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“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

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Do you have vivid dreams or sometimes laugh so hard your knees give way? It could mean you have narcolepsy – the chronic neurologic condition where the brain is not able to control sleep-wake cycles normally. If you do, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 1 in 2000 people in the U.S. experience this condition, but more than half of them don’t know they have it. Now, one woman who was finally diagnosed with narcolepsy is on a mission to educate others about it. UNC professor Julea Steiner has teamed up with Jazz Pharmaceuticals to share her story. She, joins us now with more. www.morethantired.com
Bio
Julea Steiner
Julea Steiner is a sleep health advocate and Assistant clinical professor and director of professional development in the Public Health Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina. After suffering with sleepiness and cataplexy for more than 20 years, she was finally diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 36.
Before she was diagnosed, Julea felt tired all the time and experienced vivid dreams and hallucinations. She saw a number of doctors who misdiagnosed her with everything from ADHD to vitamin deficiency until finally one physician suggested she go in for a sleep test. Julea is passionate about raising awareness about narcolepsy. She encourages others to explore their symptoms and break through the cultural stereotypes of the disorder.

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Omega’s Theme Weeks Deliver Something for Everyone

A growing trend in travel, learning vacations pair fun getaways with educational opportunities that appeal to those who want more than just downtime. Omega Institute, a hub for lifelong learning in New York’s Hudson Valley, offers more than 325 varied opportunities, including three distinct theme weeks on its 200-acre Rhinebeck campus. Omega Arts Week, Retreat Week, and Family Week are three of the most popular programs and include a wide range of classes to choose from.

“By dedicating specific weeks on the campus to each of these areas, Omega creates a unique environment where people not only relax and have fun, but also meet others who are also interested in exploring new things,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega.

Omega Arts Week, July, 6–11: During Omega Arts Week, a popular program for the past 20 years, the campus comes alive with music, dance, visual and written arts, and trapeze. Accomplished and budding artists, and creative spirits immerse themselves in their art, communing at meal times and showcasing their work at evening gatherings. Participants choose from more than 10 workshops spanning the arts, including photography, painting, trapeze, drumming and dance, screenwriting, rustic furniture making, and more. This year’s Arts Week also offers a special tribute to Babatunde Olatunji, a world-renowned Nigerian drummer who brought African drumming and dance to the United States. Olatunji was a perennial favorite at Omega, and his legacy has endured.

Omega Retreat Week, July 13–18: Omega Retreat Week brings together a group of extraordinary teachers from many traditions to add breadth and depth to the spiritual path. Retreats range from inward contemplation to outward celebration, all equally sacred. Participants choose from nine workshops, such as Relax & Write® with Maia Danziger, Awakening Your Authentic Soul Signature with Panache Desai, Qigong Empowerments with Robert Peng, A Yoga and Meditation Retreat with James Higgins, and more.

Omega Family Week, August 3–8: Omega Family Week offers parents and kids a unique balance of time together and time spent apart in age-appropriate workshops. Adults choose from workshops like The Story You Have to Tell with Cheryl Strayed, Tennis Inside the Zone with Rob Polishook, Afro Flow Yoga with Leslie Salmon Jones and Jeff W. Jones, and more. Workshops for kids include Super Soccer Stars Camp, Beyond Rock, RoboFun Stop-Motion Animation, and more.

To learn more or to register, please visit eOmega.org, or call 800.944.1001. A limited number of media passes are available. To apply for a media pass, visit eOmega.org/press. Follow Omega on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

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David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Timothy Hutton & Olivia Steele Falconer

Based on the Inspiring True Story Behind

The Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital

A World Class Children’s Hospital Built In Memory Of John & Brenda Fareri’s Daughter Maria

In Attendance:

David Duchovny, as John Fareri

Hope Davis, as Brenda Fareri

Timothy Hutton, as Bruce Komiske

Olivia Steele Falconer, as Maria Fareri

Anthony Fabian, Director

Anthony Mastromauro (Identity Films), Producer

Julie Fareri, Producer

John & Brenda Fareri, Inspiration of “Louder Than Words”

Stephanie Aldworth, Inspiration of “Louder Than Words”

Jean Shafiroff, Philanthropist

Identity Films’ “Louder Than Words,” premiered as a Spotlight Film at the 21^st Annual Hamptons International Film Festival on Friday, October 11, 2013 at Regal East Hampton Cinema 1 in East Hampton, NY, with a second screening on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Regal Bay Cinema 2 in Southampton, NY. After the premiere, a private after-party hosted by the Fareri family for the cast and crew members was held at Sotto Sopra in Amagansett, a farm-to-table authentic Italian eatery.

The film, starring David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Timothy Hutton and newcomer Olivia Steele Falconer, written by Benjamin Chapin, directed by Anthony Fabian (“Skin”), and produced by Anthony Mastromauro’s Identity Films, is based on the inspiring true story of John and Brenda Fareri, who found solace after the death of their young daughter Maria, by channeling their grief into action and spearheading the creation of the world class Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center through their passion, dedication and fundraising efforts.

David Duchovny (“Californication,” “The X Files”) and Hope Davis (“The Newsroom,” “American Splendor,” “About Schmidt”) star as John and Brenda Fareri, with new-comer Olivia Steele Falconer playing the role of Maria Fareri and Timothy Hutton (“Leverage,” “The Ghost Writer”) playing Bruce Komiske, who helps the family in their long, emotional journey to obtain funding for the planning and building of the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in this touching film.

“Louder Than Words” portrays the Fareri family (John and Brenda Fareri, and their children, Julie, Stephanie and Michael) who instead of being gripped by loss created an extraordinary place of healing for thousands of ailing children and implemented a national standard for family health facilities. After Maria died, the Fareris learned that their daughter had made a special wish “for the health and well-being of all the children in the world,” as part of a school project. With Maria’s spirit guiding them, her parents, family and 20,000 other members of the local Connecticut and Westchester, New York communities worked together to create a state of the art children’s hospital, making Maria’s wish a reality.

Today, the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is a place where families are welcomed into the healing process as partners with the staff in the care of their loved ones. This hospital, inspired by Maria’s wish for children’s global health and well-being, not only keeps Maria’s memory alive, but has also gone on to help thousands of children and their families, while becoming the template for future children’s hospitals.

“John and Brenda Fareri are truly extraordinary people,” commented producer Anthony Mastromauro of Identity Films. “When I first heard their story I immediately knew it was one that needed to be shared.”

Julie Fareri served as a producer alongside Mastromauro, while Rod Lurie served as executive producer.

The Hamptons International Film Festival took place Thursday, October 10, 2013 through Monday, October 14, 2013.

For more information about “Louder Than Words,” please visit www.facebook.com/movieLTW or follow @movieLTW on Twitter.

ABOUT THE MARIA FARERI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL:

Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is the advanced care pediatric hospital at Westchester Medical Center and is a vision shared by many people, including Brenda and John Fareri, who lost their 13-year-old daughter, Maria, to rabies in 1995. During the time that Maria was hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center, Brenda and John quickly realized that Westchester Medical Center, like many hospitals, was built at a time when families were not considered an important part of a patient’s care. After Maria died, her parents, John and Brenda Fareri, learned that Maria had made a special wish as part of a school project: “for the health and well-being of all the children in the world.” With her spirit guiding them, her parents, family and 20,000 other members of the community have made this wish a reality. Today, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is a place where parents are not visitors but partners with the staff in the care of their children. The Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the nation named after a child.

For more information about the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital visit www.westchestermedicalcenter.com/MFCH

ABOUT IDENTITY FILMS:

Identity Films is an independent production company formed in 2006. Identity Films’ goal is to acquire and produce quality content of artistic and commercial merit. Identity recently wrapped the feature “As Cool As I Am” starring Claire Danes, James Marsden, Sarah Bolger and Thomas Mann.

For more information about Identity Films visit http://identityfilm.com

ABOUT THE HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded in 1993 to celebrate independent film – long, short, fiction and documentary – and to introduce a unique, varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to the public. The Festival is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the hope that these programs will enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment for all. Taking place among the charming seaside historic villages of Long Island’s East End, the Hamptons International Film Festival’s intimate, informal atmosphere makes the festival an ideal destination for cinephiles.

For more information about the 2013 Hamptons International Film Festival, please visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

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Consider this: In the time it takes you to sift through 30 minutes’ worth of email, at least 3 people will learn they have Parkinson’s disease (PD). And many are unprepared for their new reality. While most people recognize PD symptoms that impact movement, like slowness and tremors or stiffness, the disease also involves a range of non-motor symptoms that can significantly impact the lives of those affected.

Jo-Ann was diagnosed 16 years ago and only recently learned that symptoms like fatigue, difficulty sleeping or memory problems can be associated directly with PD. As an outspoken and active advocate for the PD community, Jo-Ann has made it her mission to educate others and serve as an example of the importance of speaking to healthcare providers about all symptoms. This is why Jo-Ann and her family have shared their story through a reality-style video series through the Facebook community — Parkinson’s More than Motion. http://www.facebook.com/parkinsonsmorethanmotion?ref=ts&fref=ts Parkinson’s More than Motion content is provided by UCB, Inc.

The Parkinson’s More than Motion community is a space for people to interact and learn more about the full range of symptoms. More than 40,000 patients and caregivers have added their voices to the conversation about PD through the Facebook page, which offers tools and information on PD, including a downloadable “Well-Being Map” designed for patients to track both motor and non-motor symptoms to help guide the conversation with their healthcare provider.

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Michael Fischman Shares Easy Techniques That Relieve Stress, Promote Healing and Increase Happiness Tried By More Than 25 Million People, and Used To Increase Productivity And Work-Life Balance At Companies from IBM To NASA.

What: Stress Relief, Relaxation Techniques, and a Look at the New Book: STUMBLING INTO INFINITY: An Ordinary Man In The Sphere of Enlightenment

Who: Michael Fischman, U.S. President of the Art of Living Foundation
Stress causes untold illnesses, billions of dollars in work absenteeism, and generally takes the joy out of our lives. How can we learn to reduce stress, improve our health, and increase our happiness?

Michael Fischman takes that question personally, and has made it his lifes work to help people learn to relax, de-stress, and enjoy greater clarity of mind. As the U.S. President of the Art of Living Foundation, Fischman travels across the country and around the world, teaching people techniques for reducing stress and improving their lives in every way imaginable. His new book, STUMBLING INTO INFINITY: An Ordinary Man In The Sphere of Enlightenment (Morgan James, October 2010), tells the story of how he learned to seek serenity, and gives readers a never before seen look into a road of meditation and peace of mind.

No matter what your age, gender, profession, health, state of mind, or level of stress, Michael will share tips on stress relief, and in an interview will also discuss.

What stress is, and quick fixes to relieve stress at a moments notice

The four forms of Prahna, the subtle life force energy that controls our lives

Easy ways to increase our energy flow and reduce anxiety

How simple breathing can be used as a tool to calm the mind

Real scientific studies that show the health benefits of meditation and breathing techniques

How the foods we eat affect the way we think and feel

Why corporations from IBM to NASA have used Michaels APEX program to increase productivity and create a better work-life balance
michael fischman

His new book, the story of how he became President of Art of Living, and how others can get involved and learn these techniques The founder of the Art of Living foundation, Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and a little bit about his background as a humanitarian and spiritual leader.

Fischman will share how he first got involved and helped to found the Art of Living Foundation, and how everyone can benefit from their philosophy, relaxation techniques, and service to others.

Whether you work in a fast paced environment, are a student, a mother, have health issues, or simply want to learn how to relax, Michael Fischman can give you the golden keys to a stress free life that will open the door to your potential and happiness.

About The Author

Michael Fischman is a leader in the field of personal development. He is a founding member and current president of the U.S. Art of Living Foundation, a global non-profit educational and humanitarian organization, and is also the CEO of the APEX course, the corporate training division of the International Association for Human Values. A former advertising executive with Ogilvy & Mather, and an inspiring speaker, Fischman travels across the U.S. and around the world leading personal-development seminars that bring greater peace, awareness, and fulfillment to daily life. He current lives in Boca Raton Florida. For more information, visit www.Stumblingintoinfinity.com or www.artofliving.org.

About The Art of Living Foundation

The Art of Living Foundation is one of the worlds largest volunteer-based non-governmental organizations. Offering both educational and humanitarian programs, it holds consultative status with the U.N. and has reached people in more than 150 countries. Programs are offered for youth, business, government, prisons, people with HIV or AIDS, trauma and disaster relief, and more. Founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, its programs of personal development and stress relief have reached more than twenty-five million people.

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