con't story..

And the story continues…

Ready?

It’s winter here in the midwest, specifically OHIO, and a great time to continue writing. I actually thought about putting together a puzzle, or write. :)

You can see what I chose.

Last night when I was going to sleep, I thought about this, and that what prompted my writing today.

I am the worst typist, I know. it’s easier to talk then to punch on the keyboard.. but here goes!

Life did go on and I have tons of memories of my childhood, that I, of course will spare you with boredom of reading or listen to.

It was inspiring and beautiful in every way possible and I am grateful.

The year my parents became “Foster Parents” all because I begged. (I am sorry, Mom)

And here is picture of us.. just so you can see there was a lot of us !

And the treacherous change in our career as farmers to business owners for ‘Poured Walls’ which changed everything for us financially. Let’s just say, milking cows, was not prosperous enough for our growing family.

In 1980, I married the love of my life , which was a handsome young fellow from Honduras, Central America, as a missionary kid. What’s not to be more impressing?

Dan and I chose to marry in the hot days of August and honeymooned in our state at a local Park.

That should tell you how frugal we were and yes, boring.

Hey, we survived together now for over 40+ years!

And today we are more one, then you can even shake a fist at!

I think we did very well, actually.

And we parented 5 children, which are now all grown up and have their own families.

Here’s a picture of our grown children with us.

Let me tell you… these children have been our inspiration and life! They have been nothing but a pure joy for us and let me tell you, talk about our ‘Grandbabies’… okay, no worries, I will spare you the story.

I remember before I had grandbabies, and women would show off their pictures of theirs to me, and I was totally bored. So I will save you the boredom

Let’s just say, we have the most fun with them.

What’s your point, Lorene, you ask?

I want to let you know how normal we were. Average family and lifestyle.

Lots of ‘Family time’ and no regrets.

We vacation together, take trips together, enjoy Holidays, birthdays, etc. We laugh, we don’t always agree, and above all, we strive to get along.

That is what counts.

I, especially liked when the children were old enough to have ‘adult conversations’ with them, and oh yes, I failed to tell you that we homeschooled for years! :)

We survived to know that we made it when it was not the most Popular or advised to do it, according to who?

At that time I was very much controlled by ‘others opinions’ Ugh!

What a joke!

Yes, I have learned… its not about another person idea, thought, on and on.

One thing I did against all advise was become a network marketer. Which is something I never thought I would be a part of.

An elderly gentleman told my husband one day is that ‘if you want to be successful, you should be a part of the world’s greatest need, and make sure you are a part of a publicly traded company’

I thought he was nuts… but several weeks later we were invited to check out a company that fit all these credentials, so of course, I haltingly said ‘yes’ and to this day, the company has paid us handsomely every single Friday.

Let’s just say, I was humbled.

Moving on…

oh, yes, let me post a picture of Dan n I at our wedding…

Back to story writing..

Man, this is getting long and boring, perhaps.

Sorry. When you are over 60 years old, you have a lot to say.

Wait until I tell you where we are at today- next time I write.

Hang tight.

Until then, Lorene Hochstetler

Bye Bye

The Story of Me

I want to give a 5 minute read on my life as I remember it….

Here goes!

Did you grab your favorite drink, to sip as you read?

I’ll give you a minute…

okay- I was actually born and raised in an “Old Order Amish’ family, which is an adventure , all on its own. Living in prosperous America, we lived a very plain, humble, simple life, with no electricity, phones, cars, or any convenances of sort. Just the basics and far from what everyone else was enjoying! (or so it seemed to me)

Imagine with me a horse and carriage in the late 1950’s.

When i was born, there were 5 older siblings to welcome me, and later there were 10 of us altogether. My Mom had her hands full, keeping us all in good health and vibrant. And She did an outstanding balance in training us to be great children and adults.

I was blessed with great health and loved being outdoors in Nature! Thankfully, we were fans of “Hocking Hills” and “Old Man’s Cave” and visited it numerous times.

I do not have a lot of pictures of us, because we were discouraged to take any pictures, as it was not practiced in the “Amish” lifestyle.. but here is one, with myself circled, for you to see..

We lived on farm and had plenty of ‘chores’ and activities to keep us entertained and busy. Playing was always an after ‘all the work’ is completed. thing. My favorite play was with one of the farm cats , pretending she was my doll. it purred and squirmed, letting me know she enjoyed it as well.

Fast forward to my teenage yrs, when my parents decided to switch from ‘Old Order Amish’ to the next level of a very similar religion, which we will call “Level 2”. Still very programmed, but allowing us to have modern conveniences. The joy of owning our own vehicles, electric, phones, etc was heavenly.

Our outlook in life took on an entire New Meaning! We felt like Normal people and were impressed to ‘fit in’ with all the people around us!

*one thing that stands out in my memories is the many “Homemade Games” we did play with our large family, and still to this day, we play some of those games. I’ll tell you more about them later…

To keep this to a 5 minute read, I have to cut to the chase, as they say; and get to the point.

Have I lost you already?

One thing I experienced in my Adult life is “Health challenges” that was so disheartening and trying to me both physically and mentally. (Read my story on this page elsewhere- on my harsh experience with medication) and I am proud to say that I did survive, when I absolutely thought I wasn’t going to..

Definitely a humbling journey. I do relish the love and endurance my family gave to me during this experience. I will never take anyone for granted.

Let’s dive into my love for ‘teaching” as a teenager…

So, right after I graduated from 8th Grade Parochial School , I volunteered to be the teacher’s assistant, and helped with particular subjects, as well as crafts, etc. It was life-giving and I enjoyed every minute of it. Later I actually did teach all 8 Grades in the Parochial School, when I was old enough.

and add to this, I home-schooled all of our own children, but that is getting ahead of my story. I have to get married first. Right?

and here is one more picture for you to enjoy.. with a frame around myself.

Nothing stopped me from seeking, asking questions, and discovering everything I possibly could. And that inquiring mind has assisted me perfect in my adult life. When you seek, you find, and when you ask, you receive answers.

I will never quit learning and discovering…because it serves me perfectly.

And as for where I am at today… I am grateful for every step of the way in my life! It has been the most inspiring journey and full of mysteries and fond memories and no, I would not want to live my life over again! Would you?!

I have experienced deaths in my family and both of my parents are no longer here on this planet earth. They were so good for all of us and I treasure their impact they instilled in all of us.

Mom n Dad in this picture

I still feel their presence today in my consciousness. They were not perfect, but they sure did their best!

The biggest struggle I witnessed from them both, is when they ‘buried’ some of their own children. They were baffled, thinking they will pass long before any of their own children.

This is getting too long… and I don’t want lose you in the extended details. How about I add to the story and get to the point on why I wanted to write this in the first place?

So long for now… hang with me, I will be back with the best part.

Warmly,

Lorene Hochstetler :)

you are not responsible for other people’s happiness or problems

Do you often try to help your friends, family members, or even coworkers or acquaintances fix their problems?

This is something I see come up all the time with people who are on a path of spiritual and personal growth — I’ve done it too. When you’re experiencing beautiful shifts and miracles, you often want to help others. When you’re happy, you can even feel guilty about it and try to get others to be happy as well.

there’s a fine line between supporting and ‘fixing’ other people’s problems

We have to be careful, because there’s a fine line between supporting others and trying to “fix” them. This is something that readers discover in my book Judgment Detox. The book teaches them to lovingly witness their own judgment and heal it.

If you ever try to fix other people’s problems or make yourself responsible for their happiness, I hope the tips I offer in this post will help you to release that need.

You can watch the original video I recorded below, and keep reading for a breakdown of what I teach in it (plus new lessons).

we can’t fix other people’s problems

A friend was telling me about how she was visiting a very close friend of hers. This friend was going through a tough time, and when my friend left, she felt this heavy weight on her. She felt a responsibility to make sure her friend was okay. She also felt inadequate because she couldn’t solve her friend’s problems.

I told her, “You can’t be responsible for another person’s happiness.”

This can be really hard at times, especially if you’re a nurturing person or just deeply love the person who’s struggling. You want to be the fixer. You want to help them find the solution, make smart choices and see the light.

It might even feel selfish NOT to intervene and take care of things. After all, aren’t friends and loved ones supposed to support each other?

Yes, of course.

there’s a difference between loving and supporting someone and trying to fix their problems

But there’s a difference between loving and supporting someone and trying to fix their problems and make them happy. One you can do. The other you simply cannot. Everyone is responsible for their own happiness. And, in fact, trying to take on the responsibility of another person’s happiness can hurt them in the long run and deprive them of miracles.

3 steps to follow when you want to fix other people’s problems

When you feel the urge to be the fixer, follow the three steps I outline below. You’ll feel immediate relief. You can release the need to be responsible for another person’s happiness. The weight will be lifted and you’ll be able to show up for your loved one AND yourself.

Step 1

remember that other people have their own guidance system

Everyone has their own guidance system, whatever it is they believe in — whether that’s intuition, angels, spirit guides, the Universe or God. Even if they don’t believe, there is a guidance that we believe in that we have to trust is protecting them and guiding them. Have faith in other people’s guidance systems.

Step 2

recognize that you can’t deprive someone of hitting bottom

I learned this a long time ago. You don’t want to deprive somebody of their bottom. Every one of us has experienced turning points in our lives. These are opportunities to pivot, to hit our knees and fully surrender. When you try to fix someone else, you just get in the way of their potential to experience this miracle. I want to encourage you to really own that you are not here to deprive anyone of their bottom. Give them the chance to experience exactly what they need to experience, and don’t be afraid of it.

Step 3

know that you can’t change anyone who doesn’t want to be changed

We have to be conscious of the fact that it’s not our responsibility to change, or heal, or help, or resurrect anyone from their own issues and feelings. We have to trust that no one will change until they want to be changed. When they’re ready for that change to come into their life, then you’ll be there. You’ll be able to show up for them when they’re ready to show up for themselves.

what can you do for others instead of trying to fix them or make them happy?

While you can’t fix someone else or be responsible for their happiness, here’s what you can do.

You can pray for them to have it be gentle when they hit bottom, and for them to receive very clear direction when it happens. Send them a lot of love, set positive intentions for them and speak positively about them when you’re not with them.

trust in the power of your intentions and your prayer, and know that they are enough

In this process, while you’re allowing them to experience what they need to experience, and trusting that they’re being guided, just give yourself the opportunity to be in prayer for them.

Finally, if someone you love does come to you asking for help, there are some resources you can share. But just remember that you can’t coax, guilt or force anyone to take action.

the most loving thing we can do for someone is to accept them

As I teach in Step 4 of my book Judgment Detox: The most loving thing we can do for someone is to accept them. The most unloving thing we can do is try to change them. When you try to change someone you’re effectively saying that you know what is best for them. Your unsolicited “help” is a way of controlling and judging them. People may not show up the way you want them to, but when you accept them where they are you can let go, forgive and release.

If someone wants to change and asks for your help, you can show up and offer support. But it’s not helpful, kind or loving to try to impose change on anyone.

When we invite spirit in through prayer we return to our right mind and find acceptance.

gabby

accepting someone doesn’t mean you have to stick around

Accepting others where they are and forgiving them doesn’t mean that you let someone walk all over you. It doesn’t have to mean that you endorse what they’re doing. It means you allow them to be where they are and you don’t try to change them.

Sometimes when we accept someone for who they are, all we can do is accept them and move on from our relationship with them. We can say, “I accept you and I honor you, but I can’t be a part of this.”Important note: If you are in an abusive relationship, visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline online or call 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224.

accepting others gives you freedom, too

By consistently accepting someone where they are and seeing them with compassion, you realign with your true love nature. Through acceptance you release the resistance you’ve placed within your relationship, clearing the way for healing and for you to access more loving thoughts and feelings.

When you change your thoughts and feelings about another person, you change your energy toward them. The other person will receive your shift in energy and feel released by you. Best of all, your shift in energy gives you momentum to continue releasing judgment so you can feel complete and free. Acceptance offers you this freedom.

Trust the Universe and you can start cultivating happiness now. Follow the tips in my article on the do’s and don’ts of manifesting to focus on feeling good!

Say NO to Prescriptions

Health

I've made a personal decision to avoid medication whenever possible. It all started when I was prescribed a benzodiazepine for anxiety. I admit, I didn't do my homework—who reads the fine print, right? At first, it made a difference, but after a year, it stopped working, and by then, I had become dependent on it. I knew I needed to stop and asked my doctor for help. To my surprise, they simply advised me to quit cold turkey. What I wasn’t prepared for was the intense withdrawal that came with it—let’s just say, it felt like it almost ended my life.

As someone who loves being outgoing and social, I was forced to give up everything—activities, socializing—and just focus on healing. I understand that some people may have thought I was being overly dramatic, but if you’ve never gone through such a painful withdrawal, it’s hard to understand. My family and friends did their best to support me, and I am so grateful for them.

Ultimately, though, it was up to me to heal. Thankfully, I did. Today, I’m beyond grateful that I made it through this crisis.

And now, do you see why I’m cautious about medication?

"An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful..."

Hi to everyone!

In the words of the Dalai Lama,

"An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful..."

The first hour after you wake up is an opportunity to reclaim a commitment to robust health, good thoughts, and vibrant energy. Even if you've had a poor night's sleep, or you consumed too much of the wrong food (or drink) the night before, you can reset your intentions each morning, and step back onto the path.

With that in mind, here are 3 start-of-day rituals that will help to energize your body and spirit:

1. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice (in your first glass of water)

Lemons are a digestive bitter. A digestive bitter is an herb, vegetable, or in this case, a fruit that promotes digestion by stimulating the production of enzymes that break down your food. So fresh lemon juice helps your body absorb vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients from your meals, releasing all the potential energy they contain!

Squeezing a lemon wedge into your first glass of water in the morning has been shown to be a mood booster too! That sour punch has a sweet psychological aftertaste. So if you're prone to anxiety or depression (clinical or seasonal), I would definitely recommend adding this dose of nature's cheer to your morning drink.

2. Morning Meditation

I talk about meditation a lot because it's an invaluable resource, and it's free and easy. It's changed my life and the lives of millions of people all over the world.

If you don't have a meditation practice yet, I guarantee it will be a game-changer if you start one.

Here's a very simple meditation you can do each morning:

Seat yourself in a comfortable chair, or on a cushion on the floor. Keep your back as straight as possible, without straining. Take a deep breath or two, and then close your eyes.

Notice your breath. Place light attention on it as you breathe naturally, in and out of your nose. You may want to focus on the space just underneath your nose, where the air enters and leaves your body.

Allow your thoughts to flow as they will. Don't try to control them or to "empty your mind."

But don't get too involved with your thoughts either. Don't chase after them, and don't push them away. Just let them pass through your mind, while you keep your attention - ever so lightly - on your breath.

If you lose track of your breath, that's all right too. When you notice you've forgotten about your breath, just gently return your relaxed attention back to it.

Try this practice for 5-20 minutes and then see how you feel.

3. Stretch

Now, you don't need to do advanced yoga poses first thing in the morning (though kudos to you if you do!). Some basic stretches can make a huge difference in your day.

Roll your neck around for half a minute, clockwise and then counterclockwise (or vice versa). Extend your arms straight outward and hold for 20 seconds, to relieve tension in your sides. Put your hands on your hips and do a little side twist in both directions.

These incredibly simple movements help to get your blood flowing and prepare your cells to absorb the nutrients from your breakfast. They also stimulate the release of endorphins -- happy hormones -- in your body!

I hope the 3 practices above help you create a little extra self-care time for yourself!

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi

Host of Remedy: Ancient Medicine For Modern Illnesses

5 things you need to be successful in health & wellness

What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry”? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.

My career hasn’t always been focused on the wellness industry, so I’m not going to claim that I know all the secrets. But I’ll share some things and values that my team and I believe in:

• Have a vision that focuses not only on your customers’ wellness but on everyone involved in the process (partners, contractors, employees).

• Never forget about sustainability. Taking care of our planet should be on everyone’s mind.

• Your “internal customers,” or your employees, should be as important to you as your actual customers.

• Focus on your career and your work but don’t forget about other priorities in your life. Spending time with your loved ones or yourself will nurture you and give you the energy to move forward.

• Find a project or product that you truly believe in, and that makes you genuinely excited.

Jeff Stevens of Psyched Wellness