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 ANALYTICS EDIT VIDEO 10 Life Lessons from Theater. Hi, I'm Donna Turner and 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. ANALYTICS EDIT VIDEO 10 Life Lessons from Theater. Hi, I'm Donna Turner and 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.
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Emotional Wellness Series #1 |
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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.
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.
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
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.

From my April 2020 post:
Do you have Zoom fatigue?
Last week, I hit a wall after a long staff meeting with 9 people in little squares on my computer screen. I felt anxious, overloaded with work, and the next morning I had a visual migraine. It's a disturbance of vision without a headache, but I felt queasy all day. Then I read this article by Curt Thompson, MD that helped me understand what was going on. Here's a snippet of it - just click on READ MORE, below, to see the entire helpful piece.
"A Body of Work" April 15, 2020 by Curt Thompson, MD
By now, most of us have noticed. And either we or someone we know is talking about it. Zoom fatigue. Irritability. No fever, cough or body aches necessary. Just the normal, run-of-the-mill symptoms of social distancing. And mostly, people are describing how much more exhausted they are at the end of their days compared to what their lives were like before three weeks ago. All of this highlights one element of what it truly means to be human that our encounter with the coronavirus has drawn our attention to: our bodies. READ MORE
Do you have Zoom fatigue?
Last week, I hit a wall after a long staff meeting with 9 people in little squares on my computer screen. I felt anxious, overloaded with work, and the next morning I had a visual migraine. It's a disturbance of vision without a headache, but I felt queasy all day. Then I read this article by Curt Thompson, MD that helped me understand what was going on. Here's a snippet of it - just click on READ MORE, below, to see the entire helpful piece.
"A Body of Work" April 15, 2020 by Curt Thompson, MD
By now, most of us have noticed. And either we or someone we know is talking about it. Zoom fatigue. Irritability. No fever, cough or body aches necessary. Just the normal, run-of-the-mill symptoms of social distancing. And mostly, people are describing how much more exhausted they are at the end of their days compared to what their lives were like before three weeks ago. All of this highlights one element of what it truly means to be human that our encounter with the coronavirus has drawn our attention to: our bodies. READ MORE
Here are some suggestions from Dr. Thompson to help us get through this challenging time:
- 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.
- When possible, stand while doing work, especially when using a screen. This practice enables your body to work even while being less mobile.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how you are managing your work life in this season, or even how you plan to celebrate holidays. Please comment!
Cheers, Donna
Cheers, Donna
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
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

I love cornbread! I love it with chili, I love it with soup, I love it all by itself with a little honey or molasses, or even plain.
I have a favorite recipe from the old Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. It's called Perfect Cornbread. I have been making it for many years.
Then about 10 years ago I found that I could no longer tolerate gluten. So I learned to substitute gluten free flours for the wheat flour. This was slightly less fluffy, but still I had my cornbread.
Now here comes another challenge. In order to reduce my cholesterol and maintain my health, I have decided to go vegan.
Is it possible to make gluten free cornbread also VEGAN??Well, this should be fun. I decided to challenge myself to figure this out. So I took my trusty BH&G recipe and started substituting. I was already using plant milk for the milk part, and now to figure out how to get the properties of egg with no eggs?
In comes flax egg replacer. This took a little practice, but I think I have it down now. For one egg, you mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax meal with 3 tablespoons of hot water for each egg. Stir with a whisk till it starts to get gelatinous. I found it works best to refrigerate for about 15 minutes before adding to the cornbread mixture.
So, how's that working for you? The first time I tried this, it tasted good, but was admittedly, a little flat. I was using a gluten free baking mix that already had some baking powder in it, so I went easy on the baking powder. By the second try I had learned to refrigerate the "flax eggs" and I also added the regular amount of baking powder, in addition to what was in the baking mix. This attempt proved to create more "rise" in my cornbread.
Here's the Recipe for Gluten Free Vegan Cornbread
many thanks to BH&G
1 cup flour (I used Pamela's GF baking mix)
1 cup cornmeal
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 beaten eggs (2 T ground flax meal, 6 T hot water, then refrigerate 15 minutes)
1 cup plant milk (I use unsweetened organic soy milk)
1/4 c oil or shortening
2 - 4 Tablespoons sugar
Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes
So, now are you going to try it? I look forward to seeing your comments, especially after you have tried this recipe. Let me know any tweaks you came up with. And let me know if you would like to see more gluten free vegan recipes. Ciao!
I have a favorite recipe from the old Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. It's called Perfect Cornbread. I have been making it for many years.
Then about 10 years ago I found that I could no longer tolerate gluten. So I learned to substitute gluten free flours for the wheat flour. This was slightly less fluffy, but still I had my cornbread.
Now here comes another challenge. In order to reduce my cholesterol and maintain my health, I have decided to go vegan.
Is it possible to make gluten free cornbread also VEGAN??Well, this should be fun. I decided to challenge myself to figure this out. So I took my trusty BH&G recipe and started substituting. I was already using plant milk for the milk part, and now to figure out how to get the properties of egg with no eggs?
In comes flax egg replacer. This took a little practice, but I think I have it down now. For one egg, you mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax meal with 3 tablespoons of hot water for each egg. Stir with a whisk till it starts to get gelatinous. I found it works best to refrigerate for about 15 minutes before adding to the cornbread mixture.
So, how's that working for you? The first time I tried this, it tasted good, but was admittedly, a little flat. I was using a gluten free baking mix that already had some baking powder in it, so I went easy on the baking powder. By the second try I had learned to refrigerate the "flax eggs" and I also added the regular amount of baking powder, in addition to what was in the baking mix. This attempt proved to create more "rise" in my cornbread.
Here's the Recipe for Gluten Free Vegan Cornbread
many thanks to BH&G
1 cup flour (I used Pamela's GF baking mix)
1 cup cornmeal
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 beaten eggs (2 T ground flax meal, 6 T hot water, then refrigerate 15 minutes)
1 cup plant milk (I use unsweetened organic soy milk)
1/4 c oil or shortening
2 - 4 Tablespoons sugar
Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes
So, now are you going to try it? I look forward to seeing your comments, especially after you have tried this recipe. Let me know any tweaks you came up with. And let me know if you would like to see more gluten free vegan recipes. Ciao!
Donna Turner
I love helping people feel better and have more energy! In this blog I'll be sharing things I have found to help us all stay healthy in these crazy times we are living in.
Sometimes I will share ideas for living a happier life by being your own boss and naming your own schedule.
I am available on a limited basis for personal consultations. Click the leaf below.
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