ARISE! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute

If YOU or ANYONE you know is in CRISIS, please reach out for help:

If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence and/or abuse, tell someone: friends, family, police or call this hotline for help: 800-962-2873 or 800-500-1119.

Thank you so much!  

The national themes for the month of May are National Physical Fitness & Sports month and Mental Health Awareness month.

So, first of all, I want to remind you of my passion:

Using my platform as an Amazon, multi-international, best-selling author, to contribute to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention by reaching, connecting with others and sharing my experience, strength and hope that TOGETHER WE CAN:

#1 – Rewake Our Minds – LEARN from yesterday

#2 – Restore Our Bodies – LIVE for today

#3 – Revive Our Spirits – HOPE for tomorrow

In fact, this is the very reason why I established the Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit (MBS) Healing Institute and the charitable foundation:  The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope (BJD ROH) Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (see below, my “Announcement” and “My personal message and committment to YOU!”).

Secondly, I’d like to refer you to my previous February and May – Aug 2021 blogs on my personal journey with mental illness and HOPE and my family’s mental health journey.  I have shared and bared all of the details and struggles I and my family have had with mental illness, suicidal ideation, feelings of hopelessness, my HOPE journey, and finally:  how to increase HOPE in your life.  I share this detailed, intimate and deeply personal journey with you – so that you don’t feel alone – if you’ve been struggling with ANY of these feelings and/or issues.  Also, to help break down the stigma of suicidal ideation and/or mental illness and/or mental illness diagnoses; to give YOU a practical guide for how you can increase HOPE in your own life; and to increase efforts to prevent/interrupt/delay in any way possible even one person’s suicidal ideation – to SAVE LIVES or even ONE LIFE!

Now, the cool thing about this month, we also have the theme of:  National Physical Fitness and Sports.  I’m going to give you a minute to reflect and see if you can figure out WHY I think that is so cool…..anything???? anyone????  Well, if you’ve read enough about me, or certainly if you know me, you should realize that both of these themes for May are:  first “MIND” (Mental Health Awareness) and second “BODY” (Physical Fitness and Sports) – the first two aspects of Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing – my platform!

So, I haven’t shared much about Physical Fitness and Sports lately, but I do share quite a bit about it in my book:  Life Launch, Book One, and how Sports and Physical Fitness was an extremely important aspect of my healing from trauma and self-loathing.  But even more importantly, maintaining my physical fitness and keeping up with sports (both playing and spectator) is essential to my current mental wellness as well as my spiritual healing.

In my Healing Resources document, available as a free download elsewhere on this website, I share with you my “Daily Regimen” that keeps me healthy, in general.  But lately, I’ve come up with an easy-to-remember “map” of my weekly daily activities, so that I don’t miss out on anything and keep my overall health and wellness in balance:

“Walk” Wednesdays/Sats

“Tighten-Up” Tuesdays/Thursdays

“Social Media” Mondays/ Weds/Fridays

“Youth” Sundays 

Basically, I have committed to exercising four out of seven days of the week.  On Wednesdays and Saturdays I’m committed to taking longer walks throughout the day/getting more steps in.

And on Tuesdays and Thursday I’m committed to actually working out aerobically and with some weight-bearing activities, thus my moniker:  “Tighten-Up Tuesdays/Thursdays”.

This is an easy way for me to remember what exercise/activity I’ve committed to focus on any particular day of the week.

“Youth” Sundays are designated as such for me to spend some extra time in the bathroom applying anti-aging lotions, potions, skin treatments, and activities that help me look and feel young.  This is also good for my mental health/self-esteem.  I share some of these products on this website, Healing Resources tab. 

These are my recent “tips and tricks” I use to “Launch my Life TODAY!” into Hope, Courage and Motivation to loving my life again.  I hope it motivates you, as well!  Enjoy! 

More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

Stay tuned next month for my June 2022’s blog.

***********************************************************************

Announcing the formation of the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe/Institute – Accepting New Members NOW!

Those of you who watched my October vlog, heard about my 5-Step Formula for Launching your Life into Hope.  So, if you are interested in working with me further and learning more about how you can infuse more hope and joy into your life, your relationships and your spirit-soul, join my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute and sign up for my FREE Webinar today.

***********************************************************************

My personal message and commitment to YOU:

Since writing and self-publishing my book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – through writing, speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute

These donations will go to a charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description -OR- scan this QR code:

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.

More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

Springing Forward & Blazing a New Trail, Part 6 / 6

If YOU or ANYONE you know is in CRISIS, please reach out for help:

If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence and/or abuse, tell someone: friends, family, police or call this hotline for help: 800-962-2873 or 800-500-1119.

Thank you so much!  

First order of business this month is:  Goodbye to Winter! and Hello to Spring!

Now, the national themes for the month of March are numerous.  I chose the following because these pertain to my life:  Women’s History month, Irish-American Heritage Month and National Nutrition Month.  And the main theme for the Month of April is: HOPE.

I think it’s appropriate to go back to “the beginning”…of my life and my social media presence/this Blog – which relate to these themes.

In short: I am a female, I was born in March, I am a 3rd generation Celt – Irish, English, Scottish and German ancestry, my Bachelor’s of Science degree is in Nutrition Science, AND I’ve had a storied history with HOPE!  So it seems March and April’s themes are PERFECT FOR ME!!

I started documenting my own life’s history as well as my history with HOPE in my book:  Life Launch! Surviving the Storms of Physical and Sexual Abuse, Book 1.

 I got as far as age 25, when I had a transformative event in my life – joining AA and NA and stopping all alcohol and drug use.  I hope to have my next book:  Life Launch! A New Dawn: Each Day is a New Beginning, Book 2 published later this year.  I am launching my poetry book, hopefully later this spring, which does chronicle bits and pieces of my life through verse.

And, I discuss my Celtic ancestry in depth in my July-August 2021’s blogs, as well as another book I’m working on that will include writings by my ancestors about their origin and life stories.

Regarding HOPE – it’s the entire purpose of my journey as an author and speaker – to elevate HOPE in others, with the ultimate goal: to contribute to mental health and suicide prevention.  I Founded the Arise! MBS Healing Institute, created a webinar, a course and a tribe to illustrate, practically, for those in need how they might increase HOPE in their lives.

In my early Blogs from last year, I talk about the meaning of my LOGO (shown here) and how it’s intended to evoke HOPE!  As well, in my August 2021 blog I go into detail about my ancestry and part of my HOPE journey.

And I also founded: The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Charitable Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide. (To make a donation, click:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description

-OR- scan this QR code:

For more about my Hope Journey, see my first 3 blog posts from 2021: Feb, March and my art piece:  “Meditation on Hope” @ www.drlizlifelaunch.com/dr-liz-blog-spot

Finally, I want to discuss Nutrition.  As I mentioned above, my Bachelor’s of Science degree is in Nutrition Science.  And since I was 15 yrs old, I have been on what I call, “a food program for life”.  I decided to just start eating right and take the supplements I need right then and there, and maybe I would never have to go on a diet.  Through the years, my nutritional needs have fluxed and my nutrient intake, through diet and supplements has fluxed in response.

On my Healing Resources page, in my “Wellness Kits”, I share in detail about some of the more impactful nutrients and supplements I take throughout the day, to help me have maximum energy when I need it, maximum rest when I need it and to be the most positive, mentally that I can be….all with the ultimate goal of increasing hope in my life and by sharing with you, in your life as well!!

More will be revealed, Dr. Liz #hope #hopeshot #arise #rainbow #healing

Stay tuned next week for my May 2022’s blog

*********************************************************************

Announcing the formation of the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe/Institute:

Those of you who watched my October vlog, heard about my 5-Step Formula for Launching your Life into Hope.  So, if you are interested in working with me further and learning more about how you can infuse more hope and joy into your life, your relationships and your spirit-soul, join my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute and sign up for my FREE Webinar today.

*********************************************************************

My personal message and commitment to you:

Since writing and self-publishing my book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – through writing, speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute

These donations will go to a charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description -OR- scan this QR code:

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

(written and posted Apr. 2022)

Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail, Part 5 of 6

If YOU or ANYONE you know is in CRISIS, please reach out for help:

If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence and/or abuse, tell someone: friends, family, police or call this hotline for help: 800-962-2873 or 800-500-1119.

Thank you so much!  

First, I want to start out with Part 5 of 6 of my Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail theme of the last 3-4 weeks: getting caught up on my last few blogs AND re-kindling my joy, hope and excitement for living my life and launching it into this new year!

To that end – I launched my Webinar this month:  “Launching your Life Today: My 5-Step Formula to Hope, Courage and Motivation to Heal Your Soul and Love Your Life!”

So, this Month’s blog is a Vlog of my Webinar and Registration for membership in my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute/Tribe.  (Links below or click right here: Audio sample (22mins) of webinar; Register for full webinar with slides.

Enjoy!

Stay tuned for my March/April 2022 blog: my final installment of: Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail!!!  and the blog counterpart to this month’s Vlog.

*************************************************************************************

Announcing the formation of the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe/Institute:

Those of you who watched my October vlog, heard about my 5-Step Formula for Launching your Life into Hope.  So, if you are interested in working with me further and learning more about how you can infuse more hope and joy into your life, your relationships and your spirit-soul, join my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute and sign up for my FREE Webinar today.

**************************************************************************************

My personal message and commitment to you:

Since writing and publishing this book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute.

These donations will go to a 501c3 charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description.

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes. More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

(written and posted Apr. 2022)

If YOU or ANYONE you know is in CRISIS right now, please reach out for help:

If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence and/or abuse, tell someone: friends, family, police or call this hotline for help: 800-962-2873 or 800-500-1119.

Thank you so much!  

The national themes for the month of February are:  Black History month, of course, which is the most widely publicized theme, and rightly so!  But also most of the other themes center around Health and specifically Cancer Prevention, which I feel is a perfect way to end my Blog series since November 2021, which have focused on three main events in my life:  my dog getting killed before my eyes in November, a shocking, unexpected relationship break-up in January; and a cancer scare and subsequent surgery, all happening between November 2021 – January 2022.  

So this month, I’d like to share about the outcome and recovery from my surgery. 

As I had mentioned in my January blog:

“… I was dumped by my boyfriend on January 3rd, by text message!…

But to add to it – he did this 8 days before my surgery!  Which presented a HUGE problem because he had made a commitment to me to be present for not only the surgery, but also to stay with me overnight in the hospital (because I know how medical errors can sometimes/rarely be unnecessarily fatal).  And also to stay overnight the next 4 nights at home with me – just in case of something “going wrong” – which was told to me (unlikely, but “could” happen):  bile leaking into my abdominal cavity.

I live alone and 30 miles from a hospital – I didn’t think it wise to be alone overnight those first 4-5 nights post-op.  So, he also broke that commitment to me, and since I have no family in the area, my sister graciously agreed to fly down and stay with me.  The airfare was very expensive because of the short notice, and I had to jump through other hoops that were costly because he backed out …”

So, my surgery was January 11th and my sister got to me safely the night before, and we spent overnight in a hotel 2 blocks from the hospital and near to the airport, since she arrived late the night before my surgery, I live almost 2 hours from the airport and hospital, and I had an early morning arrival time.

The surgery was considered “moderately complex” by my surgeon and for that reason, he required an overnight hospital stay the first night.  He is an expert in robotic surgery, so they made 6 small incisions around my belly button and robotically removed a 10cm x 6cm x 5cm cyst from the right lobe and examined 2 other smaller cysts on my left lobe.  The surgery went well and a week later, the pathology from the sac and fluid was “Normal, no cancerous cells present”!!!!  What a relief!!! Finally, I got a clean bill of health after 2 months of doctors appointments and scans.

My recovery went very well and within 6 days I was clear to drive, and 3 weeks I was clear to start working out again.  However, 4 days after my surgery, we had a winter storm coming in, and concern that my sister would have problems with her flight out.  We had a friend with a truck graciously offer to drive us safely to the airport/hotel, since my sister wasn’t comfortable driving a strange car, on strange roads at zero-dark-thirty for her flight, and then me driving back alone, on icy roads, before I was cleared to drive – NOTE:  none of this stuff would have been a concern or consideration if my boyfriend hadn’t abandoned me and our relationship before my surgery and kept his commitment!!!  So, my sister caught her flight and she arrived back home safely, and my friend returned to pick me up the next morning and bring me back to my home. 

Here is a video from the ice storm we had in the South Central US, January 15, 2022.

So, I am truly blessed to have “ride or die” family and friends who will “be there” if I need them.  I can’t thank them enough for their hand of hope in my time of feeling hopeless and very helpless, indeed.

My road to healing my emotions and my heart from the relationship loss has been much more difficult than the physical healing of my body from the surgery.  At the time of this writing, it has been a little over 3 months and I’m still going through the GRIEF process, still struggling to stay focused on my writing, my work and my daily routine of self-care.  I DO feel, at times:  abandoned, neglected, rejected, tossed aside, thrown away (like trash), unwanted, unloved, ugly, undesirable and unworthy.  I intellectually know those things aren’t true, but I have to do the same things to bolster myself that I share with you all on social media… I have to remind myself of what is real and what I know and believe – sometimes through sayings, sometimes through meme’s – and I’m going to share some of those now with you to close out this month’s Blog on a high note!

“Don’t tear yourself down, there’s a whole world out there which will do that for you for free!”~Jon D.

“Feelings aren’t NECESSARILY facts” ~Dr. Liz, 12-Step Recovery

“Take your body first, your mind will follow” (I use this one to get myself to exercise, so that I feel better about myself afterwards)

“My Higher Power has something and someone in store for me that/which/who is better than my wildest dreams can imagine”  (this is a HOPE SHOT!)

“In un-becoming, we become!” ~Jon D.

“Don’t let your mind change your mind” ~Jon D.

“When it rains, remember, the sun comes after…and if we’re lucky, a rainbow” ~Jon D, Dr. Liz

“God, with loving force, remove from me all I refuse to surrender” ~from a refrigerator magnet I have

And finally, what I feel is the hardest one of all to live up to:  The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, where he talks about, basically, getting out of our own way, our own self-pity and our own problems, by helping others.  And that is why I’m writing this Blog, why I write my books, why I created the BJD ROH Foundation and the MBS Healing Institute !!!

Stay tuned next week for more in my March 2022 blog, and the following week for April 2022’s blog:  Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail!!!

******************************************************************

Announcing the formation of the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe/Institute:

Those of you who watched my October vlog, heard about my 5-Step Formula for Launching your Life into Hope.  So, if you are interested in working with me further and learning more about how you can infuse more hope and joy into your life, your relationships and your spirit-soul, join my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute:  www.mbshealinginstitute.com and sign up for my FREE Webinar today.

*******************************************************************

My personal message and commitment to you:

Since writing and publishing this book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute – www.mbshealinginstitute.com

These donations will go to a 501c3 charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description.

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!!!

Sadly, mine didn’t start out “Happy” – instead, very rocky – but before I get into that…

I decided to start the new year with the Helplines at the BEGINNING of my Blog posts, instead of at the end:

If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence and/or abuse, tell someone: friends, family, police or call this hotline for help: 800-962-2873 or 800-500-1119.

Thank you so much!  

This month’s blog is a continuation of my November – December 2021 blogs:  my dog getting killed before my eyes, a shocking, unexpected relationship break-up; and a cancer scare and subsequent surgery.  

I promised I would share more about these and my journey through these storms in this and my February 2022 blogs.  Read on for a more detailed account of my relationship break-up:

As I had mentioned in my November blog “… I was dumped by my boyfriend on January 3rd, by text message! (After he spent the holiday weekend with me and my son and said no words on the matter.)  He refused to speak with me in person, face-to-face about it, and after a week of my texting him and begging him to please speak with me face-to-face about it, he texted me: “Please stop texting and calling me…”

Now, this was not just a boyfriend – he was an “all but the ring” fiancee.  We had been seeing each other since late Dec. 2020, and in October 2021, we had signed contracts to purchase a home together, and to list each of our individual homes for sale, in anticipation of getting engaged, moving in together and blending our families (4 adult kids between us and he had grandchildren).  We had also recently looked at both engagement and wedding rings online.  We had already picked out the “perfect place” and the date for our wedding….so……to be blindsided by the inhumane way he exited our relationship and my life was nothing short of cruel….”

But to add to it – I must tell you that he also did this 8 days before my surgery!  Which presented a HUGE problem because he had made a commitment to me to be present for not only the surgery, but also to stay with me overnight in the hospital (because I know how medical errors can sometimes/rarely be unnecessarily fatal).  And also to stay overnight the next 4 nights at home with me – just in case of something “going wrong” – which was told to me (unlikely, but “could” happen):  bile leaking into my abdominal cavity.

I live alone and 30 miles from a hospital – I didn’t think it wise to be alone overnight those first 4-5 nights post-op.  So, he also broke that commitment to me, and since I have no family in the area, my sister graciously agreed to fly and stay with me.  The airfare was very expensive because of the short notice, and I had to jump through other hoops that were costly to make things work with my sister, because he backed out – which turned insult into further injury, (i.e. on my pocketbook!).

There were so many other hurts, that I don’t want to get into, or focus on the negativity, re-live the pain and hurt feelings/shattered heart, so, I’ll keep this month’s blog short(er) – lol!

The best way I can describe my crushed feelings and shattered dreams and heart is by the following memes:

Therefore, my “take away” Lesson:

I finally realized the first week of April (because a good friend told me) that “When it rains in your life, dance in the rain like nobody is watching!”

And I was able to do that once I was able to get on the other side of the acute grief from the relationship loss, ONLY with the help of a few great friends and sisters.

Finally, the same good friend reminded me that “Self-worth is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less” – so, I realized it was time to get my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute Tribe and Webinar out there, so that we angels could help each other fly with our one and only good wing (see Announcement below).

(Please stay tuned for more on how I dealt with these major life upheavals and more in my February – March 2022 blogs, and for April 2022’s blog:  Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail!!!)

****************************************************************** Announcing the formation of the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe:

Those of you who watched my October vlog, heard about my 5-Step Formula for Launching your Life into Hope.

If you are interested in working with me further and learning more about how you can infuse more hope and joy into your life, your relationships and your spirit-soul, join my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute:  www.mbshealinginstitute.com and sign up for my FREE Webinar today.

****************************************************************** My personal message and commitment to you:

Since writing and publishing this book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute – www.mbshealinginstitute.com

These donations will go to a 501c3 charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description.

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.

More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

 (written and posted Apr. 2022)

As I wrote in my November 2021 Blog, the reason I am posting this blog so late is because of what happened just before Thanksgiving, and then immediately after New Year’s Day…three traumatic events in my life: my miniature poodle was mauled to death by a friend’s two German Shepherds in front of my eyes and I was helpless to save him; I had a shocking, unexpected relationship break-up; and I had a cancer scare and subsequent surgery.  

I promised I would share more about these and my journey through these storms in this and my January-February 2022 blogs. 

First, I want to share with you a short video I recorded on 12/25/2021, and had intented on posting it on social media, including this blog. However, I just had so much chaos going on, it never saw the light of day until now… and then read on for a more detailed account of my cancer scare:

The first upheaval that knocked me off my life balance when I received the news that I had a giant cyst on my liver that needed to be surgically removed – besides the physical insecurity – was the fact that I had NO MAJOR MEDICAL insurance!!!

From that moment before Thanksgiving until January 1st, when my state marketplace plan went into effect, I spent a good portion of every day calling friends/family for their input and/or researching on-line doctors, specialists, general practitioners, health insurance plans/coverage. Then, once I carved the rough path out for getting from diagnosis to surgery with the best, most affordable coverage, I spent a good portion of each day making appointments, rescheduling appointments (because quite a few of them were cancelled with little to no notice because many providers were coming down with COVID!), and getting to and keeping my appointments.

The next thing was the day-to-day not knowing if it was going to be cancerous or benign. I found out a week to 10 days before Thanksgiving that I had this giant cyst on my liver, (and a few other smaller ones, too), and I didn’t know until the pathology of the fluid and sac they resected came back after January 17 that everything was “normal”. This mental torment is a trial of it’s own, and took a great deal of mental discipline and lots of telephone calls to my trusted circle of friends and family members who support me and f eed my spirit, and vice versa.

With all of this going on, I could not focus or concentrate on writing – not my blogs, nor even posting on social media. I wanted to share my journey, but with so much unknown, I didn’t feel as though I had much to share. I did a great deal of mental work, and documented/created content in other ways, which has helped me get caught up with you faster.

My Lesson:  

I finally realized the first week of April, as I was getting re-connected with these blogs, my Social Media calendar, and my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe that God (my Higher Power) was preparing me for launching the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute throughout these trials these last few months.

I had already faltered in my self-esteem, coming into last fall after the deaths of my oldest miniature poodle and two of my closest friends and confidants.  But my Higher Power restored my confidence by walking me through and sending friends and family to walk me through my physical insecurity with the health challenge and my emotional insecurity that followed  the violent rejection I felt by getting dumped without a word or warning.

By early April, I felt fully confident, prepared, and excited to share my offer of a sacred space (the MBS Healing Institute)  where we can meet, share our experience, strength and hope and help each other find our own path to confidence and joy in launching our lives out of hopelessness, despair, disease, addiction, grief or low self-esteem (see Announcement below)

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Announcing the formation of the Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Tribe:

Those of you who watched my October vlog, heard about my 5-Step Formula for Launching your Life into Hope.

If you are interested in working with me further and learning more about how you can infuse more hope and joy into your life, your relationships and your spirit-soul, join my Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute:  www.mbshealinginstitute.com and sign up for my FREE Webinar today.

Please stay tuned for more on how I dealt with these major life upheavals and more in my January 2022 – March 2022 blogs, and for April 2022’s blog:  Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail!!!

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If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence and/or abuse, tell someone: friends, family, police or call this hotline for help: 800-962-2873 or 800-500-1119.

My personal message and commitment to you:

Since writing and publishing this book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute – www.mbshealinginstitute.com

These donations will go to a 501c3 charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description.

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.

More will be revealed, Dr. Liz

November Blog

(started Nov. 2021, finished and posted Mar. 2022)

October was “Domestic Violence Awareness month”, but at the time, I wanted to share with you what I was doing in as far as speaking and sharing my healing story – which is very much related to my healing from domestic violence:  as a child, a teen and a young adult.  So, I shared a vlog in October of my 5-Step Healing Formula for how I was able to make a “COMEBACK” from domestic violence and many other types of trauma.However, this month, in support of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I want to share with you a written and audio *excerpt from my book:  Life Launch, Book One – Surviving the Storms of Physical and Sexual Abuse:

AND Click PLAY below for the Audio version:

I hope you enjoyed my excerpt!  If you are interested in purchasing my book or in receiving a coupon for a Review copy of my Audiobook to download for free in exchange for leaving a review, please see * below.

Now, back to November 2021 – the reason I am posting this blog so late is because of what happened just before Thanksgiving, and then immediately after New Year’s Day…three traumatic events in my life:

First, I had a cancer scare:  my doctor found a giant cyst on my liver that qualified for surgery, plus several other smaller cysts; and there was something concerning seen on a scan of my lungs…  I will share more about this journey in my December and January blogs.

Second, my beautiful, miniature poodle, named JohnBoy, was attacked and killed right in front of my eyes, by a friend’s two German Shepherds.  I am still traumatized with visions of his eyes and voice crying out to me in pain, and I was helpless to do anything for him, except hold him and cry, as he took his last breaths and his life slipped from his eyes. 

You may recall from my March 2021 blog that I lost my other mini-poo, named Clifford, last March, so losing them BOTH in a matter of 8 months has been very difficult.  Here are some pics and a video of them kissing to celebrate JohnBoy’s and Clifford’s lives:

Third, I was dumped by my boyfriend on January 3rd, by text message! (after he spent the holiday weekend with me and my son and said no words on the matter)  He refused to speak with me in person, face-to-face about it, and after a week of my texting him and begging him to please speak with me face-to-face about it, he texted me: “Please stop texting and calling me…”

Now, this was not just a boyfriend – he was an “all but the ring” fiancee.  We had been seeing each other since late Dec. 2020, and in October 2021, we had signed contracts to purchase a home together, and to list each of our individual homes for sale, in anticipation of getting engaged, moving in together and blending our families (4 adult kids between us and he had grandchildren).  We had also recently looked at both engagement and wedding rings online.  We had already picked out the “perfect place” and the date for our wedding….so……to be blindsided by the inhumane way he exited our relationship and my life was nothing short of cruel….

Please stay tuned for more on how I dealt with these three major life upheavals and more in my December 2021 – March 2022 blog updates, and finally for April 2022’s blog:  Springing Forward and Blazing a New Trail!!!

*If this excerpt from my book intrigues you, please click HERE (“Dr. Liz’ books” tab), or click on any of the links for my book throughout this website.  If you are interested in receiving a coupon for a Review copy of my Audiobook to download for free in exchange for leaving a review, please click on the “Contact Dr. Liz” link or tab on this website and request one.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

My person message and commitment to you:

Since writing and publishing this book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website; this blog/vlog; and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute – www.mbshealinginstitute.com

These donations will go to a 501c3 charitable organization I founded, that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”, in honor and memory of my late husband who died by suicide.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

To make a donation, send to:  paypal.me/drlizlifelaunch and write “Charitable Donation” or “The BJD ROH Foundation” in the description.

Your donation is tax deductible and I will send you a receipt you can use for your taxes.

More will be revealed,

Dr. Liz

On Thursday night, September 2nd, one of my best girlfriend’s, Julie, lost her life to the COVID-19, Delta variant.

She was 54 yrs old and in good health just 5 weeks before, when she contracted the virus.  By the end of the first week, she was already in the hospital.  She was having trouble breathing, and even though her husband tried desperately to keep her home, she felt she needed medical intervention to help her breathe, because it was so hard.

Within 2 weeks, Julie’s condition had worsened and she went from canulas, to half-face oxygen mask, to full facemask, and then she was intubated and put into ICU, on a ventilator and anesthetized to allow the vent to breathe for her and hopefully give her lungs a chance to repair and return to better performance.

By the end of 2 weeks in ICU, the hospital staff asked her husband to decide if he wanted them to put a trach in her and put her in “long-term care”, or …. honestly, I don’t even think there was an alternative mentioned, although I assumed it was remove her off the machines.  And I knew that she and her husband had previously discussed a DNR approach if either of them were in that position.  I believe the hospital simply wanted her out of ICU to make room for another who might have a better prognosis, although those words were not spoken,  Even though Julie seemed to have not improved to the desired point, I don’t believe she had taken a turn for the worst, until they tried to trach her.

Her vitals dropped mysteriously right before they were going to do the trach surgery.  Her platelets and oxygen dropped too low for them to perform surgery and they never bounced back to acceptable levels.

Julie’s husband didn’t have a choice at that point.  The hospital allowed him and Julie’s parents to say good bye.  Julie’s husband entered her room against the protocol and stared down the security guard, so he could hold her hand and sit next to her as she took her last breaths.  

I had been given most of the information which had occurred over the previous 12 hours, between 6:30pm – 8:30pm CST on 9/2/21, so I was pretty stunned.  Thank God I went to an 8pm meeting of NA that night, because I wanted to be around my homies and support, if I was going to get “the call”, which I did.

Julie was the sweetest, kindest person I’ve ever known.  She was a cat lover – not a “crazy cat lover” who has 30 in a small house and doesn’t take care of them or anything else – but a normal cat lover – she always had at least a handful of cats around and kept the cats and her place clean.  

We had been friends since 2012, when she came to work for me.  After I left that job, and moved into another state, we continued to stay in touch and even went on trips together.  We had another trip planned for this month – she was going to try to come and visit me in my new home and new state, where she has never visited, but that will never be.  

Julie was very supportive of my son and my situation as a single, working, mom-widow.  She always asked me how he was doing whenever we spoke, without fail.  She attended his Bar Mitzvah and was even there on Thursday night for the photo shoot, whereas, none of my actual blood relatives were there for the photo shoot.

She gave me this necklace that she had custom made for me, to celebrate my first self-published book:  Life Launch, Surviving the Storms of Physical and Sexual Abuse, Book 1.  It has “Survivor”, “Life Launch”, —————, “—————” stamped on each side of the rectangle.  

She was truly one of a kind and she will be sorely missed.

My personal message and committment to you:

Since writing and publishing my book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website, this blog/vlog, and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute.

Since my late husband’s suicide in 2005, up through today, I have had a charitable fund in his name to help others who need financial help caring for their mental health:  The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Fund.  This fund is serving the local community in Florida where we used to live through (mostly) my contributions, since 2005, and (more recently) yours, through a portion (15%) of the royalties from sales of my book.  And FINALLY, this month, I established  a 501c3 charitable organization that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

More will be revealed,

Dr. Liz

August Blog – 4th installment of my Mental Health Journey

****Continued from July 2021 Blog****

The past is prologue…my July blog focussed on my personal and family/friends’ struggles with suicide and/or mental illness.  And if you line up July’s blog with my February 2021 blog: My Hope Journey, you might notice that at each critical tipping point, I reached out for help – either physically, from another human being or healing resource;  mental/emotionally by educating myself or elevating my mood through music or writing; or spiritually by prayer/meditation; or by some combination of the above. 

So, this month, I want to look at HOPE through another lens – that being HELP.  (Notice that hope and help are only 1 letter off from each other).  I don’t believe we can acquire hope in a vacuum.  Hope can only be created or instilled when we reach outside ourselves for connection, or when something, someone or some force collides with us and makes us realize that we are “not alone”.  I am calling that connection “help”.  

Also, I’d like to re-post here from April 2, 2021 blog post:  In my “Visual Meditation on HOPE”.

I illustrated the inter-connectedness between all the synonyms for HOPE that I could find, and by doing so, my intention was to create or instill in the reader a feeling of connectedness – injecting HOPE into the reader through visual representation.  I found this to be true for me…each time I felt hopeless, I reached outside myself (connecting) for help (even if only through prayer), or I was open to receive help from outside myself (even if only through meditation), and by doing so I got a “hope shot”, a “sliver of hope”, which was enough to help me take the next right step in my life towards the next hope shot, until I was pulled out or able to pull myself out of the dark pit of despair and hopelessness.  

Now, for me, the trick is maintaining HOPE.  Notice I didn’t say: remaining HOPEFUL.  For me, “HOPEFUL” or being full of hope is unrealistic and possibly even a trick or a trap that could pull me back down into despair for believing I failed or life failed me.  Instead, I am content to strive for maintaining hope in my own self, my own life and outlook for my own future AND I am sharing this with you right here on this blog, on my website, on my invited podcast interviews and stages, and in my books and writings, with the intention of helping you catch a sliver of hope, helping you to grow your sliver of hope into a shot of hope, and helping you to maintain hope in your life. 

Here are some HOPE references and associations that I can relate to:

My favorite HOPE quotes:

H.O.P.E.:  Help Other People Evolve – A grief support group for those who lost a spouse, partner

    Hero of Planet Earth – David Hopkins

    Helping Our Planet Evolve – David Hopkins

    Helping Other People Everywhere – David Hopkins

    Hang on, pain ends – unknown credit

HOPE is the physician of each misery – Irish Proverb  (I am 25% Irish ancestry)

*The next one (below) has a meaningful association for me because I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, which is famous for the Pennsylvania Dutch culture.  Furthermore, I lived the first 21 years of my life on a street called Tulip Circle, where the climate was good for growing tulips.  They were aesthetically pleasing to me because of their consistent shape; beautiful, shiny, multi-colored flowers; and their thick, bright green stalks and vertical growth arrangement gave them a regal air of strength.  Therefore, I seemed to always love tulips:

The Pennsylvania Dutch Tulip symbol means:  Faith, Hope and Charity

**The next one (below) means a great deal to me because: I love SuperHeroes! And I believe it’s because they give us hope – that no matter how bad things can get, they can and will always be saved. 

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible” – Christopher Reeve (played Superman in the 1978-1987 movie series, and author of the book: Nothing is Impossible)

My first love was Batman from the TV show (Adam West and Burt Ward) and all the movie series.  Next, I added Spiderman during the Tobey Maguire movie series.  But ultimately, after the Dark Knight series and “Civil War”,  Batman went down a few steps, in my esteem because of his dark side, and Superman emerged as my favorite.  

I always watched Superman – from the George Reeves TV show, through all the movie series.  S0, I wasn’t surprised to have been reminded recently, that the Superman logo represents hope.  And also, I learned about a connection with Native Americans, which again came full circle for me because when I was a child and well into my teens, I always felt some connection with Native Americans:  I used to wear my long, dark brown hair braided down both sides (pig tails).  I actually made a long-sleeve, fringed leather tunic by cutting my outline and sewing two pieces of animal hides together with leather strips that I also cut from the leather pieces.  I fringed the bottom edge with hand-cut strips as well.  And I bought plain moccosins, which I still have and wear to this day, 40 yrs later. 

The Superman shield, also known as the Superman logo, is the iconic emblem for Superman. 

Initially, the S-shield had one meaning: S for Superman.  One of the first alternative meanings was presented in Superman: The Movie, in which it was a diamond-shaped Coat of arms of the House of El, the family of Superman, enclosing within and at the center, a Kryptonian symbol 

that resembles the Earth letter “S”.

This House of El family crest became the insignia of the El family bloodline – a noble, Kryptonian family associated with the Thinker Guild on Krypton.  For the most part, members of El were the planet’s greatest scientists, such as Jor-El, Superman’s Dad, who served to advance their civilization for years to come with his inventions.  The only known surviving member of this family is Kal-El, known to the people of Earth as Superman.  (The Thinker and Scientist connection also resonates with me).

It became a symbol for Clark Kent, representing hope and protection of his adoptive planet, Earth. It is also this very symbol that gives him his heroic dual identity in the name “Superman”, by Lois Lane.

“That’s what this symbol means. The symbol of the House of El means ‘hope’; embodied within that hope is the fundamental belief in the potential of every person to be a force for good.“

―Jor-El to Kal-El

 “It’s not an “S”. On my world, it means hope.”     -Superman to Lois Lane

After the Superman reboot story The Man of Steel, the symbol’s story was that it was designed by Jonathan Kent and was derived from an ancient Native American symbol. The symbol was featured on a medicine blanket given to an ancestor of the Kent family by a Native American tribe after he helped to cure them of a plague and was supposed to represent a snake, an animal held to possess healing powers by the tribe (implying that, by wearing this symbol, Superman was a metaphorical healer) – the Healer is another connection for me: I always wanted to be a doctor/healer and went down several different routes including Music Therapy and Nutrition, until I finally settled on Clinical Chemistry.

In Marv Wolfman‘s novelization of the film Superman Returns, the symbol belongs to the House of El, who brought peace to the planet after a civil uprising, a serpent coiled inside a shield, a warning not to return to the ways of violence and deception (e.g. TRANSFORMATION!). 

To certain Native American tribes, the snake represents healing and the curved symbol represents a river (water = healing).  This reference to a river was also made in 2017, when the storyline described the emblem shape was based on a river, in the film Justice League.

An inverted “S” symbol, first seen in the comic book series 52, means “resurrection” in Kryptonian – Superman was resurrected with the Mother Box in Justice League.  (The Justice League was formed by Batman after Superman’s death, to combat the villains who had become emboldened by Superman’s death.)

To Eastern Indian, Sanskrit – snakes associated with Water: purity, cleansing, emotion, love, motion, nurturing, benevolent, wise. 

To Hindu – all snakes protect water = treasure.

**Water continues to be an important healing resource in my life, as I describe in my book and the Free Healing Resources Booklet I encourage you to download from this website.

More Snake symbolism, general:  cycles, rebirth, patience, primordial life force, 

Fertility Eternity Balance Cunning

Intuition Awareness Healing Intellect

Protection Solemnity Duality Rejuvenation

Occult (hidden) Knowledge Transformation*

(*Meaning also shared with the *Celts, along with rebirth and renewal, i.e. water, shedding; and I am 90% Celtic, so yet another connection with my identity/soul-spirit!)

Finally, in Supergirl (TV series, 2015) Season 1, episode 2 Kara states that the Kryptonian symbol stands for her family’s motto, “Stronger together“, which is my who mission by sharing my story with you!

My person message and commitment to you:

Since writing and publishing my book – Life Launch! Book One, I have committed to helping others work through their life’s traumas, by sharing my experience, strength and hope of how I launched my life out of mine – by speaking on podcasts & stages; through my website, this blog/vlog, and on social media:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.

I also committed to donate 15% of the royalties from my Life Launch series of books, and 15% of the proceeds from the sales of related educational and healing resources available for you at my Arise! Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Institute.

Since my late husband’s suicide in 2005, up through today, I have had a charitable fund in his name to help others who need financial help caring for their mental health:  The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Fund.  This fund is serving the local community in Florida where we used to live through (mostly) my contributions, since 2005, and (more recently) yours, through a portion (15%) of the royalties from sales of my book.  And FINALLY, this month, I established  a 501c3 charitable organization that I hope will have a global reach:  “The Benjamin J. Dubrow Rainbow of Hope Foundation for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention”.

I welcome you to join me in supporting mental health care and making inroads towards lowering the rate of suicide completion, by supporting my work and this Foundation.

More will be revealed,

Dr. Liz