Recently at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health I had the opportunity to attend a three-day workshop presented by Rick Hanson, author of Buddha’s Brain. As many know, particularly those in the world of psychology, there is much documented evidence indicating that we can change our brains from a negative perspective to a more optimistic one by developing certain skills. Changing or reshaping the brain is known as neuroplasticity. The fact that we have the capacity to reshape our brains means we have the power within us to lead happier and more optimistic lives. This is indeed good news.

The bad news is as Dr. Hanson pointed out is that, “The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones. The natural result culminates in an increasing residue of emotional pain, pessimism, and numbing inhibition in our memory banks.”

Most of us expend a considerable amount of thought and energy focusing on the negative or potentially negative events in our lives. Focusing on the negative strengthens the part of the brain that  creates generalizations and we interpret old and new experiences in a negative light. According to Dr. Rick Hanson our brains have a “negativity bias.” This suggests that we continually scan the environment looking for the negative, which in turn shapes our minds, resulting in depressed and anxious moods, anger and overreactions.

But (we’re back to the good news) just as we have the capacity to strengthen our negative perspective on things, so too do we possess the ability to fortify the part of the brain that is responsible for positive thought. Even though most of us have internalized the negative bias, positive thoughts can also generalize in the brain. The neural circuitry of memory occupies the heart of the mechanism responsible for changing the brain. If we can learn how to generate and internalize positive experiences into the brain and the self, we can establish greater resilience, optimism, happiness, and better relationships.

Since our thoughts have the power to reshape our brains, it behooves us to learn the skills that are most likely to lead us to a positive perspective. When practiced regularly, certain exercises will help foster a change in brain circuitry and make us happier.

The more conscious we are about perceiving an event as being good or ‘good enough’ the more this perception will generalize to other parts of our brain. However, just having positive experiences is not enough, as these sentiments tend to pass fleetingly through the brain while negative experiences are more tenacious. We must actively work to integrate positive experiences into the brain, in order for the beneficial effects to endure. The question remains, “How do I do this?”

Dr. Hanson teaches a simple visualization exercise, which he refers to as “Taking in the Good.” Although there are many other strategies, I found his method for weaving positive emotions into the brain to be quite compelling. He suggests that this visualization process be practiced routinely, until the effects are noticed and so forth.

How to Take in the Good

The idea is to take in the good in a relaxed state and savor these experiences. The more this is practiced the more deeply ingrained the positive will become.

1.  Look for positive facts and traits about your self and your life. Broaden them to become positive experiences (i.e. a great conversation with a friend, a good night’s sleep, an unexpected compliment).

2.  Savor the positive experience or memory of the experience and sustain it for about 30 seconds. Allow yourself to feel it in your mind and body. Keep bringing your attention back to the experience when your mind wanders. Intensify the feeling and be with that for another 30 seconds. Practice several times in succession.

3.  As you feel this positive, truthful fact allow it to soak into the recesses of your mind and body. Marc Lewis and other researchers have shown that the longer something is held in conscious awareness, the more neurons that fire and thus wire together, and the stronger the trace in memory. The idea is to continue building a positive collection of experiences into the brain. This will cast an optimistic perspective on other experiences and will penetrate the unconscious mind.

Practice “Taking in the Good” and truly appreciating positive experiences and notice how you feel. This may be a bit challenging at first; it gets easier with practice. Remember this is about being kind to yourself and cultivating positive resources in your mind.

Please let me know if you have any questions about how to “Take in the Good.”  Your comments are welcomed.

Rachel developed gratitude in the face of personal loss. She learned one of the secrets to becoming happier and more optimistic. Rachel changed the way she perceived herself and others by incorporating a greater sense of appreciation into her daily life.

She found herself going to bed each night feeling a sense of loss, anger and loneliness. Rachel recently ended her three-year relationship with her charming and quite handsome live-in boyfriend after discovering through a trusted girlfriend that Richard had been repeatedly unfaithful. Everyone seemed to know but Rachel.

Shame seeped into her everyday experience. Shallow and interrupted sleep left Rachel exhausted each day and was interfering with her work. She became more irritable and less able to focus on her role as a physical therapist.

Talking therapy helped her to understand more about the men she chooses. She began to see the patterns of her behavior. Rachel serially dated men that reminded her of her father, who had a long history of cheating. Her parents bitterly divorced when she was about 13 years old.

Now 33 years old, Rachel finally grasped how she was searching for someone like her father, but with whom she hoped she could have a happier ending. What she discovered was that she needed to broaden her horizons and not be so fast to reject men that did not immediately grab her attention in that old familiar way.

She told me that she often found herself feeling angry and cheated. This attitude ran interference with Rachel’s ability to connect in her relationships with men and women. She experienced little appreciation for the good in her life.

I suggested that she keep a gratitude journal. Rachel already kept a journal where she recorded her feelings and the events of the day. This gratitude journal would be intended only for writing down those events of the day for which she felt grateful. The object was for Rachel to diminish her anger and resentment and develop a greater sense of appreciation.

Gratitude is an integral part of a healthy life and sense of well-being. Rachel was loosing herself in her own negativity. Developing a stronger sense of gratitude is one of the key factors towards creating more happiness in one’s life.

She wrote in her gratitude journal nightly about 3-5 experiences for which she found a positive angle. Over time she found herself feeling more optimistic, happy, open-minded and less resentful. Rachel felt a greater sense of connectedness and wanted to spend more time with friends. She also noticed a qualitative difference in her sleep.

After several months of our conversations and writing in her gratitude journal, Rachel was back to a healthier social life. She felt like she had truly developed a deeper sense of gratitude. This time she moved more slowly and thoughtfully as she went out on dates. She also found herself feeling more appreciative of her friendships and her ability to take care of herself.

What are you grateful for today?

As human beings we often dream of living better, more fulfilling lives. We wish to create lives for ourselves and our families that are happy, purposeful and passionate. We can not only dream about creating more gratifying lives, but we also possess the cognitive ability to strategize and plan to achieve these dreams and goals.

What gives you a feeling of purpose? What do you feel passionate about? Reflecting on the answers to these questions points you in the direction of next steps that you can choose to pursue in the coming year. When we tune into the message coming from the depths of our hearts, the answers are apparent.

Rather than making resolutions this year, consider making choices that move you closer to authentic and meaningful change in your life. For example, choosing to live a healthier life through good nutrition, regular exercise and relaxation is different from making commitments to lose ten pounds, exercise daily and meditate twice a day. The first way suggests adapting to a life style that supports us in living our lives fully while the second way, while focused and purposeful, seems rigid, pressured and perhaps a set up for failure.

Tapping into our inner experience of purpose and passion can be done with intention.

Here are methods for tuning into your inner wisdom:

1.  Take time to settle down and be quiet. Remember to breathe. Turn off electronics and give yourself some private time. Write down your thoughts about where you would like to be headed. What are your wishes for the coming year?

2. Think about what enlivens you and brings you a true sense of joy. What thrills you in your personal or professional life? How can you incorporate more of that in your life? Allow yourself to brainstorm ideas, without judgment or censorship. Nothing is too outlandish, just allow yourself to play.

3. Prioritize your goals and dreams. What seems most important and most meaningful? What would bring you the greatest joy or would allow you to tap into your greatest passion? Map your specific goals into a framework that goes from the realistic to the outrageous. As you keep moving your ideas forward the outrageous ideas might start feeling closer in reach.

We all want to live the fullest possible lives and every one of us has a unique set of talents and abilities. It is up to each of us to figure out how we want to uncover our gifts and deliberately bring them forward into the world. Living with purpose and passion brings us inner peace, greater balance, happiness and the feeling that our lives are well spent.

What is one of your goals for living with greater purpose and passion in 2011?

My heart weighed heavy this week. Empty nest pangs gnawing at me yet again. My two college age children headed back to their respective schools in upstate New York and Delaware. I cherished our time together as a family during their summer break as never before. No fancy vacations, no beach time together, none of our usual summer rituals. This summer was devoted to helping Mom get back on her feet after a difficult surgery and reviving her usual active life.

The golden lining of this challenging time was experiencing the depth of love and compassion that deeply bonds our family together. I did not fully appreciate the beautiful beings my children have turned into. They had never been put to the test before. Amy and Max rose to the occasion of caring for me like nothing else could matter more.

Amy carefully doled out medications three times daily, prepared meals, changed linens and folded laundry. Max grocery shopped, ran errands and took our beloved dog, Kooper, for long walks, even on the hottest days. Not that they didn’t have moments of enjoying their own summer, but their selflessness trumped all the other activities in a powerful way.

Everyone handled the disappointment of canceled vacation time with sensitivity and grace. The most amazing part was how much fun we managed to have together as a family, even under difficult circumstances. Friends and neighbors visited and brought meals, treats and fresh flowers, a steady flow of love from our community.

As we packed bags for their return to college and organized clothes, toiletries, and accoutrements for every weather condition and situation that might arise, I reflected to myself about how different July and August felt from summers past. Something changed for each of us  – like for my babies who matured overnight into young, caring adults.

I vividly remember all the years my husband, Martin and I devoted to our children, making sure every earache, boo-boo, tantrum and sadness was tended to. Early on we decided that our most important job in life, despite our busy careers, was our role as parents. We spent many sleepless nights and scrambled days caring for our children in one way or another. It did not occur to me until recently how they absorbed the lessons of loving kindness and selflessness.

The morning Amy and Max left for their respective schools, I unsuccessfully tried to hold back my tears. Hard to believe I had to deal with an empty nest once again. I hugged them harder than usual and gave them kisses until they gently pulled away.

What is your experience with the empty nest?

Cheryl possesses a smile that lights up a room. It’s an undeniable blend of mischief, optimism and a great sense of humor. She knows her share of pain and loss and yet she’s somehow figured out the key to maintaining a consistently positive mental attitude, with only the occasional lapses into turbulence.

A breast cancer survivor, Cheryl is the embodiment of the healing powers of friendship. The Brownie slogan “make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold” truly resonates with her. Friendships throughout Cheryl’s childhood as well as her high school and college years became an influential and important part of her world. Regardless of the personal and professional paths Cheryl pursued, her friends consistently remained vital to her sense of well-being.

Ups and Downs of Family Life

Cheryl as a teenager with family

Cheryl’s parents, Annette and Halle, met when they were youngsters and married when they were barely out of their teens. Cheryl was the oldest of their three children.

In high school, Cheryl’s father serendipitously bought a second-run movie theater where she and one of her brothers worked. It seemed like there was always some interesting new adventure going on in her family. Consequently, Cheryl had the unique opportunity of being exposed to a wide variety of budding businesses at a young age. Sadly for Cheryl and her siblings, her parents divorced after her younger brother left for college. Her father remarried but died soon after, suddenly at the age of 51, forever altering their worlds.

After graduating with honors from Wheaton College (Norton, MA), Cheryl married young and like her mother gave birth to three children. Along the way she freelanced for some of the local newspapers and volunteered in her children’s schools and at a variety of charitable organizations.

After 16 years, Cheryl’s marriage ended in divorce. She shared, “It is difficult to say exactly what happened, but regardless, we both made an effort to keep our private business from disrupting the family and especially our children.” Today they have a unique situation where, even though her former husband remarried, they still celebrate milestones and birthdays together. They share custody of their children and never got caught in a tug-of-war or any of the nastiness that often emerges in the divorce process.

Cheryl and Alan, New Year's Eve 2008, a week before diagnosis

Cheryl has had many chapters in her life – from a career woman in Manhattan to married suburban homemaker to divorced freelance writer, editor and publicist. She is devoted to her children, now 24, 21 and 16, her Portuguese Water Dog, Pepper, and her partner, Alan. Like many women juggling multiple roles, Cheryl put herself and her health last on the “to do” list.

Never in her wildest dreams did Cheryl think that she could compromise her health to such an extent that she would one day end up fighting for her life!

A Cancer Diagnosis and Journey to Wellness

In 2006 Cheryl had a mammogram at the Imaging Center in Boston. The radiologist spotted something in her right breast, did an ultrasound and then tried to aspirate it. Nothing came out. Cheryl said that, “If I had known then what I know now, I would have recognized that this was not a cyst, but a solid mass and most likely a tumor that needed to be biopsied immediately.” The radiologist  told her “to follow-up with her doctor.” Cheryl’s did not feel alarmed about getting to her doctor and her life felt chaotic at the time. In hindsight, Cheryl knows she needed to be more proactive and in charge of her own health care.

Late in 2006 she got a letter saying that the facility at One Brookline Place closed and she needed to collect the copies of her mammogram films or they would be put into storage. Cheryl neglected to pick up her films. Next Cheryl heard from her ob-gyn that he was leaving his practice and moving to California. In 2007, Cheryl was now without a gynecologist and any record of her history.

Finally in September 2007 she found a new doctor, and after 18 months, had her long overdue mammogram. She did not stay for the radiologist to read her film. About a week later she was asked to return for another round of films and to bring her last set of films with her. Cheryl now made her trek to the Boston Medical Center.

Spring 2008, Cheryl while undergoing treatment

By the time the cancer was diagnosed it had spread outside of the ducts and into her lymph nodes, local advanced (or Stage IIIb). Her surgeon feared that the cancer may have spread to an inoperable lymph node, but as Cheryl put it, “Only by the grace of God and sheer luck did I dodge that bullet. I never dreamed that I would be grateful to have  a Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis, but the reality is that once the cancer spreads, the road to wellness is that much longer and tougher!”

She is extremely fortunate that the cancer did not metastasize to other parts of her body. Cheryl paid a price for her lax approach to her health care. She endured nearly a year of grueling treatment and surgeries to reach a stage where there was “no evidence of cancer.”

Cheryl continues to be on a medication regimen that produces a wide range of side effects and in January 2010, she underwent a bilaterial DIEP flap reconstructive surgery.  She tries very hard not to let herself worry about recurrence, although the thought persists in the back of her mind. Cheryl remains committed to practicing her affirmations and self-hypnosis exercises on a daily basis.

Friends Helped Cheryl’s Healing Process

Throughout her cancer experience and beyond, Cheryl has leaned on her circle of wonderful, supportive, devoted friends. “I like to think that I am a very good friend to have and that I give a great deal to those I care about. So when I was diagnosed with cancer in January 2008, you might say it was karma that all of that giving was returned to me in spades.”

At first it was difficult for Cheryl to be the recipient and not the giver, but as she continued on her difficult journey she learned one of the most important lessons about healing. “You have to put yourself at the top of the list during this critical time. Everyone needs to feel needed and I think it was helpful to people who were closest to me to be able to ‘do’ something and not feel so helpless.” Cheryl feels fortunate that she is the type of person able to reach out and ask for help when she needs it. “I think it’s because I don’t feel as though I’m imposing – I feel as though I’m offering an opportunity to help me and then I will return the favor. It’s a give-and-take, which most friendships are.”

Cheryl and friends, July 2008 before surgery

Everyone who knows Cheryl has heard her say, “No one survives cancer (or any illness or trauma) alone. It is a team effort – you need the support of family and friends. You need to gather a good medical team, one that you trust and feel comfortable and confident in. You need to have faith, hope and trust in people whom you have never even met.”

One of Cheryl’s most cherished memories is after she came home from her mastectomy; she noticed her front yard looked rather neglected. She loves gardening and had begun a project in her front yard before her surgery. A week after her return home, a group of her friends came over unsolicited and completed the job.  “Every time I stood up to do something they all shouted, ‘Sit down, Cheryl!’” She has no doubt in her mind that part of the reason she had such a great outcome from her cancer diagnosis was due to the love and care she received from so many loving friends.

Cheryl tries to express her gratitude whenever possible. “Whenever I hear of someone being diagnosed with breast cancer now, I reach out and help them understand and get through this difficult time. Before this disease touched me, I never knew what to say or do. Now I feel like I can make a significant difference in the lives of others. It feels like it has become part of my mission in life.” Cheryl occasionally experiences some dark days, but she does what she can to maintain a positive outlook and the belief that she will survive and flourish.

Healing Herself and Making a Difference

Cheryl with Maxine and Janet, 2007

Now she is trying to get to year five when she jumps into a much better statistical survival pool. For now, Cheryl is very proud of her role as a breast cancer survivor and advocate for good health for women. “That is one reason why I have stayed very involved at the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, which is an extraordinary place for women undergoing cancer treatment. Besides serving on a committee for a fundraiser in 2009, I took part in their annual walk to raise money last October. I raised the most funds as a single walker. This year I hope to put together a team to walk there, and at the Making Strides event on the Esplanade.”

Cheryl currently gives inspirational talks at special events for AstraZeneca, including the 2009 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  “It was one of the thrills of my life the first time I stood before 4,000 people and told my story.” She also participated in two science days for AstraZeneca, once with her oncologist, and once with one of her heroes in the breast cancer wars, Jacqueline Pimentel. Jacqueline lost her battle with cancer but Cheryl learned a great deal from her about maintaining a loving spirit and never succumbing to the disease. “Her expression NGUNGI! never give up, never give in, has been a rallying cry for many of us survivors.”

Cheryl with close friends Melanie and Linda

Friends and family encouraged Cheryl to endure her cancer fight, and their relentless support gives her the strength to carry on. “So if anyone asks me, do I think friendship is a key component to healing? The answer is unequivocally, yes!”

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “’To have a friend you have to be a friend.” That seems to be Cheryl’s motto for life.

Today I went to the hospital because the visiting nurse alarmed me to the fact that a small infection formed at the peak corner of my new hip replacement scar. “No time to waste. You never know how fast an infection can travel. This requires urgent care.” She made a succession of anxiety riddled phone calls to my orthopedic surgeon, the surgeons’ two assistants, the on-call resident and finally my primary care physician. She was determined to resolve the infection in question swiftly.

At first, I felt safe with her determination to find an immediate solution to the problem. Then, as we waited for the return phone calls and she continued to apprise me of the meaning of a spread infection I gradually began to panic. Fortunately, my primary care physician agreed to see me immediately. My husband booked it on his way home from work and then off to the office we went.

“This is indeed an infection.” I was told. “But, not the sort that people with a hip replacement fear. See your surgeon first thing in the morning which he has already agreed to and we will sort this out. Another night of some pain, but nothing scary.” I remembered to breathe again and slowly began to feel contained within my own skin.

The next morning my daughter, my beautiful and compassionate day nurse for the next week or two, drove me to my appointment with the surgeon. He reigns over the orthopedic department at one of Boston’s finest hospitals, and was the mastermind behind the delicate placement of the titanium hip into the depths of my body.

At the information desk, I was told to take the elevator one flight down and go straight down the corridor to his office. My daughter drops me off because the valet parking is temporarily full. “I can manage getting to the doctor’s office,” I told Amy.  “Just meet me after you’ve given the car to the valet.”

Hobbling inside with my chrome walker, I felt confident that I could get myself to my doctor’s office without any difficulty. I blew a kiss and one step at a time, off I went. No problem getting to the elevator; a few steps more than anticipated, but I felt strong and able. The elevator doors opened, I got out and there it was “ambulatory care.”

The only problem was that to get to the actual floor where I would find my doctor’s office, I needed to descend about fifteen steep steps and no walker was getting down these steps. I asked a physician getting off the next elevator run, “How do I get to ambulatory care?” He looked at me quizzically and said, “It’s right down these steps.” As he we dashing off I said, “But I have this walker.” I stood in amazement.

Then I summoned the courage to let out a loud “excuse me…” and got the attention of a staff member down that long flight of stairs. “How do I get down?” He said, “It’s easy. Go back on the elevator to the second floor. Go down and across the corridor and take the south elevator to this floor. It’s over there.” He pointed at the place I should end up once I followed all of his other instructions.

I thanked him and in a moment of weakness, regression and self-pity I felt the warm tears streaming down my face. It just felt like there was too much to do when I could hardly walk even with the aid of the walker.

Within a minute or two I regained my composure and reminded myself that I could do this and besides, Amy would be there to laugh and cry about the injustice of those ill-placed steps and the insensitive doctor who couldn’t help a person with a walker. That is just what happened.

My doctor prescribed antibiotics and mitigated my fears imposed by the visiting nurse. After a grim 24 hours, my sense of hope and optimism again returned.

When have you felt helpless?

While taking one of my favorite bikram yoga classes, my teacher came along and slowly nudged me into a deeper position. Ordinarily I like to move at my own pace and I don’t allow anyone to move my body into position. I know my body better than anyone and I figure it’s been serving me well all these years, so I generally choose to go at my own speed.

This one evening I dragged myself to class after sitting for hours in my office. The instructor made her way around the room. “Breathe” she said, “I think you can go deeper still.” I took slow measured breaths and on the exhalation, tried letting go. She placed her hands gently on my back and hips and told me I could still go deeper.

Against my better judgment I breathed deeply again giving in to her now firm pressure on my back and hip. Suddenly my body rebelled and simply could go no further. My breathing strained. I could barely speak and yet the pressure of her hands against my body continued. The words did not come. I groaned and prayed for the release, which finally came. Since that defining moment, my life forevermore changed.

Limping out of the class I convinced myself that ice and rest would heal this unfamiliar pain: ice, heat, physical therapy, acupuncture, swimming. Nothing helped avert the aching sensation. Several months later it became apparent that surgical intervention was needed. The first surgery was minimally invasive and while it was deemed a success, I still could not walk without pain and a severe limp. All the while the degeneration in my hip continued. The cascade of events from the firm pressure in my yoga class to the rapid deterioration of my hip joint became a ghoulish nightmare that could not be exorcised.

Several weeks ago, I underwent a total left hip replacement and am now in the throes of managing the pain from this drastic intervention and learning how to walk again. Many lessons have been learned, some too dark to put into words just yet. But for now I can share that feeling out of control with my own body leaves me breathless and terrified. Relying on others to take care of my most intimate needs made me feel hopeless and helpless at times.

Fortunately, I spent my life understanding the mind/body connection and had at my disposal an armory of tools and strategies to help me through the darkest and most humiliating moments. I made myself practice what I preach and meditated, routinely said my affirmations and most importantly, surrounded myself with loving and supportive friends and family whenever possible.

People tell me I will be ‘bionic’ when the recovery is complete. I see myself as having dramatically raised my consciousness about the experience of pain, the limitations in the real world imposed on the disabled, and the humbling reality at needing to be cared for by others. For years I had the good fortune of feeling strong and healthy and think I will again soon, but one thing I know for sure is no one is exempt. And no one is bionic.

When have you had to overcome adversity? Did you have to rely on others to succeed? If so, how did that make you feel?

Olympians evoke an image of extraordinary persistence, hope and optimism. They embody the notion of mind over matter. Olympic athletes endure years of training, overcoming challenges, injuries, and withstand losses amidst the wins. They give up the usual social life of the young. These spectacular women and men hail from every part of the world to compete and push past boundaries. They dare to dream. They dare to go the distance. On February 13, Nodar Kumaritashvili, Georgian Luge Olympic hopeful, tragically died on the opening day of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. He lost control at a crucial moment while practicing for his competition. Perhaps it was the ice, the unimaginable speed or simply a split second error in judgment. At 21, Nodar embodied the passion, perseverance and optimism known to all Olympians. While the luge incident might have seemed extreme to most, there is a message to be gleaned from Nodar’s premature death. Believing in oneself and going for the gold in our own lives invariably promises to be a better ride than holding back from pursuing our dreams. Everyday we are presented with opportunities to create the vision that supports our personal and professional goals and dreams. We get to choose the way we move through the hours, days and weeks of our lives. Taking one infinitesimally small step at a time, we can move closer to realizing our fullest potential. I recently spent a week at the Red Mountain Spa in Utah, where I presented on the topics of Love, Romance and Friendships in honor of Valentine’s Day and Heart Health Month. Men and women came from all parts of the world to hike, bike, climb mountains and practice yoga at dawn. Some of us were trying these activities for the first time, while others were veterans. We all came together one way or another, creating groups and challenging ourselves to go further. The energy was contagious and compelling. It seemed like each participant shared the inspired feeling that, “I can do this.” “This” means something different to each of us.

Hiking at Red Mountain Resort during "Bootcamp"

Whenever I present in this venue I am awed by the beauty of the Red Mountains and the willingness of people to stretch past their usual boundaries. Tai chi at sunset, with the sounds of flutes, brought a high powered business man to tears. Hiking five vertical miles of sharp black lava and sandy red terrain connected a mother and daughter more deeply. One young woman who came to the spa with acne, a sad face and rounded shoulders, left looking calmer, clearer and considerably more self confident. Coming home I have a renewed appreciation for the possibilities of every day. Life is about attitude and making the decision to meet challenges rather than making excuses. Each day find the necessary support and inspiration so that we can achieve our goals and dreams. At Red Mountain Spa guests are greeted with the expression, “Have a great adventure today” by staff members. Perhaps corny, but there is wisdom in those words. Sadly Nodar Kumaritashvili will not have another day to live out his passion, but you do! I wish you all a great and safe adventure today. What will you do today to make this day count?