewish >> but the Jewish community just >> you know all their services a lot of them are in Hebrew and it just didn't speak to me. Although the Torah and the Talmud are very high vibrational literature. >> Yes. Yes. So community I think in some ways, tell me if you agree, is the hardest thing to it doesn't just happen. It takes work and connecting and going back and Yeah. And then moving towards that group that feels right. >> I think that that's true, Gary. And having said that, >> it's not the hardest. >> Having a regular meditation practice was very challenging for me. I I would be off it for a couple years. I would go back. I would try uh a different one. Namya. I did that for a while. My sister and I got on to that, but that didn't last. So, and then I would try a different meditation practice and it would last three or four months and and then and that was over. But I kept coming back to it again because I believe it's a key >> to >> being strong enough to do whatever I want to do. be or have. >> Mhm. >> So, maybe 30 years ago, I read a book, another fabulous teacher of mine, uh, by Rebecca Schaefer. And the book was called The Zen of Listening. I always want to be a better listener because you miss a lot. >> Yeah. if you're not >> and I work on a pretty fired up fast pace, which I'm working on calming it down a little. Uh, one of my affirmations now is that I I use intentional rest as a radical form of self-care. So that resting is now a good thing in my life if I want to rest. It's not like, oh, you're being lazy. You're sitting around not doing anything. >> Right. Right. So, but the zen of listening, she introduced a meditation practice, a zen meditation where you count from 1 to 10 and then you count from 1 to 10 again and then again and you set your timer 10 or 12 minutes >> and once you get to when your time is up, your timer goes off and I'm done done meditating. But, uh, if you're on 17 or you realize that you lost your pace a little along the way and you go back to one, it's not, "Oh, you dirty rout rotten scoundrel. You know, you're not doing it right." Or, "Look how many thoughts you have every minute." >> 1,200 to 2,000 involuntary thoughts per minute. I've read. So, >> you wonder how we can even have a conversation. >> Wow. >> Right. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> So, what what do are there things in your life that you haven't done yet that you want to do? >> Yes. >> Talk tell us about that. >> I want to help more people get healthier. I want to help healthy people get healthier. And because I'm so grateful and excited about my life, I would like to share what I've learned with younger people. >> I was thinking the same thing. I'm thinking of that 13-year-old girl who who connected with something that changed her life. And there's a lot of 13-year-olds out there that probably are searching for that thing that will help fuel their future. Have you? Yeah. Are are you doing anything around that at this point? >> Yes. >> Young people. >> Yes. And what I'm doing around that is I'm polishing my own say you've heard the that we're diamonds in the rough >> and the more we polish the more we shine. >> And that little group at at >> Shurn >> Shurn Farms, one of the girls who wasn't writing thing affirmations down, she said, "Oh, I have to get in on this." and came over because what we were talking about resonated with her as well. >> So, what a gift to be able to give this to young people. Yeah. >> To turn tell them how to be, do, or have whatever they want. >> Yeah. >> And it's a repeatable, reliable source >> of self-empowerment. >> Not new. I didn't really invent anything. Although I did invent this. This is creating the life you want to live and it's one of the workshops that I teach and just >> life skills you know like >> the brain take carrying like a little picture of a brain doing exercises on a weight bar you know >> are the five pillars in there >> yes >> the five pillars are in there >> the victor scale is in there scale >> right >> this is kind of the culmination of your life in some ways. And you use this workshop with the seniors that you >> I do. I do. It's on I have it on a thumb drive. >> Uhhuh. >> And when I give presentations, we'll put it up on the screen and they're quite beautiful. My daughter uh made this for me and oh, another great thing, forgiveness, >> right? And the quote is from Maya Angelo. You did what you knew how to do and when you knew better, you did better. >> That's great. That's wonderful. >> I love that so much. >> You did what you knew how to do and when you knew better, you did better. >> Have you thought about any writing yet? >> No. >> Uh because I think there's enough books. >> Okay. >> And I love teaching. I love interacting. So, um I'm always learning. Mhm. >> Right now, I'm doing a 12-week program called Dream Builders where you get clear on what goals you want to achieve, what you want to be, do, or have, and then you focus in on one or two of them, laser focused, and you picture it. You know, you do all the things that you are available for us to do to manifest your dreams. >> Yep. >> And I'm a strong believer that we can do that. That's part of our DNA. >> We are goal achievers. >> Wow. >> All right. >> And gratitude. Gratitude is in here. >> Great. >> The more grateful we are for all the good we have in our lives, people, places, things, the more we we're allowed to have, the more we can achieve. So, >> very good. Are have we missed anything that you want to talk about related to your life? >> That's quite a question probably. >> Okay. Well, here's you have an opportunity now to do that. Um, if not, then I'd like to see if you have any wisdom you'd like to share to the audience that you've gained through your life or a special quote that you think would be uh important to share. >> The Angelo quote, I love that quote that we just discussed. >> And the wisdom, if at first you don't succeed, try try again. >> Try again. Mhm. Yeah. So, not original >> but wonderful >> and f I think it's important for people to find mentors >> and don't quit. >> And the uh advice I would give is be grateful. >> Exercise, exercise, exercise, >> hydrate. Love yourself and love others. And then gratitude. >> Yeah. >> Every morning and every night and don't quit. The bedtime routine is challenging. Uh meditation to have a regular meditation practice which is what you need. >> Yeah. >> Seven days a week sim similar time every morning or else or else you can't maintain it. But the gift on the other side of this regular meditation practice is self-discipline. >> Mhm. >> And that's >> so so great. >> And that comes from the routine of doing the meditation, doing the exercise. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. And and keep learning. Like another part of my morning routine is I do these finger exercises. Now you've probably seen them around. Like this is one. and you do this, right? You can see if you could do this and you do that, right? And if you can do that, it means that your brain is in pretty good shape and it will help your brain stay in good shape. >> Wow. >> Right. >> Can you do that? >> Can I do that? >> You don't have to. I don't want to put you on the spot, but I do this a hundred times and it takes a minute. >> Wow. >> Yeah. And there's a lot of hand exercises that people are all in. The internet is so amazing, you know. So, >> I guess that's >> close enough. >> All right. >> Yeah. So, be inspired. >> Yeah. >> By nature. >> Yeah. >> Hug a tree. >> Yeah. Reading about that, too. >> You're a lifelong learner. For sure. >> I am for sure. >> You're a sponge. Yes. >> I don't know about that. >> That's a good thing. I haven't been called a sponge ever before. I guess I could be a sponge. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, thank you for being on the show. >> My pleasure. >> Yeah.