Lighter side of shade

By Bob Cox

When Dan and Ann Wilmoth sat down with her doctor five years ago to hear the results of her biopsy, the power of that awful six letter word shook the couple to their core: CANCER. After explaining the intricacies of her stage 3 breast cancer, Ann’s oncologist followed up by asking her if she wanted to know what her chances were. The words that came out of Dan’s mild mannered and soft spoken wife left him in stunned silence when she exclaimed with unwavering confidence, “It doesn’t really matter. I’m going to beat this. Let’s get started!”

After thoroughly vetting a number of cancer specialists, Dan and Ann chose an impressive team of doctors, who laid out a thorough and comprehensive treatment plan. Over the next three years, the brutally tough surgery and treatments would test the strength and faith of this couple unlike anything else they had experienced during their 40 years of marriage.

“Her attitude was amazing. I’ve always believed that a positive attitude can change things for the better and in health I totally believe it. Those treatments beat you down, wear you out, turn you upside down but she never let it get her down and I didn’t let it get her down. And that was the only thing I could do, be her coach. I couldn’t take her cancer from her, which I would have done in a second. All I could do was be her coach, lift her up but she didn’t take much lifting. She has incredible faith”, explained Dan.

Dan credits four things that helped them overcome this insidious disease: faith, a positive attitude, great doctors and lots of laughter. Instinctively, Dan knew that one of his greatest strengths, his terrific sense of humor was vital to Ann’s survival as the couple traversed through hostile uncharted territory.

Dan added all the household chores to his already long list of responsibilities as a full time business owner. One day, while he was on an early morning grocery shopping expedition, the enormity of the situation hit Dan like a bolt of lightning. With tears streaming down his face, a clerk came rushing to his aid and asked him what was wrong. “I can’t find the mayonnaise! The clerk said sir, please; I’ll help you find the mayonnaise. Here it is. Do you need anything else? Yes, I need some olives”, Dan recalled with laughter.

From the ashes of this incredible ordeal, Dan was left with a profound desire to give back to those in need. As the owner of Sierra Sunscreens and Patio Covers in Rancho Cordova, when Dan learned about how one of his customer’s pregnant wife had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, he not only offered consoling words of wisdom to the young man, he practically gave away the patio cover that his family needed to protect his wife from the harmful rays of the sun. The young husband was moved by tears of gratitude.

Dan is 100% committed to quality and not just his personal life but his professional life as well. I spoke to Dan about his steadfast determination to offer the very best of himself to the world.

Q: What’s new and exciting at Sierra Sunscreens and Patio Covers? 

A: Well Bob; let me tell you, nothing (Dan laughed). Honestly, I can say that we run into many customers that have lost their yards from the drought and are looking for synthetic turfs. After looking at various quality companies to fulfill that need, I found Ryan McConnell, who is the owner of “The Turf Man”. We’ve partnered on several jobs and it worked out very well. Synthetic turf is very important in today’s environment as it conserves water, saves energy, requires no maintenance and stays beautiful all year.

Q: Will you tell us about the history of Sierra Sunscreens & Patio Covers?

A: Sierra Sunscreens was established in 1982 and the purpose of the business was to provide sunscreens for a growing number of new homes in Sacramento which needed protection from the sun.

Q: Why did you choose to offer other shade products?

A: When the market of new homes slowed down, we chose to diversify. Today we have vertical roll down shades, patio covers, sunrooms, screen rooms and retractable awnings.

Q: What’s your company’s philosophy when it comes to doing other home improvement projects?

A: Our philosophy is to do a few things and do them better than anybody else. People often ask us to do other things, including landscaping, but we’ve chosen to focus on a few things and do them very well.

Q: What do you do to provide superior quality?

A: We’ve separated our business with the quality of the people we hire. Our employee based staff is extensively trained. All of our installers have been with the company at least 9 years and some have been here over 20 years. Employees are directed by our management team, so we control the timing of our projects, the quality of the installation and the service after the sale.

Q: Is there anything else you do to insure that the project goes smoothly?

A: Yes, I personally meet with every installer before we go out on a project. I go over all aspects of the job with them. With subcontractors, that isn't always the case. My guys are trained to communicate with customers and some are bilingual.

Q: Do your customers have greater peace of mind knowing that you are 100% responsible for their project?

A: Yes. I would say 9 out of 10 times a customer doesn't even know that their contractor has subbed out the labor for the work. Many companies sub out labor to avoid paying workmen's comp or liability insurance, leaving the consumer with greater potential risk.

Q: Is there anything else that separates Sierra from the competition?

A: Yes, We've been in business 36 years and serviced over 10,000 customers. Longevity is a measure of treating the marketplace right. In other words, you don't stay in business for 36 years if you haven't treated your customers well.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Sierra Sunscreens & Patio Covers, call (916) 635-9706, visit their showroom at 3345 Sunrise Bl. in Rancho Cordova or check out their website at www.sierrashadeproducts.com.

Attitude Is Everything

Here’s How to Keep It Positive

John C. Maxwell

I am not much of a TV watcher, and when I do tune in, I’m usually half-watching, half-working on something else. But sometimes you learn things from unexpected places, and it so happens that a recent Gatorade commercial grabbed my attention.

The ad shows some of the world’s best athletes, like Michael Jordan and Peyton Manning, remarking on their failures-Jordan’s inability to make his high school varsity team, Manning’s abysmal rookie season-and how those defeats redoubled their drive.

What a powerful message. Even Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan makes an appearance, acknowledging his team’s mind-blowing, fourth-quarter Super Bowl fall to the Patriots in 2017 and implying that he, too, would grow from the experience.

This is the time of the year when we think about recharging, renewing and redefining ourselves. People this month will do anything, from joining a gym to embarking on a spiritual retreat.

"Whether you are 15 years old or 50, your outlook toward life is always under construction."

These are worthy endeavors, but there’s a more life-altering change we can make in the mode of those superstar athletes. What each of them has done is adjust their attitudes. They see life through a positive lens, no matter what it throws their way. That optimism fuels them, focuses them, and allows them to put setbacks in perspective.

Attitude can be our best friend or worst enemy, the librarian of our past, the speaker of our present and the prophet of our future. In short, I believe attitude is the biggest determinant of our quality of life.

There are people who seem perpetually perky and whose good nature appears as innate as their eye color. But attitude is not a fixed state. Whether you are 15 years old or 50, your outlook toward life is always under construction. It’s never too late to change it. If your attitude is deflating you, here’s how to pump it up.

1. Evaluate your current attitude

This is the hardest step in the process. You need to detach from yourself and take a hard look at how you respond to situations.

• Identify your problem feelings. What attitudes make you feel most negative about yourself?
• Identify your problem behaviors. What actions create conflict between you and others?
• Identify your problem thinking. What thoughts cloud or control your mind?

2. Write a statement of purpose

If your biggest flaw is impatience with others, for example, vow to take a deep breath, listen to them more carefully and develop empathy—an ability to see situations through other people’s eyes. If your downfall is complaining, learn to smile, speak positive words, or if all else fails, silence yourself entirely.

3. Find new words

If you were trying to motivate other people; you’d pump them up, wouldn’t you? You’d offer words of support, encouragement and inspiration.

Do you do the same for yourself? So many people I’ve met, people with tremendous potential, shortchange themselves with a self-defeating internal voice. I can’t. I doubt. I don’t think. I don’t have the time. I’m afraid. I don’t believe.

This self-doubt darkens our attitudes, limits our success and casts a shadow over our lives. The fix is easy: Change the language. I can. I expect the best. I know. I’ll make the time. I am confident. I believe.

4. Rewire your thought patterns

Our feelings come from our thoughts. We can change them by changing our thought patterns.

It’s our thoughts, not our circumstances that determine our happiness. Often, people are convinced they will be happy when they attain a certain goal. When they do, they are surprised and disappointed to discover that they don’t feel fulfilled. What they don’t realize is the act of filling one’s mind with good thoughts every day, regardless of what’s going on in their lives, will bring more overall satisfaction than the one-time high of a job well done.

5. Develop good habits

An attitude is nothing more than a habit of thought. Habits aren’t instincts; they’re acquired actions. They don’t just happen; they are caused. Many people allow their habits to control them. That’s good if the habits enhance our quality of life. If not, well, life becomes cloudy indeed. You can change your habits. Here’s how:

•  List your bad habits.
•  Determine the root cause(s) behind them.
•  Determine a positive habit to replace a bad one.
•  Take action to develop that.
•  Act upon this new habit daily.
•  Reward yourself by noting one of the benefits of this new habit.

I see habit change as a process, so don’t dismay if you don’t see results overnight. The early stages will be the hardest. Those bad habits want to remain in control. In the middle stages, you’re on the proverbial fence, deciding whether to step fully onto the other side or tumble back into your old ways. In the late stage, you’ve successfully corrected a flaw and are enjoying the attitudinal shift that comes with it. But beware: Complacency is the enemy. Just ask anyone who has lost weight only to gain it back.

Back to that Gatorade commercial, where tennis great Serena Williams looks dead-on at the camera, steely-eyed. Her secret to victory was being “on the wrong side in the biggest upset of your sport,” a reference to her stunning fall in the 2015 U.S. Open to Roberta Vinci, an unseeded player from Italy.

Two years later, she became the only tennis player, man or woman, to win 23 singles Grand Slam titles in the Open era.

“I’ve had to learn to fight all my life—got to learn to keep smiling,” she says. “If you smile, things will work out.”

A Needle of Hope/Part 2

By Bob Cox

Last month, I shared a very personal story about our Grandson Zack, who three years ago nearly lost his life in a horrific motorcycle accident. After a dozen surgeries and numerous treatments and medications, Zack was trapped in a nightmare of chronic and relentless pain.

During his three year merry-go-round of misery, the greatest challenge Zack endured was constant sleep deprivation caused by relentless pain. Recently, he was diagnosed with a relatively new but rapidly growing disease called fibromyalgia. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include chronic widespread body pain, moderate to extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to touch, light, sound and a number of other debilitating symptoms. The disorder affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and over 200 million people worldwide, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA).

When Zack told my wife Diana and me last month that the only thing that consistently gave him relief was an 8,000 year old Chinese practice called acupuncture, we quickly made arrangements for Zack to get regular weekly treatments from our friend Dr. Roc Gantt, the owner of Natural Health Clinic in Sacramento. After the first treatment, Zack was thrilled by the amazing results, so I followed up with him recently to see how he was doing under the care of Dr. Roc.

After five intense treatments with Dr. Roc, Zack eagerly shared his experiences with me. “It’s been very physically and mentally relieving. It’s also been spiritually rejuvenating and emotional relaxing. Dr. Roc is personal, friendly, professional and very understanding about my severe circumstances. I feel energized, renewed and the long-term effects have changed my way of thinking for the better”, explained Zack.

Dr. Roc took the time during their first session to really get to know as much about Zack as possible and has executed a thorough and comprehensive treatment plan that has given Zack a much brighter outlook about the present as well as the future. Zack’s also eager to share his positive experience with people afflicted with fibromyalgia, migraine headaches and any other chronic pain ailments.

Editor’s notes: Dr Roc Gantt is the owner of Natural Health Clinic in Sacramento. He is a Naturopathic Doctor, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Board Certified Acupuncturist. He was introduced to natural medicine after an injury he suffered while parachuting with his special forces unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He has studied and practiced under the finest teachers from around the world and is committed to giving his patients the best care possible.

For more information about Natural Health Clinic, call (916) 349-9223, stop by their office at 5500 Madison Ave. Suite A in Sacramento or visit their website at www.drgantt.com.

How to Live Life to the Fullest

By Mick Ukleja

If I want to get an idea of a person’s desire to grow and develop, I ask a simple question: “Are you satisfied with your life right now?” If the answer is, “I’m very satisfied, very content with where I am,” I come to the conclusion that there is very little potential for future growth. Being content is only part of life’s equation for happiness. But when contentment is used as a tool to “cap off” growth, it becomes detrimental. Desire is the first key to personal growth.

Whenever you learn, feel or know something, desire was already there waiting. It’s the vehicle that carries you where you need to go. I would love to light a fire under some people, but I soon discover that I’ve run out of matches! They aren’t going anywhere, and that’s OK. It’s their choice and not my responsibility. I’m not responsible for something over which I have no control. It’s OK, and I’ll love them where they are.

For me personally, I still have passion. I have desires. I’m not all that I want to be nor have I accomplished all that I want to accomplish. That fire within you and me is called desire. The philosophers call it existential angst, the desire to make our lives count by making a difference.

I had the privilege of interviewing Coach John Wooden on his 96th birthday. I asked him this question: “Coach, you are 96 today. How do you stay so enthusiastic and passionate about life?” His answer: “Mick, the day your past becomes more exciting than your future is the day you start to die.” That thought has stuck like a piece of shrapnel in my brain.

So keep the engines stoked. This is what I call a healthy dissatisfaction¹, as we enjoy the present and live each day to the fullest. Your desire will get you out of the comfort zone where no growth takes place. Contentment and satisfaction are good things, but they were never intended to be synonyms for petrified, fossilized or calcified.

At times, our desire lights on the dashboard of our lives grow dim. Those are the times when you keep the engine running. Eventually you will see your desire meter rev up and you are on your way!

Napoleon Hill said, “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Weak desires bring weak results. Just as weak fires leave us a little cold. And they’re not much to look at either.

One other tip: Avoid the flame busters. This is the crowd that doesn’t have a desire to get out of their “comfort zone” and wonder why you’re pushing yourself forward. If your desire is low, check the company you’re keeping.

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” —William Shedd

As children, we had lots of ideas about what we wanted to do when we grew up. A child’s imagination isn’t restricted by the boundaries of age, inexperience, education and parental control. They just imagine the future they want, and it’s fueled by desire. But it’s easy to let the restrictions of adulthood get in the way of doing what we desire. So we douse the desire or the dream. Many of our boundaries are self-imposed.

So here’s the bottom line up front: While you’re thinking, think big! You can always act small later. The real danger starts by putting limitations on your thinking.

In our attempt to be practical, we often play it too safe. Use the following questions to help break the imagination gridlock:

What are the things you would like to do well?
What are the experiences you would like to have?
What do you want to start doing right now?
What are five nonnegotiable values in your life?
What things, events or activities make you feel fully alive?
What have you let slide? Why? What can you do now to reverse that?

Healthy Dissatisfaction: Starting each day with thanksgiving for what you are and have, knowing your life is better than you deserve, yet realizing your life is not all you want it to be. It’s a combination of contentment and desire. Here’s the formula: Healthy Dissatisfaction = Contentment + Desire

An Astronaut’s Secrets to Success

Chris Hadfield went blind in space, but he still found a way

to complete his mission. These are his takeaways.

By Austin Fabel

If you’re going to work in an environment like outer space, you must be able to look fear in the eye and plan for any scenario. No one knows this better than Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station. He was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his work.

Out of Hadfield’s many fascinating experiences in outer space, going blind during his first spacewalk is by far the most well known. While floating 254 miles above the Earth’s surface, his suit became contaminated, blinding him temporarily. He was able to regain his sight and even complete his mission by utilizing his training and confronting his fear.

Recently, Hadfield sat down with The Science of Success to share the biggest takeaways from his astronaut training and experiences in space. If you are trying to overcome your own fears, these tactics and mental frameworks will help you crush any goal on Earth or in space.

1. Knowledge is power

Oftentimes, fear stems simply from a lack of knowledge. “Things aren’t scary; people are just scared, and that’s a fundamental difference,” Hadfield says. While some things in life definitely warrant our fear, many of the common things people are afraid of are completely harmless.

Take spiders for example. “A lot of people are afraid of spiders,” he says. “Of course, most spiders are fine. If you have no understanding of spiders at all, you treat each one you see like the most venomous spider that exists. Rather than spending your life screaming and running, why not do the research and find out how many spiders are dangerous where you live? For a lot of places in the world, you’ll find the answer is none.”

If we take interest in the things we fear and try to understand them, we can gauge how rational our fear truly is. Once we have an understanding, we can create a plan to overcome those fears, or decide it’s something we should avoid.

2. Visualize failure

It’s a common practice to visualize success. Imagine yourself conquering any obstacle and coming out a winner. At NASA, however, doing just the opposite is often what keeps everyone alive and leads to a successful mission.

“Visualizing failure will serve you well,” Hadfield says. “We practiced over 10,000 different things going wrong. What is the most likely thing to go wrong, and am I ready to face it, and how do I know? Let’s practice that thing going wrong and see if I can deal with it.” By visualizing and planning for every possible variable that would lead to failure, you’re also helping ensure success.

As Hadfield likes to say, “There’s no situation in space that’s so bad you can’t make it worse.” So next time you’re planning a project or task, think of what could go wrong and plan for it. This will keep you be clear headed, rational and able to make the right call even in the worst of circumstances.

3. Don’t exaggerate

Always tell it like it is. Not only to those around you, but to yourself as well. “Everybody wants to feel significant. One of the ways to increase your own significance is to exaggerate accomplishments or problems that exist,” Hadfield says.

When we exaggerate, we feel good about what we have accomplished or what we have overcome. A side effect you may not intend is that you shift the perception of the obstacle or triumph in the eyes of everyone listening. If you play up how difficult a certain task was, you may cause others to plan incorrectly or focus on the wrong things, which can lead to disaster.

4. Aim to be a zero

When you’ve achieved a certain level of success, you begin to build up confidence in yourself. Confidence can be a great asset and open a lot of doors, but you can never assume that you’re always going to be right or add value. Sometimes, it’s best to sit back and learn more before pushing your opinion.

“When I was younger, I always called myself a plus one,” Hadfield says. “I thought no matter what I did, I’d come in as a positive influence.” The problem is that oftentimes in work and life, scenarios are more complicated than we initially think. If you let your ego come into play and assume your influence is always the deciding factor, you not only come off poorly to other group members, but may end up having a negative impact on the project.

“I try to be more realistic in my own abilities. I try to come into a new situation deliberately saying I’m going to aim to be a zero here,” he says. “I’m going to give myself time to notice what’s actually happening, to become informed, and be more selective and deliberate in how I am going to try to be a positive influence.” By using Hadfield’s method of being a zero and suppressing your ego, you can come into any situation and add value.

While you may never find yourself blind in outer space, these tactics will help you overcome fear of the unknown and be successful in anything you do.

Reinventing Yourself

By Bob Cox

Over the years, I’ve seen a number of people who are miserable with their current life situation but unwilling to change it for a variety of reasons. Some go on to explain how much time and energy they’ve invested into either their personal or professional lives and therefore are compelled to continue to do what they’ve always done to the bitter end.

I happen to believe that we can change anything and everything about our lifestyles, but the change has to begin with ourselves. If there is a specific aspect of our personality we do not like, we have the power to replace that unwanted and negative character trait with a positive one. My wife Diana wholeheartedly agrees and her reasons are based on a monumental shift in her life around the age of 40.

A few years before Diana and I met, she was experiencing the most difficult time of her life. Her jewelry sales business was hit hard by the terrible recession of the early 1990’s and her husband had suffered a stroke caused by complications from diabetes. At the time of his stroke, he was the family’s primary wage earner, so not only was his income wiped away, Diana spent the next several months juggling the relentless responsibilities of being the family’s sole bread winner while providing constant care for her husband.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did. The daily stress was so relentless and overwhelming, Diana began to experience chronic and debilitating migraine headaches, headaches so severe that she would spend several hours and sometimes days trapped in a dark room of absolute silence. Diana tried a variety of treatments, remedies and medications, but nothing seemed to help. Diana felt completely powerless to change her life and it was slowly killing her.

Then one day a friend recommended massage therapy. Although she was very skeptical, Diana gave it a try. After the first session, she was amazed and delighted by the powerful results that delivered lasting and immediate relief. Diana was so impressed; she decided to make a 180 degree turn in her life by going for a brand new career as a massage therapist.

For the next several months, Diana felt completely rejuvenated. She managed to add massage school at night to her long list of responsibilities. Tragically, just 10 days before she graduated, her husband passed away. Diana instinctively knew that she needed to put the shock and grief of his death behind her as quickly as possible in order to give herself a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.

Shortly thereafter, she poured all of her energy into building up her massage business and the rewards and satisfaction she got from helping ease the physical and emotional pain of her clients was profound and life changing. Over the years, many of her clients became cherished friends and one was fortunate enough to become her husband!

If there’s something in your life that’s not working for you, you owe it to yourself and the people you love to take a leap of faith and try something new. With the dawn of a new year upon us, now is a great time to wipe the slate clean and begin a fresh new adventure. A great place to start is by asking this question: What’s the most important thing I want to achieve this year? Once you get the answer, challenge any self-limiting beliefs about who you truly are and any doubts about your ability to make the necessary changes needed to align yourself with your hearts desires. You can do it, so go for it!

Three Ways to Exercise your Gratitude Muscle

Gratitude is the very thing that makes life both livable and delightful.

By Mick Ukleja

One of the most important muscles we have is the emotional muscle of gratitude. Because it’s a muscle, how can we exercise it and make it stronger?

Webster defines “contentment” as the choice to be at peace with yourself and at peace with the world around you. Contentment doesn’t lead to apathy. It leads to energy, where you feel more rather than just trying to feel better.

There is a reason why the religions of the world basically say that all there is, is all there is, and all there is, is enough. The ancient scriptures remind us of a contemporary truth—that if we cultivate discontentment instead of contentment, then no matter how much we accumulate or achieve, we will not be fulfilled or happy.

Interestingly enough, science has affirmed this truth. Being thankful leads to:

• Lower stress
• Stronger immune system
• Improved cardiovascular function
• Increased energy
• Less likelihood of depression
• Deeper sleep
• Stronger relationships
• Deeper sense of purpose
• Better coping strategies

Our culture tends to celebrate self-glorification. Therefore, we set aside a day as a reminder to celebrate grateful hearts. Gratitude lifts us above our own demands and broadens our peripheral vision so that we take delight in the gifts surrounding us.

How is this possible when there is so much suffering?

It’s instructive to remember the Massachusetts Pilgrims original harvest celebration was surrounded by disease, death and deprivation. And when Abraham Lincoln gave the proclamation for this national day, it was 1863 in the midst of the worst conflict in American history, the Civil War. Both were marked by extreme suffering.

Gratitude is not a map as much as it is a compass that points us to the realities of numerous blessings. And it broadens our perspective so we can see the source of those blessings.

We will never see a movie full of contented characters living lives of gratitude. Yet it is the very thing that makes life at the same time both livable and delightful.

 David Hume referred to gratitude as a calm passion. It doesn’t have the theatrical potential of anger, hatred, courage or sacrifice. We will never see a movie full of contented characters living lives of gratitude. Yet it is the very thing that makes life at the same time both livable and delightful.

Because it’s so important, what can we do to enhance it? Here are three exercises.

1. Be yourself.

This is a challenge in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. I’m not pretty enough, smart enough, talented enough, rich enough. It’s a virus that fouls up our emotional hard drive. It’s the temptation to change so people will like you. Work on being yourself, and the right people will love you. As counterintuitive as it is, it will increase your gratitude and contentment.

2. Live the only place you can… today.

It’s easy for all of us to try to live in another time and place. Some lament about what they could have done or might have become. The past is gone and the future doesn’t exist. Think all you want about the past, but it won’t change a thing. Don’t fantasize about vacation at work. And don’t worry about all the work piling up on vacation. Instead, live today, focusing on all the blessings unfolding before you.

3. Saunter into your day.

The word “saunter” comes from the Middle Ages—saint terre. Everything was considered sainted, including the earth. Therefore, to saunter is to walk on the Earth with reverence for its holiness. The opposite is to “race.” In the fast lane, it’s hard to integrate or go deep. When we take the time to live in the slow lane and reflect on the wonders of life, we surround ourselves with a deeper, more profound experience of contentment. Don’t forget to saunter, i.e. enter your day slowly.

These three tips will help your gratitude muscle become stronger. You will grow in your contentment and attract more success into your life—including grateful people.

Merry Holidays

By Bob Cox

Tis the season to be...torn? Do we greet strangers with a smile and then say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”? For many Americans, the answer might be: who cares? While I was growing up in the 20^th Century version of the Wild West (the 60’s and 70’s in southern California), everyone greeted one another in the month of December with “Merry Christmas”. The way I felt about this expression was pretty simple back then: The spirit of the term had everything to do with celebrating the pure joy of the season and little to do with the acknowledgement of a specific religion.

When I was a kid, Christmas was by far the most exciting and joyous time of year. As a matter of fact, you could combine all the other holidays into one, stuff them in a giant box and gift wrap it with tender loving care and it still wouldn’t come close to the thrill of Christmas.

I just loved every little part of it, including the sound of joyous holiday songs, the minty sweet taste of an oversized candy cane, the fresh scent of pine needles in our wood paneled family room and the unbridled ecstasy of all the eye candy, especially the mass quantities of festively wrapped gifts stuffed under our enormously decked out Douglas Fir.

I even got a devious little thrill out of seeing the look of exasperation from my dad, as my mom, three sisters and I laid our new tree at his feet. To say that dad didn’t share our passion would be a gross understatement as he never failed to find a way to make Scrooge and the Grinch look more festive than Tiny Tim from The Christmas Carol, not that other Tiny Tim who tip toed through the tulips!

After a long, dark and chilly evening of spirited and thrilling tree hunting, my mom, my sisters and I would stuff the mighty green beast through the narrow front door, drag it laboriously across the thick olive colored shag carpet in our living room, leaving behind us a gloriously satisfying trail of moist pine needles and tiny twigs. Once we got to the family room, we would proudly prop up the 10 feet of majestic beauty beneath the eight foot cork-lined ceiling. Without uttering a word, dad would simply scowl, shake his head in bewilderment and head off to the garage to retrieve his trusty wooden handsaw.

Upon his return, it would be a festive serenade of swearing and sawing until dad’s contribution to the winter madness was complete and our tree stood tall, wide, proud and naked. From there, our 10 busy little hands handled the business of dressing our treasured new companion with bright lights, shiny bulbs, paper thin silver icicles and a white felt blanket where those brightly wrapped boxes would inevitably lie, quietly torturing and teasing my wild imagination until I was ready to burst.

Then, just when you couldn’t think a fat little doughball of a kid couldn’t get any more excited, think again. Whenever no one was around, I would quietly inspect, caress and then shake each and every one of the dozens upon dozens of presents every day until the big day finally arrived. And when it did, it was a noisy and rambunctious free for all, unlike anything you’ve ever seen, even at the busiest shopping malls at 4am on Black Friday! There was screaming, grabbing, clawing and biting aplenty. It sort of reminded me of a typical family dinner at home.

Now, back to the Great Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays Debate. What should you say? We could delve into a deeper and more philosophical conversation by acknowledging the growing diversity of our population and ask each person we meet what greeting they would prefer and honor the true spirit of the season, which includes trivial things like peace on earth, good will towards men and ensuring that every person of every faith and ethnic background feels respected and included. Or we could just split the difference and say Merry Holidays!

A Needle of Hope

By Bob Cox

Ever since his near death motorcycle accident three years ago, our Grandson Zack has suffered daily under a dark cloud of extreme chronic pain. Despite numerous surgeries, doctor’s visits, and a cornucopia of treatments and medications, nothing seemed to give Zack a break from a relentless cycle of pain and misery.

Then a ray of sunshine broke through the gloom when our daughter Shauna mentioned that Zack had finally responded to the ancient health practice of acupuncture. Unfortunately, they couldn’t afford the much needed follow-up treatments. When she got off the phone, my wife Diana turned to me and asked if I knew anyone who could help Zack. I thought for about two seconds and exclaimed, “Yes, Dr. Roc!”

Later that day, I reached out to Dr. Roc Gantt, the owner of the Natural Health Clinic in Carmichael and we put together a comprehensive treatment plan to help get Zack back on his feet. Immediately after the first consultation and treatment, Zack phoned me with unbridled excitement and optimism, “That was amazing. Dr. Roc took the time to really listen to me and he totally understands what I’ve been dealing with. I feel so much better and I can finally think clearly again, so thank you so much for putting this all together!”

While Dr. Roc Gantt is a skilled, experienced and Board Certified Acupuncturist, he also has a number of other natural based treatments to help people that suffer from a wide variety illnesses, diseases and chronic pain. Dr. Roc’s philosophy is simple; he doesn’t treat symptoms or diseases, he treats people.

Aside from being an acupuncturist, Dr. Roc is a Naturalpathic Doctor, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, a teacher and trainer for N.A.E.T. (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique), a trainer for the Upledger Foundation and cranial-sacral specialist.

I asked Dr. Roc to define N.A.E.T. and cranial sacral treatments and how he uses these options to help his patients. “N.A.E.T. was developed by Dr. Nambudripad and it deals mainly with allergies. She is under the belief that a lot of maladies originate from allergies. Conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia and asthma are oftentimes caused by allergies to foods and/or the environment. Her technique includes acupuncture for adults and acupressure or laser for children. Basically, we eliminate food and environmental allergens so that the person is no longer sensitive to those things”.

“Cranial-sacral works with the cerebral spinal fluid and the central nervous system, which includes the spinal cord and the brain. Western medicine says that the cranial bones are ossified and don’t move, but Dr. Upledger has concluded that the cranial bones do move and those movements can cause a number of serious health challenges. An accident like a slip and fall may cause cranial bones to slip on top of one another and cause a myriad of problems. The cranial-sacral work is able to put these bones back in their proper position and help a myriad of health issues and especially neurological problems”, explained Dr. Roc.

Dr. Roc believes that the key to helping his patients get better begins by gathering as much information as possible about their health history. He asks each patient to fill out a comprehensive health history questionnaire so that he can create a customized treatment plan that will maximize results.

While Dr. Roc has an extensive knowledge with natural health treatments, the majority of his patients require the use of acupuncture for chronic pain, sinus congestion, headaches and an assortment of other nagging conditions. “A patient came in the other day and she was trembling uncontrollably. She’s was in her 60’s and I did cranial work on her and after one treatment, she didn’t have any more trembling”.

Although each patient is very different, Dr. Roc believes that each person can accelerate their own healing by being proactive and following through with the advice he gives them after each treatment. “Getting an acupuncture treatment is just like working out. If you experience achiness from working out or getting an acupuncture treatment, that’s because of a release of lactic acid. If you take an Epsom salt bath a few hours after that workout or treatment, it helps release the lactic acid buildup in the body and reduces that achiness”. 

For more information see www.DrGantt.com 

Have a Wacky Tacky Christmas

By Bob Cox

Of the 29 birthdays my son Bobby has experienced to date, there’s one that stands out in the bank of my memories. My wife Diana and I wanted to do something really special for his 14^th Birthday, so we threw him a unique surprise party. We rented a limousine to pick him and several of his closest friends up at school. From there, we whisked them off to a nearby skateboard park where they enjoyed their favorite activity. After a few hours of unbridled fun, we headed off to a local restaurant, where pizza, cake and presents awaited our arrival.

I could be wrong, but I think Diana and I had as much fun as Bobby and his friends as we basked in all three phases of that memorable crisp autumn afternoon: the planning, the execution and the memories of that special brief moment in time.

Now imagine picking up your child and several of his/her closest friends from grade-school on a cold and rainy December day. They have no idea where you’re going as you travel along Folsom Boulevard and park your vehicle nearest the building sporting a circular sign with a cute little cartoon chimpanzee that’s sandwiched between the words Wacky and Tacky. Chances are good that right about now, those little hearts beating in the back seat will begin to race with anticipation.

Once inside Wacky Tacky, your gang will be mesmerized by the 24,000 square feet of colorful and exciting play space where kids are actually encouraged to run fast, jump high and holler to their hearts content in this soft and safe space where healthy activity intersects with imagination. Your little ones will surely have a blast climbing up 3 story jungle gyms, gliding down enormous slides and navigating through the mouth of a great white shark, whose teeth are as soft as they are pearly white!

While the weather outside is frightful, the great indoors at Wacky Tacky is so delightful. With plenty of comfortable booths to choose from, you can sit back and enjoy watching your kids do what kids do best…be kids. After a couple hours of wild and crazy mayhem, you gather up the crew and allow the little ones to catch their breath in the cozy new movie theatre and enjoy a cherished Christmas movie or other movie of your choice.

If you hear a few stomachs growling louder than the imaginary creatures in the jungle section, have no fear, the Wacky Tacky Café is here with plenty of tasty menu options to choose from. If you selected one of the spectacular party packages, your entire crew will enjoy pizza, cupcakes, soda or juice with balloons and goodie bags.

Do you want even more great adventure? The Rancho Cordova Wacky Tacky facility now has a brand new, state-of-the-art virtual reality gaming room. You will feel like you’re inside the game itself because they have the most advanced headset on the market. With a platform that moves, you can experience the thrill of flying without ever really leaving the safety of mother earth.

I spoke with Nas Qurraa, the son of the creator of Wacky Tacky the other day to get a better idea about how their two indoor facilities in Rancho Cordova and Roseville have become a local sensation.

Q: How do you describe what Wacky Tacky is?

A: Wacky Tacky is the ultimate place for kids to play and have a party in a fun, clean and safe environment. They’re not sitting around playing video games. Kids are actually running around and playing on jungle gyms, getting good exercise while having loads of fun.

Q: How do adults like your place?

A: They love it! Parents can sit comfortably or go in and play with their kids.

Q: Could you describe the new cinema room?

A: We just opened up a room that has 16-18 chairs and has a very nice projector that plays 4K and 3-D movies. We have movies available or you can bring your own movie.

Q: How did you come up with this idea?

A: It just came out of the wind, honestly. My father and I were talking and we wanted to appeal to adults and children. We can also rent out the room for corporate events, birthday parties and other celebrations.

Q: Wouldn’t this be a great place to have a Christmas party?

A: Yeah, Christmas parties are great. We want to encourage church youth groups and other organizations that have programs that take kids to fun and interesting places to come here.

Q: What are your duties and responsibilities?

A: I work full time and basically help out the family. I make sure our facilities are safe and clean, and I oversee the hiring and training of our employees.

Q: Can you tell us about your new virtual reality game?

A: Yes, it’s in a separate room. We’ve got the best headset on the market and a platform that moves. We have several different games you can play, so if you’re going up in the game, you’ll feel like you’re flying!

Q: How do you like working with your dad?

A: I love it! He’s so smart when it comes to business. I think I’ve learned more from him than from any school or any other person. He’s a nice guy, he’s great to work with and everybody that works with him loves and respects him.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

A: This is a fun and safe place to play. We’re family owned, we’re always updating our facility and kids love it. We started out in a tiny little place and now we’re known all over Sacramento. Many people have noticed our business model and want to be part of our success.

For more information about Wacky Tacky’s two exciting locations in Rancho Cordova and Roseville, call (916) 476-3260 or (916) 783-3355. Their website is www.wackytacky.net. Also, be sure to ask them about their rewards program. Become a Wacky Tacky Member and enjoy future savings, special offers and exciting updates via text message.

The Votes are in: Willo Salon is#1!

By Bob Cox

As the owner of three thriving hair salons, one might falsely conclude that Marilyn Sadeq has led a charmed and privileged life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Marilyn has worked her tail off for over 30 years while dedicating her life towards helping her client’s look and feel their best.

When she opened the first Willo Salon (formerly Mane Attractions) in Gold River back in 2007, Marilyn invested a great deal of financial, physical and emotional energy to follow her dream. For several years, she navigated her newly established salon through the longest and worst recession since the Great Depression. If that wasn’t daunting enough, she endured unbearable heartache when her 19 year-old son Keyon passed away. This tragedy followed the loss of her husband Ali 15 years earlier.

Despite these unimaginable losses, Marilyn’s heart has remained strong and full of love and gratitude. While Marilyn has made a major shift in her personal and professional life by working primarily from home, all three salons reflect Marilyn’s warm and kind hearted spirit. I asked Marilyn a few questions the other day and here’s what she had to say.

Q: How did you feel after learning about being voted #1hair salon by Style Magazine?

A: We’ve received many other awards in the past, but this one feels really good because I didn’t put any effort into it. In the past, I used to encourage the entire staff to ask every guest to please go online and vote. So, for our salons to be achieving awards and growing is a pretty big deal because I’ve completely shifted who I am and how I run my companies.

Q: Has the continuous growth and success of your salons surprised you?

A: Yes. We now have over 65 employees and several salon owners have said they don’t know how we’ve done it, because when that kind of tragedy in your life happens, the business usually suffers financially and fear shows up in staff, yet The Willo Family stuck together to keep the Willo brand strong.

Q: What are some other things that set you apart from other salons in town?

A: We’re an eco friendly salon and we want to leave the lowest environmental footprints that we can. Our line of colors are 98% naturally derived and very healthy for your body. Our stylists are Certified Aveda Stylists and Certified Aveda Colorists and they have the best products on the market to work with.

Q: What approach do you take during a new client’s consultation?

A: We have signature consultations and it’s really important for us to get to know who you are and understand your lifestyle to make the best decision for your hair. We take everything into consideration, such as your facial structure, your budget, how often you get your hair done and then make sure that it all fits your lifestyle.

Q: What message do you want to give to all of your clients?

A: I tell quests this all the time: We open our doors every day to make people happy. We could do this just for money, but we don’t. We do it for the pure passion of making a difference in people’s lives.

Q: What kind of culture have you created for Willo Salons?

A: We call ourselves The Willo Family, because we’re known for being kind. We hire the heart at Willo and everything else we can train. Our people just have kind hearts and they love to make a difference in this world, so I think we have a pretty healthy culture.

Q: Does being an eco friendly salon also help you attract kind hearted stylists?

A: Yes. We call our stylists living artists. They’re designers, but they’re mostly living artists as we have a living pallet.

Q: Has your management style changed since you opened your first salon in 1996?

A: Definitely. I have a new perspective since I lost my son. When someone comes to me with an unresolved issue, sometimes I’ll say, “Really, this small and simple issue is creating so much drama?” Most of the time, they will laugh and agree.

Q: What advice would you give people that want to have a healthier and more positive outlook on life?

A: For me, I’m committed to healthy conversations. What I teach people that are having trouble is to find something, whether it’s music or meditation that can help you just take a moment for yourself and breathe. I found some U-Tube videos and used them to help with meditation and find balance, gratitude and love. It really is that simple. If I can find gratitude, everyone can.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Willo Salon, visit their website at willosalon.com.