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One woman’s true story of self-discovery and transformation

while surviving the Los Angeles Dating Scene on the search for Love

“A whirlwind story to fulfill all your senses. You will laugh and you will cry. Lauren represents and identifies what we all go through as women. You will be inspired to grow and climb to your next level!”

~  Sherry Singer, Celebrity Matchmaker, Author of The Greater Connection

            “We need to talk,” he said out of nowhere …

            Four dreadful words in any relationship.

            We do?? I asked myself, and hoped against hope that this was when McShorty would finally tell me he loved me.

            “I don’t feel what it is I think I should be feeling …” he continued, and my heart climbed all the way up my throat.            

            Here we go, I said to myself as McShorty continued with his good-bye speech.

The breakup described above isn’t fiction. It was real, very real. A pivotal moment, it propelled the author, Lauren Gale, to begin to write her memoir, Confessions of a Recovering Drama Queen. Along the way, she explores many venues for meeting that special someone – from Internet Dating, Speed Dating, Meeting through Friends, Matchmaking, to even a Date on National TV’s The Greg Behrendt Show. 

With sincerity and wit, the author struggles to gain answers to some of the burning questions on the minds of many single gals braving the dating world:

©       Are there any decent guys out there?

©       Should we win a guy over with games, or by playing hard to get?

©       To call or not to call?

©       Can men and woman just be friends?

©       Do men love bitches?

©       Why is it we seem to always want the one we cannot have?

©       Are The Rules meant to be broken?

©       Is there a “Mr. Right”?

©       Can we change our life or our romantic destiny by changing our attitude and our way of thinking?

In the realm of Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Sex and the City meets Why Men Love Bitches, Lauren Gale’s Confessions of a Recovering Drama Queen is not only a true, humorous story of triumph and looking for love in all the wrong places. More important, it’s a manifesto on self-love, self-discovery, and self-respect.

©  “Lauren raises important questions when she exposes her own issues, while at the same time making you laugh hysterically, recognizing your own self .” ~  Tabitha, 32

© “A hilarious and fascinating look into the mind of a woman while you are dating her.”

~ Todd, 34

©  “Lauren’s book is a great read to kick-start an evening out with a smile on your face and hope in your heart!” ~ Galen, 42

What life is like when you have more dates

than can fit in your social calendar …

Pre-order your copy today for just $19.95!

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I hope this finds everyone well!
 
So - for those of you that have been in close contact with me, you know I had a feeling 2009 will be big for me!
What you don’t know is that I had a feeling that this would be the year I would tie the knot (YES - that knot - turns out even an eccentric, commitment phobic pot like I can find a cover!!!).
 
What I didn’t know - and that will probably catch you (and truly caught I) by complete surprise was - that it will be Michael (YES - that Michael I have been going back and forth with for over eleven years!). 
 

 
Michael and I have been through a lot within the last few years, and recently reconnected and realized that not only through our trials and tribulations we both matured A LOT, but more importantly, through all the hard times we had with each other we still care deeply for one another.
 
So - that’s when you come in - the day after Michael and I had an open heart to heart for the first time in years, we heard about a contest on 104.3 for the wedding of your dreams!
Those of you that know me, know that about 6 years ago when Michael & I first got engaged I won the Wedding Dress of your dreams (it is still awaiting patiently in my closet!)
 
The wedding is a $40,000 wedding and by voting - you could help us make our wedding day more than special but AMAZING!
 
Voting starts today - you could vote daily (and please feel free to forward to your friends and family - no pressure!!!). Voting ends November 6th.
 
To vote please go to:
 
http://1043myfm.clearcontests.com/front/Image_Contest.asp?Action=Thumbs&sType=3&filterby=&SurveyID=37718&zx=789&type=Date&Cpage=2
 
We are the first picture on the left: click on the picture, register & vote (feel free to post on your facebook/myspace, etc…).
 
I thank you all for all your love and support!
 
Love & always light,
 
Lauren

My Crew and I (Me, Sherry and Motty), before venturing out into the streets of Santa Monica

At this very special time of year, I want to share with you one of the most memorable and special Christmas Eves I have yet to experience.

Up until recently, I’ve spent almost every holiday of the past 11 years with one of my dearest and best friends, Tessa. Since Tessa is Catholic (but as I always say, a better Jew than I am!) and I am Jewish, she celebrated every Jewish holiday with me and I celebrated every Christian holiday with her. For many years, we adopted each other as family especially during the holidays. From birthdays to Christmas to New Years to Thanksgiving, I was at Tessa’s home, celebrating with her and oftentimes many of Tessa’s other friends. Then, early in 2008, Tessa moved to North Carolina.

The holidays can be a bit hard for anyone, and for me, it has been tough to get through this holiday season without Tessa. Even though I was highly tempted to sit alone on Christmas Eve and feel sorry for myself, I decided to turn a negative into a positive and do something nice for others instead.

I was truly inspired at the Heartfelt Foundation (www.heartfelt.org) where I volunteered to work during a recent Christmas party for needy children. Fifteen years ago, the founder started taking care packages with her kids on Christmas day to the park to distribute to homeless people. So I called and recruited two of my dearest friends, Sherry and Motty, and together on a cold Christmas Eve we ventured out into the cold and the rain of Santa Monica, armed with 10 care packages for the homeless. Each package contained a sandwich, a cookie, chocolate candy, a banana, a pomegranate and one dollar.

We thought this would be an easy mission. I mean finding 10 homeless people in Santa Monica seemed like a no brainer. Well, maybe on any other day! Turned out that on cold nights, homeless folks aren’t that easy to find! Note to you and self – six inch heels are not highly recommended when hunting for homeless people!!! As my dear friend Sherry said: “Oy! Wearing six-inch heels and big gold earrings while walking hours in the rain… Only you, Lauren, only you!!! Next year, wear some sneakers!”

About an hour into our venture, after I had dragged my friends through miles and miles of walking on the pier, through dark scary alleys, and under bridges, we couldn’t even find one!

Then, about an hour and a half into our odyssey, we spotted our first!

I can’t tell you how excited we were (as we were having a hard time deciding who would give their care package first!).

Words cannot describe for you how shocked the homeless man seemed. His eyes lit up when we gave him the bag and wished him Merry Christmas. Shortly thereafter we bumped into another beautiful young homeless couple that was so very grateful. You would have thought we had just given them one million dollars!

The rest of our fellow humans in distress were just as hard to find, but we did eventually locate them.

Hiding in the secluded corners of neighborhoods, looking for shelter from the cold, resting on benches huddled up with blankets, and just walking aimlessly in the cold, there they were. We managed to spot them and handed out every one of our care packages.

When we were done, the three of us sat down to eat at the Buddha’s Belly restaurant on Broadway. There was a feeling of healing and a sense of joy and closeness (what the holidays are all about!) that came over all of us (and I swear this food was my best tasting meal ever!).

I want to take this opportunity to wish y’all Happy Holidays and a very happy, joyful and peaceful 2009!

I thank each and every one of you for visiting this website (we have 10,000 readers from 71 different countries!!!), and I ask that we all reach out to each other with kindness and compassion. Perhaps when we depart from this world, we can leave it just a little better than how we found it!

As one of my favorite quotes says:  “We are each of us angels with only one wing. And we can only fly embracing each other.”
− Luciano de Crescenzo, Italian writer, actor and director

Today and always, I ask of you kindness to yourself and others!

Love & light,

Lauren

Inessa & Lauren celebrating Inessa’s birthday

The other night after a ferocious workout, I had dinner with one of my dearest friends and soul sisters, Inessa Freylekhman. The savoring of the meal was combined with such a mind-boggling deep conversation that I was inspired to share Inessa’s special powers with y’all!

It is through this amazing friendship with Inessa (seriously LOVE Inessa) that I was enlightened and even healed by the magnificent magical powers of Feng Shui….

I met Inessa through my other dear friend (and soul sister) top matchmaker Sherry Singer. It is a funny story actually, Sherry brought Inessa to my exhusband’s birthday party to introduce her to him. It was indeed a match made in heaven, but not between my exhusband and Inessa − instead from the moment Inessa and I met, she and I connected in a powerful, brilliant and enchanting way. Since then we’ve been inseparable. There is something so special about Inessa, she’s such shining light, that when I’m with her, not only do I immediately discover my fun joyful inner little girl, but at the same time I have some of my biggest Eureka! moments and reach my most brilliant levels of awareness. There is such joy that is always reflected from Inessa that you can hardly help but be one with joy yourself!

But it is her mastery with Intuitive Feng Shui that truly helped me transform my life. Inessa is an honored graduate of the Santa Monica Spiritual Psychology program, and she combines her impeccable knowledge in spiritual psychology with her intuitive gifts and Feng Shui mastery skills.

The first time Inessa walked through my place, I was so very astonished and amazed at how the state of my home was a mirror and exact reflection of my state of being and my life!!!

Soon enough (though I must admit reluctantly at first, after all once stubborn, always stubborn), I made little changes in my home while shortly thereafter experiencing BIG transformations in my life!

From using Inessa’s “Feng Shui cure” and hanging a mirror in my prosperity corner (I got my agent a couple of days after!), to respecting my own art and putting up my paintings (that had been shamefully glued to my walls) in frames now (I literally was offered to be in an art gallery a WEEK later!), to removing my trash quickly from my relationship corner, to making positive intentions and putting it in my “God” Box in my spiritual left corner (while watching in awe how those wishes manifested themselves into my everyday reality!).

There were numerous changes that came after this! And the more I’ve seen, the more motivated I’ve become to change my home and simultaneously transform my life! To name just a very few… From taking down my four mirrors that an old ex had hung years ago at the entrance to my home (Inessa picked up that throughout that relationship he tried to distort my image, which was exactly what the mirrors were physically doing!!!), to making my bedroom a more comfortable and nurturing safe heaven, to even cleaning my carpet (Note to you and self − it makes such a difference and is highly recommended!!!) and immediately feeling the thick layer of grief my carpet and I were holding onto lifting up like magic (that same night, for the first time, after dealing with insomnia, I slept like a baby!!!).

“It’s like this,” Inessa says with passion in her eyes and a serious and kind look of knowledge and secrecy, “the state of your home, metaphorically, reflects the state of your life… by physically making changes to your home, you are giving a clear sign to the Universe (or any Higher Power you choose to believe in) that you are actually ready for physical changes in your life!”

Soon enough, not only was I assisting Inessa with her wonderful project at the Santa Monica shelter where Inessa shares her gifts by teaching Feng Shui to very special homeless woman who are moving into independence, more health and vigor, but I was also taking some of the tips Inessa was giving me and Feng Shuiing my friends’ places, while witnessing the transformations and healing that occurred in their lives (can’t argue with facts!). 

The good news is that you don’t have to take my word for it (though you should!); you can experience Inessa’s wonderful gifts for yourself! Her highly sought-after workshop (where I was actually introduced to Feng Shui for the first time myself years ago) is coming back! Visit her workshop page for more details: http://www.fengshuifromtheheart.com/workshops.html  

If you’d like to experience her on a one-to-one basis (highly recommended!) her website is: www.fengshuifromtheheart.com

There is no time like the present! Each and every one of us possesses within us the powers of not only healing but transformation and changing our lives! Take a step (any step!) today to a better and healthier state of being!

Thanks for reading!

Love & Light,

Lauren 

Sherry Singer and Lauren Gale hangin’ at the beach  

For those of us that are lucky enough to be living in Southern Cal (and for those of us that don’t, what are you waiting for? Come visit!!!), a great way to get away from the unbearable heat and the office and spend a cool (and relatively cheap) evening is the Thursday night “Oh So Fun” free summer concerts at the Santa Monica Pier (can’t bit free!!!). This wonderful events starts at around 7 pm somewhere around the end of July and last way up to the last Thursday of August. 

Whether your single, married, want to be single, wants to be married, bring your friends (as Wayne Dayer [LOVE Wayne!] brilliantly said “Your friends are God’s way for apologizing for your relatives”), your family, your enemies (someone once said, you got to keep ‘em close), your families that are your enemies, a blanket/ towels or some beach chairs, some take out food and plump yourself within the happy mellow crowd under the bridge while enjoying the fresh caressing ocean breeze, the soothing sounds of the powerful blue sea and (of course) the fun music coming from the pier.

All you need is just about $8 (for parking, so car pool whenever possible [great for over inflated Gas pricing as well!]), yourself, booze (none alcoholic, naturally…) and some take out food (don’t forget the food!) and of course last but never least bring with you a great attitude (and if you do come cranky from home or work, you will surly forget all about it five minutes into the shared!). 

My soul sister and one of my dearest friend Sherry Singer, the matchmaker (top matchmaker in town [www.meetamate.com]) and me, her ultimate side kick Lauren Gale (AKA Recovering Drama Queen) goofing and picnicking at the beach while enjoying new (and not so new friends) at the Santa Monica concerts (note to self & you – diets and depriving yourself while picnicking at the beach and watching everyone eat are not highly recommended! [I lasted about five minutes when I stole and just about devoured Sherry’s delicious left over vegetarian Nacho’s [what are friends for if not for (choose one): feeding you/sabotaging your diet with!!!).

For more information on the Twilight Dance Series and what to bring / where to meet / where to park see below. 

http://www.twilightdance.org/
ALL THURSDAY CONCERTS START AT 7:00 p.m. ends at 10:00 p.m.

7/31 Michelle Shocked with Mike Farris
8/7 Oliver Mtukudzi and Rocky Dawuni
8/14 Carmen Consoli, Juana Molina and Samantha Crain
8/21 Peter & Gordon with Gerry & the Pacemakers
8/28 Toots & the Maytals

See you there ~

This summer and always, be good to yourself and each other!

Love & Light,

Lauren

Hello Y’all!

Just wanted to share my first Internet Radio interview.

I had a blast while I was interviewed for “Hangin’ at the Lighthouse” by its gracious and insightful host, Shawn McDowell (also author of the wonderful book I See that You Are Down, But When Are You Going to Get Up?

Shawn’s book can be purchased through Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Shawn%20McDowell

Tune in and listen. Enjoy the Laurenisms! (Note to you – The entire interview lasts two hours… Make sure you have plenty of time! Also Internet Explorer is apparently best!).

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/beyonddating/2008/07/15/Hanginat-the-light-house

I also did an interview (a couple of weeks ago) for a documentary about Internet Dating as an Author Expert with the fabulous young director, Tyler Bourns. (Details to follow!)

Today and always, be kind to yourself & each other!

Thanks for visiting/reading/listening,

Love & Light,

Lauren

The one and only Catalina Beach

Those of you who personally know me have surely found out (and those of you who don’t will…) that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE celebration. 

Give me a reason and I’m out the door celebrating (As turns out I’m naturally drunk, without even over drinking!)! My own birthday (still celebrating 25 FYI) was stretched over a month of parties / lunches / dinners / karaoke with friends (all food-related, of course, and if you just happen to wonder if my love for celebrations is somehow related to my love for food [and my own made-up rule – that calories while traveling and celebrating DO NOT count!!!], you’re probably right).

This Fourth of July was no exception – especially since June was a whirlwind C-R-A-Z-Y kind of a month, even for a survivor such as myself (you don’t want to ask!), and since I just LOVE road trips (almost as much as I love celebrations and food!), I wanted to do something a bit different. Pull a very much-needed “mini” getaway (highly recommended!) and get out of town (if even for the day!).

That’s when I heard that a friend of mine was going to Catalina on the Fourth for the day, and I immediately stole the idea (can’t take credit for everything; I literally stole it!). I called one of my dearest friends and soul sisters, Sherry Singer, who is one of the top matchmakers in LA (www.MeetAMate.com) and bounced the idea off of her.

Turned out, Sherry loves me (or at least she was being a good friend and pretended she did) and (probably like the rest of us) needed a getaway as well!

So there we were – Sherry and I, bright and early on a Friday morning, going on an Island Adventure!! 

At about 10:40 a.m., after I parked Fredric Magic Maxwell (my car) by Sherry’s office, she picked me up and drove her white *Schmutz Mobile (as always Sherry drove, and I was just a back seat driver!). We made it to the San Pedro dock just an hour and a half before departure (as previously mentioned I am always TERRIBLY early pretty much everywhere [not highly recommended and very embarrassing, not to mention somewhat desperate looking and even pathetic if one's going to a Hollywood event or a date!])

When we finally got on the fast and regal Catalina Express, Sherry and I climbed to the outside upper deck. Since we didn’t realize there was a line about the length of the Pacific Ocean, we were out of luck and out of seats. Sherry, like a real trooper, plopped herself on the floor and I quickly followed. After an hour boat ride (note to you and self – better stay outside, on the deck, if you get motion sickness [which it turns out both Sherry and I do]), we arrived at the dock not far from dry land (thank goodness!) and to a different laidback casual world. We immediately felt as though a sense of timelessness surrounded us (we were now on Island Time!). We were finally at the one and only Catalina, with its little streets, charming small beach houses, golf carts driving around (there are almost no cars on Catalina), tall hills that look at you peacefully from everywhere, and clean serene beaches. It was almost as good as it’s gonna get (and we hadn’t even eaten yet!). As we walked out off the dock and onto Crescent Ave, the main street, we were welcomed by the Fourth of July annual cart parade and the USC marching band (plus cheerleaders!). Talk about a warm welcome!

Now even though we expected it to be as crowded as a small island could be with just about a million and one people cramped in (who apparently had the same exact idea that we did), Sherry and I were in for a surprise. The Island was actually not that cramped! There was plenty of space and more for everyone around. 

I’ve been to Catalina before, go every few years (with different men [now exes], and no, you don’t want to ask [and if you do, you could surely read all about it soon in my book!), but I forgot all about how charming and adorable this place is. 

There is plenty to do on Catalina – from snorkeling, to jet-skiing, to sight-seeing tours, to scuba diving, to parasailing, to land tours (note to you – the adventure Tour into the Inland is not for the faint of heart! I'm still getting over my traumatic experience of about five years ago, on bumpy narrow dirt roads (with no berm!) in a big semi-truck with a driver name "Star," when I seriously believed I was saying my last words ["What the f%&!!!"], held on for dear life, and thought I was going to die. But after our long drive and ocean trip, naturally we were famished. So I told Sherry about the most amazing pizza that I had about 11 years ago (YES! I remembered that pizza for all that time!!!), and somehow we made it past the red, white and blue parade and to the end of the main street where we found the casual yet charming Antonio’s right on the ocean! We stepped into the restaurant, which was decorated all in wood and looked like a nice barn, and quickly grabbed a booth across from the window overlooking the peaceful marina. Sherry made friends with a small cute girl of about seven years old who was sitting peacefully (up until now) with her mom and dad at the table adjacent to us.

            “Wanna see a big *schmutzer?” Sherry asked the girl, and before the child could even answer and without warning, Sherry pulled out her cell phone pictures of her new rescue, and pride and joy, an 80 pounder German Sheperd that answers to the name of Bella.

              “Have you seen anything as cute as that?” Sherry asked rhetorically like a proud mama while the girl was looking at the pictures and then she went into the whole story (similar to the way she did with any other innocent bystander and just about every second person we encountered) − of course, the story included how she lost her previous rescue, Keith, and found Bella just a few days later (if you ever do run into Sherry I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it!)

After the family left, we finally got down to business and ordered the Neapolitan Veggie Pizza (with onions and black olives). Soon it arrived and we were fully engrossed and completely silent as though we were having at least a religious experience (Sherry’s motto for eating is: “Don’t bother me, I’m eating!!!”) with a scrumptious and amazing blend of a bit-sweet red sauce, mozzarella, Monterey jack, provolone, cheddar, Parmesan cheese, onions and black olives (and the pizza dough is made fresh every day!!). 

It was almost as good as sex (well, I did say almost!), and even better than chocolate! After we just about devoured the pizza, and I picked up the bill (since Sherry always drives me!), we hardly rolled out of that restaurant and quickly found ourselves walking toward Lloyd’s of Avalon (on the corner of Crescent and Summer) where we got an ice-cream hot fudge sundae for dessert. 

“Now what?” Sherry asked as we looked around and enjoyed the USC marching band that was still playing to the great enjoyment of the cheering red, white and blue crowd.

“I have no idea!” I replied, smiling and joking, “After I’m fed, I’m pretty low maintenance…” 

Since Sherry was still feeling a bit queasy from the boat ride, we decided to rest for a minute (or more) by the beach and we grabbed ourselves a prime seat on an ocean-front brick bench. I left Sherry there to go and look for medicine for her. I quickly returned armed with not only some Pepto Bismol but also Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for me (I know my love for books has turned into a full-blown addiction, and it’s getting way out of control!!!), and a Cosmopolitan magazine for Sherry that I picked up on my way. 

We both relaxed a while listening to the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore, plus the comforting laughter of children. Then, as I tried unsuccessfully to concentrate on my book, Sherry kept interrupting me by cracking herself up and laughing hysterically while reading Cosmopolitan and Hilarious Bedroom Bloopers (apparently she was feeling so much better!), and insisting on sharing what she was reading with me (I actually didn’t find this to be as funny as she did…). 

By now, thankfully, Sherry was almost back to normal, so we decided to walk around a bit more. We picked ourselves up, sadly gave up our prime real-estate bench seats, and found ourselves window-shopping. Soon we walked into the Ruth Mayer Gallery (on Summer Avenue) and got completely mesmerized and drawn into the masterful and colorful world of her paintings. Then we strolled about a block up from the Gallery, heading toward the miniature golf course just a few blocks away from the ocean. 

We paid for a game, and after I finally managed to pull Sherry away from playing with three dogs and two cats (that were all apparently a part of the golf course’s captivating charm), we got to play our hearts out. We tried to read the rules but they were too complicated, so I made up The Lauren Rules for Miniature Golf (basically you strike and count until you get the ball in the hole, and whoever strikes less wins the game). After about an hour and a half of 18 holes, fun, laughter, sweat (move over Tiger Woods!!!), and playing, I (naturally) won the game (OK, you got me; Sherry won, but I so let her win [and she only won by one point], but I also made her sweat!). 

Since we were all played out and we still had about a couple of hours to kill before the fireworks, we walked into a cute souvenir shop and I got Sherry a miniature book made especially for her called Oy! To the World. A Book of Jewish Humor. And Sherry got me a Vazu (a vase like you’ve never seen), wonderfully expandable, easily maintained, and colorful − a flower vase perfect for travel!   

When we walked back onto the street, Sherry and I realized that we hadn’t eaten in a couple of hours and naturally we were hungry (again). We decided on Chinese food (to go easy on our stomachs). We walked into Mr. Ning’s Chinese Garden (on Summer Street) and I soon delighted over a delicious Sweet and Sour Eggplant dish with fried tofu (they made it especially for me, and I’m still craving its mild and soothing taste!) and Vegetable Fried Rice, and Sherry enjoyed the Hot Braised Scallops (I don’t eat anything with eyes or a mother, but so not judging!). In between bites, Sherry was cracking me up reading me Jewish wisdom and proverbs from the book I had just given her. Here’s a sampling of the humor:

“Only one kind of worry is correct: to worry that you worry too much.” (by Ethel Diamond)  

Shortly after we finished our dinner (I was stuffed), Sherry and I made our way back to the beach and plopped our weary butts onto the sandy brick wall with the rest of the Island’s excited visitors. We were right by the edge of the water and waited patiently for the fireworks (well some of us were more patient than others; I’m not going to mention any names… someone kept saying (Sherry): “Noo!!!” (i.e. the Hebrew word for “Where is it already?”). 

We weren’t disappointed! About twenty minutes later, the crowd was immersed in one of the most spectacular and visually stunning half-hour shows of magnificent color that I’ve ever seen. The fireworks were exploding high above the water and right above our heads!

At about 10:00 p.m., Sherry got overly medicated (with Dramamine for anti-nausea we purchased earlier on the Island for a safe boat ride!) but with smiling faces, we made it back to the Catalina Express and survived an hour and a half of a terribly choppy and rough ride back to San Pedro (this time, at least, we got onto the right line and even though we almost froze to death outside, Sherry and I got good seats!). 

At about 2:00 a.m., I was back home, and after I downloaded some pictures and emailed them to Sherry, I fell onto my bed and concluded that this was not only a cool and different way to spend the Fourth of July, but also so very much needed! 

On your next holiday, be sure to take advantage of an excuse to celebrate, like Sherry and I did this Fourth of July, and have a great time!!

Today and always,

 Be kind to yourself & each other!

 Love & Light, 

Lauren Gale

P.S. New platform high heels (no matter how cute!) for an Inland daytrip (or any trip) are not highly recommended (as Sherry scolded me in a loving Jewish mother tone over and over again throughout the day, and at the end, while I was moaning and nursing my painful, poor swollen feet, she wisely commented: “You should have worn your sneakers!” )

P.P.S. I recently learned that the one bummer ’bout “pulling a geographical” is that you have to take yourself everywhere you go! (Note to you & self − me, myself and I are getting along much better these days!!)

*An equal opportunity pet lover, Sherry has the following special terminology and nickname for dogs, “Schmutzer” and for cats, “Moonies.” Since Sherry owns a dog (as previously mentioned), we call her car “the Schmutz (short for schmutzer) Mobile.”

Sherry and Lauren, right before getting on the Catalina Express. We are ready for our adventure!

Beautiful Catalina, as we were arriving!

Fourth of July main street cart parade

Almost lunchtime – Sherry and I ready for and excited about the best Pizza!

                                            Catalina fireworks… blooming flower of light in the sky!      The one and only schmutzer - Sherry’s new baby girl Bella

This blog is written with a broken heart and is dedicated to my Dear Friend, Dr. Rachel Copelan.

Dr. Rachel Copelan was so many things. A U.S. Delegate to the World Congress on Sexology. A Behavior Therapist (a Ph. D with 26 years of private practice). She has been listed in The Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine as one of the World’s Leading Medical Hypnotist, was the author of six world-wide best-sellers (The Sexually Fulfilled Man [11 foreign editions], The Practical Guide to Becoming the Sexually Fulfilled Woman, A Woman’s Achievements [in Australia, it was called The New Female], 100 Ways to Make Sex Sensational and 100% Safe, How to Hypnotize Yourself and Others [worldwide], and Advanced Hypnotism (A Know-It-All Guide). But more than any of these, she was a mother to her son Jeff and to me a wonderful mentor and a dear friend.

More than almost anyone I know, Dr. Rachel (as I called her) had lived an adventurous and full life, taking and spreading her wisdom, relentlessly teaching and sharing her constant cheer and positive attitude (which she kept until the very last moment) all over the world!

I was fortunate enough to train with her for a few months before she had congestive heart failure and was with her when she was admitted to the hospital a couple of months ago. I am shocked, saddened and so very sorry to announce that Dr. Rachel passed away early this morning.

She and I had shared an instant and special bond, perhaps due to the fact that both of us were so very passionate about helping people. Also, I reminded her of her daughter (who passed away at the early age of sixteen about twenty years ago), and she had looked just like my mom (who passed away five years ago).

Dr. Rachel was one of the toughest women I know, and she had put up quite a fight before she passed at the age of 93.

I have been in contact with her son Jeff in NY and he is planning an open house service in a couple of weeks at her home in CA (for any of you that would like to attend please feel free to email me @ Lauren@FromBreakupToBreakthrough.com ).

Dr. Rachel will be greatly missed.

My deepest condolences to her family, friends and the many people whose lives she touched!

Dr. Rachel Copelan, thank you for touching my life in your own very special way.

May you rest in peace.

Today and every day, let us all remember how precious and short life is. May each and every one of us live every moment to the fullest!

Love & Light,

Lauren

Dr. Rachel Copelan, a mentor and a friend.

Beautiful sunset at the one and only Venice Beach, CA  

I want to share with you my magical Friday evening celebrating the Summer Solstice. I welcomed this hot season with an enchanted meditation event produced by SUM (the Spiritual Unity Movement) at beautiful Venice Beach, CA. The program was hosted by the Creative Chakra Spa of Marina del Rey, which is just steps from the ocean…

On a beautiful, clear summer evening, my dear friend (and miracle worker editor) Robin Quinn and I joined the all-denominational nonprofit organization for a public meditation. According to its literature, SUM is dedicated to honoring and celebrating the spiritual truth at the heart of all religions while uniting and bringing people together, regardless of faith and philosophy, to receive and radiate spiritual energy and create a positive force and goodwill. This particular event was to include a blessing and healing of the ocean and all waterways of the world.

The celebration started with a drum circle (which unfortunately Robin and I missed). But we were soon there with the others for prayer, singing, chanting, meditation and words of wisdom by Patrick J. Harbula (author of The Magic of the Soul and President of SUM), Lisa Garr (Host of KPFK Radio’s The Aware Show), and Dr. Terry Cole-Whittaker (author of Dare to Be Great! and a well-known spiritual teacher in the Southland). Stephen Longfellow Fiske also treated us by singing spiritual songs. What a lovely voice and presence he has!

Lisa Garr’s words brought out the romantic in me and touched my heart as she beautifully shared how a freak accident and a near-death experience during a biking competition (10 minutes before the finish line!) reunited her with her then ex-boyfriend (now husband). It was while being in this state of limbo that Lisa had a vision of what would soon synchronistically manifest itself as her radio show. (Lisa called synchronicity, “God’s wink.” Love it!) Just before Lisa guided us into a meditation on the words Love, Peace & Joy, her young wise daughter of about five, Gayla, concluded with a beautiful smile, power and confidence:  “You can’t say you can’t do it! You can do it!”

Moments later we were led by Dr. Terry Cole-Whittaker on a magical medicine wheel circle meditation to create and manifest healing for ourselves and the world as well as our hearts’ desires. Soon after this, the group sang, lead by Stephen Longfellow Fiske:  “I am of many, make me of one… I am one lover, we are one love.”

Taking a break as the festivities were winding down to enjoy the sea, Robin and I walked the short distance to the shoreline. We dipped mid-calf-high into the warmth caressing healing water of the ocean, cleansing our souls, and opening ourselves up to the new season and the everlasting magic of this world!

We ended our special evening at the authentic Thai East Wind along nearby Washington Boulevard with about seven new friends. I delighted over a delicious and appetizing Vegetarian Chow Mein (my diet was obviously called off for tonight due to the importance of the summer celebration!) while Robin enjoyed her favorite Thai dish, Tom Kha Kai soup (chicken in spicy coconut milk). As we ate, Robin and I were completely engrossed in a stimulating discussion with the others about writing, Buddhism, spirituality and, of course, men, women and (what else but???) relationships. Robin and I were especially excited about getting a first-hand testimonial (and education) about the importance of “men’s groups” as a way for men to connect with each other and their often buried emotions!

One of the moments during this evening that especially touched me was when we sang “I am of many, make me of one” and “I am one lover, we are one love.” At my website, we get readers on this blog from all over the United States as well as 43 different countries around the world!! Love is indeed a universal experience and need. I am reminded of a beautiful (and my latest favorite) quote by Luciano De Crescenzo (the Italian writer/actor/director):  “We are each of us angels with only one wing. And we can only fly embracing each other.“

Today and always, let us remember that no matter where we came from, what language we speak, and what it is we believe, we are all human and that we are all connected and united by our love as well as sometimes our heartache and pain!

This blog and my special Summer Solstice night of unity are dedicated to all of YOU, or as some would say, “Y’all” − special one-winged angels, who love, who hurt, who laugh, who care, who dare, who fear, who smile, who share, who live, who breathe and, most importantly, who have the courage (or need the courage) to embrace each other, follow your heart, follow your bliss (as well as your dreams), and find your happiness!!!

From my heart to yours ~ Happy Summer everyone (or happy whatever season you are welcoming in your part of the world)!! J

Be kind to yourself and each other!

Love & light,

Lauren 

P.S. 1) For more info about SUM’s upcoming group meditations, visit: 

www.spiritualunitymovement.org

        2) A special thank you to Omry for saving the day and helping me figure out the picture size thingy (Blog’s could be complecated, let me tell you!)!!!

Robin Quinn and Lauren Gale bringing in Summer with a group meditation and style!

Robin – welcoming summer and its endless possibilities!