 Written by: Jacqueline Stahl
A letter to my late, first husband and the amazing magician, Harvey Cohen
Dear Harvey:
I thought about you so much this past weekend. I took an Amtrak train up to Albany, boarding the last train leaving Penn Station. A snowstorm was predicted and transportation was shutting down for the rest of the day. The sky was gray and the snow was falling as I looked out the window at the frozen Hudson River.
We took that train ride many times together and you would say to me "this is one of the most scenic rides in the world."
You loved storms almost as much as you loved to WOW people. There was nothing more gratifying to you than that look of surprise on someone's face as you double lifted a card into oblivion, or when you made someone believe that a metaphysical miracle was happening and they were a part of it.
I laughed out loud on the train thinking about the time we were invited to Betsy Karp’s Birthday dinner at a little restaurant on Leroy St. She invited a few friends and a couple of people she worked with. One of them was an annoying little man who had a big mouth. He was outspoken and full of himself and you were trying to conceal your boredom by bending spoons and rearranging the sweet and low.
Every few minutes you would wrap your foot around the leg of “Big Mouth’s” chair and give it a delicate tug, while pretending to listen intensely to the conversation. I watched as the poor guy constantly glanced behind himself, glaring at a passing patron or a waiter.
You continued to discretely push and jerk his chair till he finally said: "Someone keeps bumping into me god damn it!" Everyone assured him that no one was doing that, at least not purposefully. I nudged you, silently pleading for you to stop, and you just smiled and gave me the dancing eyebrow response.
The wait staff circled round our table, a clear distance away from your victim. A well-frosted cake was placed in front of Betsy as everyone sang Happy Birthday, and you just couldn't stop yourself. You somehow were able to secure the bottom of his chair with both of your sneakers and lift him in mid-air, dropping him with a Bang. He screamed, "That's it! This place is possessed!" He left in a big hurry and without any cake.
The staff, the guests and our table were convinced that evil spirits had tormented this guy. When you finally revealed your harmless charade, everyone was hysterical. Turned out no one else liked him either.
Harvey, Happy Birthday! I miss laughing with you.
Your three most profound miracles--Jena, Brett and Katie--miss you so much and they carry your magic deep inside. Keep watching over your girls.
We all love you!
Happy Birthday Harv!
Love,
Jackie
*Please Comment Below*
 Most people have a difficult time with VALENTINE'S DAY! So let's rename it i adore me Day! It's a celebration of YOU and all the love that you have for yourself, your life, your creativity and your being. Take today and focus on GRATITUDE for all the things that you have NOW. Surround yourself with REDS, HOT PINKS and MAGENTAS and find all the fire, passion and love inside of you. Rock It into your world.
Whether you have a date or not, just make it a special day about love. Pamper yourself: take a bubble bath, get an aromatherapy massage or even enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.
Write down five things that you want to create for yourself and try to make one of them come true today. Relax, enjoy, live and love.
Happy i adore me Day!
Have a Colorful Day,
Betsy Karp,
founder & creator of i adore me
 Written by: Betsy Karp
My entire family and I went to go see one of the last shows of “War Horse” at Lincoln Center in NYC. I’m not sure what all the hoop-la was all about. We found it very hard to sit through and six out of the eight of us really had a hard time keeping our eyes open. My mother and father managed to stay awake even though this was their second time seeing it. How they did that, I don’t know. So many people loved it. I found it to be painful and boring.
We went to go eat afterwards at P.J. Clarks and had the perfect table downstairs in the back. It was a round table with a red and white checkered tablecloth that sat all eight of us. I was telling everyone about the workshop I went to and how we were asked to name one thing or one person we were grateful for. Scott, the eldest grandson who adores my father, blurted out with great enthusiasm, “Papa, you are caring and generous and you always put everyone before yourself. There isn’t anybody that can say ONE negative thing about you. You are the most well rounded person I know and I love that!”
Marc, the youngest grandson, chimed in, “Papa, you are my role model and you give and give without ever taking. You are so generous, caring, hardworking and intelligent and you are the best grandfather I could ask for.“
My mom had tears rolling down her face and I saw my father’s eyes swell a little. My dad said, “See sometimes going to a bad show brings out the best in all. Thank you!”
My sister interrupted and said, “Wait! I have something to say. Thanks Dad for always being there. You are my friend, my mentor and my hero. I admire and respect you, and love you with all my heart. I am proud to be your daughter.”
So then it was my turn and I stated, “Dad you are Remarkable! You are the most devoted, dedicated and compassionate father, as well as the hardest working, honest, and warmest man I know. Actually, I think you are getting younger than older in your years and I adore you.”
All you have to do is meet my father to see what everyone is talking about. My Turkish friend Sumru recently met him and said, “your father’s warmth radiates from him and his being. He is even warmer and nicer than you described”.
My father has taught me so many invaluable life lessons and he is the one person I look up to and always want to make proud. He, in turn, makes all of us so proud and we are grateful that he is our Dad and Papa too!
Who are you grateful for in your life? Reach out and make that person feel great today too!
*Please comment below and share with your friends.*
Hugs,
Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me
 Written by: Betsy Karp
It’s Christmas Eve and I hope you are all enjoying some wonderful eggnog, family, friends and holiday cheer. Tis the season to be jolly. Sing some carols and stay present…and enjoy the presents (pun intended).
If you get stressed out, wondering if you are giving the right gift, if you are drinking and eating too much or just being around “too much” family, take a minute for yourself and breathe. Let go and enjoy. Whatever will be will be.
Dress in something fun and festive. Wear red, green or hot pink. Red promotes passion, energy and confidence. It helps you to feel powerful within yourself. Green will help open your heart, letting you feel love and abundance. Hot Pink is playful and fun. It makes you feel like a child all over again.
Enjoy yourself. It’s Christmas. Focus on all the love that surrounds you instead of the problems that arise. I hope this holiday brings you lots of peace in your heart. Wishing you all lots of love and a great BIG holiday hug.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
You can never have enough hugs and kisses!
*Please comment below and share with your friends.*
Hugs,
Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me
 1. Keep Giving love
2. Make time for yourself
3. Get out of your own way
4. Stay present
5. Use color to uplift you
6. Eat healthily
7. Get out in nature
8. Help others
9. Take a chance on yourself
10. Give up criticism and complaining
11. Be generous
12. Make a contribution
13. Open up
14. Communicate
15. Surround yourself with friends and loved ones
16. Take yourself on a date once a week
17. Meditate
18. Eat something you loved eating as a child
19. Laugh
20. Give hugs
21. Get a good night’s sleep
22. Exercise
23. Focus on gratitude
24. Believe in yourself
25. Live for the journey instead of the result
*Please comment below and share with your friends.*
Hugs,
Betsy Karp,
Founder of i adore me
Enjoy this video. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me.
 Written by: David Sussman
Trust. Does it exist in Corporate America?
I sat at lunch today with my mentor, Valerie Coffin. She is a woman who had known me as a young boy, who watched me begin my career in the company I now own, who guided me through some of my most challenging and rewarding times as a corporate executive and who I miss very much since her retirement. She was a leader of people and possessed the unique set of skills required to move our company forward as its President, the position she served for the final five years of her full-time employment with the company.
We caught up, talked about our families and reflected on our past. We always had such a fantastic time working together and our periodic lunches are a highlight of mine. We spoke of the company, identified what remains the same as well as how it has changed. She spent some time pointing out how I have been able to effectively influence the company’s direction. Valerie is pleased to have been an influential part of the leader I have become.
Then we spoke of trust.
She felt blessed throughout her 30+ years with my company. She loved the people she worked with and felt fortunate to have built trusting relationships that transcended the typical employee-employer realm. I did not take for granted that we shared that trust.
She spoke of the fun and success she had as she worked to build the organization with her team. She spoke of her boss Stan, one of the founders of the company. He earned her trust while she, in turn, earned his. Valerie trusted him with her corporate life. All of his employees trusted him this way.
She remembered participating in a “Key Executive” group. Her group-mates spoke of security, trust and employment contracts. They asked her if she had one. She said “No”. She trusted her mentor to take care of her as time went on. She trusted her instincts. She felt safe. They thought she was crazy. They felt she was vulnerable. In typical corporate America, they were right. But they didn’t understand the bond of trust created between her and Stan, her boss/mentor. She spoke of the special qualities she saw in Stan. She remembered how he built similar trust between himself and all of those with whom he employed.
I wonder if this kind of trust is gone in our company; it would make me sad if it was gone. The company is much larger these days and employees are litigious. It is increasingly difficult to “take care of people” without creating liability and dissention among your team. However, it is still very possible to trust and be trusted.
Inside of me is a need to demonstrate the same kind of trust Valerie experienced between herself and Stan. I believe I can do that and have much in common with Stan, my father. I look forward to the responsibility of building or maintaining that trust with the key people in my life. It is a wonderful character trait (both personal and corporate) to emulate.
Valerie has always been taken care of by my father. And now, the least I (and my partners) can do is to continue to show her how valued she was, is and always will be. It feels good to be trusted by Val. It feels good to be trusted by others as well.
 David J. Sussman Esq, CLUSenior Vice President at PFP Services Business Owner, Executive, Entrepreneur, Innovator, Leader and Problem Solver at PFP Serving The Credit Union Industry www.pfpservices.com/officers.html
 Give Thanks. Thanksgiving is about appreciating all of the wonderful things you currently have in your life. It's about gratitude. It's about being present and appreciating the people in your life today. Go around the table and share at least one thing you love about everyone there and why you're grateful! It's the small things in life that make all the difference.The holidays are here and we tend to over indulge and over eat. What happens when we eat and drink too much? Well, here’s a “12-Days of Christmas” list of things that start to happen to us: 1. Indigestion 2. Heartburn 3. Bloating 4. Weight Gain 5. Fatigue 6. Brain Fog 7. Sleepiness 8. Sore Joints 9. Headaches 10. Depression 11. Erratic Behavior ....And, the Piece de Resistance 12. Button Popping Pants Want to combat the list above? Here are three weapons to add to your arsenal: 1. Be mindful of what you eat and drink 2. Stay Present: Enjoy each bite and think about what you’re doing. Don’t feel guilty. 3. Portion Control (a little indulgence is ok) Click on the link below to get the full list: http://overcomingholidaybingeeating.eventbrite.com/ Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. *Please comment below and share with your friends.* Gobble Gobble, Betsy Karp, Founder of i adore me
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