We’ve been extremely busy letting as many people as possible know about Wishes. Below you can find a few links from our recent interviews.  

Huffington Post: Wishes for Mother’s Heart -Mother’s Day blog entry   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-lazaroff/mothers-day_b_858131.html

Hay House Interview: (Available for a short time only) http://bit.ly/iUXxUv

HealYourLife.com Book  Bite: http://bit.ly/kFKJ7V

2 Minutes with Betsy and Renee on KFWB- live from the LA Times Festival of Books: http://bit.ly/iX5pwv

Barbara on BigMediaUSA.com: http://www.bmbc.tv/episodes/575

ReadingIsFashionable.com Author Interview: http://bit.ly/ljgsWI

With our great team from Hay House!

Tonight, at 8:00 pm, our beautiful friend Leeza Gibbons will be on Larry King, sharing her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. When her mother, Jean, was diagnosised with Alzheimer’s Leeza family already knew how horrific the disease could be. Jean’s own mother had passed from it. Although Jean knew the disease would take over her mind, turning her into someone she was not, she still asked Leeza to tell her story for the sake of others. This courageous women put aside any worries of judgement or humiliation so she could help others who face similar struggles. I can only think about how different the world would be if we could all live so heroic. I was privileged to spend time with Leeza ‘s mother days before she lost her battle, and that experience changed my life.

Leeza and I had spoke about her mother many times, so I felt comfortable asking her if I could visit her. It was just something I felt deep inside of me that I had to do. With approval fom Leeza, I traveled to her hometown, in South Carolina, where her mother still lived. Although she wasn’t able to speak a word to me, or look in my eyes, I could feel how much love she had in her heart. I laid at the foot of her on the bed and her overwhelming strength made me feel incredibly safe. When our time together was over I
kissed her good-bye. I was honored to have met a woman whose story would make a difference forever. But, I was saddend to know that this would be our only time together. On my way home I wrote this Wish for Jean.

They call her Jeepers, a name she inherited some sixty years ago.
When I entered her room, I was moved by emotion; words could not
prepare me for her disturbing condition as she slumped uncomfortably
in her chair. Feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, I spoke quietly to
her, but her vacant stare offered no response. I traveled far to be in her
presence, inspired by her story. It had been many years since the thief
we call Alzheimer’s crept into her life, robbing her of everything, only
leaving the physical to endure endless suffering—leaving no hope, no
cure, and devastating those who loved her so dearly. Here she breathed,
living in misery, stripped of her dignity, yet no one I had met before her
was more deserving of self-respect or the respect of others. She had witnessed
the vicious crimes of her disease in her own mother before her.
She was aware that a stranger would enter her mind, diminishing her
grace before she would vanish altogether into her own silence. She was
fully aware of it all, yet she asked her family, for the sake of finding a
cure, to tell her story.

Footage of her demise has been witnessed by countless people,
awakening the need for change; her selfless courage to make a difference
has done just that, made a difference. . . . Her caretakers moved her to
the bed and she immediately curled into a fetal position as if desperately
trying to return to a place of warmth and safety. I moved to the bed with
her and curled at her feet. Over time a peace, a comfort, overtook me.
There I read to her, I rubbed her aching body, and sang her a lullaby.
In those moments, I fell in love with this great woman, honored by the
opportunity to show my gratitude. For you, I wish the dignity of Jeepers.

Blake Mycoskie, “chief shoe giver,” founder of Tom’s shoes, created the company to provide shoes for needy children around the globe. Children get serious, even life threatening, diseases without shoes. They must walk for miles and miles for clean water. Also, many children are denied an education because they cannot attend school without shoes. Blake is helping to change children’s lives. A pair of shoes makes a huge difference! He’s given away over a million! I have a pair, very comfortable. He’s a lovely guy who gave up many of his material possessions and lives on a boat docked in LA! Xx. Barbara

The speed networking was exhausting, but exhilarating at the same time. I met fascinating people in all areas of business, philanthropy, venture capital people, startups, performers. Etc. Richard Branson just said something that cracked me up. They asked how did you just call someone up and say “I want to buy a 747?” He explained it and the company selling it said “Well, with a name like Virgin.. I hope your company goes all the way!” Now he’s explaining, “if you are a true entrepreneur you learn not micro-manage. After the company gets big, you have to learn the art of delegation, so you can spend time creating other business, so you can be at home with the kids and wife.” Oh and how could I forget! He’s addressing concerns of the working moms. “There aren’t enough companies that understand the necessity of more time for moms (for the children) and more free time for employees… They perform better, are happier and are more loyal” - Barbara

Hay House NYC with AMAZING Richelle

It is a funny thing… and a fantastic thing, to discover how many people write privately as an outlet to their daily lives. Since signing with Hay House, many people have shared with me their writing, and their desires to get published. Yesterday, I was in Manhattan to go over some last minute details with the Hay House-New York team . I caught a cab on 57^th and Park Ave heading south. The cabbie was a wonderful, very chatty young man. Desperate for conversation he asked me endless questions. Where are you going? What are you doing there? Why are you doing that? And so on. I found his quizzical nature amusing and provided him with some conversation to break up his day. When I said I was going to Hay House he got so excited and pulled out his little brown book that held his heart’s desires… Poetry at its finest. He began reading me his work and asking me again and again, “you get it, you get it?” Honestly, all I got was nervous as he drove and read to me at the same time. Trying to sound delighted and impressed, I suggested he watch the road a few times. But, he was so excited to have an audience that I do not think he heard me. When he got me to my destination safely we said our goodbyes as fellow writers. It was great!