Mary Lou Corbett

My name is Mary Lou Corbett, I am a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend and business woman. In the summer of 2007, my life was about to change. I was informed that I had breast cancer, an epidemic that 1 out of every 8 women will be diagnosed with. In the following weeks I was to learn that I would have to undergo a series of medical procedures that included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and a course of additional treatments that would go on for a year and half. All of this was overwhelming news to a person who does not even take aspirin for a headache. With some persuasion from my family, I decided to receive the traditional protocol suggested by my medical doctors and not allow the ugly side effects to change my otherwise positive way of life.

One morning while walking my dog, I realized that doing this particular activity my mind became most clear. In the past I had used this time pondering on the mindless chores I had to do that day, the petty employee disputes at work, my fears of what the chemotherapy was doing to my body and worse yet what if it didn't annihilate the cancer! It became evident to me that this time and energy would be better spent freeing my thoughts of the useless negative energies and focusing my intentions on a healthy mind, body and spirit. I recalled the concept I had just been introduced to, The Healing Walks, and began implementing this simple tool to enhance my life. As I became more familiar with the action of purposely closing my negative thought patterns down and engaging in more positive ones, my mental outlook and thus my health and lifestyle became dramatically different. I realized that between walking and the support of my family and friends there would be nothing else I would need to get through this chapter in my life. It is my desire to see this positive tool accessible to everyone.

Dr. Karen McGlynn

20 plus years ago, I fell off of a ladder from a height of about 12 feet which resulted in a compressed and fractured vertebra as well as a fractured and dislocated wrist. For months I was reduced to lying motionless in our family room, observing my young children struggle with home and school activities without my help. My business collapsed and my husband became a workaholic as we struggled to make ends meet. It eventually became obvious to me that all of this had occurred as a bizarre opportunity to alter the direction of our lives. Eventually, when I was able to get back on my own two feet, I began walking and jogging as a form of exercise for my physical as well as for my emotional and mental recovery.

What transformations that had begun 20 years ago while I was flat on my back, set the stage for future positive changes in all of our lives. Everyday, as I go out for my Healing Walk, I am mentally reviewing that day's routine, either work, personal, or social. I close my mind to the negative aspects and only allow in positive, healthy possibilities. There is a chemical phenomena that scientists refer to as reframing that takes place in the human body while we engage in any bilateral motion. I know it as the grounding or releasing of my negative energy through the clear, fresh air and the relaxing approach of deliberately allowing the mental unwinding to occur. It allows me to solve dilemmas on the smallest scale to the grandest. I have been able to consider additional perspectives with regards to my health, emotional issues, business opportunities, family events, and finances all by reframing my negative thoughts into more positive ones while I walk. What I visualize and focus my clear attention on is then capable of being created in my life.

More about Dr. McGlynn at www.klmcglynndc.com.

Flavia Brand

Local teacher and counselor Flavia Brand, became involved with the Healing Walks Foundation last year and since then the foundation has already been able to financially contribute to 4 local families. Mrs. Brand says that she became very interested in The Healing Walks Foundation from the minute I heard about the organization. I loved the fact that the foundation focused on the person and not the disease. The light in which each helpful action is done makes a direct difference in these peoples lives. I feel that each time someone is helped it's a human interest story. I also, was very drawn to the fact that The Healing Walks Foundation is about helping people locally and serving our own community. I feel at times we are so focused on what's happening everywhere else, we lose sight that people need help, in our own backyard. Since becoming involved, I have found personal reward in the smiles of others helped. The stories from the community of how many people need help and the knowledge that The Healing Walks Foundation can make a difference makes it all worth while.