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A TASTE OF ENCHANTMENT: November 2002 Special Edition

"Achieving Positive States of Mind and Body Again and Again"

Produced by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, Psychologist, Life Coach, and Originator of THE ENCHANTED SELF(R)

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Welcome to the mid-month publication of The Enchanted Self's e-newsletter! Each month I typically focus on (and respond to) a question about enchantment and/or a reader's ideas on enchantment.

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I am delighted to share with you in this e-mail a reader's ideas on enchantment. Ellen Saposnik, who is one of the author's in RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, has written me a beautiful letter. Her reflections on her dear Mother, as well as her passion with teddy bears, are rich in the nuances that make up a life. Please enjoy her essay. We may not all collect teddy bears, but we have all sustained loses and need ways to find joy in connecting and reconnecting with those who are gone.

The Birthday Bear

By Guest Writer, Ellen Saposnik

When she was alive, my mother, of blessed memory, indulged my passion for collecting teddy bears. What began as an innocent purchase of one old-fashioned teddy eighteen years ago in a toy store, has blossomed into a collection of over three hundred.

There are blue and red bears, bears wearing sweaters and overalls, bears with costumes, bears masquerading as other animals and all of them have personality. The bears are warm and fuzzy, comforting and childlike, sweet and expressive. They recline on dresser tops, sofas, kitchen counters, night tables and throughout my office. Sometimes I find just the right bear once in a while, and sometimes the new additions come right after one another. There is always another little corner of the house (or office) for the new bear.

Once, my father told me to go clothes shopping with my mother. I have not liked clothes shopping for years, and when we returned Dad asked, “What did you buy?” to which I replied, “A lovely bear wearing a pink and white outfit.”

A few weeks ago, while wandering through a favorite local store, I discovered a recent arrival of Hanukah bears. One caught my eye and I cradled him in my arms. I peeked at the tag which was $26.99. I did not buy the bear then, but tucked the idea in the back of my mind. A week or so later, my husband Steven said, “Look what I brought home from your parent’s house.” He showed me a small wooden cigar box with the last bit of my mother’s mah jong and canasta money. There was $24 in bills and another $6 or $7 in change. That was my mother calling out to me across the great beyond telling me she wanted me to have that bear for my birthday, which was coming up in a few weeks. The timing was perfect and I just sensed it was the right way to use the mysteriously found money.

I visited the store two weeks later, with my mother’s money in my bag. The bear was still there, of course, and I cradled him into my arms and into my heart. No one can convince me that it was a coincidence. It was my dearest mother letting me know she is watching over me. What a wonderful gift we shared throughout her life and we still share it today and will forever.

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Please give us the pleasure of sharing your responses. They may be posted on the web site or in future issues of the newsletter. You can also chat about this topic or create your own in The Enchanted Self e-group at the following URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/encself

How to Order

Here are some ways to order RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! as well as THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy.

If you order from my website I can send you autographed copies of my two books. I can also send your free Enchanted Self bookmarks and copies of my paper newsletter, THE ENCHANTED SELF. You can also order the audio edition of my first book, THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy via my web site.

· Web Site: www.enchantedself.com/ordering.htm

· Call Toll Free: 1-877-B-JOYFUL

· Amazon: www.amazon.com

· Barnes & Noble: www.bn.com

· 1stBooks: www.1stbooks.com (RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT E-book just $4.95!)

Tip: When shopping online use keywords "recipes for enchantment" and "enchanted self" to locate the books.

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Forwarding & Reprinting

Please feel free to pass this issue on to someone who might enjoy it. The Enchanted Self Newsletter is copyrighted but may be quoted, reprinted, or distributed in whole or part without prior permission, provided the content is not changed and attribution is given including:

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

THE ENCHANTED SELF(R)

We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as self-healing and professional psychology newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission and send us a sample issue.

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To learn more about THE ENCHANTED SELF(R) - A State of Well Being, Joy, and Happiness, please contact me or visit my web site.

· phone: 877-B-JOYFUL

· fax: 732-531-1201

· URL: www.enchantedself.com

· e-mail: encself@aol.com

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