Hedria

Welcome to Hedria's blog!

In our journey through life we make goals and reach milestones. Fortunately in these past years I have reached many of my personal and professional goals. I am among the lucky ones who love their work; it is both my vocation and my avocation.

My passion for the seminar and speaking business has afforded me the opportunity to travel and work on five continents. The world of Creativity has inspired me and allowed me to change my life.

My reasons for starting this blog include my desire to share my experiences and ideas about Creativity and how to use it consciously to enrich our lives and to continue learning by connecting with others ... with you!?!

Changing seasons in a changing world

Time flies by so quickly! The last time I sat down to write and organize my thoughts it was fall and here I am listening to birds chirping, and checking out the spring blooms.

Knowing the sun rises each morning and the seasons change adds stability to my life. It makes this world, that I am having difficulty focusing on, make sense. The world that comes jumping into my home daily through the newspapers, radio and TV has become overwhelming! I need a world map to locate the trouble spots on this earth...and I need a filter to listen to the comments of the commentators and their colleagues. Listening to the commentators after a debate, I wondered if we had heard the same program. Other people are constantly trying to put their thoughts into our heads, dismissing our right to assimilate facts and come to our own conclusions. When news became "24/7" , in my opinion, it was the demise of reporting all the news fit to print.

It would be wonderful if the world followed the maxim of the  creativity world I belong to. When evaluating a situation the first thing we do is examine what is good about the situation, what is right, what is working. We defer judgment until after we have purged this and then the judgments are reframed into questions about how we might work on the concerns of this problem.

People ask if they can deliberately learn to be creative - yes! It is done by learning to defer judgment, listening to the facts and then making decisions based on knowledge and foresight. Jumping into problem solutions, conclusions, and letting others think for us never works.

Wishing you a spring filled with beautiful sunrises, warm sunshine, and long summer days with spectacular sunsets. May you and your friends, family and colleagues reap the benefits of the wonderful changing seasons.    

 

Getting Personal

On May 8th, at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Rochester, NY, I'll be doing another one of my "Author Chats" for the general public.

I'd love to have anyone in the Rochester area come by and hear me speak. Afterwards, I will sign books. I hope to see you there - it's at 1200 Edgewood Ave.

Here is the detailed information provided by my hosts at the JCC:

Hedria Lunken: author of Square One at 51: What I Did the Day After I Buried My Life, will speak in an  author chat at the JCC, Senior Adult Lounge on Thursday, May 8th, starting at 7:30. "At the age of 51 Hedria Lunken faced significant changes in her personal and professional life. Living her happy world, the product of an ideal upbringins and idyllic marriage, Hedria's inner strength would be severely challend. Known for delivering valuable and practical advice in a humorous and engaging style, Hedria, a professional creative consultant, gives audiences and readers the tools they need to revise thoughts and attitudes about challenges and change, turn inspiration into action and achieve personal and professional success."

Afterwards, I will be interviewed by Andrea Miller from the JCC Feinbloom Center for the Arts.

NOTE: Registration is required. This event is free and open to the public. Visit the JCC main desk or call 461-2000.

TV INTERVIEW

I am excited to report: I will be interviewed on Rochester television tomorrow

                       February 26th @12:00 noon

                                              by

                Rebecca Leclair  of Channel 10 WHEC

       In Addition I have several "Author Chats" planned:

• Waterstone Financial Group - Thursday February 24th NAWBO
• Waterstone Financial Group - Leap Year Special for Clients Friday February 29
• JCC Rochester author chat

             Open to the Public 

              April 17,    CHANGED TO

       THURSDAY MAY 8 2008 at 7:00 PM

Friday Quote: Opportunities in Adversity

Many times we revisit the positives and wonderful things that have happened, reflect on the adversity and what might have been better. And, if we are fortunate and insightful, find ways to change adversity and struggles into strengths and opportunities. In an article by Doug Mellgren of the Associated Press Al Gore was quoted as he prepared to accept the Nobel Peace Prize:

"Seven years ago...I read my own political obituary in a judgment that seemed to me harsh and mistaken- if not premature...But that unwelcomed verdict also brought a precious if painful gift: an opportunity to search for fresh new ways to serve my purpose."

When I faced the death of my husband I knew life was not going to get better judged on our life together, I knew it would be different and the difference would become a new way of life for me.

Look ahead with strength and vigor to see that "Life doesn't always get better - it gets different, and that difference can be wonderful." They say that every time a door closes another opens...But those hallways can be difficult!

Tis The Season

Tis the season... to see family and friends, send notes, plan for the new year, reflect on the past year, share memories and dreams, connect with others, shop, eat, party, pray, appreciate, love, and enjoy.

December is a beautiful month in Rochester. The first snowfall brought giant snowflakes that stayed on the ground making a beautiful white carpet. The fireplace is glowing, the birds are gathering around their feeder, friends and family are celebrating the holidays.

Chanukah is early this year and I am pleased to say I chose the right gifts for my grandchildren, not an easy task. How do I know? I was able to deliver them personally and see the smiles on their faces. For many of you Christmas is around the corner and plans and preparations are in the making. 

What a wonderful season it is for those of us with good health of body and mind and with friends and family safe and secure to share and celebrate. It's the season to give thanks for our blessings. It's also time to remember those we have lost, and mourn their passing, and think of others in this world who don't enjoy our good fortune.

My Goals for 2007 were: Give back to the community, and be a positive influence on my grandchildren. (I added the positive to keep my children happy) Thank you for your support of me, my business and my family this year. I was fortunate to see my book published, mentor several people, complete my term on an international board, and continue to serve on a local board. It was fun and gratifying to give back to the community. As for the grandkids - we got all of the family together several times and my husband and I have spent time with nieces and nephews - it has been a wonderful year.

Wishing you the BEST THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

The Gang's All Here!

November is here and thoughts of Thanksgivings past are flooding my brain.

Thanksgiving was our favorite holiday when the kids were growing up. We would have the entire family over, sometimes as many as 35 people. Did we have 3 lovely tables of 12? No. One table for all – every year it grew longer and longer - in fact it took Paul hours to set it up, arranging the folding tables to match in height and width and then finding the right table cloths to cover all. It was an amazing feat.

“Why?” you ask, “did we have one long table?”

When Paul was young they went to his maternal grandmothers for Passover each year. Houses were smaller then – families large - and the adults were seated around the dining room table, and the grandchildren were at the kitchen table. As you got older you were invited to sit at the grownup dining room table. The year Paul anticipated changing tables was the year Grandma decided she was not “doing” Passover anymore. Paul never made it to the adult table! Therefore, at our home there was just one table – for grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins and guests – as the family grew the table grew, getting longer, and longer.

Preparation of dinner was another story. We had a retail store and we both worked six days a week and two nights. Preparing dinner last minute would have been impossible. My son once said to his friend: “It’s late October – we can go home and eat Thanksgiving dinner – I am sure Mom and Dad have it all in the freezer by now!” And he was right.

Don't cry over things money can replace!

The holiday rush is coming up fast. The retailers and media are pushing shopping sooner and sooner. WOW, look at the calendar,it is only 2 weeks till Thanksgiving. Veteran's Day is around the corner. Where did the time fly?  It is time to take a moment and get our priorities straight, what is important to us and what is not.

As we prepare for seeing friends and family, get exhausted in our efforts to satisfy ourselves and others, we might loose touch with what is truly important. My dear grandmother, Annetta Gellman, always told me: "Don't cry over things money can replace!" Yes, that means the lost earrings, the broken dish, the misplaced jewelry(I hid mine in such a good hiding place it took 9 months to 'find' it). Don't waste your tears and energy on lost and missing objects.

Grandma's saying had more meaning. She was referring to seeing and understanding what is important in our lives, and putting our best effort and tears there! Although not a warm huggy type of person, family meant everything to grandma. We read so much about WWII. I remember a flag with three stars hanging outside her window signifying her 3 sons were serving their country.

Please, take a few minutes time to think about what is important to you. What are you are thankful for this holiday season? Remember, don't waste you energy "crying over things money can replace." 

Serendipity

I met someone and said "Wow" I wanted to discover more about this person and knew the other person felt the same way? This was professional networking at its finest! It was serendipity happening!

I met Lynn at the Creative Problem Solving Institute this summer. She came into the room, sat attentively, asking questions becoming engaged in the material. I was presenting this seminar for the first time since my book Square One at 51 had been published and it had taken on a new meaning for me. Lynn grasped this immediately and we connected.

Last month when I met her for lunch in Atlanta I had one of my folders with me and Lynn remarked on the quote I use "What makes your world go around...Let Hedria take you on a voyage of discovery."  When I returned home and rechecked her web site www.lynnschoener.com  it had the following words "she (Lynn)takes attendees on a self-discovery of how to manage change - and even how to thrive - in a changing, challenging world." No wonder we felt a kinship, we take others and ourselves on the same paths. 

We had arranged the meeting so she could give me feedback after the seminar. I was blown away when Lynn told me: "I haven't read your book yet. When I returned home, my colleague Sherrie's husband had died suddenly, and I gave her my copy to read!" There are several similarities between Sherrie's situation and mine - her husband Issac and my husband Paul both died suddenly. Although I am not of the baby boomer generation, I was in my 50's when this happened and so is Sherrie and her husband. Lynn said later: "The Baby Boomer generation doesn't think anything bad can happen to them!"

Sherri and I discussed incidents that we shared: Enormous ones like: preparations for a child's wedding without your mate; moving your home. Smaller hurting ones such as: changing next of kin on your doctor's information; buying a card for your son's birthday and signing it Mom; taking out the garbage alone. These are all bitter sweet moments. Sherrie said reading the book "gave her confidence to know she would survive" - that is get through it all and come out okay.

The other colleague at lunch was Patricia DiBona. Her web site is fantastic, please give it a visit www: Patriciadibonadesigns.com. I resonated with her quote: "The purpose of life is to create --- so we know who we are." Isn't that insightful? Her scrapbooks and diaries are fantastic. She and Lynn do weekend seminars together and they must be sensational!

A bottle of wine, a beautiful day, a lovely restaurant and 4 women interested in each other's stories. What a fantastic way to spend four hours! Thanks Lynn for arranging this! 

People who get on in this world

George Bernard Shaw is one of my favorities for his wit and truths. The summer after my husband died I was working on developing and marketing my seminar/workshop business. I attended a play at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario Canada.  I read this quote and it motivated me to continue forging ahead. I end my seminars with Shaw's words:

"People who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." 

Hope you enjoy it and profit from it as much as I have.

Do What You Have To Do

My mom was a very practical, no nonsense business woman. In her later years I had to place her in an assisted living home. It was extremely difficult for me, as I knew she loved her apartment and her freedom. It was made easier for me because of a saying or motto she used frequently. When faced with a challenging, difficult, or unplesant task, she would often say:

"You do what you need to do."

Knowing this helped me cope with my uneasiness in changing her living situation. It has also helped me forge ahead in my own life when I have an unplesant task to accomplish. I do what I need to do! 

Thanks Mom!