There's a lot to learn from theater people and theater training. Here, I share just a few tips for a happier, more efficient life and practices that will help you in your job, your relationships, and even in creating your own business.
Introduction - I'd like to share lessons I've learned all the way from theater school to performing in music groups to directing plays and performing in lots of plays.
You can watch the video playlist, or read the transcript here:
1 - Your Part is Essential. It's important. As they say, there are no small parts, only small actors. I even like to think about the crew people; the prop people who put the bread on the table, so that the cast will act out having dinner. What if that prop peson forgot to put the bread on the table? Oh no!
So every part is essential.
2 - Always, always, always.....Be On Time. I had an experience once, when I was performing in a play, and we had a call time - and I was there. Except - the door was locked, and I couldn't get in. So, by the time I finally got in the door, I had beeen replaced. Someone else had been given my part because they had to keep going.
And that's why now, I allow extra time. Time for traffic, time for finding a parking place, time for making sure the door is open. Usually about a half hour more than I think I need, I allow extra time.
3 - Respect Others. This sort of goes back to the one about there's no small parts, only small actors. But it doesn't matter if you feel like somebody is more important or less important than you, we all need to respect each other,, and work together. And let's be friends!
4 - Anticipate Your Next Move. A technique we learn in acting is that you just about have to memorize the lines of the person you're speaking with, so that you're ready to take a breath just before they are finished.
So that works out into other areas of life too. You want to plan ahead. You want to be ready for the next thing. Don't you hate gaps and big delays?
5 - Check the Mirror. Check yourself in the mirror before you go out. This applies to lots of things, like going on a Zoom meeting, or going to the office. And it's good idea to get out of your pajamas before you go out too. ;)
6 - Take Care of Your Health. This is a really important one, because your body is your instrument. It's not just about theater, that's in everything. How can you work if you're sick? One of the most stressful things for me about being in a play or a concert is knowing that I CAN"T get sick. All these people are depending on me. So I've worked pretty hard on this one. if you would like some ideas on how to take good care of your health, look at the links in the decription, or click HERE.
7 - Practice Every Day. This is the way to look "talented," or gifted. It's just about practicing, and learning your craft to where it appears natural. If you do it enough, it will just feel like - it's so easy. And that's why we practice every day.
8 - Get Over Rejection. Learn to live with rejection. This was one of the most important lessons I learned in theater school. They made a point of helping us see that being rejected doesn't necessarily mean you're bad, or wrong, it just means you're not right for that particular job or part. So, get used to it! It's going to happen whether you're writer, or a salesman, or just about any job, you will experience rejection. Get over it!
9 - Support Each Other. Support your fellow actors, or musicians, or team members or whoever you work with. We all need each other. let's be friends. It's so much better working with friends.
10 - Be a Good Audience.  When you're too old to participate, be a good audience member. Or mentor, or teacher. These days, when I go to live theater, I am happy that I can be a blessing to the people I am coming to see. And I get a blessing from them too. 

I hope you will share your own life lessons in the comments. Navigating life and business is not easy, but it's much more enjoyable with support from friends.
​Peace,  Donna

(This is a transcript from my video of the same name.)
​I’d like to welcome you to the first in my series on Emotional Wellness. I’d like to call this one, “When in Doubt, Blow Out.” Have you heard that phrase before? The first time I heard it was in a childbirth class, where we were learning lots of different ways to breathe, and counting, and focusing on different aspects of the childbirth process. And they told us all along, whenever you get frustrated, or you forget what to do – you can’t think of which way to breathe at that time, just blow out. When in doubt, blow out.
 
Over the years, I’ve used this technique for many different reasons. When I get frustrated, when somebody cuts me off in traffic, when I’m feeling stressed, it just makes you feel better. But I notice something else that it does – it makes your face go into a frown.  Well that doesn’t totally make me feel better. What if I raised my eyebrows, and smiled? That’s better. Isn’t it amazing how, when you just change what your face looks like, it helps how you feel on the inside.
 
One instance where I’ve noticed that I “blow out” is at the end of a Zoom meeting. Have you experienced that? I call it the “zoom sigh.” When the meeting is over, and I click “leave meeting” I do the Zoom sigh. It happens every time. Even when I tell myself, “don’t do that.” But it’s similar to blowing out, when you just let out a sigh. But there’s that face again. How about if I told myself, “that was a good meeting. I was really glad I got to connect with those people today.”

Let’s start thinking about our self talk, and what our face looks like. We can really change the way we feel inside. And that’s one aspect of emotional wellness. To think about what you look like, what your body is doing, and talk to yourself. Speak kindly to yourself.
 
This morning when I woke up, I was in pain in my back, as often happens, and I did the blow out technique. But then, I straightened up, and I told myself, “I’m awake, I’m alive, and there is hope.” Let’s remember that there’s always hope.
 
Why do we tell people to smile when we take their picture?   It’s because you look so much better when you smile. And you feel better too.

I would love to hear your stories of using this technique - please comment or contact me!
If you'd like to see my funny face when I blow out, watch the video here:

This Grand Re-Opening event was a live zoom on May 17, 2021. I wish you could have joined us, but you can still see what it's all about. 
There have been so many cool changes to this 65-year-old company - I thought it was time for a refresh in my own business! Whether you are new to Shaklee, or an old timer, I'm sure you will be impressed. Our new team is offering a lifeline to anyone looking to improve their physical or financial health - or both!
Take a look and see how you can support me in my "new" business by:
1.  Learning about our environmentally friendly, safe, guaranteed products
2.  Recommending me to your friends 
3.  Taking a look at our opportunity as a side gig, or a full time effort
4.  Leaving an encouraging comment!
The video is 30 minutes long - watch all at once or in segments. Thanks for watching!
(The first 8 minutes is intro and family photos, celebrating our 50th anniversary. Then my partner Ruth Bell starts the actual presentation at 8 minutes.)​

To connect with me, click on the Appointments & Solutions button, or Contact.
​I would love to meet you and see how we might work together. 
​Donna Turner

Just about everything we do affects our health in some way, That donut you ate today isn't going to make you fat tomorrow. But if you ate a donut every day for years, that's another story.
Watch this little video to get an idea of the effect of lots of tiny actions, one after another.  Then after the video, I will share some tiny actions I have discovered that could turn things around for the better. 

People often ask me - what should I take for this? Maybe they have high cholesterol or digestion problems, or you fill in the blank. But we are talking about food supplements, not medicine. The key word here is "food." Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food." The difference between food and medicine, is food needs to be eaten every day, and feeds our cells so they can keep us healthy. Medicine, on the other hand, is taken after something goes WRONG, and is meant to be taken for a limited time until the crisis is averted. 
With medicine, we expect a quick response.
​With food, response time can take longer, especially if we are trying to change something.
Some food supplements take a week or two to be fully integrated into your system, so they need to be taken every day, for a month or so, before you can tell the difference. Other supplements can show a dramatic result even the same day. Stress Relief Complex is one of those - you can feel relief in a very short time.

Make sure your food supplements are actually FOOD. If they are mostly chemicals, your body won't recognize them as food, and even may reject them as invaders. The supplements I use are tested thousands of times, from raw ingredients to final product, to make sure they are completely safe from contaminants and toxins. You have probably heard of recalls of vitamins and even baby food, for unsafe ingredients. I wouldn't take anything that didn't have proof of safety.

So what are some little things you can do?

First of all, you could get an assessment of your current health and recommendations of what might help you get on a better track. This assessment is called Meology, because it is unique to YOU. You would enter what you know from your last doctor visit, plus your lifestyle and eating habits. There is more information on Meology right here on this website. You can learn more on that page and even link to take the free assessment - it only takes 5 minutes.

Then, look over the results of the quiz and the recommendations. Decide small actions you will take to change your state of health. Some examples might be:

• Make your meal times regular instead of random. 
• Don't eat after 8:00 pm (or decide a time that gives you a 12-hour window between last meal/snack and breakfast.)
• Eat breakfast - and make sure you get some protein. No sugary cereals!
• Learn the benefits of eating less, or no, meat.
• Get some exercise every day
• If your weight is in the overweight or obese caegory - do something about it. (Contact me - I can help steer you in the right direction.) Overweight increases the risk factors for many life-threatening diseases. Here's a  Health Chat about healthy weight.

Jump to the Meology Quiz
​

Let's chat about your personal health status
Contact me for a personal conversation about your unique needs. I would love to meet you! 
​Donna Turner

A brand new business - 25 years in the making
I have loved this company and their products for over 25 years. Now I'm ready to share this goodness with the world! The Shaklee Corporation began in 1956, as a way to make up for the deficiencies in our food as a result of over processing. And from the beginning, this company has empowered everyday people to be business owners with unlimited potential, working from home with the backing of a stable corporation behind them. 

​There are so many stories of remarkable turnarounds and I will be sharing some of them here. Don't you think it's preferable to use natural methods to regain and maintain your health if at all possible? I do. 

I hope you will check out what I have to offer, and sign up to receive updates by email. Let me know how I can help with your questions about nutrition, healthy living, and green cleaning. 

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing the different product categories in my "Shaklee Store." Since this is February, and Heart Health month, I will begin with the Heart Health products. Here is a presentation that explains nutrition and lifestyle changes we can all make for a healthier heart. It's a pdf that you can scroll through to learn what it takes to "feed a healthy heart." Let me know what you learned!
​Click on the file below:

Here's a Proven Way to Lose the Weight Gained in 2020
The vaccine is here, and it's time to think about going out in public again. For me and maybe you too, that means getting serious about losing the "Covid weight." 

We all have been trying to get our exercise, and eat right. But sometimes it just hasn't been possible. And other times we just lost our will power. No sense kicking ourselves now - let's just get busy and do something about it. 
​
There is a program that is guaranteed to help you lose weight, and I can tell you all about it if you'd like to make an appointment. Watch this 14-minute video to learn about it, then let's chat. ​

Happy New Year!
If you are reading this, you survived 2020. It’s a sad fact that many people did not. Let's honor those we lost by being the best we can be this year. 
So, how to prepare for 2021? I have a few ideas, and they are a bit mellower than my normal New Year plans.
1 – If you are recovering from Covid, that is your priority. Do everything you can to get proper nutrition, and build back up to regular exercise. Take your time and be kind to yourself.
2 – If you are grieving someone that you lost to Covid or natural causes, that is your priority. It seemed to me that an unusual number of people died from non-Covid causes this year.

• Take time to journal regularly. Just write a page or more every day – it doesn’t matter what you say.
• Make a list of all the things you learned  from your loved one, and the things that made them unique. Those are things that can’t be taken away from you.
• Think of something you can do or make that will honor your loved one.

3 – If you are looking for work, create a schedule and a plan for that. Be sure to include stress relieving activities such as walking and breaks for mindfulness. Contact me for some personalized ideas just for you. Or take a look at my Work from Anywhere page.

4 – If you are still working, but from home, own it. Make sure you have a chair that is good for your back, and place your screen where your head can be in a normal position, where your eyes can look straight ahead.  If you use your smart phone a lot, make sure to hold it up, or put it on a tripod, to relieve your neck. Consider adding a standing desk, or set your laptop up higher so you can stand for a while. If this is going to go on for a long time, create a space that you enjoy spending time in. One trick I learned a long time ago – at the end of each day, clear your desk, put things away. It makes such a difference to come into an organized space in the morning.

5 – If you are responsible for making sure your kids follow their education at home, get them involved in your New Year’s plans. Get new calendars and planners or time management apps, and let them participate in organizing their schedule and school working space. Be sure to plan fun activities they can look forward to.

6 - If you are working in your regular workplace, still take time to dream and plan what this year could hold for you.

End of Year Assessment
My husband, Mark, and I like to take a day around New Year’s for a planning retreat. We go over the past year and write down accomplishments, challenges, and note any goals that were set aside for whatever reason. It is often heartwarming to realize that we actually accomplished something when it seemed like such a crazy year. After that, we take time to dream.
Dreams and Plans
Think about what you would like to accomplish in the next year - in your work, your family life, in personal growth, whatever category is important to you.
Think about where you would like to be in the next 5 years. I say this only because it is traditional “wisdom” to plan ahead. Most of us learned that no amount of planning or dreaming can stop a pandemic from upending your life. But still, it is a known fact that people with goals end up accomplishing more.
Let’s Talk
I hope these ideas give you something to go on. If you are having trouble thinking through this on your own, I would be happy to brainstorm with you. Just choose a time on the Appointments and Solutions page, and we can have a real conversation.  Let’s get going on this New Year with HOPE. 
Happy New Year!
​Donna

Where I live in San Diego, we just started 3 more weeks of lockdown. That's after 8 months of mostly locked down, with a few windows of opportunity when we could at least gather outside. So I looked up an article I found when this all began that has helped me cope. I hope it will benefit you as well. 

Here are some suggestions from Dr. Thompson to help us get through this challenging time:​​

1. If possible, change your location of work in your home. This may be challenging, but different physical locations within your home over time gives your body the awareness of movement by virtue of being in a novel location.
2. When possible, stand while doing work, especially when using a screen. This practice enables your body to work even while being less mobile.
3. As you are able, limit the number of people on videocalls to three or less. This may sound unreasonable, or impossible. But the fewer people your brain—and body—has to keep track of, the less tired you will be. This may simply sound like common sense. That’s because it is.
4. Greet as many people as you can whenever you are able. There is little cost to acknowledging the presence of another person, and we need to be acknowledged even by strangers. Not only will your thinking mind give and receive it, your body will as well.
5. Plan for daily singing/worship while standing. Sing along with your most loved YouTube worship video as a means to use your body to tell your mind and soul that you are quite alive—and that you are not alone.
6. Talk about your anger. There may be nothing more important than having a close friend or counselor validate that your anger is real and isn’t crazy. Not to mention that talking to someone about your feelings connects you to another person, which in and of itself will reduce your irritability and give you a greater sense of agency.
7. Practice contemplative prayer. This form of prayer, especially while standing, strengthens your capacity to live in the present moment which protects against the irritability that emerges in the face of immobility.

Make it a practice to take at least three 5-10 minute walks every day. Shorter, more frequent movement not only extends your body’s movement over the course of the day, it also gives you something to look forward to throughout the day, thereby reducing your anxiety along with your irritation. Our bodies are hard at work. And although we are in a season in which we are asking them to work differently and harder than usual, know that you are not alone, and your work is not in vain.​

​Are you stuck at home? Need to find something to make some income in between teaching your kids? Here you go...

Our motto of Work from Anywhere - Wellness for All says it all. That's what we are about. Watch this video, then contact me to get a personal tour of how you can be part of this fun, supportive community.

This is the only way I have found to be part of a real community from a distance. I have been doing this for 25 years, so it is nothing new. Except it keeps getting better. There are so many new, innovative tools for getting a business started with just your smart phone or laptop - it's fun just learning how it all works.

Contact me and let's set up a time to chat. You can click on the Appointments & Solutions button to find a meeting time. Or if you are the DIY type, just go HERE.
Stay safe and well,​
​Donna Turner