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{SFTH} *You Are Not Alone* 8/28/01
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Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A
Celebration of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages
of true short stories filled with love and laughter await
you! Visit our web site to order the EBook, or to order
by credit card! You can also read some sample stories
from the book here!
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/michael_t__powers/
To order your autographed copy at no extra charge, send
a check or money order for $18 ($14.95 for the book and
$3.05 for shipping and handling) made out to
Michael T. Powers, and then send to:
Michael T. Powers
1918 Liberty Lane
Janesville, WI 53545
For two books add $4 for shipping and handling and for three
books add $5 for shipping and handling. If you want four or
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shipping and handling.
Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for
and then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send
it on its way to you.
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Have you ever felt like you were all alone and that nobody
knew the pain and emotional stress you were going through?
Well, so did Cheryn at one point in her life. But she found
out she wasn't as alone as she thought!
Be sure to write to her let her know what you thought of her
story and give her a warm SFTH welcome for me and then
check out her web site and book!
Special birthday wishes go out to Mary "Jazz" Jaskolski! We just
wanted you to know how much we respect, love, and admire you.
May your 29th birthday be a special one Jazz!
Michael, Kristi, Caleb, and Connor
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You Are Not Alone
By Cheryn Salazar
Since I was 12 years old, I've suffered with a condition called
Trichotillomania, which is layman's terms for, Compulsive Hair
Pulling. The physical devastation was severe, but the
emotional damage was worse. When I was young, no one,
including my doctor, knew how to help. I was alone.
Growing up, I didn't fit in anywhere and suffered great shame
knowing I'd brought this affliction upon myself. My hands
seemed to have a mind of their own. "What's wrong with
me," I'd often wonder. Sometimes, people inquired about my
lack of eyelashes and eyebrows. It was tough being a teen
without the added torment of my condition. Although I was
lonely, I kept people at a distance. But each night, before
I fell asleep, I'd pray for wisdom, and for God to send
someone who understood.
In 1985, when I was 25, I read a letter, in Ann Landers, from
a mom whose child suffered from compulsive hair pulling. I
could hardly believe my eyes. After all these years, I
discovered, I was not alone. In fact, my condition even had
a medical name. Ann Landers pointed out, over a million
people suffered from this syndrome.
At that moment, my journey for healing began. I took small
steps at first--telling only a few friends. Some said, "Ew",
but others tried to understand. Then, they began to share
their secrets with me. I learned to see myself the way
God saw me, someone deserving of love.
Then one day, my miracle happened. A friend called with
wonderful news. She'd just met a woman with Trich--someone
just like me. She gave me her phone number. I was ecstatic.
I quickly dialed, and from the minute Christina answered, we
began to chat like old friends, both thrilled to find
someone who understood our pain. We planned to meet
soon, but in the mean time, she wanted to mail me some
literature. When I gave her my address, she let out a piercing
scream. Even though I resided in the lightly populated, rural
area, of Soquel, California, it turned out, we lived only two
houses away.
We immediately dropped our phones, and in the dark of the
night, ran outside in our pajamas, where we hugged, cried
and talked for hours. She shared her dream about opening a
Trich. learning center, and I shared mine--to write a book
about my lonely experience. I felt I'd just met my long lost
twin, someone who understood my pain and struggles.
Theren was no doubt about it, I was looking into the eyes
of a miracle.
When we walked back to my house, and into the light,
Christina slowly lifted her long hair revealing patchy, bald
spots. Then with a deep breath, I took off my makeup and
let her see me as no one else ever had, not even my
husband of 10 years. In that moment, I knew, my childhood
prayer had been answered.
Yes, it was true. I was not alone.
Cheryn Salazar
cheryn@cheryn.com
Write Cheryn and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Cheryn Salazar is the author of, You Are Not Alone, and a
founding member of the Trichotillomania Learning Center:
www.trich.org
Her own website, with information on the book or other
supportive product line, is available at:
www.cheryn.com
You can also order her book by clicking on this link:
Amazon.com: buying info: You Are Not Alone : Compulsive Hair Pulling, the Enemy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0965067009/qid=996354627/sr=2-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/104-4178872-0745539
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From the Email Box!
Dear Lynne Graham,
I cried when I read the story about Chris. ("No, No, Don't!")
It made me cry for all the children in our schools who don't
have a Lynne Graham. I have a grandson with A.D.H.D. He
is a Freshman in high school this year. Dusty is a bright
child. I have a friend in Michigan who is a Learning Disabled
Teacher. Her Philosophy is that she doesn't teach learning
disabled children, she teaches "Learning Differently Children."
In my Dusty's case and he is no exception. All his teachers
have labeled him lazy, doesn't pay attention, forgetful, he
chooses to have selective memory, etc., etc. Like most
other children in his position he feels like an outsider,
and has low self esteem. My wish that before children
like these get out of school, they will have a "Lynne Graham"
in their lives. Thank you for letting me know there are
teachers who are responsible enough to learn about
children who are not what society labels as normal. I am
sure you changed Chris's life in a positive way. I hope those
who witnessed Chris talking for the first time changed
their attitudes toward children who are a bit different.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Grace Sherman
graphs@hoosierlink.net
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Thought For The Day:
"Patience serves as protection against wrongs as cloths do
against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold
increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like
manner you must grow in patience when you meet with
great wrongs, and they will be powerless to vex you."
--Leonardo da Vinci
Verse for the Day:
"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing." --James 1:4
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"No matter what people tell you, February is the longest month."
Parent's Thought For The Day
An effective guilt tactic is suddenly to yell out, 'I see you!'
when your children are in a different room. --Bill Dodds
Coach's Thought For The Day
"We never understand a thing so well, and make it for our
own, as when we have discovered it for ourselves."
Deep Thought For The Day:
"The survival of several wild bird species is depending on
burned toast."
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REQUESTS:
Would you please have everyone pray for Bob Colbenson, from Pennsylvania. He
is a friend of mine, he's in his 70's and has recently been diagnosed with
acute myelogenous leukemia. It only has a survival rate of 14%. The
treatment is so expensive that the doctors are trying to get him a medical
grant. Please pray for him and his wife Dorie! Thanks!
Trudy
rantru@hotmail.com
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
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This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please
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stories with us!
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Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch
the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least!
Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my
dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift
we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful
job! They were so surprised and so touched--they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to
make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how
the songs were perfect for the video too!
Thanks again!"
Kelli-- College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out this site for Michael's video production business!
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
AOL Users click here: Video Imagery
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Would you like to see your story in Straight From the Heart?
Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/guidelines/
AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines
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Purchase your copy of Michael T. Powers' new book! For
a sneak preview, visit:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/order_our_book_
AOL Users Click below:
Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life
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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm
AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws
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A number of people have written to us asking what an EBook
is, since our book is being offered in both print and EBook
versions. An EBook is a book that can be downloaded
and read right on your computer. The advantage of ordering
the EBook is that is costs less, $8.95 (No other charges),
as compared to $14.95 + shipping and handling for the print
book. Plus you can download the EBook and begin reading
the stories in a few minutes! EBooks are read via Acrobat
Reader, which is software that most of you already have on
your computer. And if for some reason you don't, it can be
downloaded free of charge at the web site. So for those of
you who don't want to wait for the print book to be delivered,
check out this web site to order the EBook version of
Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life."
http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html
