My Chat With The Lovely And Inspiring Valerie Harper

Life is funny sometimes. Not necessarily in a "ha ha" way but in a serendipitous one. Who would have guessed when I was 11 years old and dreaming of hanging out with Mary and Rhoda that someday, when I was older, I'd have a chance to ask Rhoda a few questions over something called the Internet?!

English: Publicity photo of Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But that's what happened. Let me start at the beginning.

I, along with most women my age, fell in love with "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" when it first aired in 1970. As a pre-teen I loved the storyline - a young, single 30-year-old woman moves away from home and creates a new life for herself that includes her dream job and many loving, colorful and supportive friends.

Her best friend, Rhoda Morgenstern, was funny, honest, beautiful and always fascinating.

To paraphrase Valerie Harper, "We all looked up to Mary but we identified with Rhoda."

Yes, indeed.

I always felt there was a big piece of Valerie in Rhoda. Kind, caring and genuine, who could forget how gently Rhoda told her nemesis Phyllis that her brother was gay, or how she brought a young man home to Mary's small dinner party because he'd just been fired (played by a young Henry Winkler.) She played those scenes delicately laced with humor.

Valerie's career blossomed after four years with MTM. From her own show, "Rhoda", this dancer turned actress conquered the acting world not only in television but also on stage and screen. Along the way she was an advocate for the Women's Liberation Movement and The Equal Rights Amendment.

But her toughest role began in 2009 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, and again in 2013 when she revealed she had a rare case of cancer in the cells surrounding the brain. Given three months to live, today Valerie is happy to report she is responding well to treatment.

Valerie is an inspiration to anyone fighting a serious illness. Her grace under fire is remarkable as she continues to carry an infectious light inside of her.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Valerie has joined forces with The American Lung Cancer Association and Lung Force to get women involved in the fight against lung cancer. Join Team Valerie to raise your voice to make a difference in the lives of those with lung cancer. With your support and passion, further research can finally put an end to lung cancer.

It was more than my pleasure (and a lot of fun!) to take part in a Huffington Post LIVE event with Valerie Harper to ask her a few questions (seen in the video below.) When it was over I realized what I'd known all along:

Valerie Harper can also turn the world on with her smile!

Healthy Eating During Stressful Times Can Pave The Way Toward Wellness

Have you ever had one of "those" weeks? You know the kind. When nothing seems to go right. When, despite everything you do, nothing goes your way?

I felt better knowing that Mary Tyler Moore experienced the same thing.

Okay, so it happened in a sitcom Whoever wrote that particular episode knows exactly what I mean.

We all experience the normal ups and downs of life in one way or another. It's inevitable and unavoidable. You can't experience truly exquisite moments of joy without traveling down a road of unhappiness somewhere on your journey.

I love the poet Kahlil Gibran. Through the years I've turned to him for his wisdom-filled insights and inspiration. As a blogger I've come to rely on him for quotes. It was he who said:

“Joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.” ~Kahlil Gibran

This week I had a lot going on in my life, and I felt as if I was on a runaway treadmill with no slow speed limit in sight. Typically, when I feel this way, I overeat my "comfort" food.

Ah, food. The what-am-I-going-to-stuff-my-face-with-to-make-me-feel-good -feeling that I was dying to dive into.

Did I yearn for a box of chocolate chip cookies? Or perhaps a huge bowl of pasta with a loaf of garlic bread dripping in butter? Maybe, in honor of Valentine's Day, I'd scarf down a box of chocolates?

Luckily, the old saying "A moment on your lips, a lifetime on your hips" kept popping into my head.

I didn't want to backslide on my regimen of healthy eating after doing so well on the Jenny Craig program. I've been working hard to look and feel better, so I tried to remain focused by thinking about how I'd feel about myself after gorging on food.

Or how I'd feel after stepping onto the scale.

I did the best that I could. It's easier when I'm home to stick to the plan; it's much harder when I go out to lunch or dinner.

The trick to healthy eating is to replace your old, bad eating habits with new, healthy ones.

The days I went out I'd cut up and fill a Ziploc bag with celery, carrots and cucumbers. I'd keep a small apple in my purse, along with Jenny's Anytime Bar.

When going out to lunch, I was careful with my portion sizes, stuck to salads made with fresh vegetables and grilled chicken or fish, and ordered dressing on the side.

And I drank a lot of water.

I told myself I didn't have time to fit in any exercise. That made all the difference.

When I stepped onto the scale at my Jenny Craig appointment, my weight was the same. I didn't lose any weight, but better than that, I didn't gain any.

I consider that a personal victory. In the past, I would have relied on food to comfort me. And this week I didn't. I relied on myself, and on my knowledge of the relationship between eating and wellness.

Now that I know I can do it, I am proud of myself. Today is, again, the first day of the rest of my life. And on this first birthday, I am going to continue to eat right, and make more of an effort to get back on that treadmill for some much needed exercise.

Only this time I am in control.

How do you manage your eating habits during times of stress?

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on their food for this review. There was no monetary compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

Insomnia, Xanax and How The Mary Tyler Moore Show Helped Me Sleep

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep." ~Dale Carnegie

It is 1:35 am, and I’m wide awake. I am sitting in my Great Room alongside my three cats. I’m so jealous of them. They are all sound asleep.

The room lays still and dark except for the lone light of my trusty ol’ laptop.

I took 2 Xanax several hours ago to ensure I would get a good night's sleep. But, alas, sleep escapes me once again.

It’s not that I have any one thing on my mind; I have many things crowding my head like a stock ticker rolling sentences through my subconscious.

For starters, I spoke to a dear friend today about the recent passing of her dad, a man I loved dearly and never had the chance to say goodbye correctly.

I know he’s finally at peace, but today’s conversation weighs heavily on me, and I can’t shake it.

I worry about my mortality (as I sometimes do in the wee hours of the morning when things always look bleaker and much more significant than they do during the day.)

I know my lack of exercise (due to sitting on my duff all day writing) is the culprit of my worry. Or is that simply an excuse? Whatever the reason, it’s not a good one, and I need to actively commit to taking better care of myself.

My head is reeling with different diet and exercise programs to try; deciding which one to begin has been tough. I’ve never been good with decisions, and right now, I feel overwhelmed by making this one.

I wish I had a fairy godmother who would swoop down and tell me exactly what to do while assuring me if I followed her recommendations, all of my worries would disappear.

Middle of the night worrying

Now it’s 1:54 am, and I’m still wide awake. One of my cats is snoring, and I’m getting angry. Slumber. Slumber. How I miss you.

"Cats have it all - admiration, an endless sleep, and company only when they want it." ~Rod McKuen

Perhaps a tiny bowl of cereal would do the trick. How much could a small bowl of Bran Flakes with raisins and milk affect my daily calorie intake? What’s the old saying? If you eat in the dark, the calories don’t count.

It’s 1:56, and I can’t decide whether to go for the cereal. They say (at least my grandmother used to) milk helps you sleep better. Well, maybe just a tiny bowl…

It’s 2:00, and now I am full and need a bathroom. Do those steps to the powder room go toward my daily number of steps? I’ll have to look that one up.

Mary Tyler Moore

Maybe I’ll put on an old Mary Tyler Moore episode from YouTube to help me sleep. The old gang in Minneapolis always soothes my soul and calms me down.

When Mary throws her hat into the air, I always feel a lot better; it makes me warm. Let’s see what’s going on with the gang.

"Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." ~Walt Whitman

Two forty-five, and all is well. Murray got his zingers into Sue Ann, and Mary went on a fun date with her newest beau.

I’m a sucker for romance.

Still wide awake, I decide to put on one more episode. The cats are still snoring. House is still dark and quiet. The laptop battery is running low. What’s a girl to do?

Finally – yes, finally – the Xanax kicks in. I can barely keep my eyes open to determine if Murray’s play gets produced.

I know each episode by heart, but I still need closure. I’ll have to finish watching the rest of the episode tomorrow.

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book." ~Irish Proverb

But before I drag myself back to bed, I must make a pact to write less tomorrow and exercise a little more.

Adding exercise to my life (aside from my once-a-week yoga class) will help me sleep better and lessen the middle-of-the-night worries about my mortality. It will help me manage my weight and help me feel healthier and more vibrant.

Yes, G-d, I mean my pact this time.

Nighty night, sweet world. I hope you had a better sleep than I did.

And, oh, don’t bother calling me till after 9 am. The 2 Xanax I took will keep me asleep longer than usual.

DISCLAIMER: Comments from An Empowered Spirit are brought to your attention on topics that could benefit you and should be discussed with your doctor or other medical professional. I am not medically trained, and my posts are journalistic and not instead of medical advice. An Empowered Spirit and its author will not be held liable for any damages incurred from using this blog or any data or links provided.

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