Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Will I Be Useful Asks Bestselling Author Frances Fuller

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers an insider's view of assisted living and a unique outlook on aging, based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about.

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers an insider's view of assisted living and a unique outlook on aging, based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about.

Most of us look forward with great anticipation to the day when we can finally retire. We will be free to sit back, put our feet up and - do what? Many of us have defined our identity by the work we do. What happens when that is gone?

One of the biggest fears that people have about growing older is the fear of becoming obsolete. This fear is not unfounded, as society often places a high value on productivity and usefulness, and older individuals may feel as though they are no longer able to contribute in meaningful ways. Award-winning writer Frances Fuller, author of the bestselling book on aging, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old', recently addressed this issue in a post on her site titled, 'Will I Still Be Useful'. In that post she wrote in part:

Debbie, a neighbor of mine fell the other day, in front of her own door, with her little dog on a leash. Joyce, who lives just around the corner, heard the crash and the barking and ran to investigate. Seeing the gash on Debbie’s head, Joyce pushed an emergency button and help was on the way.

That reminds me of something important to discuss.

Elderly Americans in retirement homes are people who have worked hard most of their lives. They have run institutions, built houses, written books, nursed the sick, kept the peace, governed cities, fought wars, cooked meals, repaired what was broken, made music, led choirs, preached sermons, taught algebra, pulled teeth, etc., etc., all while raising children and sending them to college.

They don’t know much about idleness.

Thinking about going to a retirement home, they sometimes wonder: what will I do there all day every day? Will I be of any use to anybody?

There is a bit of ambiguity in their feelings. They don’t want to keep office hours or hang out a shingle, but neither are they ready to forget what they know or stop being citizens and neighbors.

The most interesting thing I have discovered about retirement homes is how many of the good things that happen there are created or proposed and even executed by the residents. And the best administration, at least one that the residents really like, is one that listens to the residents and enables their ideas.

Here are some of the things I know that the residents of one retirement home do to contribute to the good life there:

Welcome newcomers and help them become part of the community

Read to a resident who is nearly blind

Visit the sick

Organize and lead a book club

Keep the library growing and organized

Teach other residents to read music

Teach people to make better use of their computers and phones

Make beautiful and useful objects from the wood of a tree that fell

Paint pictures that hang in the halls

Share food they made in their kitchen

Comfort the bereaved

Buy gifts for poor people in the city

Collect school supplies for disadvantaged children in the area

Plant gardens and share the vegetables

Serve as officers of resident organizations

Sing in the community choir

Accept leadership positions in a local church

Lead games: charades, password, Bingo

Shop for someone who is not able to walk through a store

Walk the dog of another resident who is ill

The possibilities seem endless. After all, a home for the elderly is a neighborhood, in fact, a potentially needy neighborhood, a community of people whose common sharing makes life better for all.

The full text of the blog is available at https://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com/will-i-still-be-useful/ .

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Will There Be Skilled Nursing Asks Bestselling Author Frances Fuller

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers an insider's view of assisted living and a unique outlook on aging, based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about.

There are many reasons why having skilled nursing available in an assisted living facility is vitally important. Some are obvious and others are not so obvious. These include day to day care, chronic disease management, emergency response situations, rehabilitation plans, medication managements and peace of mind for family members. Frances Fuller, author of the bestselling book on aging, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', addressed this issue in an article posted on her site. In that article, she wrote in part:

This is a question to raise when you are choosing a place to spend your final years. In fact, the question is fundamental to the issue of a secure future.

Living in a retirement community will not cure your diabetes or your osteoarthritis. It will not even guarantee that you will not fall getting out of the shower.

A stranger wrote an Amazon review of my book, In Borrowed Houses, and spoke about thought-provoking passages that had turned her attention to the international problem of homelessness. Then she said: “On a personal level, I discovered just how borrowed a home is, so this book spoke to me on many levels.”

That little note made me happy, because the story in my book does make the point in many different ways that a house, any house, no matter how we got it, no matter how much we love it or how much we have invested in it, can be lost. In fact, it will be lost, because sooner or later, in one way or another, we must leave it. This includes our house, or an apartment in a retirement community.

It happens regularly in the building in which I live. People move away, unable anymore to deal with the requirements of Independent Living. This is not a tragedy, though, because the system here gives us the right to move over to Assisted Living when we need more help or even to Skilled Nursing if we require medical attention. In fact, the administration will take responsibility for moving us.

I bring it up now because people ask a lot of questions about homes for the elderly. They should. Moving for the last time (you hope) is a big deal. It probably requires you to leave a place you love, so you want the new place to be one you really like. A lot of your questions are probably related to that. You wonder if you can still live the way you want to live. And you want to feel secure.

A part of security is simply knowing that you will stay there. You will neither want to leave nor need to leave. This is why one of the questions you need to ask relates to that part of the home where you will go when you are confined to bed, either by illness or imminent death. You also may be sent there for intense, daily rehab.

But many elder homes lack such a department. When residents get ill, they often go first to a hospital, where they are diagnosed and receive emergency treatment. When they are ready to be dismissed but still need treatment and rehabilitation, or if their case is terminal, they will likely be sent to a nursing home. If the place they have chosen to live includes a nursing department, they will be going “home.”

Though they will not be in their own apartment, they will be in a part of the community they know, another wing of the building they live in, or across the lawn, in a place where they have visited friends. They may know someone who is there in the memory care section.

But the great practical value is that they probably have already paid for it. Some homes work this way. You pay a price, based on the size of your apartment in Independent Living, but when you move, of necessity, to Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing, you may owe nothing more. It is covered by what you pay for rent. This is usually called a Life Plan.

Of course, you must be careful to verify this, but often the apparently expensive place seems so because you have literally paid for whatever accommodations you need. You can move to Assisted Living and then to Skilled Nursing without your rent going up.

Most of the costs you will occur in Skilled Nursing are medical insurance issues. They may be covered by policies you own.

When I was looking for a place to spend the final years of my life, I turned down a place that I basically liked, except for the nursing ward, which was shabby, sad and depressing. Because I hoped aloud never to be there, my daughter said, “Then you never will,” and scratched the establishment off our list.

The full text of the blog is available at https://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com/is-there-skilled-nursing/.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Building Resilience And Self Esteem: Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein Announces Interview With Donna York And Lynn Sherman Of Girls On The Run

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a bestselling author and visionary filmmaker. In the tradition of authors like Judy Blume, Dr. Holstein pushes the envelope in covering the challenges girls really face.

Bestselling author and award-winning film maker Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein has announced a new video podcast interview with Donna York and Lynn Sherman of Girls On The Run. The interview will be posted on Dr. Holstein's Building Resilience and Self Esteem podcast at https://www.enchantedself.com.

Donna York is the Executive Director of Girls On The Run Of Central NJ. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation from Seton Hall University,where she received the 1st women’s tennis scholarship, a Master’s in Management from St. Elizabeth University and a certification in Non-Profit Management from Rutgers University. She has previously held positions as a physical education teacher, a sports & wellness director at the YMCA and a recreation director. She is currently the Founder and President of Hark-ALS and the Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Central NJ.

Donna is also a recipient of the Somerset County Woman of the Year - Hometown Hero Award and is a Russ Berrie Making a Difference Honoree.

As president of her own Marketing, New Product Development and Manufacturing company for over 30 years, Lynn Sherman learned the importance of mentoring the next generation, networking to build trust and connections, and how to manage employees in an empowering, creative and productive way. At GOTRCNJ these skills help her expand the reach of Girls on the Run sites, encourage new volunteers and coaches and develop partnerships with organizations that can help support growth. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a BS in Business Administration and Marketing, and a Graduate of the Institute For Integrative Nutrition as a Certified Holistic Health Coach. Lynn is passionate about inspiring and encouraging the next generation of young Girls to embrace physical activity and a healthy active lifestyle.

Dr. Holstein's groundbreaking podcast series featuring parents, educators, authors and thought leaders endeavoring to cultivate resilience and self-esteem in children.

With each episode, Barbara and her guests embark on a fascinating exploration into ideas regarding how self-esteem can be woven into the fabric of our children's daily experiences. Through insightful discussion, she hopes to find ways to help our kids navigate life's trials with courage and confidence.

The new podcast series is now available at https://www.enchantedself.com.

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a visionary psychologist and filmmaker whose unprecedented selfie films have garnered over 200 placements and awards. Her singular vision is to help girls build resilience, self-esteem, and discover their own talents, abilities, and self-worth. Dr. Holstein has spent decades developing tools and techniques to help girls enhance self esteem and resilience. One of those tools, a workbook for girls titled, 'Looking Good, Feeling Good', achieved bestseller status, an honor that many of her other books have achieved. The ebook hit the top of the Teen and Young Adult Self Esteem eBooks.

In this workbook, Each girl is offered an engaging opportunity to develop her creative talents and potential as she processes and better understands the angst of growing up and how it can be successfully handled. She can bring her own talents to her thoughts and responses to the issues presented which will further take her along a road of enhanced resilience and better self esteem. She can share her creative thoughts and answer questions, and even create poetry, start a play, draw a picture, or she can get out her phone and use it as a diary, or a means of sharing ideas about growing up with a friend, her mom or grandma. Or she can actually make selfie films with her phone which can be a great enhancer for self esteem and sharing one's creative talents.

She has also announced the release of a new selfie film series. The new series includes 7 films:

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 1. The Truth - A Short Film
A young girl shares her diary - falling in love, hating her mother, hating her parents fighting, being afraid to grow up, being upset that they may move, loving the locket her aunt gives her and feeling loved in ways by her aunt that her parents can't seem to muster, wishing the boy she is in love with would grow taller, confronting her disappointment that she has no relationship with him, sharing her glee at having a best friend and confiding in each other, coming to terms with growing up, letting go of her first love, getting ready to move and more.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 2. Falling In Love - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
A young teen talks to 'you' via Selfies on her smart phone. In these conversations the girl shares her loneliness moving, losing her best friend, her beginning friendships with new kids, and her realization that she has fallen in love again.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 3. Secrets - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
Based on Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Tween, this 10 minute film takes the audience on the complicated roller coaster ride of being 13. The 'girl' hates her parents, falls in love, has puberty and body concerns, realizes that secrets matter and finds herself in a miserable accidental situation. But all ends on an upbeat note with the girl realizing she is most in touch with happiness and a sense of joy when she is being true to herself.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 4. Conflict And A Bit Of Magic - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
The 'Girl' is traumatized by being ditched by a boyfriend, a bully, alcohol and kids taking drugs. Who can understand and help her? Maybe her aunt, who she gets to visit. A seance with a Medium in which the 'girl's' great-grandmother comes through gives her the courage she needs to ask her mom questions and in turn to learn some family secrets.

Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 5. The Medium - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
The girl, unhappy, goes to visit a favorite aunt who takes her to see a medium. The girl's great grandmother is channeled in and changes happen for the better. Was this real of a set-up? Does that matter?

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 6. Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
Two traumatic events structure the 'Girl's' high school year: a lockdown and a family secret. She is shocked yet manages to recover and to understand the importance and value of family and the complexity of truth.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 7. Lockdown
Three teens find themselves in the girls' bathroom during a lock down in school. Each respond emotionally differently. All are affected.

All the films are available at https://vimeo.com/showcase/10863899, and on the Roku channel, The Enchanted Self Presents.

Dr. Holstein hopes to bring parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and media together to accomplish one goal: Change in the lives of young people who suffer from anxiety and a growing sense of hopelessness and despair.

Dr. Holstein wraps Positive Psychology concepts in forms of media that young people find engaging, relatable and inspiring. These include:

Five bestselling, award-winning books (perfect for school libraries)

Five self-esteem workbooks for girls 8 and up

Award-winning films and coming of age selfie films

Podcasts

Dedicated websites

Stage plays

A library of articles

Ted-style talks

As a school psychologist and in her private practice, Dr. Holstein has worked with many children and parents, helping them to develop life skills in decision-making, recognition of their own talents, feel more courageous, and helping both kids and parents develop more successful inter-generational skills. Her last book, ‘Conflict and a Bit of Magic’, helps kids build self-esteem though reading the journal of a girl, identifying with the girl, and understanding they have more courage and resiliency than they thought they had. The book is based on the experiences of the already famous “girl” from 'The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween' and 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', and achieved bestseller status in the multi-generational families category.

Dr. Holstein’s workbook for kids, ‘Secrets’ also achieved bestseller status in the ‘Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Depression’ category.

Dr. Holstein's cutting-edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both YouTube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel and Amazon Fire TV, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'.

Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com.More information about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Selfie videos and selfie films can be uploaded at the site. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.com.

Profile:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.

Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting. Her Roku channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.

She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, Time online, Readers Digest, Parade, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.

Contact:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.enchantedself.com

Leia Mais…

Bestselling Author Dr Barbara Becker Holstein Announces New Interview With Award Winning Children's Book Author Julia Cook On Resilience And Self Esteem

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a bestselling author and visionary filmmaker who uses positive psychology concepts to help kids deal with bullying, anxiety, depression, loneliness, school shootings, and social media issues. In the tradition of authors like Judy Blume, Dr. Holstein pushes the envelope in covering the challenges girls really face without sugarcoating it or downplaying the feelings or passions young girls experience.

All of us would agree that growing up has always posed significant challenges, but the modern day environment, particularly for girls grappling with body image, psychological stress, school shootings, lockdowns, anxiety, climate change and cyberbullying is beyond most kids' ability to cope. The traditional roles of parents, grandparents, and educators have been diminished, as many older adults struggle to even begin to comprehend these new realities. This disconnect underscores the need for innovative approaches to support the mental health and resilience of today's youth, ensuring they receive guidance that is both relevant and effective. How can we reach them? And, assuming we can reach them, what should we offer them?

We can't change the world. But we can teach young people coping skills that will serve them.

Resilience, which could be described as the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going in the face of adversity, is a cornerstone of mental well-being.

Self-esteem on the other hand is the internal perception of one’s worth and abilities. It is the core of a young person’s emotional health. High self-esteem enables children to approach tasks with confidence, take risks in learning, and engage socially without undue fear of judgment.

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein recently interviewed award-winning author Julia Cook on her Resilence and Self Esteem Podcast. Their conversation was lively, serious and enlightening. Julia is nationally recognized as an award-winning children’s book author and parenting expert. Her books have been referenced in such publications as Parent’s Magazine, The New Yorker, Green Child Magazine, The Huffington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Yahoo.com, DrLaura.com and BabyZone.com. She has also been featured on CNN’s HLN News and local news shows in many major metropolitan areas.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Julia became actively involved in teaching children how to ski, an experience that led to a love of teaching in general. Her Master’s degree is in Elementary School Counseling. While serving as a professional school counselor, Julia often used children’s books to enhance her classroom lessons.

"The truth is there are tons of children's books written," Dr. Holstein stated. "Why was I so excited to have Julia Cook on my new podcast show: Resilience and Self Esteem? Because Julia as a writer goes way beyond just stories for kids. She understands the psychological stresses that kids are under and weaves those stresses into her books in ways that help the children find the courage to go beyond their own moods and disappointments as they read the books. She teaches them to emotionally fly without needing the sky.

"Likewise there are many other devoted authors who have taught kids to fly as they read one of their books. Judy Blume instantly comes to my mind.In her books she has found ways to engage her girls so they are no longer afraid to face so many of the struggles of coming of age that we all have or will fash.

"I remember my sister saying to me that she couldn't imagine making it to adulthood without Judy Blume. Via Judy's books my sister and millions of other girls got comfortable with their periods, divorce, needing a bra, family life that wasn't perfect and so much more.

"I am so eager to have compassionate authors on my podcast. It is time to share their wisdom again and again. Our girls need our help in so many ways to lessen their stress and improve their mental health. A good book that accepts a girl where she is and helps her move forward is a major source of mental health care. Whether the author studied psychology or not. Just like a delicious meal or a wonderful day out you don't always need credentials. But you do need the right forces to come together.

"Let's make sure we bring the best authors and psychologists and others who have helped kids to the forefront. I can do that via my podcast and others can find their own way of helping our girls.

"I know as a positive psychologist helping a girl can be as simple as getting to know the kids on your block. I remember when I was growing up the lady next door took a pottery class and had made a bunny. She gave it to me out of the blue and I loved that bunny for many years. Being kind and inclusive is easy once you start it. I salute Julia Cook and Judy Blume for their courage to share their writing skills and wisdom with so many children.

The new podcast series is now available at https://www.enchantedself.com.

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a visionary psychologist and filmmaker whose unprecedented selfie films have garnered over 200 placements and awards. Her singular vision is to help girls build resilience, self-esteem, and discover their own talents, abilities, and self-worth. Dr. Holstein has spent decades developing tools and techniques to help girls enhance self esteem and resilience. One of those tools, a workbook for girls titled, 'Looking Good, Feeling Good', achieved bestseller status, an honor that many of her other books have achieved. The ebook hit the top of the Teen and Young Adult Self Esteem eBooks.

In this workbook, Each girl is offered an engaging opportunity to develop her creative talents and potential as she processes and better understands the angst of growing up and how it can be successfully handled. She can bring her own talents to her thoughts and responses to the issues presented which will further take her along a road of enhanced resilience and better self esteem. She can share her creative thoughts and answer questions, and even create poetry, start a play, draw a picture, or she can get out her phone and use it as a diary, or a means of sharing ideas about growing up with a friend, her mom or grandma. Or she can actually make selfie films with her phone which can be a great enhancer for self esteem and sharing one's creative talents.

She has also announced the release of a new selfie film series. The new series includes 7 films:

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 1. The Truth - A Short Film
A young girl shares her diary - falling in love, hating her mother, hating her parents fighting, being afraid to grow up, being upset that they may move, loving the locket her aunt gives her and feeling loved in ways by her aunt that her parents can't seem to muster, wishing the boy she is in love with would grow taller, confronting her disappointment that she has no relationship with him, sharing her glee at having a best friend and confiding in each other, coming to terms with growing up, letting go of her first love, getting ready to move and more.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 2. Falling In Love - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
A young teen talks to 'you' via Selfies on her smart phone. In these conversations the girl shares her loneliness moving, losing her best friend, her beginning friendships with new kids, and her realization that she has fallen in love again.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 3. Secrets - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
Based on Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Tween, this 10 minute film takes the audience on the complicated roller coaster ride of being 13. The 'girl' hates her parents, falls in love, has puberty and body concerns, realizes that secrets matter and finds herself in a miserable accidental situation. But all ends on an upbeat note with the girl realizing she is most in touch with happiness and a sense of joy when she is being true to herself.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 4. Conflict And A Bit Of Magic - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
The 'Girl' is traumatized by being ditched by a boyfriend, a bully, alcohol and kids taking drugs. Who can understand and help her? Maybe her aunt, who she gets to visit. A seance with a Medium in which the 'girl's' great-grandmother comes through gives her the courage she needs to ask her mom questions and in turn to learn some family secrets.

Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 5. The Medium - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
The girl, unhappy, goes to visit a favorite aunt who takes her to see a medium. The girl's great grandmother is channeled in and changes happen for the better. Was this real of a set-up? Does that matter?

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 6. Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction - A Coming Of Age Selfie Film
Two traumatic events structure the 'Girl's' high school year: a lockdown and a family secret. She is shocked yet manages to recover and to understand the importance and value of family and the complexity of truth.

Self Esteem And Resilience Series - Video 7. Lockdown
Three teens find themselves in the girls' bathroom during a lock down in school. Each respond emotionally differently. All are affected.

All the films are available at https://vimeo.com/showcase/10863899, and on the Roku channel, The Enchanted Self Presents.

Dr. Holstein hopes to bring parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and media together to accomplish one goal: Change in the lives of young people who suffer from anxiety and a growing sense of hopelessness and despair.

Dr. Holstein wraps Positive Psychology concepts in forms of media that young people find engaging, relatable and inspiring. These include:

Five bestselling, award-winning books (perfect for school libraries)

Five self-esteem workbooks for girls 8 and up

Award-winning films and coming of age selfie films

Podcasts

Dedicated websites

Stage plays

A library of articles

Ted-style talks

As a school psychologist and in her private practice, Dr. Holstein has worked with many children and parents, helping them to develop life skills in decision-making, recognition of their own talents, feel more courageous, and helping both kids and parents develop more successful inter-generational skills. Her last book, ‘Conflict and a Bit of Magic’, helps kids build self-esteem though reading the journal of a girl, identifying with the girl, and understanding they have more courage and resiliency than they thought they had. The book is based on the experiences of the already famous “girl” from 'The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween' and 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', and achieved bestseller status in the multi-generational families category.

Dr. Holstein’s workbook for kids, ‘Secrets’ also achieved bestseller status in the ‘Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Depression’ category.

Dr. Holstein's cutting-edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both YouTube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel and Amazon Fire TV, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'.

Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com.More information about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Selfie videos and selfie films can be uploaded at the site. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.com.

Profile:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.

Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting. Her Roku channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.

She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, Time online, Readers Digest, Parade, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.

Contact:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.enchantedself.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - A Humorous Look At Forgetting Offered By Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers an insider's view of assisted living and a unique outlook on aging, based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about.

According to recent research, humor can be a memory booster. That's good news for all of us, as none of us can escape aging. According to an article detailing a study on the effects of humor on short-term memory published on PubMed, "findings suggest that humor can have clinical benefits and rehabilitative implications and can be implemented in programs that support whole-person wellness for older adults". Another study on the same site concluded, "Because older adults can experience age-related memory deficits, complementary, enjoyable, and beneficial humor therapies should be implemented for them".

Frances Fuller, award-winning author of the bestselling book on aging, "Helping Yourself Grow Old," recently posted an article titled, "Are You Forgetting Things?" in which she took a somewhat humorous look at forgetting. In that article, she said in part:

Forgetting?

Here in the retirement home, who isn't forgetting?

A few weeks ago, I forgot to go to my book club. I love book club. The prevalence of active book clubs was one of the reasons I wanted to live here. I can't believe I forgot book club. I think I just forgot that it was Thursday already.

This afternoon, while looking for something else (having forgotten where I put it), I found some notes I made attributing them to someone named Bill Murphy. I don't mean to plagiarize your ideas, Bill, but I assume you meant for them to be passed on.

Bill said, according to my notes, that maybe we need better lighting. He thinks, it seems, that we remember better things we saw in the light. Or, more basically, maybe that light just livens up our brains. I believe I do feel a little more dull in the dark.

Bill said also that we should play a lot of games, such as crossword puzzles. I assume he would approve of my learning in the past year to work Sudoku puzzles. I once thought, just because it was numbers, that I couldn't, but I have moved past easy and medium, and I am into hard puzzles, where I stumble and use my eraser rather frequently, but I know there are still harder ones coming.

Then he says some mysterious things, this anonymous friend, Bill. He says to try intermittent fasting. My previous efforts in that discipline have been outstanding failures. I do have an excuse, though. Last week I had a low blood sugar crisis just at the end of my supper and had to be rescued by a waitress who came running with the cheesecake. I am not sure what Bill expects fasting to do for my memory, and I can only promise to remember to eat on time and more carefully.

Then he suggests that we try walking backward . . .

The full text of the piece is available at https://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com/are-you-forgetting-things/.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - What Christmas Is Like In An Assisted Care Facility By Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers an insider's view of assisted living and a unique outlook on aging, based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about.

For many of us, Christmas is a special time of year, rich in traditions that emphasize family, community, and joyous gatherings. It has been said that "there is no place like home for the Holidays". What if "home" is an assisted care facility? Frances Fuller, award winning author of her best selling book on aging, addressed this issue in a recent post on her website titled, "What Christmas Is Like in an Assisted Care Home". In that article, she wrote in part:

In another country I visited a home for the sick and elderly, just a few days before Christmas. In the lobby where I got permission to go into the ward there was Christmas music, familiar carols.

Then in the large room where more than a dozen women lay in hospital beds, there was no sound except that of someone groaning and two nurses talking to patients. Finding the woman I had come to visit, I greeted her with a smile and “Merry Christmas,” or actually the equivalent in her language.

To my surprise she burst into tears and said, “I didn’t know it was Christmas.”

I tell you this sad story only to say, this is not likely to happen in an assisted care community in the USA.

In the place from which I write, it is Christmas on every hall: the nursing ward, memory care, assisted care, independent living. These are some noticeable signs of the season:

Tree trimming parties

Decorated trees everywhere

Sounds of Christmas music in the lobby

“Christmas crafts” on activity schedules

A college choir coming to perform for residents

An unusual number of visitors, family and friends who miss us at home, especially at Christmas

An unusual number of absent residents, people who are spending the holiday elsewhere with sons and daughters

Packages arriving, cards in mailboxes

Bus tours to see the Christmas lights

Buses leaving for a concert in a city auditorium or a church

Christmas movies in the community room

Resident choirs warming up for a performance

All this and a collection to reward our workers, the people who cook and clean and lift and protect and fix what is broken and come when called. And another for elderly folks we don’t even know, with inadequate incomes, living somewhere else in subsidized housing. Because, even here, especially here, we must not forget that we are privileged to live in a country where some economic provision has been made for the time when we can no longer work eight hours a day. At the same time some of us have earned more or been luckier than others, and we know that many aging people cannot afford a Christmas tree, much less a ticket to the symphony. So even in a retirement community we have opportunities to make a small sacrifice for someone else. We can celebrate Christmas by giving.

Will all of this be happening in every retirement/ assisted living community? Probably not. And maybe you think you don’t even care. But you do have to look before you jump. So, visit every department of a home you are considering, not just living spaces, but the game room, the library, the gym, the auditorium, thinking about things you would like to do. And see the nursing wing, a place where (face it) you may one day have to spend Christmas.

Ask questions, any question, all of your questions. Read the daily schedules, the activities list, the menus. Talk to the people who live there. Along with all the more practical issues, ask what happens on holidays.

The full text of the piece is available at https://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com/what-christmas-is-like-in-an-assisted-care-home/.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Secrets By Dr Barbara Becker Holstein Achieves Bestseller Status In Teen & Young Adult Self Esteem Ebooks

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a best-selling author and film maker who uses positive psychology concepts to help kids deal with bullying, anxiety, depression, loneliness, school shootings and social media issues.

It is heart-wrenching to witness the immense hurdles we must ask our children, as young a six years old, to navigate. The impact of social media is profound—this form of communication serves as both a means of connection and a source of isolation. Loneliness has extended its influence into the virtual world, affecting our youth in unprecedented ways. The specter of school shootings, a haunting nightmare ingrained in our collective consciousness, forces us to teach our children, who are barely beginning their journey in this world, how to protect themselves. Bullying can now follow our kids relentlessly, thanks to the pervasive influence of social media. The consequences? Depression, anxiety and tragically, even suicide, affecting children as young as eight years old. For many of our kids, pixels seem to carry more weight than spoken words. How can we, as parents and educators, hope to grasp the depth of these challenges, let alone provide our children with the tools to build self-esteem and resilience in the face of this new normal?

We must meet them where they are, and help them navigate this maze, using tools and concepts they can understand and find engaging . That is the goal of 'Secrets', the bestselling ebook by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein. Secrets recently achieved bestseller status on Amazon in the Teen & Young Adult Self Esteem Ebooks category.

Secrets employs positive psychology concepts wrapped in a self-esteem workbook format. Every girl is offered a creative opportunity to develop her creative talents and potential as she processes and better understands the angst of growing up and how it can be successfully handled. She can bring her own talents to her thoughts and responses to the issues presented which will further take her along a road of enhanced resilience and better self esteem. She can use it as a depression and anxiety workbook, write her creative thoughts, create poetry, start a play, draw a picture, or she can get out her phone and use it as a diary, or a means of sharing ideas about growing up with a friend, or her mom or grandma. Or she can actually make selfie films with her phone which can be a great enhancer for self esteem and sharing one's creative talents.

The ebook version of Secrets is available at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-version-Barbara-Becker-Holstein-ebook/dp/B0C72PSQXP/ref=sr_1_7?crid=UX0SECIPYI7X&keywords=barbara+becker+holstein+secrets&qid=1696106215&sprefix=barbara+becker+holstein+secrets%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-7.

Dr. Holstein hopes to bring parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and media together to accomplish one goal: Change in the lives of young people who suffer from anxiety and a growing sense of hopelessness and despair.

Dr. Holstein wraps Positive Psychology concepts in forms of media that young people find engaging, relatable and inspiring. These include:

Four bestselling, award-winning books (perfect for school libraries)

Four self-esteem workbooks for girls 8 and up

Award-winning films and coming of age selfie films

Podcasts

Dedicated websites

Stage plays

A library of articles

Ted-style talks

As a school psychologist and in her private practice, Dr. Holstein has worked with many children and parents, helping them to develop life skills in decision-making, recognition of their own talents, feel more courageous, and helping both kids and parents develop more successful inter-generational skills. Her last book, ‘Conflict and a Bit of Magic’, helps kids build self-esteem though reading the journal of a girl, identifying with the girl, and understanding they have more courage and resiliency than they thought they had. The book is based on the experiences of the already famous “girl” from 'The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween' and 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', and achieved bestseller status in the multi-generational families category.

Dr. Holstein’s latest workbook for kids, ‘Secrets’ achieved bestseller status in the ‘Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Depression’ category.

Dr. Holstein's cutting-edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both YouTube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel and Amazon Fire TV, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'.

Dr. Holstein recently created The Selfie Showcase, a new project emerging from The Selfie Project, that allows young people to voice their opinions on subjects that matter to young people, including the pandemic.

The Selfie Showcase allows kids, teens, and young adults ages 13 to 18 to candidly express their concerns, worries, observations and possible solutions by creating selfie videos or films around important subjects using a smartphone. Dr. Holstein's mission is to help rectify, in several ways, some issues young people face by giving them a chance to engage with others in meaningful ways about the anxiety and stress they must grapple with constantly.

Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com.More information about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Selfie videos and selfie films can be uploaded at the site. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.com.

Profile:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.

Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting. Her Roku channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.

She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, Time online, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.

Contact:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.enchantedself.com

Leia Mais…

Self Esteem And Resilience – How To Help Girls Overcome Anxiety And Help Save A Generation

 Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a best-selling author, award-winning Selfie Filmmaker, Positive Psychologist and podcaster. In all her books and films, Dr Holstein presents positive psychology as entertainment and a means to happiness.

According to an article on the John Hopkins website, titled "Anxiety and Stress in Teens", "Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the United States, and anywhere from 1 in 10 to 1 in 13 people suffer from anxiety, with about 8% of children and teenagers experiencing an anxiety disorder. This has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are living in more times of stress and anxiety than ever before. The teenage years generally have significant stress and this has worsened during the pandemic."

Much like adults, a primary cause of anxiety for teens can be the sense of isolation and loneliness they experience, whether from pandemic lockdowns, bullying or social media. According to PBS.org, a new report from the Surgeon General's offices found " finds loneliness can have profound effects on mental health, as well as heart disease, stroke and dementia. It tracks a decline in social connections, and links all of this to billions of dollars in health care costs."

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is taking action now to save a generation of girls now. She recently posted a new video in which she discussed how parents and grandparents can help girls who suffer from anxiety.

"We all have had that anxious feeling in the pit in our stomach - we can't take the test, we can't go out on the stage to give our talk, whatever it is, we experience feelings of anxiety. At times, our hands get clammy. And we sometimes feel our breathing is faster. It's so unpleasant. But on the other hand, as a positive psychologist, I want to assure you that anxiety is not only normal, but it can also be helpful. It can tell us when we need to repair something we've done, or maybe apologize. Or it can signal that if I'm not working harder, I really won't pass the test. Or anxiety can warn us of danger. I don't like the feelings I have right now. I think I'm going to get out of here and go somewhere else. Or I think I'm not going to walk to my car right now. I see some people hanging around it. Something doesn’t feel right. Anxiety can work to even save our lives.

"But on the other hand, if we look at anxiety during the pandemic, and some of the things that have created anxiety for our kids we will see that many of our kids are overloaded with anxiety.

"The truth is most of us have had anxiety during the pandemic. Many have lost their jobs. Many people have been sick or had relatives that were sick. And the same thing with the girls in our households. Girls have absorbed not only whatever the family concerns were and are, but they have had their own concerns - shortened school years, no graduation. No dances at the school. Wearing a mask all day at school, not being able to socialize. Having a crush with a particular kid that can't be explored because the girl is spending most of her time not in school or not with kids or own age, all sorts of factors. No sports, the team she wanted to get on doesn't even exist this year. All sorts of problems that created anxiety. And now that the pandemic is over, at least technically, that does not mean that anxiety just disappears. It is still around because our brains get used to feeling anxious, and not everything is back the way it was either for us or for our kids."

Teenage girls appear to suffer most. A recent article on the CDC website, titled 'Understanding the Pandemic’s Impact on Children and Teens', stated, ". . . For example, weekly visits among older children (5–11) and teens (12–17) increased for self-harm, drug poisoning, and psychosocial concerns during 2020, 2021, and 2022 when compared to 2019. The other report shows that teenage girls may have experienced the largest overall increase in behavioral and psychosocial concerns."

Dr. Holstein continued, "So I'll give you three simple suggestions.:

"Without overwhelming her, share your anxiety. Tell her you know, 'boy, yeah, I felt anxious too.' Let her know that it's a normal survival symptom.

"Encourage your daughter about her schoolwork, see how she's doing. See what's going on. Not only by asking her questions, but again, by easily sharing your own life. Even if it goes way back to your own childhood, maybe the Teddy that you took to bed, or the little blanket you carried around like my daughter did at one point, when she was very, very young, or the way you felt anxious when you were going to your first dance, or the first time maybe a boy called you on the telephone. Share your world because it will really help her feel closer to you and most likely safer.

" The third suggestion is around eating issues. Research certainly has established that different issues with eating and body comfort and perception are often very prevalent with girls as they go through their teenage years. One thing that you can do to be very helpful to your daughter is to be aware of her eating habits. Be honest once again and if you yourself at times don't feel like eating a meal, discuss it, because you might be able to open the door where she'll explain that sometimes she's just not hungry, and maybe nothing's going on. But if it does seem to you that your daughter may be having some sort of eating disorder, discuss it further with her pediatrician.

"Research certainly has established that different issues with eating are often very prevalent with girls as they go through their teenage years. So one thing that you can do to be very helpful to your daughter, is just to be very careful noticing what she eats and what she doesn't eat, and whether you think she's eating enough. And again, if you yourself at times don't feel like eating a meal, discuss it, because you might be able to open the door where she'll explain that sometimes she's just not hungry, and maybe nothing's going on. But if it does seem to you that your daughter may be having some sort of eating disorder, it's responsible, on your part, to take her to her pediatrician and discuss it further."

There are many other widely accepted ways all parents and grandparents can help girls cope with anxiety.

1. Encourage communication: One of the best ways parents and grandparents can help a teenage girl who is suffering from anxiety is by creating an environment where she feels comfortable sharing her thoughts and feelings. Encourage her to talk about her anxieties and let her know that she can confide in you without fear of judgment.

2. Provide support: Let her know that you're there to support her and help her through this difficult time. Listen to her concerns and validate her feelings. Offer to accompany her to therapy appointments or support groups if she needs it.

3. Help her develop coping strategies: Teach her techniques for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or journaling. Encourage her to engage in activities that help her relax, such as yoga or listening to music.

4. Encourage a healthy lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle can help reduce anxiety symptoms. Encourage her to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Also, limit her caffeine and sugar intake, which can contribute to anxiety.

5. Seek professional help: If her anxiety is severe or interfering with her daily life, seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can help her develop coping skills and strategies to manage her anxiety. Don't hesitate to consult with a doctor or mental health professional if you're concerned about her mental health.

"By taking these steps," Dr Holstein concluded, "we can help girls build resilience, self-esteem and help them to cope with the modern-day challenges of growing up."

The full video is now available at https://vimeo.com/825499855.

Dr. Holstein hopes to bring parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and media together to accomplish one goal: Change in the lives of young people who suffer from anxiety and a growing sense of hopelessness and despair.

Dr. Holstein wraps Positive Psychology concepts in forms of media that young people find engaging, relatable and inspiring. These include:

Three Bestselling, award-winning books (perfect for school libraries)

Four self-esteem workbooks for girls 8 and up

Award-winning films and coming of age selfie films

Podcasts

Dedicated websites

Stage plays

A library of articles

Ted-style talks

As a school psychologist and in her private practice, Dr. Holstein has worked with many children and parents, helping them to develop life skills in decision-making, recognition of their own talents, feel more courageous, and helping both kids and parents develop more successful inter-generational skills. Her last book, ‘Conflict and a Bit of Magic’, helps kids build self-esteem though reading the journal of a girl, identifying with the girl, and understanding they have more courage and resiliency than they thought they had. The book is based on the experiences of the already famous “girl” from 'The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween' and 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', and achieved bestseller status in the multi-generational families category.

Dr. Holstein's cutting-edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both YouTube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel and Amazon Fire TV, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'.

Dr. Holstein recently created The Selfie Showcase, a new project emerging from The Selfie Project, that allows young people to voice their opinions on subjects that matter to young people, including the pandemic.

The Selfie Showcase allows kids, teens, and young adults ages 13 to 18 to candidly express their concerns, worries, observations and possible solutions by creating selfie videos or films around important subjects using a smartphone. Dr. Holstein's mission is to help rectify, in several ways, some issues young people face by giving them a chance to engage with others in meaningful ways about the anxiety and stress they must grapple with constantly.

Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com. ‘Seven Ways To Help Your Family Recover From The Pandemic’ is available at Amazon. More information about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Selfie videos and selfie films can be uploaded at the site. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.com.

Profile:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.

Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting. Her Roku channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.

She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, Time online, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.

Contact:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.enchantedself.com

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Helping Seniors Deal With Loneliness During The Holidays - New Book, Helping Yourself Grow Old By Award Winning Author Frances Fuller Addresses The Unique Challenges Of Seniors Living Alone

Multi-award winning author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. The book will be of special interest to older readers who might find themselves isolated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A recent article posted on Time.com addresses the issue of loneliness, specifically the senior population, and how loneliness affects both physical and mental health. Based on information from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, the article lays out how loneliness can adversely affect well-being, including "higher risks of heart attacks, strokes, depression, anxiety and early death."

Loneliness affects a staggering one-third of all seniors. More so during the Holidays. Even more so during a pandemic.

As stated in the piece, "In the study sponsored by the AARP, researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed a group of about 2,000 Americans ages 50 to 80. More than a third of seniors in the poll said they felt a lack of companionship at least some of the time, and 27% said they sometimes or often felt isolated; most of the people who said they lacked companionship also felt isolated, and vice versa. Almost 30% said they socialized with friends, family or neighbors once a week or less."

Award winning author Frances Fuller's latest book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old: Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost 90', offers penetrating insights and valuable information for seniors who are dealing with loneliness, isolation and 'Covid fatigue'. The book is an ideal gift for not only seniors, but also members of their families, as the book shines a light on issues that all seniors must deal with not only during the Holidays, but also on a daily basis.

There are many great books on aging available. However, many of them were written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

The new interview is available at the Women Over 70 podcast site and their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. Fuller's books are available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. More information, including discussion questions for 'Helping Yourself Grow Old', is available at her website at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.francefullerauthor.com

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Award Winning Author Frances Fuller’s Life Story Presented In New Video Series, Stories That Change Lives

In the video, Fuller discusses both her life story as a Christian publisher in the Middle East during the war in Lebanon and her unique perspective on the challenges of aging.

Frances Fuller's life, seen from the outside, is inspiring and uplifting. Hearing the story of her life, told sometimes by Frances in her own words and accompanied by hundreds of photographs, brings a vibrancy and a sparkle to a compelling narrative that is both spellbinding and captivating.

Born in a small town during the depression, Frances went on to direct a Christian publishing house in the Middle East during the long civil war in Lebanon. That part of her story, told in rich detail in her book titled 'In Borrowed Houses' won multiple, high level industry awards. The video, produced by FPFG Productions, covers her early years, her time in the Middle East, and her subsequent return to the US. Now in her 90's, Frances continues to grow and has taken pen in hand to create a new book, “Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said to Myself When I Was Almost 90.” This is a book on aging that is unlike any book on aging available today.

The video is a riveting presentation of an extraordinary life story, lived by a small town girl who, with her husband and five children, found herself in the middle of events that changed the world. Whether dodging bombs and bullets, or dealing with grief and loneliness, Frances is guided always by her Christian faith as she tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations.

“It makes me happy” Frances says, “to realize that, by seizing my opportunities, I opened some doors for my children and grandchildren. I can recognize the ways my generation made the world better and feel grateful, but I can also see a troubled world and ask forgiveness for our failures.”

The video is available at Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/434799970 and on the Roku Channel, 'Stories That Change Lives'.

'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances Fuller’s latest book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. Fuller's books are available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. More information, including discussion questions for 'Helping Yourself Grow Old', is available at her website at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.francefullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…