Grab the Brass Ring!

     Have you grabbed hold of the brass ring lately? If you are old enough you recall that back-in-the-day the merry-go-round offered a tray full of rings for the merrymakers to grasp as they twirled by. The luckiest of the lucky caught the brass one which was worth a free ride! Heady rewards indeed!! Do you still feel that way? Last night I was presenting to the teens at the Boys and Girls Club about what it takes to live a winning hand. We contrasted that with non-winners and losers. The teens immediately recognized that winners try new things, risk, follow through on what they say they are going to do, and exude a sense of zest for life as they delight in their own victories and those of others.

     It seemed like big ideas for young people who were attending the 6 pm program after an already long day at school, but young as they are they get it. Earlier in the afternoon I was a panelist on a Sexual Assault Awareness panel at Cypress College. It was particularly poignant for me as the very fact of the program was a dream of mine to come true...to get sexual misconduct out in the open. The campus worked hard to that end including flash mobs and meetings to help students protect themselves. As an advocate for women and children, my dreams are coming true. What are some of your dreams? Maybe it is time to accelerate forward.

     In the next two weeks I am participating in three events which might be just right for you. I am inviting you to any of these. If you have a book mulling around in your head, you might want a chance to talk about that, about getting your thoughts into print. If so, the Mission San Juan Capistrano is hosting a book event for me where we will discuss such things and my inspiration for writing The Unraveling of Shelby Forrest on THURSDAY APRIL 30, 1-3 in the Barracks. Let me know, and I will leave your name at the gate house. Free admission.

      May 2-3 from 9-4 pm Goin' Native presents an Eco Garden Expo with speakers and demonstrations. It was a huge success last year. It is in Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano near the Depot. No charge. I will be there on Saturday with my books and materials on the Loss of a Loved One Support group, and the free Women in Transition Program through Womansage.

     "Get Happy! Six New Life Changing Habits" is the title of my MAY 12TH program for a Mother's Day fundraiser for Womansage. It is a served dinner at the lovely Center Club in Costa Mesa, a book signing event with this Happiness Program. We hope you bring your mothers, daughters, and sisters. Doors open at 5, with dinner at 6 and then the program. Visit: Womansage.org to make your reservation.

     For spring break last week my husband and I took four ofour grand-daughters to Hawaii. I had a stunning experience last Friday. My eyes filled with tears as the baby dolphin swam over to me, squirted water at me, and then came into my open arms for an embrace! I was awestruck by the encounter. The world is a big place with opportunity for all of us to squeeze the most joy out of it possible, to grab the brass ring. I think we can be happy for no reason, and cherish our time of being alive in the world. I would love to see you at any of these events. 

If you've had a brass ring moment lately, I'd love to hear it!

My best, donna