MARC MIDDLETON ON TAKING CHANCES HOPE • INSPIRATION • POSSIBILITY
November/December 2012
JUMPIN’ JOE Confessions of a 68-Year-Old Vaulting Champion
When Tragedy Inspires Art
WENDY’S WORLD! After Beating Breast Cancer, the Former TV Anchor Poses for a Cure and Teaches Us All How to Survive and Thrive
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An Easy Way to Avoid Probate on Your Home Call or Text Chris at 407-808-8398
contents 6 DOWN, BUT NEVER OUT How do some people emerge from hardship stronger than ever? Surviving and thriving is a matter of attitude. BY BILL SHAFER
10 MUST-SEE TV Surviving and Thriving spotlights stories about beating the odds.
Attorney Tom Olsen Olsen on Law Radio Show 26 Years + 20,000 Questions
Saturday at 11am on FM 96.5 WDBO Tom@OlsenLawGroup.com
FREE Recorded Information On Probate, Trusts, Wills & Workshops 407-447-5810 Olsen Law Partners, LLP Orlando, FL
12 GROWING BOLDER WITH... How people you know are moving forward and giving back.
13 ROCK STARS OF AGING We’ve been told for so long, by so many, what’s not possible as we age that few of us know what really is possible.
14 5 QUESTIONS MD Anderson-Orlando’s new president points to progress in the fight against cancer. BY JACKIE CARLIN
16 BOLDER SPORTS In a backyard “dome,” the Johnsons vaulted to the top. BY MARC MIDDLETON
18 BOLDER NUTRITION The proper diet can reduce your risk for contracting cancer. BY DR. SUSAN MITCHELL
20 TORN BY TRAGEDY By sheer chance, she missed a doomed flight. Now, her art and her life pay tribute to friends who were lost. BY JACKIE CARLIN
24 BEHIND THE SCENES An insider’s look at Growing Bolder TV and Radio. BY KATY WIDRICK
26 THE HEALTHY 100
EXECUTIVE CHALLENGE
A publisher got scary news, but took control and now touts wellness. BY BILL SHAFER
30 THE TAKEAWAY Reinventing yourself isn’t about succeeding. It’s about trying. BY MARC MIDDLETON 4
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From the Editor Editor-in-Chief Marc Middleton Managing Editor Bill Shafer Associate Editors Katy Widrick and Jackie Carlin Contributing Writers Wendy Chioji, Jill Middleton, Dr. Susan Mitchell Graphics Kyle Mahoney Fuchs Additional Photography Roberto Gonzalez, Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson Digital Development and Production Jason Morrow, Pasquale Domenic Narciso IV, Josh Doolittle 407-406-5910 1101 N. Lake Destiny Drive, Suite 120 Maitland, FL 32751 growingbolder.com
Group Publisher Randy Noles Art Director Laura Bluhm
The Art of the
COMEBACK How We Respond to Life’s Setbacks is Crucial to Happiness and Success.
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truggle is a universal human experience, an unavoidable part of every life. Sadly for some, it begins very early with a heartbreaking diagnosis, a difficult family life or the loss of a parent. For others, it doesn’t begin until later with a health or financial setback, the loss of a loved one or a failed relationship. Life will knock us all to the canvas and count us out if we allow it. Tragically, many of us give up when faced with the seemingly overwhelming odds of recovering from such setbacks. Growing Bolder is about the art of the comeback. It’s about standing up and fighting for all that life has to offer. In some cases, it’s about fighting for life itself. These battles are rarely fought alone. We all need the help and encouragement of our family and friends. We all need inspiration from the examples of others who have not only survived but thrived in the aftermath of hardship. A desire to provide these examples of hope, inspiration and possibility is what led us to develop and produce a new television program called Surviving and Thriving, which airs in December on WKMG-TV Local 6. Details about this new show can be found in Bill Shafer’s cover story. This issue of Growing Bolder is filled with many examples of surviving and thriving, as well as lifestyle and nutrition tips that we hope will encourage you to live healthier, more active lives and to never give up. We can’t promise it will be easy. We can only prove that it is possible – and that the rewards are great.
Senior Associate Publisher Lorna Osborn Associate Publisher Kathy Byrd Growing Bolder is a publication of Florida Home Media LLC, publishers of Orlando Home & Leisure magazine. 407-647-0225 2700 Westhall Lane, Suite 128 Maitland, FL 32751 ohlmag.com GROWINGBOLDER.COM
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Marc Middleton Editor marcmiddleton@growingbolder.com
ON THE COVER: Wendy Chioji poses for a calendar saluting breast cancer survivors over the age of 40. Photography by Momento Images, LLC (momentoimages.com) GROWING BOLDER
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Surviving and Thriving
DOWN, BUT NEVER OUT How Do Some People Emerge From Hardship Stronger Than Ever? Bouncing Back is a Matter of Attitude. By Bill Shafer
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dversity is one of the few things we all have in common. How we deal with adversity, however, varies considerably from person to person. Will it change us for the better or for worse? Will it paralyze us or spur us to action?
Ultimately, the question is this: Why do some people not only survive but thrive in the face of adversity? Research increasingly shows that attitude is a major factor in not only overcoming challenges, but in recovering and eventually reaching new heights of achievement and personal growth. You’ve probably seen it happen. So have we. At Growing Bolder, we’ve interviewed many people who were faced with a variety of unexpected setbacks. They’ve told us their stories and shared the ways in which they’ve managed to battle back. It’s rarely easy. Surviving and thriving is a process that’s never finished and always evolving. But there’s great power in learning directly from 6
people who’ve made successful comebacks. Because if they can, you can, too. People like Wendy Chioji. Wendy was a high-profile local news anchor at WESH-TV when a routine checkup changed her life forever. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She waged a courageous, public battle against the disease, and reported on her treatment every step of the way. When she was declared cancer-free, she pledged to live her life to the fullest. She walked away from her job and her celebrity to travel the world, challenge her body, expand her mind and become a warrior in the fight against cancer. She raised funds – and a few eyebrows – by posing with other
GROWING BOLDER
The Grammy-winning entertainer has difficulty with his short-term memory, but is still wowing audiences with his undiminished musicianship. Somehow, music
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“You realize you really have only one shot at this ... it was opening my eyes and understanding that everything I do has to make a difference.”
PHOTO: COURTESY MOMENTO IMAGES
-Wendy Chioji
Wendy Chioji raised funds – and a few eyebrows – by posing for a swimsuit calendar featuring breast cancer survivors. She also walked away from her high-profile job to become an accomplished triathlete. GROWINGBOLDER.COM
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survivors for a swimsuit calendar. Wendy is now thriving, and she credits her health crisis with changing her priorities for the better. “You realize you really only have one shot at this,” she says. “It was totally a Growing Bolder moment. It was opening my eyes and realizing that everything I do has to make a difference.” One of Wendy’s major goals was to compete in and finish the Ironman World Triathalon Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Mission accomplished! Last month, she completed the grueling race in 13 hours, 19 minutes and 44 seconds. ■■■ Leon Fleischer was a world-renowned concert pianist and former child prodigy who, in his mid-20s, suddenly and inexplicably lost the use of his right hand. Doctors were baffled. Certainly, it would be the end of Leon’s career. Instead of quitting, however, Leon became the greatest one-handed concert pianist alive, learning to play full compositions with only his left hand. When he couldn’t change his world he simply changed his perception of it. Forty years later, the source of his paralysis was discovered and reversed, and he made a triumphant return to play Carnegie Hall. “It is, to a large extent, a question of whether the glass is half empty or half full,” Leon says. “If the glass is half full, you suddenly leave yourself open to many more possibilities. If it’s half empty. You exclude possibility. You contract your whole being into a kind of shell and there is no way you can grow.” ■■■ Interior designer Carolyn Caple Moor of Winter Park used to love Valentine’s Day until 12 years ago, when a hit-and-run driver struck her car head-on. She held her husband, Chad, in her arms as he died. Then she GROWING BOLDER
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Leon Fleischer (left) and Carolyn Caple Moor (right, with Oprah Winfrey). spiraled into a severe depression from which she could not emerge. Eventually, Carolyn agreed to be counseled by the TLC show Shalom in the Home, and slowly began to rebuild her life. She discovered purpose in helping others who had experienced the loss of a loved one. Carolyn’s courageous recovery and determination drew the attention of Oprah Winfrey, who saluted her on television. “I know so many single moms, widows and widowers,” she says. “Every day, they get up and they make the right decisions. And I was like, ‘Oh gosh, can I represent them? Can I really do this?’ And I just said, ‘I have to.’” Today, she’s giving back to those in grief around the U.S through the Modern Widows Club, an organization she founded. With chapters in Orlando, Kansas City and Seattle as well as an online magazine, the club seeks to demystify the social stigma and modernize the perception of being a widow or widower and to “inspire a life where anything is possible.
nnn Don Cupo was a financial analyst who lost his job during the recession. There were simply no openings in his area of specialty. Even fast-food restaurants wouldn’t hire him, figuring he’d leave if he got a better offer. But none came. After months of fruitless searching, Don became depressed. Desperate, he decided to pursue a lifelong dream. He enrolled at the University of Central Florida and, at the age of 48, he’s finally getting a degree in filmmaking. Along the way, he fulfilled another dream by becoming one of the oldest collegiate marching band members in the U.S. His advice to others who are struggling in this tough economy? “Just grab something that makes you happy. That will lead you somewhere exciting. I never enjoyed school so much. For now I’m happy, and that was missing.” nnn Oviedo’s Heather Quillen weighed nearly 300 pounds. She knew she needed to make some drastic
“It is, to a large extent, a question of whether the glass is half empty or half full ... if it’s halfempty, you exclude many possibilities.”
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-Leon Fleischer
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Don Cupo (left), Jacqueline Jones (top right) and Heather Quillen (right, before and after). changes, but complicated exercise regimens were not for her. Instead, she decided to do it the simple way. She cleaned up her diet and began to walk. As the weight began to melt away, a feeling of accomplishment and pride began to wash over her. It was such a good feeling that she decided to share it with others by creating programs to combat obesity in children. Heather’s craving to eat has been replaced by a craving to help, and having a cause in her life has been even more fulfilling. “The difference when you have purpose in your life is profound,” she says. “It really is. To have purpose and to live passionately – that’s the key.” nnn Jacqueline Jones of Altamonte Springs overcame the deaths of her son and husband, an aneurism, brain surgery and two knee replacements to reclaim her title as Central Florida’s “First Lady of Song.” She suffered so many traumatic events in such a short amount of time that she began
to think that it would be better if her life was over, too. “When I tried to go there, the voices of my husband, my mom, my grandmother, my sisters, my brothers, my friends were all saying, ‘Hey, it’s not over. It’s not over,’” Jacqueline says. “Especially my husband. He’d say, ‘Mine is over, baby. My life is over, but I’m not going to watch you drain away into nothingness and then die. Be happy.’” Now, every time Jacqueline steps into the spotlight, she says she gains even more strength from sharing her gifts with others. These are just a few examples. Each story contains a secret ingredient, something no medicine can deliver. Each offers hope, inspiration and possibility. Each shows that ordinary people can triumph over extraordinary odds. Each proves that with the right attitude, the help and support of others and a little bit of luck, no matter what the obstacle, surviving and thriving is possible for us all. n
“Just grab something that makes you happy. That will lead you somewhere exciting ... for now I’m happy, and that was missing.” -Don Cupo
growingbolder.com Growing Bolder
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MUST-SEE TV Surviving and Thriving Spotlights Stories About Beating the Odds.
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e’ll announce more details in the very near future, but we wanted to let Growing Bolder magazine readers in on some exciting news. Growing Bolder is partnering with WKMG Local 6 and MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando to bring you a new, one-of-a-kind television program. Surviving and Thriving will tell the inspiring and uplifting stories of ordinary people who have overcome disease, trauma and adversity to live extraordinary lives. Produced by the Emmy Award-winning Growing Bolder team, Surviving and Thriving is hosted by
former local news anchor Wendy Chioji, who overcame breast cancer in 2002. Contributing reporters will include other well-known local news personalities. WKMG-TV will air five Surviving and Thriving 60-minute specials in prime time beginning this December and continuing in 2013 with one each quarter. Our first show will feature the inspiring stories of two local women who battled and beat breast and gynecologic cancers with the help of a team of physicians from MD Anderson - Orlando. Surviving and Thriving is destined to become must-see TV for all Central Florida families. n
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Growing Bolder With...
People You Know We have the privilege of interviewing and learning from some of the most accomplished people in the U.S. And we ask everyone we interview to share something that keeps them motivated; something from which we can all learn; something that demonstrates how they, too, are Growing Bolder.
Dr. Dot Richardson
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Olympic Champion “I’ve been on some great teams led by some great coaches – in sports, medicine and business – and I’m here to tell you it’s nearly impossible to do anything worthwhile alone. Whether you call them mentors or life coaches or just friends, they’re critically important. The fastest and surest way to get from where you are to where you want to be is to tag along with someone who’s been there and knows the way.” Dr. Dot Richardson is an orthopedic surgeon and works at the National Training Center. She also holds two gold medals in Olympic softball with the U.S. team.
Mark McEwen
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Stroke Survivor
Andrea Batchelor
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Public Relations Manager “One of my most valued possessions is my time. As I move through the second half of life, I realize I don’t have time for negativity, pessimism or boredom. There’s too much to experience, too much to learn and too much to give. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting friends – friends who bring out the best in you. And be sure you’re doing the same for them.” Andrea Batchelor is a former television news anchor and now a publicrelations manager for a luxury retail store. She serves on numerous charity boards and committees.
“Hope is a very powerful emotion. When you have kids, you never want to give up. It’s an old cliche, but I want to dance at their weddings. My twin sons are eight and my daughters are 17 and 15. You never want someone to speak of you in the past tense. Fight back. Don’t give up. I say, ‘These are the cards I’ve been dealt, so let’s play cards.’” Mark McEwen spent 16 years at the Early Show on CBS before joining WKMG Local 6 as anchor. In 2005, he suffered a massive stroke and wrote about his experiences in After the Stroke: My Journey Back to Life. Mark is now the business development manager at the Maus Media Group. 12
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Rock Stars of Aging ‘Banana’ George Blair
97
World’s Oldest Barefoot Skier
Longevity Celebrities
We’re at the beginning of a longevity revolution that will change everything we know about life after 70. And 80. And 90. And 100. We’ve been told for so long, by so many, what’s not possible as we age that few of us know what really is possible. Fortunately, we can look at the examples already set by the Rock Stars of Aging. For even more examples, visit rockstar.growingbolder.com.
Ruth Hamilton At 97, “Banana” George Blair still turns heads with his bright yellow outfits and inimitable laugh. The world’s most famous barefoot waterskier, George didn’t even take up the sport until his mid40s, after breaking his back and being told he’d never walk again. Since then, he’s had six back surgeries and a broken neck, but it never kept him from pursuing his passion for barefooting. In 2008, at 93, George wanted to take one more run on the water and invited Growing Bolder along for the ride. Leaning on his friends for help, George was able to successfully get up on the water, becoming the oldest person in history to barefoot water ski. “All of life is up and down,” George told us. “I don’t wait for the next thing. I make the next thing happen.” – Katy Widnick GROWINGBOLDER.COM
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World’s Oldest Blogger Some people gain notoriety just for living a long life. But Ruth Hamilton’s life was simply amazing for more than its sheer length. Ruth died in January 2008, just three months shy of her 110th birthday. Proving that it’s never too late to learn a new skill, she became the world’s oldest blogger at the age of 109, and delighted in recording video blogs and sharing her wisdom with fans around the world on growingbolder.com. She talked about writing her autobiography at age 75 and the 1937 event in Berlin where she was so close to Adolf Hitler that she “could have shot him.” Ruth believed that the secret to her sharp mind was nothing more than curiosity. “Curiosity is one of the best qualities a person can have. Flowers, if you don’t water them, they wilt. And a person, if you don’t fill their mind, you’re a goner.” Her videos live on, and prove that when you’re active and engaged, you’re more likely to live a long and happy life. – Katy Widnick GROWING BOLDER
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Bolder Health
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Questions
Dr. Mark Roh is the new president of MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and an internationally renowned liver cancer surgeon. He has been recognized by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America every year since 1992 and has been listed among the top 1 percent of physicians in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Roh also sits on the American Cancer Society’s Florida Board of Directors. Roh has trained and operated at some of the top hospitals in the U.S., including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he served as chief of Liver Tumor Surgery for 10 years. He’s also published hundreds of articles in peer-reviewed journals, lectured nationally and internationally and is the associate director of Medical Affairs at the National Surgical Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), an NIH-supported clinical trials foundation. We asked Roh to update us on the state of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment today.
Closing In On Cancer MD Anderson-Orlando’s New President Points to Progress. By Jackie Carlin For starters, tell us some good news about cancer. How have survival rates improved in recent decades? What’s being developed now that promises better detection of and treatment of cancers? Research continues to increase the number of patients cured of cancer each year. In a growing 14
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number of specific cancers, the cure rate is now greater than 90 percent. Cancer is becoming a chronic illness in that the treatments are better tolerated and can be given for prolonged periods of time. Although the cancer may not completely disappear, patients are living longer and often die of non-malignant reasons. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
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Due to better understanding of how cancer develops and widespread education of patients, many cancers are diagnosed at an earlier stage. Early detection allows treatment of smaller cancers that are localized and sensitive to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. nnn What is individualized medicine and how does it impact cancer treatment? Cancer is a diverse constellation of disease processes. The heterogeneous nature of cancer and resistance to treatment contribute to the failure of modern cancer therapy. Currently, patients are treated on a trial-and-error basis with variable success and toxicities. Natural genetic variations impact the effectiveness of drugs and explain why the same drug works well in one individual and not another. Variations in genes can affect how drugs are absorbed, metabolized and used by the body. This uncertainty about how an individual responds to a particular treatment regimen has significant adverse consequences for the quality and cost of health care. The quality is destroyed in patients who don’t achieve a positive treatment response, and the cost of the failed therapy is wasted. The overall cost of successful treatment is increased due to a delay in receiving appropriate therapy. Fifty percent of patients will not benefit from biologics or drugs. Of the $292 billion spent on medications in 2008, about $145 billion went for drugs that were ineffective for the patients who took them. Adverse drug events create an additional $45 billion to $135 billion per year in costs. Personalization of medicine offers the potential for increasing quality and decreasing cost by precisely defining an individual’s disease process and facilitating prompt and appropriate therapy. Using sophisticated knowledge about an individual’s genetic and biological characteristics will expedite the development of drugs that effectively treat diseases in specific populations. nnn There seems to be a great deal of debate today on the risks and rewards of chemotherapy. Is
it more or less important in the treatment of cancers today than in recent years? What do you think is the future of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer? As the understanding of how cancer develops has grown, chemotherapy drugs have become more effective. Targeting specific sites of dysfunction have led to the development of strategic drugs that destroy cancer cells and minimize the side effects to normal tissues. Optimal treatment of cancer requires participation from multiple disciplines. Frequently, patients are treated with chemotherapy, followed by surgery and additional chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy postoperatively. Combining various therapies have improved clinical outcomes and survival. nnn What are “immunotherapies,” and why is there increasing excitement about the use of immunotherapies in the treatment of cancer? Immunotherapy is a general term that applies to a variety of treatments for different types of cancer. The basis of the therapy is that cancer is recognized as abnormal and the body tries to eliminate the growth – similar to how the body tries to eliminate invading bacteria. Through a variety of techniques, the normal cells from a patient are changed so that they’re more effective in killing the cancer. Certain cancers are very sensitive to immunotherapy, while others don’t respond. nnn There seems to be a direct correlation between aging organisms and the incidence of cancer. As our society ages, should we expect an increase in cancer or can we overcome this with new technologies, medicines and behavior modification? As people live longer, the incidence of cancer increases. Unfortunately, older patients often have other diseases that weaken the body and prevent the use of aggressive therapies. Everyone should be under the regular care of a physician and understand the warning signs of cancer. Diagnosing cancer early, before it spreads to other organs, offers the opportunity for cure, regardless of age. n
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jewett-gro
Bolder Sports
Lessons From Jumpin’ Joe In a Backyard “Dome,” the Johnsons Vaulted to the Top. by Marc Middleton
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oe and Janet Johnston may be among the most unusual retirees in Central Florida. Their backyard in Apopka doesn’t have a pool that they never use. Instead, it has a polevaulting barn that they use almost every day. The “Joe Dome” is a 30-foot-tall barn, hand-built by Joe, that houses a regulation pole-vaulting pit, a runway and Joe’s secret to a happy and healthy life. “The secret is finding something that you like so much that you want to do it every day, and doing it requires cardiovascular fitness, some basic strength, balance, coordination and proper nutrition,” says Joe. “All of that is pole vaulting. That’s my secret.” Joe, who looks closer to 48 than 68, is a former masters world-record holder and is one of the best pole-vaulters in the world over the age of 65. He’s also the defending age-group national champion in the 100-meter hurdles. He inspires just about everyone he meets to get active. And that includes Janet, who took up polevaulting four years ago when she turned 60. With Joe’s coaching, she’s become a nationally ranked competitor in her age group.
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Joe and Janet travel to meets all over the country in an RV that includes custom storage for their poles. But it’s not the pursuit of records that keeps Joe jumping; it’s the pursuit of good times with good friends – and he finds plenty of both in masters track and field. “They’re like-minded people that are still active. They still want to play and have fun. That’s the best part to me.” What has Joe learned from decades of masters competition? “I’ve learned to persevere, and I’ve learned to enjoy every day because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” he says. “I guess the biggest thing is to follow your passion. Whatever it is that you like to do, get on with it, because that’s what we’re living for.” That, and never stop working out. After a recent two-week layoff, Joe became discouraged with how quickly he lost some of his conditioning. “I’ve got a new saying for a T-shirt,” he says. “At our age, the worst thing we can do is nothing.” ■ Joe Johnson, at 68, is one the best age-group vaulters in the country. He and his wife, Janet, train in what they call the “Joe Dome.”
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Bolder Nutrition
Always Eat Your Veggies The Proper Diet Can Reduce Your Risk for Contracting Cancer. by Dr. Susan Mitchell
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ately it seems that more of my friends have been newly diagnosed with cancer, or have been told that the disease has recurred. As a registered dietitian, I know the power of food to both help prevent and treat many diseases. But I’m also a daughter who lost her dad to a horrible death from cancer way too young, and a sister who lost her brother to cancer at the even younger age of 40. Did you know that the American Cancer Society estimates that one third of cancer deaths could be prevented with weight loss, exercise and a healthier diet? It’s true. Excess weight and obesity, along with a larger waist circumference, are associated with many types of cancer. Now is the time to assess your lifestyle and determine how you can be more active. Any activity is better than nothing, and brisk activity is even better. Here’s a straighttalk tip that works: If you cut calories by a mere 100 per day, or burn 100 additional daily calories through activities, you’ll lose 10 pounds in one year. No one food or supplement will eliminate your risk for cancer. But the way you eat – the food you choose day in and day out – can help decrease that risk. The goal is a diet that in many ways resembles the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts and seeds, veggies, and fruit and healthy oils. Add these foods to your diet to get maximum benefit: ■ Beans and lentils. Both are rich in fiber and 18
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protein but lean when it comes to fat and calories. Use black beans in chili, or try fat-free refried black beans in quesadillas. guava All con■ Tomatoes, watermelon and guava. tain the carotenoid, lycopene, along with others that are lesser known but equally important. It’s the synergistic effect of the various carotenoids and nutrients in the whole tomato and other foods that cause positive health effects, not a singled-out nutrient taken in supplement form. Cooking tip: The lycopene from cooked tomatoes, including pasta sauce and tomato paste, is more bioavailable to the body than fresh tomatoes. ■ Cruciferous vegetables. Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and cauliflower offer sulfurcontaining compounds that may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. All types of nuts, healthy oils such as olive oil, mixed berries and sweet potatoes help round out the recommended foods. For more information, check out cancer. gov, part of the National Institutes of Health’s website. ■
Dr. Susan Mitchell is the consultant, registered dietitian and nutrition expert for Growing Bolder. She also serves on the Health Advisory Board for Family Circle magazine. She is co-author of Fat is Not Your Fate, I’d Kill for a Cookie, and Eat to Stay Young. Listen to her weekly podcast where she shares real-world health tips, recipes and more at susanmitchell.org and growingbolder.com/drsusanmitchell. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
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bolder arts
TORN BY TRAGEDY By Sheer Chance, She Missed a Doomed Flight. Now, Her Art and Her Life Pay Tribute to Friends Who Were Lost. By Jackie Carlin
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he has the energy of a small power plant and a smile that’s just as bright. But you’d better look quick, because Longwood’s Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson is always on the move.
Today’s to-do list includes an early morning swim, after which she’ll cook breakfast for her husband and two kids. Once the kids are off to school, she’ll practice violin with the Maitland Philharmonic, finish a graphic design project for the Orlando Magic and bake some of the best banana bread you’ve ever tasted. After that, it’s time for her true passion. Elizabeth is an accomplished fine artist whose work is becoming highly sought after by collectors worldwide. From afar her canvases look as though they were painted with bright pigments and bold brush strokes. But up close you can see that the images 20
consist of torn strips of paper. In a way, Elizabeth’s art is analogous to her life. She’s driven by torn pieces of her past. While attending Syracuse University, she was part of a study abroad program in London. On Dec. 21, 1988, 35 classmates, her roommates and closest friends among them, boarded Pan Am Flight 103 to fly home for the holidays. Elizabeth chose to stay behind and explore Europe. Just 35 minutes into its flight, over Lockerbie, Scotland, the plane was destroyed by a terrorist bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Elizabeth, devastated by grief, wondered how
Growing Bolder NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
The Grammy-winning entertainer has difficulty with his short-term memory, but is still wowing audiences with his undiminished musicianship. Somehow, music
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“That motivates me to try everything I want to do, because I know there are no guarantees.” - Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson she would go on. She found her answer in the lives her friends had lost. “I think about them never getting married, never having children, never achieving the careers they were studying for in college,” she says. “That motivates me to try everything I want to do, because I know there’s no guarantee.” Elizabeth vowed to honor the lives that were lost by living her life to the fullest. And that’s exactly what she’s done. She’s become a triathlete, written a book, created a DVD and started her own design business. She creates “paper paintings” in the studio behind her home and conducts national and international collage workshops to share her technique with others. She’s had an especially busy summer. In addition to selling numerous pieces to a rapidly growing list of collectors and museums, she’s earned Signature Member Status with the National Collage Society and staged a solo exhibition, Noah’s Ark, at the Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts in Orange Park. She’s also signed an image reproduction deal with Pier One Imports and Lange Calendar, and vacationed with her husband and kids in Arizona. n
Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson produces elaborate collages from torn pieces of paper. Her work is sought by collectors and has been showcased in one-woman exhibitions. growingbolder.com Growing BOlder 23
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WPLB-CR
Behind the Scenes
Backstage at GB TV & Radio Go behind the scenes with Growing Bolder. We’re always on the move, interviewing some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment, business and more. We’re a small team working hard on some big dreams, and we love taking you with us. Take a look at some of the fun we’re having.
The Gargle and Spit Interview It was a producer’s worst nightmare. Two hours before our scheduled radio interview with Oscar and nine-time Emmy Award-winner Cloris Leachman, her son (who is also her agent) called to say Cloris needed emergency dental work and would have to cancel. It was too late to book a suitable replacement, and Growing Bolder Radio producer Jill Middleton wasn’t happy. Jill can be very persuasive, however, and somehow convinced Cloris to participate in what we believe is a radio first – being interviewed while sitting in a dental chair in Beverly Hills. Our interview was interrupted repeatedly so that the dentist could work, and Cloris could gargle and spit. It was bizarre, fun and made for a very unusual interview. What other Oscar winner in her mid-80s would undergo dental work and a radio interview at the very same time? Only Cloris Leachman, and only on GB Radio.
Rowdy Skypes GB
Tune into Growing Bolder on WUCF-TV Sundays at noon, Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 12:30 a.m. Find complete national listings at growingboldertv.com. Tune into Growing Bolder Radio on WMFE 90.7 on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 7 a.m. 24
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Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines is a regular contributor to both the Growing Bolder TV and radio shows. The Lake Mary resident is also the voice of swimming for NBC and was one of the busiest broadcasters in London during the Olympics. Rowdy’s coverage was watched by millions of viewers every night. But as busy as he was, Rowdy still took time from his duties with NBC to Skype with Growing Bolder’s Marc Middleton, providing GB with an insider’s perspective on Team USA’s amazing performance.
An International Showcase Happy birthday, Growing Bolder TV! We made our national debut in September 2010, and this year we’re celebrating with an effort to attract an international audience. The Television Syndication Company, an Orlando-based firm headed up by Cassie Yde, is taking Growing Bolder to the MIPCOM conference in Cannes, France, the premier showcase for entertainment and lifestyle programs. Growing Bolder is offering 44 episodes to the international market, to which we say: bienvenue and merci. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
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Something very unusual has been spotted rising from the shores of Lake Berry. While Loch Ness is famous for its mysterious inhabitant, Loch Berry will soon be famous for setting a new standard for senior living in central Florida. Loch Berry is the newest addition to Winter Park Towers, central Florida’s premier active living continuing care retirement community. Loch Berry will provide the same breathtaking views enjoyed by our residents, with new levels of distinction in its 54 lovely apartment homes.
Just steps away at Winter Park Towers are the flexible dining options and resort-style amenities that make life here so rewarding. And our full slate of services will keep you out and about, with no worries about everyday tasks—freeing you take full advantage of the fashionable shopping, cultural events and fine dining opportunities of nearby downtown Winter Park. If you own your own home, you are likely to find this wonderful way of life to be quite affordable.
“Unloch” the delight of a secure retirement in a beautiful place. Call 407-647-4083 for
Loch Berry hugs the shores of Lake Berry, with many apartments enjoying superlative lake views. Inside, residents more information or to arrange a personal tour! will appreciate the custom-feeling touches included in the cost, such as granite countertops, hardwood cabinets and the security of garage parking. It’s a great value, brought to you by financially stable, not-for-profit Westminster Communities. OH&L05/12
1111 South Lakemont Avenue • Winter Park, FL 32792 • www.westminsterretirement.com
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Healthy 100 Executive Challenge
Publisher Gets Scary News But Ann Sonntag Took Control and Now Touts Wellness. by Bill Shafer
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nn Sonntag, was well aware that heart disease is an all-too-common problem in middle age. But the Orlando Business Journal publisher never expected to have a heart problem herself. After all, she was not overweight, always watched her diet and was taking a cholesterollowering medication. So she thought she would be the last person to ever have to worry about heart disease. She was wrong. Ann was invited, as part of a group of 20 Central Florida community leaders, to get a firsthand look at a new heart-imaging device at Florida Hospital. She was amazed at seeing her own heart so clearly. But amazement quickly turned to disbelief when a day later a cardiologist called to tell her that blockages in her coronary arteries had been discovered. There’s nothing like staring your own mortality in the face. Ann knew a lead story when she
saw it. It was time to get to work. First, she took a hard look at her lifestyle. Journalism is a pressure-packed, deadline-driven business. There’s really no way around it. So, she fought off those particularly trying times by escaping to the treadmill in the gym in her building. A brisk, 4-mile walk later, she felt ready to face anything. Her co-workers noticed the difference, and she encouraged them to do the same. Regular exercise with as-needed breaks for stress relief became part of her workplace culture. She’s careful not to force her ideas on anyone, but she leads with an example that’s impossible to ignore. Ann believes that exercise has kept her energetic, vital and strong. And beyond that, she’s hopeful that by making a healthy lifestyle a priority, she has inspired her co-workers to do the same. She’s grateful to the people at Florida Hospital and their cutting-edge technology for saving her life. Now she has dedicated herself to spreading the message of wellness to everyone who’ll listen. ■
The Healthy 100 Central Florida Executive Challenge celebrates local business and civic leaders who provide the inspiration and the opportunity for their employees to pursue wellness. It’s leading by example, with executives who commit to a lifestyle of health and fitness, and encourage their employees to do the same. Other challengers include Tupperware’s Simon Hemus, Florida Hospital’s Lars Houmann and Rosen Hotels and Resorts’ Harris Rosen. Nominate someone in your company who is inspiring you at executivechallenge.healthy100.org. 26
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Could You Be a GB Lifestyle Guru?
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If you’re a seasoned, proven professional who offers top-notch products and services to activelifestyle men and women, we’d like to hear from you. Growing Bolder Magazine is building the Bolder Lifestyle Resource Guide, the region’s top resource directory for boomers and beyond. Bolder Lifestyle Gurus are an integral part of the BLRG. The Gurus are a carefully selected team of professionals who are the best at what they do – and who we can confidently recommend to our readers.
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We’re looking for Gurus in the following fields:
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■ Life coaches
■ Psychologists and counselors
■ Financial planners
■ Travel experts
■ Personal trainers
■ Yoga and Pilates instructors
■ Massage therapists
■ Physical therapists
■ Estheticians
■ Relationship counselors
■ Real estate agents
■ Downsizing experts
■ Anti-aging specialists ■ And more
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LET US LIST YOUR ACTIVITY IN THE BLRG CALENDAR
■ Masters and senior sporting events ■ Lifelong learning and educational opportunities ■ Art, dance and fitness classes ■ Volunteer opportunities and clubs
For more information about having your event or organization listed in the BLRG, or for more information about becoming a GB Lifestyle Guru, contact us at GBMagazine@GrowingBolder.com.
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Dear 90.7 Listeners and Contributors, To say that the past 18 months have been interesting would be an understatement! As you know, back in April of 2011, WMFE opted to leave the public TV business to focus exclusively on 90.7 News. By selling WMFE-TV to UCF, it protects and maintains public television for Central Florida. The net proceeds of the sale of Channel 24 will be used to make 90.7 News a better and more secure public radio station to serve you and our community. The first major benefit from the net proceeds of the TV sale will come from the hiring of two additional news reporters. NPR, PRI and the BBC do a great job covering international and national news. They are a trusted source of in-depth, unbiased news and information. Likewise, our goal at 90.7 News is to be your source for local in-depth news and information. As a matter of fact, we believe so strongly in this mission we have opted to call ourselves 90.7 News! Soon, we will conducting a local ascertainment of our community to better understand from you what you feel are the important issues for 90.7 News to cover. We plan to expand our local news and information program, Intersection, so that you will hear more in-depth conversations from our local area newsmakers. You will hear more In-depth Series, allowing 90.7 News to spend a full week on one topic, in-depth and from all angles. And, finally, we plan to improve our website so that it, too, becomes a destination point for you when you want to learn about important local issues, news, and information. We at 90.7 News are committed to being your local source of news. While other “news” outlets have abdicated their journalist responsibilities, 90.7 News will be there for you. We are your public radio station, 90.7 News. We are honored to serve you.
José A. Fajardo President & CEO
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This past September 90.7 News’ flagship local program Intersection celebrated 5 years on the air. In 2007 journalist Mark Simpson joined the staff at WMFE to help launch the program. The guest roster on Intersection over the last five years is an impressive who’s who among Central Florida’s movers and shakers. Former Governor Jeb Bush, former Senator Mel Martinez, and other top political figures have come discussed important issues of the day. Intersection also brings listeners into the arts community with noted musicians including Sam Rivers, Pat Metheny, and Central Florida’s gypsy jazz specialists The Cook Trio. The program also takes listeners on location to fascinating destinations like Kennedy Space Center’s famed Vehicle Assembly Building, the Jack Kerouac House, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Over the next several weeks Intersection will feature some of most interesting interviews with musicians, cultural figures, politicians, and other newsmakers from over the past five years.
Thanks for your support, and be sure to listen in! Plus 90.7 News will be preparing for coverage leading up the November election. You can keep posted online with WMFE’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Follow us at WMFE Orlando on Twitter.
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The Takeaway
Here’s Your Wake-Up Call Reinventing Yourself Isn’t About Succeeding. It’s About Trying. by Marc Middleton
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e’ve written a lot about surviving and thriving in this issue of Growing Bolder. Surviving and thriving usually involves some degree of personal reinvention, because the process of battling to overcome a serious obstacle almost always alters our view of life for the better. It’s the ultimate wake-up call. We get a clearer picture of what’s really important to us – and that changes the way we live. Most of us are in need of reinvention. We weren’t fortunate enough to be born with a calling. Instead, we followed a life path laid out for us by our parents, a high school guidance counselor, the results of an 8thgrade aptitude test or just pure happenstance. The good news is that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. And why wait for a major obstacle to begin? Our days are numbered, and optimistically that number is 32,850. That’s how many days you have if you live to the ripe old age of 90. If you’re now 45, you’re down to about 16,425 days. Time is the most valuable commodity we have, and like any commodity, the less there is, the
more valuable it becomes. Statistics indicate that more than 80 percent of us are unhappy with our personal or professional lives. That’s a tragic failure, because human beings are wired for success and pleasure. Perhaps this happiness disconnect is because we’ve spent decades making “safe” career and personal decisions. Now is the time to take a few chances. Fear of failure is gone – or should be. So is the pressure to please our parents, teachers or peers. Now is the time to finally please ourselves. If necessity is the mother of invention, opportunity is the mother of reinvention. Seize the opportunity of middle age to discover the passion that lies within. Get off the couch and get engaged in life. Take a class, join a club, open yourself up to new possibilities without worrying about the outcome. Reinventing yourself is not about succeeding. It’s about trying. As far as we know, this is a one-way trip and it’s a shame to not cherish every mile of the journey.
Comments and Suggestions: feedback@growingbolder.com Subscribe to Insider Newsletter: growingbolder.com/gbinsider Growing Bolder Website: growingbolder.com Growing Bolder TV Listings: growingboldertv.com Growing Bolder Radio Schedule: radio.growingbolder.com Facebook: facebook.com/growingbolder 30
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The RighT Decision... [ f o r t h e wh o l e fam il y ]
“It’s the Best of Both Worlds.” Lurene Braswell had long thought that “one day” The Mayflower would be the ideal place for retirement – although making the actual move was not on her immediate radar screen. But when her husband passed away, things changed. Encouraged by her daughter, Linda Bailey, who lives in Winter Park, Lurene made the decision to relocate. “It was meant to be,” she explains. “I love my new apartment, and I no longer have the burden of maintaining and cleaning a big house.” “Mother’s right around the corner, but she has her own space,” adds Linda. “Now she can spend birthdays, holidays and good times with her children and grandchildren. And as a family, we have peace of mind knowing she will always receive the very best in care . . . it’s the best of both worlds.”
If your loved one needed long-term care, what would you do? Call today, and let’s talk about it: 407.672.1620.
WINNER: ICAA INDUSTRY INNOVATOR AWARD For The Mayflower/Rollins College Lifelong Learning Program
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88141 PRAD GB 11/2012
www.themayflower.com 1620 Mayflower Court Winter Park, FL 32792
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