The GOD BOX and Let’s Chat With Mary Lou Quinlan

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The GOD BOX
and 
Let’s Chat With Mary Lou Quinlan
Recently, I had the chance to be a part of The Role Mommy Book Club. Honestly I never would have picked up The GOD BOX by Mary Lou Quinlan but, I have to say I was taken by the story from page one. It made me think back to the touching relationship I had with my own mother who passed away suddenly five years ago and my own deep love toward my five year old daughter. Mary Lou lost her loving mother in May of 2006 and her life has never been the same since. 
Right before her mother was put to rest, Mary Lou sat with her family and the question came up about Mary Lou’s mother’s GOD BOX. Mary Lou was surprised to find out that her mother had kept not one, but ten God Boxes in her house. The GOD BOXes were filled with writings of her moms prayers, wants, hopes, worries and dreams for her family all in hopes that God would answer her prayers.

If you are a daughter, mother, or sister, you will love the depth and love brought out through the words of Mary Lou Quinlan in her book,(release date April 17, 2012) The GOD BOX. Just one note: Be sure to have tissues close at hand while reading this touching story of love.

I also had a chance to chat with Mary Lou Quinlan as part of the Role Mommy Book Club. I hope you enjoy this book as much I did. For more information please check out The God Box Project on Facebook: .FB GodBoxProject Pinterest: PinterestMaryLouQuinlin and on twitter @GodBoxProject
Let’s Chat With Mary Lou Quinlan

THE GOD BOX:  ROLE MOMMY BOOK CLUB Q&A WITH MARY LOU QUINLAN

Mary Lou Quinlan:  This is the favorite project I’ve ever worked on and I feel terrible saying this,  but if I died tomorrow I would say I was so happy I did this.  It’s just a joy telling my mom’s story and best of all, people read it and say, “Oh, Mary is just like my mom.  And I think ‘Oh my gosh, you’re talking about MY mom.’  I just love that and that’s my story – I’m here, just all daughter, all daughter all the time.

Question:  When I first heard of the book, originally, I didn’t want to read it because I am not a religious person at all and when I saw The God Box, it was not something I would normally pick up but then when I read about your story, I thought this was my life.  Other than the God Box part, the whole part about losing your father and your mother, I even have one brother – and the ages are so similar – I found when I was reading it I was able to keep the religion part out of it because the story could have been her hopes and dreams for you really.  To me I could look it as putting in those things as putting in those things for you.  I want to start doing it myself – not necessarily a God Box but I love the idea of writing something down for my family – I still believe in the power of people – the more people you have on your side – so to me – the book still makes so much sense.  

Mary Lou Quinlan:  You picked up on two messages, particularly this idea of a legacy  to children.  My mom died of a stroke that just wiped her out and we didn’t have time to talk.  And yet what she left behind – all those notes of love, it was just like getting her.  You could tell she was tuned into every little hiccup of our lives.  When you see it written down, it’s just such an affirmation of that love. So if you take away that for your children, it is so cool.  And the other idea is asking for help.  Some are very good at it, some are better than others. I have never been that good at it.  And I think that the nature of admitting that we need help is very powerful too.

Question:  The most powerful lessons I found in the book was the power of your mom letting things go.  Your mom was able to write it down put it in the box and let it go.  How  did she do that?
Mary Lou Quinlan:  We do hold on and think that we can do everything.  We just mull and mull and chew and chew and stay up all night, your head is rolling with a million things.  And I’m not saying my mom was perfect and she never worried, but certainly some things she asked for again and again. In the case of her illness, it wasn’t like she had this cancer and it was over and out.  As she experienced new levels of it she would ask again.  It wasn’t about giving up.  It wasn’t really a persistence but she did learn to let go. That’s why when we would keep nagging about whatever we were complaining about, she would say you really have to stop thinking you can fix this.  She had this belief that it will be handled as it should be.  She was amazing.  She was a working mom in every way and a great wife to my dad, mother to us and just did her thing, day by day.  

Question  Did you find it cathartic writing the book or did you find it difficult going back to those parts of your life?
Mary Lou Quinlan:  It continues to be cathartic because I guess the play makes it never over.  I found that when I’ve written business books before, it’s so easy to be arm’s length from a subject and be all smarty pants but when you’re writing about your mother… it had to be the best I could ever do.  That’s why I kept thinking the book had to be good for her.That makes you think deeply about what was the truth and what did I feel.  And it’s very cathartic, particularly about my dad because he died more recently.  If you have experienced this and I’m not saying things get better with time but it does help, with my Dad’s memory being so fresh when I write about him, I can say that was the harder part.    I could still see him.  And I also took care of him for six weeks in hospice which was different than my mom’s situation so the death part of it was so palpable to me and writing about it was probably the hardest part.  But I knew he wanted me to do it.  When I first told him I was going to be doing it, I didn’t know at the time that he was going to die.  

Question:  Did you share the same compassion for faith:
Mary Lou Quinlan:  First of all, I was aware of my mother’s faith from the get go and I knew how deeply she believed.  It wasn’t like I went from zero to 100 when I saw the God Box.  It was the casual, open way she talked with God – that was an eye opener.  The compassionate part – my mother was overwhelming to me in her heartfelt beliefs.  I was relying on her to do the heavy lifting instead of me working through my own faith and beliefs.  I find I am offering prayers more often.  I have a long way to go to catch up to her.

Question:  What was the inspiration behind the book?
Mary Lou Quinlan:  If it hadn’t been for The God Box, I don’t think there would have been a book.  I would start to tell the story in an anecdotal way, the more I realized there was something there even if it’s in a storytelling form.  When I first wrote about it in Real Simple, I was amazed at how many people connected with the story and I knew from that experience that I wanted to turn it into a book.

Question:  How are you utilizing social media to spread the word about The God Box?
Mary Lou Quinlan:  Before this book, I had never tweeted a thing.  I nagged about it and said I’m better in person. At first, I whined about having to use Twitter.  Now I’ve got my hootsuite and I’m sitting in front of the TV – it’s not that I didn’t know social media.  It’s just such a surprise that I like it and I now know how meaningful it can be.  

I guess if you think about it, my mom was tweeting God – she really wrote these short messages straight from the heart.   She would scribble around the corners, around the back – she would have multiple messages on piece of paper.  When she wrote about my brother she used the same piece of paper and the same color ink and if something else went wrong, she’d scribble another note with same pen on that sheet of paper.  

It was amazing – she was a secretary back in the 50’s like the Mad Men.  She took shorthand so I would sometimes need to find someone to decipher them.  

Question:  Where is the play running?
Mary Lou Quinlan:  It doesn’t run in the traditional sense.  I’ll be doing it on the road in five different venues.  I’ve set up different events – the proceeds of the book are going largely to cancer causes.  It’s really interweaving what works for the various audiences  I’m performing it at a synagogue, at a hospice.  For the next three weeks I’m at a different place every day.

I’m doing a half hour version as part of the book tour vs. the theater crowd.  What I’ve identified are the most important themes.   The thing that I have heard when I talk about my mom, people say “but I hate my mom, I can’t believe you never had a fight,” I’m not going to make up a conflict.  The conflict is more in me grappling with my ongoing relationship with letting go and having the courage to admit that something is wrong.  

Disclosure: The God Box was provided by Beth Feldman/Role Mommy Book Club/Mary Lou Quinlan.
Interview provided by Beth Feldman/All opinions are that of DianeSullivan.


Liberty Creek Wines Supports US Troops with “Tunes For Troops”

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Liberty Creek Wines
Supports US Troops
Via Care Packages
From
Operation Gratitude
“Tunes For Troops”
Stocking up on wine for Memorial Day weekend?  Starting May 1 through July, purchases of Liberty Creek Wines will support US Troops via care packages from Operation Gratitude. Called “Tunes for Troops,” this new program will bring music downloads to service men and women overseas, providing the comfort and entertainment of music on the front lines. 

Liberty Creek Vineyards is donating $15,000 to support this Spring/Summer Care Package Drive. Additionally, specially tagged bottles of Liberty Creek Wines contain codes that consumers can enter online at    LibertyCreekWine.com to help contribute an additional $10,000. 

This is a great chance to support the troops as you celebrate with your friends and family.

Disclosure: DianeSullivan/3decades3kids was not compensated for this post.

Tough Mudder- Let’s Chat With Shan Egan

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Tough Mudder
Pennsylvania
April 28/29
May 12/13
Pocono Manor
Let’s Chat With Shan Egan
Mud Junkies 2011

I had the pleasure of interviewing Shan Egan about last year’s Tough Mudder event that he took part in. I could not wait to find out what it was really like out there! So let’s get right to it-below is my interview with Shan. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Good Luck to you and the team on Saturday, Shan! 

Diane: Tough Mudder is new to me. I have never heard about it until a few months ago. Can you tell me a little bit about it?
Shan: Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $2 million dollars raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world.

Diane: I love how Tough Mudder supports The Wounded Veterans. Is that part of the reason you enter the event? Do you have a personal reason for entering?
Shan: Supporting the Wounded Warriors is most definitely a motivator for us, we want to show our support somehow and Tough Mudder is a great vehicle for accomplishing that. We all have personal reasons as well; it’s about turning back the clock, camaraderie, fighting through the “pains of age”, setting examples to our children and ultimately staying relevant in a society that has more excuses than ever. We want to be that tangible inspiration to our children, family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and to the masses. We want to be the motivating factor that actually makes the change, not just sit around and talk about it.

Diane: As I understand, you were part of Tough Mudder last year. How extreme was it?
What was the toughest part?
Shan: Extreme. Tough Mudder mixes up so many elements, exhausting you from head to toe. For some, the toughest part was physical, for others, the mental aspect.  You have to overcome fears and uncertainties about yourself that you may have never realized had you not been challenged.  Whether you have a fear of water, cold, heights, confined places or need a boost over a wall, you get over them with the help of your team. Camaraderie is the key, we start together and we finish together. 

Diane: Are you competing with your own team? Who are they made up of?
Is it the same team as last year?
Shan: Our Team name is the “Mud Run Junkies” (the MRJ’s) and are currently comprised of 19 members who are registered for Tough Mudder.  The MRJ’s are a diverse group of men & women mostly in their late 30’s and early 40’s from Montgomery, Chester & Delaware counties, and all but 1 have children.  Some members are the same as last year and some are new members.  Shan Egan, Michele Dougherty, Kate Stopa Solomon, Paul Solomon, Dennis Gunzelmann, Ashley Bevington, Dan Feola, Missy Salamone, Matt Snyder,  Dawn Haftl, Jason Haftl, Ian Stoddart, Liz Higgins, Nick Higgins, Stephanie Carter, Sean McCarraher, Matt Sitting, Christine Noble,  Matt Dutton

Diane: HOW does someone prepare physically and mentally for Tough Mudder?
Shan:We meet weekly to do our “terraining”.  We start our runs on groomed trails and transition onto “Mudder-esque” type terrain with mud, rocks, & roots, regardless of weather.  In addition, we all train regularly; including high intense cardio/plyometrics classes run by Shan Egan, as well as normal strength training.  Mentally, we psych each other up with positive talk and discuss how much fun we are going to have!

Diane: I am in awe of anyone that even enters Tough Mudder! Congrats on being a part of it last year. What is it like when you finish the course?
Shan: THANK YOU!  It’s the most euphoric sense of accomplishment we’ve ever experienced!

I’d love to thank Shan for taking time out of his busy life and preparation for Tough Mudder to conduct this interview. I wish him and the team the VERY best! What an inspiration to us all! 
This weekend I have the pleasure of attending one of the toughest events in the country, maybe in the world called Tough Mudder.  Tough Mudder is an event that takes places on a about a 12 mile course filled with extremely tough obstacles. The course consists trudging through mud, fire, ice water and 10,000 volts of electricity. There are also 12 foot walls and underground tunnels. Tough Mudders never go it alone, they work as a team. To date Tough Mudder has raised more than 2 million dollars to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project.  I will be at the Tough Mudder Pennsylvania this weekend. You can check it how to sign up in PA or anywhere Tough Mudder takes place in the world by clicking here. 
Disclosure: Special thanks to Tough Mudder and Shan Egan. All opinions are that of 3decades3kids/DianeSullivan. Email: ELGeorgia@aol.com Twitter: @3decades3kids 


Tough Mudder Pennsylvania April 28/29 May 12/13

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Tough Mudder
Pennsylvania April 28, 29
May 12,13, 2012
How Tough Are You?
3decades3kids Takes An Inside Look Into
Team: Mud Run Junkies

This weekend I have the pleasure of attending one of the toughest events in the country, maybe in the world called Tough Mudder.  Tough Mudder is an event that takes places on a about a 12 mile course filled with extremely tough obstacles. The course consists trudging through mud, fire, ice water and 10,000 volts of electricity. There are also 12 foot walls and underground tunnels. Tough Mudders never go it alone, they work as a team. To date Tough Mudder has raised more than 2 million dollars to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project.  I will be at the Tough Mudder Pennsylvania this weekend. You can check it how to sign up in PA or anywhere Tough Mudder takes place in the world by clicking here.


I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of meeting Michele Dougherty and Shan Egan online. They are part of the team, Mud Run Junkies and will take part in this year’s event on April 28th in PA. This is what they had to say about their team and Tough Mudder. Some of the members of the team also competed in last year’s Tough Mudder and are coming back for more. Now that is TOUGH!! Congrats Team! You are inspiring and I, along with others, wish you the very best this weekend! Go get em and be Tough!

For the Love of Mud
A Few Words from the Team
Mud Run Junkies
 Pictured above: left to right: Matt Snyder, Jason Haftl, Shan Egan, Paul Solomon, Dan Feola, Ian Stoddart, Steph Carter, Christine Noble, Kate Solomon, Missy Salamone, Michele Dougherty

Sounds crazy, but that’s what it is; and that’s what it is for us, The Mud Run Junkies (a/k/a MRJ’s).  The MRJ’s are a diverse group of men & women mostly in their late 30’s and early 40’s from Montgomery, Chester & Delaware counties who have realized the benefits of health and exercise and have chosen to challenge our minds and bodies in not just any mud run, but THE TOUGH MUDDER. 

It’s about turning back the clock, camaraderie, fighting through the “pains of age”, setting examples to our children and ultimately staying relevant in a society that has more excuses than ever.

We think we are speaking not just for the MRJ’s but for everyone who is wired that way to put their body through this.  Maybe it’s a realization, as you look around; I don’t want to become that person who is no longer relevant; relevant to anything that you want to be or do in your life.

We want to be that tangible inspiration to our children, family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and to the masses. We want to be the motivating factor that actually makes the change, not just sit around and talk about it.

The MRJ team was started by Kate Stopa, a flight attendant for USAIR, and Michele Dougherty, a Title Insurance Agent.  They were given their name by Shan Egan, a personal trainer & lead singer in a funk band.  It is the ability to connect with those around them that generated such a huge interest in being a part of this fun, highly motivated, energetic, goal oriented team. We realize that we need goals, something to train for, so much so that we are already registered for the October Tri-State Tough Mudder, it’s the “what the “blank” are we gonna do now” attitude. 

Camaraderie is the key, we start together and we finish together.  This group meets regularly to do our “terraining”.  We start our runs on groomed trails and transition onto “Mudder-esque” type terrain with mud, rocks, & roots, regardless of weather.  In addition, we all train regularly; including high intense cardio/plyometrics classes run by Shan Egan, as well as regular strength training. 

Of the 17 current members, only 1 does not have any children, our youngest member.  There are 8 women and 9 men.  We would like our children to embrace the lifestyle that we have chosen and the most effective way to do that is to lead by example.  This is truly a “do as I say, and do what I do” attitude.  We would all agree that we would like to have our children someday run Tough Mudder with us so they can strive for that sense of accomplishment, stay strong, and continue to be relevant so they can raise their hands, and say, “I’m a shirt wearin, flag bearin Mud Run Junkie.


Pre-Mudder dinner pic: Michele Dougherty, Ashley Bevington, Dan Feola, Nick Higgins, Jason Haftl, Ian Stoddart, Shan Egan, Liz Higgins, Matt Snyder, Kate Solomon

Disclosure: Special thanks to Tough Mudder, Shan Egan, Michele Dougherty and team Mud Run Junkies. All opinions are that of 3decades3kids/DianeSullivan.
Email ELGeorgia@aol.com 
Twitter: @3decades3kids


Giveaway: Human Nature at Beacon Theatre- Win A VIP 4 Pack of Tix

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HUMAN NATURE ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL U.S. TOUR
Multi-platinum Australian Pop Group Releases New Album
Ticket Giveaway 
May 6, 2012
Beacon Theater NYC


HUMAN NATURE, Australia’s #1 pop vocal group with millions of albums sold worldwide, is storming America with their first-ever U.S. National tour, a new album release, The Motown Record, a spectacular PBS TV Special and a new DVD.
The chart-topping quartet is embarking on a U.S. tour this spring backed by their seven-piece band, The Funk Foundation. “Human Nature: The Motown Showpresented by Smokey Robinson” kicks off March 24 in Detroit and will travel to 33 U.S. cities. This outstanding evening of hit-driven entertainment features Motown’s greatest music, inspiring audiences young and old to be “dancing in the street” and the aisle. Tickets for all tour appearances are on sale now. For complete tour schedule and ticket information, visit www.humannaturelive.com.

                                                       GIVEAWAY:
One lucky 3decades3kids reader will have a chance to win a 4 Pack of tickets to Human Nature The Motown Show at the Beacon Theatre  NYC on May 6th, 2012. 
To Enter please click on the link below and enter.
 Contest ends on April 29, 2012 at 11:59pm  and the winner will contacted by the sponsor.

Disclosure: Giveaway tickets are provided by Human Nature. All opinions are that of 3decades3kids.
DianeSullivan/ Email: ELGeorgia@aol.com