Peaceful Mind and Healthy Body

It's Head To The Hill time again! So many new faces from around the country this year. But also some missing from the Maryland delegation - miss you Bridget Fox, Brian, Ilene, Rena and Anika. We have our asks and are ready to advocate for BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH AND CURE!

Will have more pics tomorrow but pictured here includes NBTS Gary Heimberg, Vice President & Counsel, Government Relations. I enjoyed meeting him today. He is an asset to our NBTS family.

Looking forward to our annual meeting with Rep. Jamie Raskin and Senator Chris Van Hollen.



Senator Van Hollen

🌞 Good morning, dear friends. Today, as the sun rises, we are reminded that it's another day, another chance to embrace life's journey with all its twists and turns. 🌈
And as the day unfolds, may we discover moments of peace and strength, allowing our hearts to heal while holding onto the precious memories that forever bind us with those we have lost. 🌹

Who am I, now that I'm widowed? The death of my beloved husband shook my beautiful world. It made me look in the mirror and ask "Who Am I?" Each day I had a different answer. Today, I am still the woman who meditates, plays pickleball, loves to travel, and spread my wings. I still am.

If you could go back in time, what financial advice would you give to your younger self before becoming a widow? Share your answer in the comment below and let's see what our community says.

The median age of a widow is 59.4 for a first marriage and 60.3 for a second marriage. Half of widows over age 65 will outlive their husbands by 15 years...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3515343618707016&set=gm.7101946949826261&idorvanity=2083370271683979&__cft__[0]=AZX_ugtkq3PurGcOLENmwKPkINKz1wOKVuksOxSrsf3eqcgS2AI_RN7Zb89Y73qiMhOGstgxY6Lj4q1fJbiDAdxIquef43y2kELNDP68ItAqCipaI8BB7RWofaNHtSGN84NFJFyOjCWuOONHLL5HHL2hKjfvYLveN_lfQ6P-W_tNAaHNftaHUHZQlvjk_-1ZjOQ&__tn__=EH-R

Dear friends,
Jack Canfield's post (see link above) inspired me in his description of "Bayanihan" and today, I want to share with you a deeply personal journey that has touched my heart and awakened the true spirit of Bayanihan within me. As a woman who has experienced the pain of widowhood firsthand, I have made it my mission to extend a helping hand to fellow widows and create a community of love and support.

In the spirit of Bayanihan, I understand the power of unity and collaboration, especially when faced with the unique challenges that come with losing a life partner. Together, we can create a haven where widows find solace, compassion, and strength during their most trying times.

My journey began with a simple desire to make a difference in the lives of widows around me. I recognized the deep void that accompanies the loss of a beloved spouse, and I knew these incredible women needed more than just sympathy—they needed a community that truly understood their pain.

In the spirit of Bayanihan, I encourage widows to support one another, to uplift and celebrate each other's successes, and to be the pillars of strength we all need during this chapter of our lives. Together, we can transform widowhood from a time of sorrow into a period of growth and resilience.

Today, I invite you to join me in this mission of love and support. Let us embrace the spirit of Bayanihan and extend a helping hand to widows in our community. Together, we can create a powerful network of compassion, unity, and selflessness that truly makes a difference in the lives of those who have experienced the loss of a spouse.



With love and gratitude,
Annabelle

www.facebook.com

I’m proud to have joined and fellow brain tumor advocates this week and urged , , and to support increased funding for brain tumor research.
Brain tumors have a significant impact nationally. Today, nearly 1 million people in the US are living with a brain tumor, and an estimated 94,390 Americans will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in 2023. Approximately 18,990 people in the US will die this year from a malignant brain tumor.
On May 9th, we shared stories of our loved ones who were taken too quickly from brain and central nervous system tumors. We cried over our losses and celebrated those courageous individuals who are living because of the treatments developed from research funded by our efforts and the efforts of private donors. There is so much we still need to do to understand brain tumors, develop treatments, and find cures. We have hope, but we need federal support to do it.
Much love to my NBTS Maryland family!

I lost some very close family members over the last few years.

Dealing with the grief and sorrow was very difficult for me.

Over time I wrestled with the pain of living with their loss and the pain and guilt of trying to “move on”.

Many of the people I speak to about loss have been living in the same conflicted life I have - almost as if someone pushed the “pause” button and I am stuck in a loop.

It took many years but I finally found a way to honor those I lost without feeling so overwhelmed all the time.

I'm holding a no-cost webinar that showed me the tools I needed to survive the pain in my heart.

I wish more people knew about this because it’s how I saved my life.

Just head over to this link and register for it:
https://bit.ly/3yimR0z

Joinnow.Live Webinars

I am so grateful for David Kessler and his grief educator certification course. I completed this course yesterday, Saturday Sept 3. I am grateful also for my pickleball friends who were patient in letting me leave early so that I could attend the grief labs.

What's a Certified Grief Educator?
"A Certified Grief Educator is committed to providing the highest level of grief support through education, experience, and insights into the often unacknowledged rocky terrain of grief.

Certified Grief Educators completed a certificate program designed by world-renowned grief expert, David Kessler. They bring his unique methodology, tools, and decades of experience to help people navigate the challenges of grief."

This third certification rounds out my training and deep desire to provide bereaved widows, parents, and children who are living and grieving in their journey of loss.

Death is the great equalizer of human beings. Many see it as the end of life, happiness, and relationships. Grief stays with us for as long as our loved ones are dead. Grief is as unique as our fingerprints, which means that there is no wrong way to grieve. It just feels wrong and hard.

There are 6 needs of the grieving as outlined by David Kessler in this course. One of the most important is the need to be seen and witnessed. Everywhere we are seen and witnessed is a holy place. This is the place I want to hold.