Maureen’s Gourmet Pepper Jam

February, and especially Valentine’s day, is dedicated to honoring love. Usually showing love in February means getting or giving a gift to someone you love.  I was fortunate to receive many gifts of love this February – most of them were not tangible.  One, however, was edible, Maureen’s GourmetPepper Jam. 

The jam was a gift from Lorraine Smith – the woman who gifted us with her only son as our son-in-law, Kevin Courtney.  

Maureen’s Gourmet Pepper Jam was a gift at many levels.  The first was obvious as my Valentine gathering guests devoured the platters of organic cream cheese smothered in this prized pepper jam. 

The second gift was the story of the woman who created the pepper jam and the company that now sells it – Maureen.  Maureen has been making pepper jam since her Dad started experimenting with different recipes some 40 years ago.  Now in her 7^th decade, Maureen is courageous enough to create a company to sell the jam her friends and family have enjoyed all these years.

People always ask me, “What do you mean by living a Don’tDie spirit?”  What do I mean?  I mean people like Maureen!  She could have made excuses or she could have achieved her goals and she made a choice anyone would be proud to support.

I think everyone should buy at least one jar to support her incredible Don’t Die spirit!

Congratulations Maureen.  Thank you, Lorraine.

Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.ServingSuccess.com
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Music and Personal Development

I have always been a advocate of using music to increase your positive emotions.  It is a staple technique in the personal development and self-help communities. 

During my July Don't Die with Your Book Inside You workshop, I adapted the technique.  I would introduce a writing exercise, give the directions, then as the participants began to do their work, I would play an instrumental song in the background.  I played the same song the entire weekend.  My intent was to embed the action of writing with a 'que' song.  When the participants began to hear the song, their memory would go to the action of writing.  I did this as much as a harmless experiment as I did to introduce a new CD by Kevin Courtney, Nada Sadhana. 

The song I used from the CD was Let it Go.  I will admit that by the end of the day and a half I was actually a bit annoyed when the music started to play.  Not sure if I was tired, but I needed to be honest about how my own technique had impacted me.  The participants were told ahead of time of the technique so that they could adapt it after the program with a song they may want to listen to more.  None of the participants mentioned being annoyed by the song at the end of the two days. 

Then something really cool happened (that is a scientific term of course!) -- another instructor who had the same CD used it in a class she was teaching two months after my original program.  One of the participants from my workshop was also in the other instructors class.  The participant heard the music and immediately remembered it fondly and began writing away.  Being totally unaware that the CD had been used in another class, I gave the CD as a gift to that same participant as we began working on a project.  I wish you could have heard her enthusiasm as she told me how she had just heard the CD the past weekend and how it helped her write.  The best part -- she did not connect that it was the same music I had played during the original workshop!  You see, when I played the music I played it from my computer.  When she attended the recent class, the instructor had the actual CD jacket. 

I know its is only a subject of one -- but it feels good to know my experiment worked for at least one person.  If you would like to hear a sample of the music go to http://nadasadhanamusic.com/album/NadaSadhana.html.  If you would like to purchase, write Kevin at YogaHappens@gmail.com

If you would like to experience a Don't Die Workshop for yourself, the next one will be Friday, November 18 and Saturday November 19. 

Thank you, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
www.DontDieBooks.com