“I’m having so much fun I wish I could stay 5 years old forever!” – Thomas Darnell
We only get each day ONE time – no do overs allowed! Might as well enjoy the heck out of em! Hope each of y’all takes an opportunity today to have the imagination of a 5 year old!!
Ever have a hunch, a gut feeling, something telling you to do something right this very minute? Around July 1, 2011, I had an urge and a little voice telling me I needed to purge boxes in my garage. I wrote about it here. Some of these boxes had been packed since my separation in 2006.
I was feeling {an extremely strong feeling and longing] the need to simplify . . . get rid of stuff. I fought it though and kept making excuses as to why I could not do it right this minute. Too busy with other stuff, ya know. The feeling got stronger and stronger and the voice got louder and louder until I finally listened.
In the first few boxes I unpacked, I came across a book that I had completely forgotten about and had never read. That book is titled “E is for Entrepreneur” and it’s author is Barbara Hranivolich. I opened the book and inscribed on the first page was a message to me from Barb. It reads, “This never would have happened without you.”
I had completely forgotten that in 2007 I connected with Barb online and asked her if she would like to be a contributor on a blog I had at the time for women entrepreneurs. She began an alphabet series to tie in with being an entrepreneur. I read the book that night and discovered that Barb mentioned me in the C is for Collaboration chapter of the book also. She wrote, “There’s the woman I’ve never met in person, but who asked me to write these essays for her blog. What a gift!” Lastly, Barb included my name on her Gratitude List in the book. WOW!! What a powerful gift for me to receive!
For the past year and a half I have had the intention of writing a book and it had not materialized. I sat down and read Barb’s book and a few seconds after finishing the book, I had another urge, a spark of inspiration . . . yes, that gut feeling. THIS is how my first book was to be structured. I began to write this book the next morning. I started to get up earlier than I had been and wrote a section every morning. I delivered the first draft to my editor and a few “reviewer” friends on Friday, September 9, 2011.
“D iz for Different” is the title with a subtitle of “One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance”. It’s a memoir of how I came to accept myself and processed and accepted my function as parent to a child with special needs. Intertwined with how I have to come to think the way in which I do and live my life the way in which I do.
The book will be available in November 2011 at the latest; although I’m shooting for October 2011. I’ve received an endorsement for my book from Jim Stovall, author of “The Ultimate Gift” which was also a movie. I am grateful beyond words to Mr. Stovall and my heart and soul are warm and joyful for his kind words.
“As a blind person myself, I understand the challenge and blessing of doing things differently. In this book, Camilla shares her journey with Lillian which will help us all do more, give more, and be more.” Jim Stovall, Emmy-award Winner, Best-selling author, The Ultimate Gift
Not only that, I continued to purge in my garage, in my house and in my body. I have lost 23 pounds while writing this book and purging and simplifying. Disgust . . . that’s what did it. I was just plain disgusted with myself for having gained that weight over the last two years. I’d had enough, gosh darn it. So I just quit eating so darn much! I didn’t realize how much food I was eating.
I still eat all my favorite {junk} foods. I did not deprive myself of anything I enjoy drinking or eating. I simply ate and do eat less of it. Instead of eating half a bag of chips, I eat one serving. I still indulge in Dorinda’s chocolate when I have access to it and still have one or two Dove dark chocolates every day. I still drink dark lager beers like Guinness and Buckbean’s Black Noddy, still drink wine and still have a Bloody Mary and Dirty Martini when the occasion calls for it! I still eat ice cream, hot dogs, pizza and pasta . . . I just eat less of it.
*May 2018 Update* – I still love dark chocolate!! However, when I overhauled the way my family and I eat in 2012, I discontinued purchasing anything with artificial flavorings, colorings, dyes, and high fructose corn syrup. So, we eat Trader Joe’s brand dark chocolate these days. I no longer drink alcoholic beverages. I think it’s been nearly 2 years in that regard. And, I’m nearly at two years of being vegetarian also.
I also made one more major shift and change during this Purge Palooza. I think I’m gonna save that for another blog post. My gut’s saying to wait just a little longer on sharing that one!!
It is an indescribable feeling and my hope and the reason I share this with you is for each and every one of you to experience listening to your gut and hunches. You just never know what will come of it . . . Although, I bet you’ll find it’s exactly what you wanted . . . .
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
Amazing news! My 16 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” is published. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 12 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
And my book published in 2012, D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance; which reached #2 in the Self-Help Category and #1 in Special Needs Parenting on Amazon.
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“It’s a perfect day to pick flowers.” -Thomas Darnell
– May each of you enjoy the heck out of this perfect day!! –
I now review movies on our Team TLC website – go here if you want to see more.
★★★★★
June 4, 2011, was movie night for Team TLC. We have a Saturday tradition of watching a movie together in my bedroom making full use of this fancy projector I use for teaching my Social Media workshops.
We get our movies from our local library, South Valleys Library, so most of them are a few years old to really really old! Which actually adds to the adventure of it all in my eyes. I love popping that DVD in, not knowing what it holds and at the same time knowing it will be 5 year old and 9 year old friendly. Ya see, I just don’t much care for MANY of the new and newer movies – with a few exceptions.
The Treasure Seekers
I saw some of my little family in the Bastable family. A single (widowed) entrepreneur/inventor dad with piles of unpaid bills. In addition to an olden day loan shark who holds the mortgage on the Bastable home threatening to take the home in seven days. I found this movie to be very inspiring. In addition to holding a message to continue on the journey one has chosen no matter what others think or how uncomfortable it may get along the way. To have faith and NOT give up, especially when it seems that there are no options, choices or hope left.
The Bastable family worked with one another as a team – sometimes on the sly. The kids were attempting to help Dad every second of the way. Even though throughout the movie their attempts backfired.
The Treasure Seekers is a family movie night must in my opinion. It gets 5 stars from me – family friendly, motivating, inspiring and FUN!
Latest “Book and Movie Musings”:
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This article is now part of my inventory in Inspired Living.
I enjoy taking the time to share information with y’all that I think is helpful and give you ideas to live an Inspired Life. So, if you feel this helped you in any way, toss a tip into the tip bowl on the way out of Inspired Living.
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Team TLC
It’s time I share with y’all about some changes to this here blog. I have been posting articles, tips and how to information relating to Facebook and other Social Media outlets and mixing in personal posts here and there. Social Media will no longer be the focus. There are so many people, experts and gurus writing about this and staying on top of it, I really don’t feel I have anything more to add to that conversation.
Now, don’t get the wrong idea, I WILL still be teaching, speaking about and training business owners how to effectively and efficiently use Social Media Marketing for their business with a heavy emphasis on Facebook. By nature, I am a “digger”. I thrive on sleuthing and figuring out all this Social Media jazz. I will continue to do that, so my clients don’t have to!
Those of you who were here for Social Media tips may want to unsubscribe or remove it from your feed now. When I feel I’ve got something to add to the conversation, I may throw in a post here and there about Social Media; but primarily this blog is about to open up and share my world with you in the hopes that it inspires those that may need it, motivate those who may want it, help some of us to think different and hopefully give you a good ole hearty laugh sometimes.
In addition, my goal is to take my Communication at Your Fingertips presentation and the Educate n Motivate Bootcamp to schools and conferences across the United States. In addition, I will spend as much time as possible on the Turning Views Foundation, of which I am the Founder and President.
I will incorporate posts telling my story so as to qualify why one may be inspired or motivated by my and our lives. This also means you will hear more about my daughter, Lillian Darnell, and my son, Thomas Darnell, and the roller coaster ride of being a Mom to a differently abled child (Lillian). The thing is the three of us are a team – we call ourselves Team TLC. We are by no means the perfect little family – how boring would that be anyway! And, yep, there are times when it’s downright not fun in this household! We are on a journey and are darn well gonna give it our best shot at enjoying every single day and live our lives as an adventure.
I have just recently realized that my little family – Team TLC – is the core and foundation of all that I do. I must care for and nurture myself and my family in order for the structures that I, and we, build to be sound and sturdy. My family, Team TLC, IS my business. I hope that y’all stay along for the journey, have FUN with us and share with us too! We gonna have a ball y’all!!
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I’m Mom to Lillian and Thomas Darnell and I speak, train and consult with small businesses and nonprofits regarding Social Media Marketing. I’m also the founder of the Turning Views Foundation, Different iz Good . . . Spread the Word movement™ and the Gift a Voice Project.
My five year old son, Thomas, cracks me up with his fantastic imagination and adds to my joy and happiness in an indescribable way! My nine year old daughter, Lillian, is a self proclaimed fairy angel and I happen to agree with her 100%. Lillian is the spark that ignited the creation of the Turning Views Foundation, the Different iz Good movement and the Gift a Voice Project.
In mid December 2004 I received a phone call that changed the direction of my life and landed me in a Different place than I had planned and a Different place than I had ever dreamed. Lillian’s pediatrician phoned one evening during dinner to let us know that she had gotten the results of Lillian’s Karotype testing. This is a test where blood is drawn and examined on a cellular level to check for chromosome abnormalities. Lillian was born on September 14, 2001 about a month before her natural due date. She was a bit different from the first day of her life and a bit behind with many milestones. Being a new Mom I just kept associating her delays to being born a month early and being a preemie baby.
Lillian’s pediatrician delivered the news that she had a chromosome abnormality. Specifically, a deletion of the short arm of Chromosome 18, referred to as 18p-. I cannot remember a great deal of the rest of the conversation as my mind sort of stopped and I started thinking, “Wait a minute. What are you talking about? No, this can’t be right. No, No, No.” I remember mention of it being very rare and that visits to specialists must begin immediately – heart doctor, eye doctor, geneticist, etc.
I immediately got online and began researching Chromosome 18, 18p- and chromosome abnormalities. I learned a GREAT deal online and even knew more than the geneticist when we met with him. That is also how I discovered The Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society. The people of this fabulous organization, the Founder, Board Members and Family Members have become my second family and I am grateful and blessed to have each and every one of them in my life. The Registry exists because a Mom was told 20 years ago that her daughter had 18q- (deletion of the long arm). We as a society are all blessed that Jannine Cody chose the path she did as the genetic research they perform benefits ALL with genetic disorders.
So began my journey to a different place. You can read more about the beginnings of this journey here. The time and space between then and now I’ll cover in blog posts here, over at the Different iz Good website and my upcoming book.
Fast forward to about one year ago when I discovered Proloquo2Go on Twitter as I had created columns in Hootsuite tracking keywords for speech impaired. I immediately bought Lillian an iPhone and installed Proloquo2Go. That became the driving force behind learning more about this technology and then also combining that technology with the web and social networking. These forces combined have opened a world of communication for the nonverbal and speech impaired that have NEVER been there before. We are experiencing a communication evolution. The way in which we communicate and conduct business has shifted forever and is evolving.
In my online research I kept encountering people asking where they could get assistance purchasing an iPhone, iPod (and now an iPad) as private insurance and Medicaid do not cover these devices. There were also many who mentioned they were on waiting lists to receive one. This led to thoughts of “Something has got to be done about this.” It’s completely ridiculous that nonverbal and speech impaired children CANNOT have an inexpensive modern way to communicate. Inexpensive compared to traditional augmentative communication devices; which typically cost between $5,000 – $10,000. One can get an iPhone, iPod or iPad with an AAC Application and needed accessories for approximately $1,000; could be a bit less or bit more depending on version purchased.
At the same time I was discussing with other Chromosome 18 Moms about how our beautiful special needs kiddos do not like change and changes in their schedule or routine that cause things to seem different. Susan Moran commented that they really stress in their house that different is good and show it by changing furniture around often and other methods. My eyes, heart and soul wrapped around those words and with Susan’s permission I tucked it away to “incubate” until the timing was right! You are a beautiful rockin Mom Susan!
These two paths bordered with what I had chosen as my career (teaching, training and speaking to others about Social Networking) led to the creation of the Turning Views Foundation, Different iz Good . . . Spread the Word movement and the Gift a Voice Project.
The Formal Version
Camilla Downs is an influential guide in teaching the keys to Social Media Marketing. She is a social media marketing and community-building strategist, working with businesses and individuals to maximize the internet to enhance their brands, connect with customers, build communities and network for success. As Chief Community Builder at Turning Views, Inc., keynote speaker and trainer, Camilla has inspired hundreds of people to confidently use Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other online social networking tools through conferences, specialized workshops and consulting.
Camilla has consulted with businesses and nonprofits in Nevada, California and Texas, teaching them to establish, maintain and grow a commanding social media and online presence. She advises organizations on increasing their visibility on search engines and strengthening their brand identities online. She also offers video tutorials and online resources for many people seeking efficient assistance with the proper usage of these new tools of marketing.
Raised in Mississippi and Louisiana, Camilla relocated to Nevada after working for 10 years as a paralegal in Washington State. She has combined her research skills with a passion for collecting and testing the constant torrent of new information regarding social networking. “I am passionate about supporting nonprofits, fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners by teaching them to strategically use online and social networking tools”. “Small business owners are among the bravest and gutsiest among us, and they are starved for assistance in understanding the why and how of effective and proper use of these tools”.
Camilla is mother to two children, Thomas, five years old, and Lillian, nine. Lillian was born with a chromosome abnormality called 18p- which primarily manifests in communications deficits. Lillian has inspired Camilla to be a proponent for speech-impaired individuals, their families and caregivers in using technology and social media to communicate and improve quality of life. “Opportunities exist as never before for speech-impaired individuals to be business owners and entrepreneurs because of social media and technology”.
On Wednesday, I watched my daughter, Lillian, as she got off the school bus, struggling with her backpack and walking to her destination in the back of the school. My heart sank as I stood watching all the other kids bouncing around running and walking normally with their backpacks with not a struggle in sight. Tears welled in my eyes; it was just one of those days. She absolutely refuses to wear a backpack on her back and thus ends up carrying it by the little loop on the top. It’s almost as big as she is.
As I drove home, it seemed as if time stopped for about 15 seconds and I felt so completely and utterly alone. I chose to feel sorry for myself for a minute and welcome a wave of defeat ~ sorry that I was not blessed with a “typical” little girl. A little girl that a mother can share life’s little moments with, talk with, have an actual verbal conversation with, hug and snuggle with, watch grow and blossom like most other girls.
I and moms like me have a different life with our daughters. We watch them struggle with something as simple as carrying a backpack to class, struggle to speak and talk in a way that can be understood with mounting frustration because their little mind is overflowing with all the right words and phrases; but, the mouth, tongue and lips do not work as they should so we can understand. We watch them struggle to dress themselves, struggle to open things, cut things, play on the playground. We must listen to their complaints of tummy aches, this and that aches and not know why and add that to our list to try and figure out. We don’t have the typical “How’d your day go and what’dya do with your friends today honey” conversations? Ours are “How was your day today?” And we get a thumbs up or thumbs down. Conversation over.
Only a minute though . . . .
I have a beautiful daughter who shines like no other. She has a warm loving heart. AND she is one stubborn hard headed little lady. I am blessed beyond blessing that she is stubborn and hard headed. This means she keeps on trying and keeps on trying and doesn’t give up as quickly on whatever she is trying to accomplish. I have had moments with her that made my heart feel as if it would burst with happiness and joy. When a speech impaired child tells you for the first time “I Love You” and says “Momma” for the first time, it is a feeling like no other.
**LOVE OFFERING** If you find this content helpful, I invite you to toss a tip in the love offering bowl. With oceans of gratitude … Camilla ….
This beautiful little lady, who is a self proclaimed fairy, will and does touch the lives of whomever she encounters in such a beautiful way that cannot even be described. I am her mother for a reason and she my daughter for a reason. Lillian has a beautiful soul and had some lessons to teach me and will continue to teach me. She does at times help me to stay grounded. I find myself wanting and feeling I should be doing more for Lillian; but know that whatever I need to do will happen as it should and I should not force anything.
It is my belief that I need these 15 minutes of feeling sorry for myself and moments of defeat to enable me to come out on the other side stronger and more focused on the path I am on and headed towards. What about you? Do you feel moments such as these (for whatever reason) are needed and helpful?
Go here to read “A Moment of Defeat – Take Two” …
Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!
Amazing news! My 16 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” is published. Learn more and order here.
Wonderfully exciting news! My 12 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.
And my book published in 2012, D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance; which reached #2 in the Self-Help Category and #1 in Special Needs Parenting on Amazon.
Latest Articles:
[catlist name=blog]
